BBC Two unearths the fascinating, and occasionally scandalous, stories behind two distinct National Trust properties in this week’s episode of “Hidden Treasures.”
At Knole House, ancestral seat of the Sackville family, conservators work to preserve a life-sized nude statue of 18th-century ballerina Giovana Zanerini, a commission by her lover, John Frederick. The program also examines a collection of exceptionally fragile 400-year-old animal skin parchments, kept rolled up for years due to their delicate nature.
Meanwhile, at Townend, a traditional Lake District farmhouse, the focus shifts to the Browne family’s archive, including a volume of 18th-century letters undergoing restoration using time-honored bookbinding techniques. Scientific paint analysis reveals the home’s original Victorian color scheme, peeling back the layers of time to reveal its earlier appearance.
“Hidden Treasures of the National Trust” airs Friday, 23 May at 9:00 PM BST on BBC Two.
