The 18 paintings which are on loan to Castell Coch are assessed every three years as a condition of the loan agreement.  This involves commissioning and supervising specialist art handlers to unhang the paintings from a mobile scaffold. 

The conservators then unfit every painting, examine them, record their condition in writing and photographically, dust both paintings and frames, clean the glazing and re-fit them. Any ‘first aid’ conservation is also carried out on site.The paintings are then re-hung, again using the specialist art handlers.

Assistant painting conservator Sarah Bayliss photographing one of the portraits in the Banqueting Hall at Castell Coch.

The reports are written up and any changes in condition noted and reported to the Cadw staff.  Recommendations for the future preservation of the paintings, and environmental monitoring / modification of the environmental conditions made.

The on site operation has to be carried out during one week in the short closed period of the Castle in January, and therefore with some time pressure.  So far, there has been a 100% success rate in achieving this target.