Services

Practical support tailored to the needs of historic houses, estates and cultural organisations.

Emergency Readiness & Resilience

Helping organisations prepare confidently for incidents affecting collections, historic interiors and buildings.

  • Historic houses and cultural organisations face a wide range of risks, from water ingress and environmental incidents to accidental damage, severe weather and operational disruption. While emergencies cannot always be prevented, careful preparation can significantly reduce their impact.

    Caryatid works with organisations to strengthen preparedness through practical, proportionate planning tailored to the character of each property and the resources available to its team.

    Support may include the development of emergency and salvage plans, identification of collection priorities, risk assessments, response procedures, staff guidance and preparedness exercises. Particular emphasis is placed on creating clear, usable documentation that can support confident decision-making during an incident.

    Drawing on extensive experience within working historic environments, Caryatid understands the importance of balancing preparedness with the day-to-day realities of operating heritage sites.

    Whether reviewing existing arrangements or developing a plan from the outset, the aim is to help organisations build resilience and respond effectively when incidents occur.

Collections Care

Practical support for the management and care of collections within active heritage environments.

  • Collections are at the heart of many historic houses and cultural organisations, yet caring for them often involves balancing conservation needs with public access, interpretation, events and operational demands.

    Caryatid provides practical advice and support to help organisations understand, manage and care for collections within active heritage environments.

    Support may include collections assessments, environmental monitoring, object handling procedures, documentation projects, inventories, storage reviews and advice relating to loans and exhibitions.

    Rather than applying standard solutions, recommendations are tailored to the significance of collections, the character of the property and the needs of the people responsible for their care.

    The focus is on helping organisations develop sustainable approaches that support both preservation and engagement.

Filming Preparedness & Heritage Protection

Helping estates balance filming opportunities with the protection of heritage assets.

  • Filming can provide valuable opportunities for historic houses and estates, generating income, raising profile and introducing new audiences to heritage sites. However, productions can also present risks to collections, interiors, historic fabric and day-to-day operations.

    Having managed a wide range of filming activity within a major historic property, Caryatid understands both the needs of production teams and the responsibilities of those caring for heritage assets.

    Support may include filming readiness reviews, risk assessments, site protection strategies, guidance on collections and object movement, liaison with production teams and advice on managing complex filming activity within historic environments.

    The aim is not simply to reduce risk, but to help organisations approach filming with confidence, ensuring heritage assets remain protected while enabling successful and commercially beneficial productions.

Exhibitions & Interpretation

Supporting exhibitions and interpretation that bring collections and stories to life.

  • Thoughtful exhibitions and interpretation help visitors connect with collections, places and stories in meaningful ways. Whether developing a temporary exhibition, refreshing existing displays or exploring new approaches to interpretation, Caryatid works with organisations to create engaging experiences that are rooted in the significance of their heritage assets.

    Support may include exhibition planning and development, object selection, narrative development, interpretation writing, loans management and installation support. Particular emphasis is placed on making the most of existing collections and resources, helping organisations deliver high-quality visitor experiences that are both achievable and sustainable.

    The aim is to create interpretation and exhibitions that are engaging, accessible and authentic, while respecting the character of the historic environment.