Hands-on Conservation Tour at D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum 🧹🏛️

Today, I had the wonderful opportunity to join a behind-the-scenes Conservation Tour at the D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum in Erewash, just a stone’s throw from my childhood home. While I regularly visited Durban House, the former community hub connected to the museum, which sadly closed about ten years ago—with my grandparents as a child, this was my first time visiting the museum site itself. This experience felt like a meaningful return to a place steeped in personal and literary history.

👀 A Unique Look at Museum Conservation

The session began with a guided tour of the museum led by Caroline, our knowledgeable host, along with three other guests. We witnessed a fascinating demonstration of the museum’s annual big clean, a comprehensive deep-cleaning process that requires the museum to close to the public for three weeks. This event was a rare, exclusive opportunity with no public access, giving us a unique behind-the-scenes look at the conservation work that usually happens out of sight.

One highlight was seeing their newest loan: the very scissors that cut D.H. Lawrence’s umbilical cord—a tangible connection to the author’s early life that brought history vividly to life.

🧹 Hands-On Experience with Conservation

After the tour, we moved into the hands-on section of the session, where Caroline introduced us to common conservation challenges, including pests and damage that can affect museum collections and archive stores.

• 📚 Book Cleaning: We started by dusting books using different brushes, one for the outside edges and another for the inside spine. While checking for signs of bookworm damage. After this delicate cleaning, we donned nylon gloves to protect the fragile pages.

• 🍽️ Ornate Plates: The one I cleaned featured silver detailing. I used a gentle detergent and distilled water, to carefully clean the surface. As well as applying distilled water with a cotton bud rolled lightly over the silver to avoid accidentally removing any precious embellishments.

• 🧺 Victorian Wooden Laundry Tongs: I then dusted the entire piece before applying museum-grade wax to both the wood and metal components.

• 🍬 Cleeves Toffee Jubilee Assortment Tin Lid: Using brushes and the same wax, the cleaning revealed some gold detailing underneath. While we’re unsure if this was sprayed on or part of the original design, it was thrilling to uncover such hidden beauty.

🎓 Professional Development Insights

Caroline kindly shared some invaluable advice for developing a career in the museum and heritage sector. She encouraged me to maintain and build upon my Continuous Professional Development (CPD)—something I’ve already started documenting in a PDF portfolio.

She also highly recommended the AMA (Association of Museums and Archives) online training scheme as a fantastic resource for gaining practical skills and knowledge. Although the cost is currently a barrier for me, I’m actively exploring ways to access this training in the near future.

To keep me updated on current discussions and trends, Caroline generously provided me with a copy of the latest Museums Journal, filled with insightful articles, debates, and book reviews. This will be a valuable resource as I continue to grow in the field.

☕ Personal Reflections

Surrounded by the atmosphere that inspired so much of his work, added a special layer to the experience. This tour was a vivid reminder that heritage conservation is not just a technical skill but a vital way to keep stories, memories, and culture alive for future generations.

🔭 Looking Forward

This hands-on conservation tour deepened my appreciation for the quiet, meticulous work that happens behind the scenes in museums. I’m grateful for the chance to learn and contribute, even in a small way, to preserving such an important cultural site.

I’m also inspired to continue developing my skills and knowledge through CPD and professional resources like the AMA training and Museums Journal. I look forward to sharing more heritage experiences as I continue this journey.

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🏛️ Check out D. H. Lawrence's Website

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