GEOFF WALLIS CONSERVATION
CONSERVATION POLICY STATEMENT
1.0
DEFINITIONS
1.1
Object means machine, structure, instrument or other piece of man-made
equipment.
1.2
Historic importance means aesthetic, scientific, technological or social value
for past, present or future generations. See 2.0
1.3
Material if the physical substance of which an object is made.
1.4
Preservation means maintaining the materials of an object in their existing
state and halting deterioration.
1.5
Restoration or Repair means returning the existing materials of an object to
a known earlier state with minimal introduction of new material.
1.6
Reconstruction means returning the existing materials of an object to a
known earlier state involving more than the minimum amount of new
material.
1.7
Maintenance means the continuous care of an object without alteration of
it's materials.
1.8
Adaptation means modification of an object to fulfil a new compatible use.
1.9
Compatible use is one which involves no change to the historically
important features of an object. In less than ideal circumstances a
compatible use may be one which involves reversible of minimal changes.
1.10
Conservation refers to all the processes of preserving objects of historic
importance, such as preservation restoration, repair, maintenance, and
where of an acceptable standard, reconstruction and adaptation.
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2.0
HISTORIC IMPORTANCE must be precisely defined as the basis for selecting
conservation processes.
An object's aesthetic, scientific, technological and social merit is assessed in
terms of:
3.0

Age.

Uniqueness of design, scale, materials, etc. when originally constructed.

Rarity as a survivor of its type.

Evidence of past style, design, innovation, usage materials, constructional
practice, etc.

Association with persons, places or events.

Spiritual, political, or cultural significance for a particular group in society.

Exceptional aesthetic qualities of form, colour, decoration, etc. and part
played in the immediate environment or landscape.

Condition and extent of remaining original material.

Service life - does it still perform its original operation, or can it be made to
do so?
THE FUNDAMENTAL AIM IS TO PRESERVE
3.1
The first duty is to halt the processes of deterioration and stabilise
condition. This recognised the intrinsic worth of the object's materials, and
ideally should be the limit of conservation work.
3.2
Where stabilising it's condition is insufficient on it's own to ensure object's
long term survival, conservation must be selected to ensure:

Minimal Disturbance to the object.

Reversible Processes are used whenever possible.
These principles recognise the need to preserve the object intact as
evidence for future generations.
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4.0
GOOD PRACTICE
The following are recommended as good practice.
4.1
4.2
PRESERVATION processes:

Improvement of immediate environment, (protection from the elements,
packing, etc.) dehumidification, reduction of pollutants.

Alteration/down-grading of service requirements.

Use of replicas for working equipment.

Relocation to a less destructive environment, if this is proven to be the
only means of ensuring preservation.

Consolidation of existing materials (only where unavoidable to ensure
survival, e.g., friable timberwork).

Use of additional materials or structure, not fixed to the object, for
additional strength or support.

Protection of surfaces by paint, inhibitors, etc.
RESTORATION, REPAIR, RECONSTRUCTION processes:

Retention of as much existing material as possible, repairing and
consolidating rather than renewing.

Use of additional fixed material or structure to reinforce, strengthen,
prop, tie and support.

Use of traditional materials and techniques provided these can be
distinguished on close inspection from originals on completion, and for
years to come.

Retention and storage adjacent to the object of all parts and materials
that cannot be used.
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4.3
4.4
MAINTENANCE processes:

Periodic inspection by competent persons.

Provision of comprehensive written maintenance schedules and
operation guidelines (where appropriate).

Selection and proper training of suitable maintenance/operation staff.

Proper budgetary for planned short, and medium term maintenance.
ALL CONSERVATION WORK:

Detailed recording of artefact before, during and after conservation work
especially by measured drawing and photographing. Secure and stable
long term storage of records.

Proper specification of all stages of work following careful consideration
of what is appropriate, and inappropriate, on the basis of the definition
of Historic Importance (2.1).
Eur Ing. G.J.O. Wallis C. Eng. MIMechE
Consultant
(December 1988 revised August 2010)
Geoff Wallis Conservation
Tamar House,
14 Broncksea Road,
Bristol, BS7 0SE
Tel & Fax: 0117-9697815
Mob: 0758-4060806
E: gwconservation@gmail.com
W: www.gwconservation.com
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