Felbrigg Hall

Felbrigg Hall

Felbrigg Hall is a 17th-century English country house  in Norfolk. Part of the National Trust portfolio, the house is noted for its Jacobean architecture and fine Georgian interior.

The Cabinet Room

Felbrigg Hall Pure Silk Damask for Curtains

Felbrigg Hall; Originally the drawing room of the 1680’s wing, it was square and panelled until the bay window was added in 1751. William Windham II remodelled the room as the setting for the Italian pictures acquired on his Grand Tour. These still hang, very much, as he originally planned.”

The curtain treatments were researched and planned by a highly experienced team of Annabel Westman (Textile Advisor), Emma Slocombe, Melanie Leach and Louise Green (National Trust).

The original pelmets were still in situ and are to be conserved and retained, however, the full length curtains were long since gone. The pattern was observed to be the same as the window treatments in the adjoining room and so a curtain was loaned to Humphries Weaving to redraw the design and analyse the weave and colour.

Historic designs are always drawn by hand first to retain an authentic line and flow. Images in the gallery show the large table we use to lay out these precious documents, our handling and storage of archive documents has been approved by the National Trust.

Modern Jacquard technology means that we can weave samples in a day and so the first versions of a redrawn design are in stock colours so that we can review the lines, shapes and woven construction.

From here we work on the colour, which in this case was a beautiful pinky red matched to the original fabric, which we custom dyed for the final trial which combines with a section of the design.

Careful consideration is given to the final samples; in situ, in different lights, in relation to original textiles and other decoration in the room.

Work now continues for the team to develop Passementerie before the fabric is made up into curtains in the future.

You can read Felbrigg Hall’s Cabinet Room conservation blog here

Project References: 3682

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