Historic Houses Collections Award 2023

It is an exciting month for Goodwood House, as the Goodwood Collection has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2023 Historic Houses Collections Award. The award recognises and celebrates the work that goes into preserving, augmenting, restoring and interpreting collections.

Conservation work has been, as ever, ongoing over the last year. One of our most significant works, an enormous 17th century portrait of Louise de Keroualle, was painstakingly cleaned and conserved. The conservation process led to new discoveries and revelations, and is prompting further collaborative research. Other artworks, including a splendid portrait of Charles II, have been cleaned and revarnished. Our enormous book project, to create supports for 3000 historic books has begun, and one of our most important books, the guest list for the Duchess of Richmond’s Ball is currently with the conservators. Textiles have also received attention, with a blue silk cushion used at Queen Victoria’s Coronation cleaned and stabilised. It can be seen at the House in our Coronations Exhibition.

The year witnessed our most significant purchase in years, an oil sketch by the famous equine painter, George Stubbs. The artwork relates to one of our existing paintings and has come home after just over 260 years.

Efforts have been made to promote the collection, with articles in Britain Magazine, Sussex life and the Goodwood Magazine, as well as mention in Country Life. My Instagram channel @the_history_gal has posted about the day-to-day behind the scenes of working with the Collection, with one reel about dressing for the coronation reaching 137K people. A House Instagram & TikTok channel are imminent. Our Coronations Exhibition has so far been a great success, with its launch prompting the planning of more events and talks.

It is our great hope that all of this will encourage the judges of the Historic Houses Collections Award to vote for us when making their final decision. Please do cross your fingers!