Staff Spring into Action!
What happens during the winter cleaning programme at Fairfax House.
Photocall: Horologist, David Barker, who has looked after the clocks at Fairfax House for the past 25 years, will be visiting on Wednesday 31 January at 10am to replace the inside workings of the clocks after the winter cleaning programme. He will be assisted by student volunteer Rebecca Maeer.
Spring is in the air at Fairfax House and the staff are coming to the close of the spring cleaning programme, which is carried out every year prior to the start of the season (The House opens on 12 February).
The six-week cleaning operation, headed up by House Manager, Peter Musgrove, is a military operation and the House is stripped back to its bare bones. Everything is thoroughly cleaned including the magnificent Noel Terry furniture, china, silver ware, glass and also the floors, carpets, fireplaces, doors, window shutters, walls and ceilings. Overall there are about 1,000 items that need individual cleaning and conservation.
Carpets are turned each year to limit the deterioration to areas of high footfall, every inch of ceiling is cleaned delicately with a paintbrush and all the furniture is checked, and treated if necessary, for wood worm.
During the cleaning process discoveries have been made in the past. Peter recalls: “We have found a number of treasures in some of the furniture’s secret drawers. These included a little bronze devil and a small Roman statue of a satyr. The most intriguing of all was a Milner’s safe key, but sadly we have not yet found the safe!
“There is always the hope that we will discover another secret and another treasure!”
It takes five members of staff nearly 900 hours to clean the whole house. They start at the top and work their way down. The housekeeping skills have been passed down through generations and the staff are highly skilled in handling delicate objects.
Peter praised the hard work and dedication of his small team. He added: “Their work is really valued and they have tremendous pride in what they are doing. When the House is open again to the public there is a real freshness to the building which is noticed by the House Guides and visitors.”
Barry Waldapfel, the former Fairfax House Custodian, returned to York to lend a hand with this year’s cleaning. He enjoys the process and getting the opportunity to handle items close up. He commented: “It is a fascinating process and fantastic to actually handle some of the exquisite furniture to see its construction in detail. It’s a privilege to be so close to these treasures.”
The Fairfax House 2007 season runs from 12 February through to 31 December (closed 24,25,26 December for Christmas). The new season’s brochure is now available from Fairfax House which in Castlegate, York. Alternatively visitors can ring 01904 655543 to request a brochure.
ENDS
Press Contacts:
Peter Brown
Tel: 01904 654443
Email: peterbrown@fairfaxhouse.co.uk
or
Melanie Paris
Tel: 01904 647408
E mail: hello@melanieparis.com
Spring is in the air at Fairfax House and the staff are coming to the close of the spring cleaning programme, which is carried out every year prior to the start of the season (The House opens on 12 February).
The six-week cleaning operation, headed up by House Manager, Peter Musgrove, is a military operation and the House is stripped back to its bare bones. Everything is thoroughly cleaned including the magnificent Noel Terry furniture, china, silver ware, glass and also the floors, carpets, fireplaces, doors, window shutters, walls and ceilings. Overall there are about 1,000 items that need individual cleaning and conservation.
Carpets are turned each year to limit the deterioration to areas of high footfall, every inch of ceiling is cleaned delicately with a paintbrush and all the furniture is checked, and treated if necessary, for wood worm.
During the cleaning process discoveries have been made in the past. Peter recalls: “We have found a number of treasures in some of the furniture’s secret drawers. These included a little bronze devil and a small Roman statue of a satyr. The most intriguing of all was a Milner’s safe key, but sadly we have not yet found the safe!
“There is always the hope that we will discover another secret and another treasure!”
It takes five members of staff nearly 900 hours to clean the whole house. They start at the top and work their way down. The housekeeping skills have been passed down through generations and the staff are highly skilled in handling delicate objects.
Peter praised the hard work and dedication of his small team. He added: “Their work is really valued and they have tremendous pride in what they are doing. When the House is open again to the public there is a real freshness to the building which is noticed by the House Guides and visitors.”
Barry Waldapfel, the former Fairfax House Custodian, returned to York to lend a hand with this year’s cleaning. He enjoys the process and getting the opportunity to handle items close up. He commented: “It is a fascinating process and fantastic to actually handle some of the exquisite furniture to see its construction in detail. It’s a privilege to be so close to these treasures.”
The Fairfax House 2007 season runs from 12 February through to 31 December (closed 24,25,26 December for Christmas). The new season’s brochure is now available from Fairfax House which in Castlegate, York. Alternatively visitors can ring 01904 655543 to request a brochure.
ENDS
Press Contacts:
Peter Brown
Tel: 01904 654443
Email: peterbrown@fairfaxhouse.co.uk
or
Melanie Paris
Tel: 01904 647408
E mail: hello@melanieparis.com