Precious things need special care, so they can be enjoyed today and by future generations. Hog & Fitch Conservation Cleaning and Collections Care find the best approach for looking after your historic objects and interiors. Whether it’s in museums, galleries, churches, historic houses or private homes, we love our work and have a passion and care for everything we do.
“I have really enjoyed working on the volunteer sessions with Margaret and Angela and have learnt a lot. Both have the expertise to complete a project exceptionally well.”
Mel Winstanley, volunteer, December 2015
“Hog & Fitch certainly achieved their brief: a delicate balance between removing enough dirt, to allow a condition assessment/minimise deterioration, and maintaining that which shows the working life of these wonderful carts. They carefully planned each piece of work, showing great attention to detail, and I look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Fiona Green, Project Manager, High Lickbarrow, National Trust, June 2016
“What an incredible piece of work!…The two of you should be so incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved, both in respect of your work, but also in respect of the future care of the…collection.”
Collections Manager, National Trust, July 2020
“We now have a very long wish list of equipment, but I think the best investment was having you both at Arley for the day, so thank you very much.”
Custodian, Arley Hall, February 2017
“The Church looks wonderful. Thank you.”
Churchwarden, St Michael and All Angels, Addingham, December 2019
“Thank you for a marvellous morning with you. So impressed with your professionalism and presentation.”
Carol Davies, Curator, Kendal Museum, November 2016
“Very many thanks for the really useful and detailed condition diagrams and photos of the Pin Mill floor. I was really impressed by the level of detail in your report. We’re planning to open the Pin Mill later this year, so it is fantastic to have such a good baseline for condition monitoring.”
Siobhan Watts, Conservator, National Trust, March 2019
“Levens Methodist Church have been very pleased and impressed with the excellent work Hog and Fitch did in cleaning woodwork and stained glass to highlight the beauty of the wooden and glass features in the church. The result enhances the whole appearance of the Church and is valued especially when we meet for worship. on Sunday mornings. We now feel very confident about its future care”
Irene McKay, Church Council Secretary, Levens Methodist Church, April 2016
“A significant part of the Lindisfarne Castle project was the cleaning, packing and removal of the collections, and of course their safe storage. Hog and Fitch were invaluable in this work. They prepared the storage area in advance of the collections arriving, worked closely with the volunteers and staff from different properties, who were cleaning, packing and documenting the collections, and supported the careful documentation of the work throughout. It was a great help to know that they were organising and managing the storage end of the project.”
John Wynn Griffiths ACR, NT Regional Conservator North, November 2016
“We would strongly recommend Hog & Fitch’s services to all who have treasured objects needing conservation cleaning and wish Angela and Margaret every success in their new venture. Both have many years of experience in the area of conservation and our objects have benefited greatly as a result.”
Private collector, North West England, April 2016
“It was a fantastic introduction to conservation and gave us a brilliant general insight into all the areas that we need to bear in mind when caring for a historic house. It was all relevant and just the right level of detail to give us plenty of things to think about and how we can improve what we do, and yet not overwhelming. I think the whole team found it really interesting and relevant, and are inspired to try and implement your methods.”
Custodian, Arley Hall, January 2017
“Angela and Margaret from Hog & Fitch were organised, thorough and professional. Our Book Store has been brought up to national standards and we can now easily view all the books, ensuring their correct future care. We would certainly be happy to have them work here again.”
Felicity Wheeler, House Steward (collections), National Trust, Cragside, July 2017
“After completing a MA in heritage studies and moving into work within the sector I was keen to gain some practical experience and to develop my knowledge of conservation activities. Hog and Fitch’s workshops proved to be just what I wanted. Both Margaret and Angela’s combined expertise in conservation cleaning gave me a good deal of insight into the standards and procedures undertaken in the field, particularly with references being made to their work with the national trust. Becoming an employee of the trust myself, I hope I may be able to put what I have learnt from their informative and enjoyable workshops into good use. I feel any company, firm or person who wishes for their buildings or precious objects to be conserved may rest assured that all would be in a safe pair of hands. “
Peter Dilley, volunteer and heritage studies student, May 2016
“We were thrilled to unwrap our pieces of metalwork and see the result of many hours of care and attention given to each of them. Old polish has been carefully removed allowing the interesting detail to be clearly seen. Margaret and Angela consulted us at each stage of the cleaning and we are delighted with their work. “
Private collector, North West England, June 2016
“I have had the privilege of working with Hog & Fitch over the past 4 months during extensive work at Auckland Castle.The training was so in depth, the knowledge and professionalism really shone through. Their humour and positive attitude was there even through really tough days. My personal thanks to them for instilling the importance of what we did and we’ll try to maintain the high level they expect. Thanks, Ladies.”
Rob Scott, The Auckland Project, September 2019
“I really enjoyed the morning cleaning at Blackwell - best bit was that you could see the difference after such a short time. It was a real sense of achievement.”
Participant at Blackwell staff work day, January 2015
“I would strongly recommend their skills as I was delighted with the time and care they gave to some of my treasures.”
Private collector, North West England, June 2016
“When faced with the salvage situation the only reassurance was the practical training we had received. Without this we wouldn’t have been able to work calmly, professionally and efficiently to save the collection.”
Emma Burnell, former National Trust salvage team member, June 2016
“I enjoyed helping out - it was therapeutic cleaning such beautiful wood and I found your enthusiasm and dedication to the job in hand very inspiring.”
Participant in Blackwell staff work day, January 2015
“I was expecting them just to tidy up the embarrassingly neglected outside of the cabinet: cleaning it, and hopefully hiding at least some of the scratches & dents. But they took an enormous interest in the whole…I am delighted with the result in every way - the work of true conservation cleaners - thank you, Hog & Fitch.”
Private client, North West England, October 2016
“Thanks so much for making such a lovely job of the Footprint ceiling, it looks amazing WITHOUT spiders’ webs!”