Ickworth Estate to star in Hidden Treasures of the National Trust

Ickworth Estate, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk is to take centre stage as one of a handful of properties appearing in the new series of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust from BBC Arts, as it returns for another look behind the scenes at some of the country's most beautiful and historic houses.

Scheduled for 9pm on BBC Two and iPlayer from 15 May, the programme will reveal new and compelling stories about the work going on behind the scenes to look after incredible objects and properties and the passionate staff and volunteers who care for them.

Ickworth Estate will appear in episode two, alongside Attingham Park in Shropshire, scheduled to air on Friday 22 May and will focus on a delicate watercolour and pastel portrait of Elizabeth Forster, known as Bess, daughter of the 4th Earl of Bristol and more commonly known as the Earl Bishop, and her friend Georgiana Cavendish.

Georgiana was the Duchess of Devonshire by marriage to 5th Duke of Devonshire and one of the most famous women of the 18th century. Their friendship sparked a sensational society scandal when Bess moved into the Devonshire household and began a purported relationship with both the duchess and her husband, the Duke of Devonshire.

“What we know is that some form of approved ménage à trois developed,” explains National Trust Cultural Heritage Curator Louisa Brouwer.

"It was an era where it was common to have extramarital affairs, but even then, it was a society scandal!”

Now, more than 240 years later, the artwork by artist John Downman, is badly stained and structurally unstable. Paper conservator Louise Drover carefully dismantles its delicate layers of paper, washing away centuries of discoloration and stabilising the image.

Louise said; “I can quite honestly say this was one of the most difficult items I've worked on in my entire career. The watercolour is on a fine tissue and during conservation the aim is to separate the tissue layer from the heavier support paper, but I discovered during the treatment that it wasn’t possible. It had not only lost all its structural strength, but was also fractured in places, rendering it extremely fragile. The two had to be treated together, adding further risks.”

The team hoped the conservation might also uncover new clues about who commissioned the portrait known as ‘The Two Duchesses of Devonshire’ - and what it might tell us about this extraordinary relationship.

National Trust Cultural Heritage Curator Louisa Brouwer says “It seems most likely that Bess herself commissioned this intimate and rare full-length double portrait of herself and her dear companion Georgiana, explaining why the picture eventually ended up at Ickworth, where it remains to this day.

As such, it represents a rare glimpse into the true nature of their friendship and perhaps confirms that theirs was a lifelong relationship of mutual support, love and respect between two of the 18th century’s most infamous female figures.”

Also to feature in the episode are the two ‘Election Dresses’, worn by Lady Margorie and Lady Phyllis Hervey for the 1906 election in which their father Captain Frederick Hervey, later 4th Marquess of Bristol, stood and won the Bury St Edmunds seat.

The distinctive party dresses, one pink one white, are believed to have been designed and hand-painted by the girls’ mother, Lady Theodora, 4th Marchioness of Bristol and are decorated with symbols representing the policies and ideologies that Frederick championed during his campaign.

Abbi Lang, General Manager for Ickworth Estate says “We are incredibly excited that the series will showcase Ickworth Estate and items from the significant collections we care for here. Ickworth and its history offers more than just a traditional country house; it was, and remains a home of great art.

“It is wonderful that through the BBC’s Hidden Treasures of the National Trust, we can shine a spotlight on the incredible collection and treasures amassed over several years by the Earl Bishop, and his family in the centuries afterwards.”

The programme will be repeated at 7pm on Saturday 23 May and at 8am on Friday 29 May. It is also available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

The watercolour of The Two Duchesses of Devonshire, and the Election Dresses will be on display for visitors at Ickworth Estate daily between 11am – 3pm from 15 May until the end of July.

Ickworth House is set within 1800 acres of rolling parkland and woods in the village of Horringer, just outside Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Originally commissioned in 1795 by the Earl-Bishop, Frederick Augustus Hervey - the 4th Earl of Bristol - the East and West Wings of the house were intended to display the significant art treasures he collected during 30 years of 'grand tours' around Europe.

Today the unusual building is still a place of discovery for all and continues to house an incredible collection of art. Ickworth’s central Rotunda is an iconic sight on the Suffolk skyline.

For more information and to plan a visit, go to nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth-estate