In the winter months, our outdoor marble statues are exposed to wind, rain and snow, which can cause frost damage and erosion.

So what are we doing about this? 

We used surface temperature, humidity and wetness sensors to find out how various types of cover would protect the fragile marble from water and freezing temperatures.

Results and findings

The covers were shown to be successful, so now each autumn, our conservators wrap up all our outdoor statuary for a winter sleep! This research was carried out with English Heritage, the National Trust and University College London.

Following on from this research, we also looked at winter covers for our fragile terracotta roundels at Hampton Court Palace. We sourced a high-tech aluminium honeycomb cover, which was very light yet provides a high level of insulation. This reduces the risk of damage to the roundel, or the surrounding building, in attaching the winter cover to the masonry. We printed an image of the roundel on the front of the cover, so visitors could see what was behind the box.

We used the same sensors to monitor conditions under the covers during the winter of 2005-6, and they were successful in keeping the roundels drier than without a cover. We’ll use the covers again for the next few years as a temporary measure while we complete our search for a more permanent conservation treatment.