Hanging out in the Blue Bedroom A set of rare antique silk bed pelmets for a four poster bed are back on show at Beningbrough Hall, near York, after undergoing exhaustive conservation.
The three splendid silk damask pelmets – or upper valances - from the Blue Bedroom, are known to be at least 250 years old. But unsympathetic restoration, which was in danger of permanently damaging the pelmets with their braided trim, saw them taken down last September for emergency maintenance. National Trust conservator Caroline Rendell and a colleague spent more than 100 hours painstakingly restoring the fragile textiles. Now the pelmets, which are part of an impressive set of bedhangings and top off an equally rare Rococo four poster, are back on display amid hopes they will last another 250 years. The hangings would once have been vibrant blue, but have dulled with age. During the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the hangings and counterpane were renewed. But the pelmets have survived intact. Caroline says: “The fact the pelmets have survived in their original state is very rare, and with the bed itself being of a type that is quite unusual, we saw this as a conservation priority. “In the past the pelmets had quite bizarrely been repaired with machine stitching, and over time that had become very tight and was distorting the fabric and was clearly damaging it badly. “We removed the machine stitching, which took a long time, and it was then possible to realign the 18th century silk and get it all straight.” Then Caroline stitched extremely fine conservation net over the original material. “I dyed the net to the correct colour so you can’t see it,” she says. “The net was then placed on to the silk and stitched on by hand using a very fine cotton thread. It is the net that is now holding everything together. “The bed is the focus of the Blue Bedroom – as it was always intended to be - and it is pleasing all the hangings are now back together as a set for visitors to enjoy.”
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RICHARD FOSTER chats to a strong advocate of community policing who has tapped into York’s talent pool
Youth and police in harmony Being a good neighbour is a big part of Keith Hall’s job as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). He says: “It’s all about engaging with people of all ages in your own community. Every day is different in this job; I like the variety and enjoy the challenge.” Keith became a PCSO after he was made redundant by Nestle. He had spent 28 years with the chocolate company, where he was a shift manager, leading a team of workers. He now applies his organisational and people skills to community policing. Some cynics dismiss neighbourhood policing as sitting down with pensioners for a cup of tea and a slice of lemon drizzle cake; but the job entails more than that. Keith was keen to tackle the anti-social behaviour of bored teenagers, particularly during the long summer holidays. He realised most youngsters were interested in music, so he came up with an idea for a talent competition for singers and musicians. His colleagues on the Micklegate Safer Neighbourhood Team got behind Community Idol and the first competition was held in 2007 for entrants aged between 11 and 19. There were heats followed by a final at York’s Grand Opera House. It immediately captured the imagination of York’s youngsters. The following year dance acts were invited to enter the competition and a Mini Idol was held for children aged between seven and 11. There was a one-off final at the David Lloyd Centre and the top three acts opened for