Historic Churches 2020

40 BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 27 TH ANNUAL EDITION The 13th century dug-out chest at Holy Trinity Church, Eckington, Worcestershire which had been crudely repaired using wood filler aged wood of a church chest, wood filler of any type would appear unsightly and incongruous. Damaged timber that has lost its structural qualities should be carefully repaired with patches of the same timber, where old timber is carefully cut away and new timber inserted and colour-matched but remaining an obvious repair (illustrated above). The massive dug-out chest in the north chapel at St Weonards measures almost 2.6m long by 610mm wide and 580mm high, and its length is divided into two sections of similar size, each with its own lid. It is one of the largest chests in Herefordshire, and one of the few made of elm. Sadly, it has suffered badly from both furniture beetle and death watch beetle attacks which caused much erosion to the ends and underside of the chest, where there is now a hole. One of the strap hinges on the left lid is broken and two of the locks on the right-hand half are missing. The chest stands on flagstones against two damp stone walls (illustrated on page 37) and there is little room for air circulation. By contrast, the Eckington dug-out chest is comparatively small, measuring only 870mm long, 540mm wide and 520mm high. It is hewn from a trunk of elm, has one lid and one small cavity which was likely made for a bible or important church documents. The lid sits flush on the top of the base, with no rebate. Upon examination of the end-grain of the chest, it is apparent that the lid has been formed from a slice taken from the same trunk and the cavity displays the marks of the adze used to hollow it. Sadly, the chest has suffered considerable erosion from furniture beetle. Some of the lid has crumbled away at the edges, along with some of the underside of the chest. It has been suggested that the chest was buried at some point, or deliberately sunk into a river to protect its contents from Cromwell’s men. Unfortunately, two of the hasp fittings have been re-secured in place with wood filler rather than new timber being carefully inserted. A good example of caring for a chest can be seen at Fownhope, Herefordshire. Here the enormous dug-out chest (illustrated on opposite page) has been brought down from the belfry and is displayed on a specially-made plinth, which not only facilitates the flow of air around the chest but also brings it to the eye level of a viewer. There can be no doubt that the congregation at Fownhope fully appreciates its importance. CONSERVATION GUIDELINES Minimum requirements for the conservation of church chests should include: • Raising the chest up from the ground on wooden bearers or feet • Allowing a good airflow around the whole chest, including the underside • Regular, gentle removal of debris and dust from surfaces inside and outside • Placing the chest away from damp stone walls and from direct sources of heat as movement caused by frequent changes of temperature can be damaging • Where fresh frass indicates active furniture beetle or death watch beetle, an insecticidal wood preserver may be applied by brush, injected into flight holes, or in some cases sprayed into difficult areas (this requires appropriate safety procedures) • Seeking the advice of the quinquennial inspecting architect/surveyor on the relative humidity levels of the environment surrounding the chest and on how to keep them below 60 per cent to reduce the likelihood of furniture beetle attack • Recording and carefully storing any broken parts, documenting any restoration of the chest • Employing a qualified conservator (a blacksmith or furniture restorer) to make sympathetic repairs or advise on caring for the finish of a chest. Left: The dug-out chest at St John the Baptist, Feckenham, Worcestershire, showing cut-in oak patch repairs behind 19th century replacement locks Right: Piles of frass on flagstones beneath a chest indicating active woodworm