{"id":5002,"date":"2026-01-23T09:30:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T09:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=5002"},"modified":"2026-01-22T12:45:39","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T12:45:39","slug":"when-new-accessions-arrive-behind-the-scenes-in-the-conservation-studio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2026\/01\/23\/when-new-accessions-arrive-behind-the-scenes-in-the-conservation-studio\/","title":{"rendered":"When New Accessions Arrive: Behind the Scenes in the Conservation Studio"},"content":{"rendered":"

New accessions arrive at Dorset History Centre almost every week, each one bringing its own story – and sometimes its own challenges. Before anything enters our climate\u2011controlled repositories, it\u2019s assessed by our Collections Archivist, listed, boxed, and prepared for long\u2011term storage. But some items need an extra stop along the way: the conservation studio.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A volume showing evidence of mould and water damage<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The biggest risks we encounter in new accessions are mould and pests. Both can spread quickly and cause serious, sometimes irreversible, damage. When that happens, our Conservator steps in to stabilise the material and make sure it\u2019s safe to join the rest of the collection. Recently, several accessions have put our conservation processes, and PPE supplies, to the test.<\/p>\n

A Fire, Months of Damp, and a Mountain of Mould<\/h3>\n

One of the most challenging accessions we\u2019ve seen in recent years arrived after a building fire at the end of 2024<\/a>. A large collection of architectural plans and documents had survived the blaze and the firefighting efforts, only to be left wet and unprotected for months afterwards.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A pile of maps and plans after drying but before cleaning<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the material reached us in 2025, it included piles of large maps and plans and six bin bags of documents, all damp and visibly mouldy. Mould attacks the cellulose structure of paper, causing weakness, distortion, staining, and in some cases total loss. Because mould spores spread easily through the air, none of this material could safely enter our repositories.<\/p>\n

\"\"
A plan on transparent paper discoloured from the fire and covered in mould<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The entire collection was placed in quarantine and assessed by our Conservator. Before any treatment could begin, everything had to be dried to stop further damage and allow for treatment. Items were laid out on blotting paper and left to air dry\u2014a slow and space\u2011hungry process. Once dry, the items returned to quarantine. Although the mould was no longer active, specialist cleaning was still required before anything could be considered safe for storage. With such a large volume of material, this work is ongoing, and we\u2019re still waiting to discover what stories these documents might hold.<\/p>\n

Parchment Deeds from a Damp Basement<\/h3>\n

Another accession last year consisted of a large group of parchment deeds that had been stored in a damp basement. They arrived with mould, water damage, distortion, and in some cases areas of loss. Some documents had stuck together and had to be gently separated; others showed staining, weakened parchment fibres and damage to the ink.<\/p>\n