Naval heritage charity to host ground-breaking conservation symposium

Press release: Monday 13th November 2017

The 1805 Club, in conjunction with The National Museum of The Royal Navy, is hosting an innovative conservation symposium on Monday, 11 December 2017.

The museum’s location at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, with its unique collection of ships and naval attractions, is the perfect setting for the symposium, which will bring together conservators from a wide range of different fields.

As a charity and a pioneering member of the naval heritage family, The 1805 Club is directly concerned with and involved in conservation, restoration and preservation, notably of graves, memorials and monuments dedicated to the Georgian era of sail.

Yet it is aware that the many and different organisations approach the field of conservation in varying ways, often influenced by the medium involved – stone, wood, paper, metal, textiles, paintings, interiors & etc., and also by other factors, not least fashion.

Ten experts will be giving presentations covering subjects such as conserving Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, the Mary Rose, the Painted Hall at the Old Naval College in Greenwich and HMS Victory.

Commenting on the aims of the symposium, its organiser, Benedict Ryan, Council Member of The 1805 Club, said: “Conservators rarely get the opportunity to gather to discuss the different interpretations and this symposium is the opportunity for conservation practitioners to ‘compare notes’ and cross boundaries.

“Our distinguished panel of presenters and those attending can share their ideas and hopefully reach a consensus on what is the right approach to conservation or restoration. The results will be published and hopefully, a follow-up symposium will be held in 2018.”

Delegates will be given an opportunity to network with professional colleagues and also enjoy a guided tour of either HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 or the Mary Rose Museum.

To find out more about the symposium or book a place, please contact Benedict Ryan, email: info@benedictco.co.uk.

Download the full PDF here