Some of the items received by the archives service are fragile and would be at risk if handled by visitors. For this reason a conservation section was established in the Wiltshire Record Office’s early days.  We now have one in-house archive conservator whose work involves a wide range of conservation techniques.

As well as tackling the damage caused to documents by accident and neglect in the past we must work to reduce the risk of further damage. This is known as preventive conservation and includes many elements: security, temperature and humidity, pest management and emergency planning. Records which have survived for hundreds of years may be hoped to survive for future generations to enjoy.

You can find out more about our Conservation and Museums Advisory Service here.