Collection: Historic Royal Palaces

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  HRP owns a relatively small but highly relevant and significant collection. Currently, there are over 35,000 object records catalogued on the museum CMS which approximately represents more than 200,000 objects when bulk accessioning and group lots are accounted for.

  The majority are directly related to the palaces and derive their national and international significance from the Historic Royal Palaces themselves. These have been acquired either by transfer from the former Department of the Environment (the palaces’ previous administrators on behalf of HM The King) or, since HRP’s establishment, acquired for display or research according to this policy and its predecessors.

  Important events in the history of this relatively young collection include the establishment of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection (pre-dating the Historic Royal Palaces Agency in 1989), the influential historic re-presentations of King William III’s State Apartments and the Tudor Kitchens at Hampton Court, the King’s State Apartments at Kensington Palace, in the 1990s, George III’s Kew Palace and most recently Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.

  Throughout HRP’s recent history, our historic building conservation has added material to its contextual archaeological and architectural collections, as an important research resource. Current collecting seeks out objects which enhance our strategy to be more inclusive, and include objects associated with more of the diverse people who made, visited and lived in these palaces.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2025

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  HRP’s collections are divided into several functional areas. Each area of the collection is further divided by areas of curatorial responsibility and expertise. The headings below represent how collections are organised for collections development, research, public display and access.

  Archaeology

  The archaeology collection contains more than 4500 CMS Records which represent around 172,000 objects at item level, all of which are linked to contextual archival data. Objects are collected from archaeological monitoring, evaluation, historic building recording projects, and archaeological excavations undertaken at all HRP sites and their estates, including additional areas previously covered by the lost palace at Whitehall. This includes archaeological work undertaken by HRP predecessor organisations.

  The value of the archaeology collection and archive not only lies in its use as a research tool, but also for the enjoyment and education of our audiences. The objects in the archaeology collection help to further our understanding of the buildings and the people who inhabited and worked in them and to bring their stories to life, especially those who are otherwise often undocumented.

  The archaeology collection also provides important insights into the uses of these places before the palaces were built, such as Anglo-Saxon Whitehall, Roman London, and the prehistory of southeast England. As such, the collection has important local significance, as well as some which are of national and international importance.

  New objects are added to this collection frequently, as new archaeological investigations occur regularly. Not all materials collected or created during the course of archaeological projects require retention but are selected using the Archaeological Archive Selection Strategy and is guided by Archaeological Archives Forum, Chartered institute of Archaeologists and Historic England standards and guidelines.

  Architectural Drawings

  The Architectural Drawings Collection (ADC) is an archive of survey, design, technical, presentation and working drawings for five London palaces in HRP’s care. The Collection principally supports HRP’s strategic aim to ‘pass on better the things we look after’. The bulk of the drawings were created by HRP’s predecessor organisations and were inherited by HRP in 1998.

  All of the drawings in the collection are classed as public records under the terms of the Public Records Act 1958 and are held by HRP as a Place of Deposit as designated by The National Archives.

  The ADC is a non-accruing (i.e. closed) collection. New architectural drawings created either digitally or using traditional media are maintained and managed by HRP’s Surveyors of the Fabric team. The ADC has a dedicated archivist-curator.

  Architecture and Buildings

  The architectural decoration and features of our palaces, as well as the fixtures, and fittings, either remaining as part of the fabric of the buildings, removed during repair, or discovered through onsite archaeology, are of great site-specific significance as a unique record of and research resource for the palaces’ construction and development. The collection is an integral part of the physical history of the buildings and grounds, even when they have become detached from the building and been disassociated from their immediate context. The palace context gives value to the objects in the collection and also to the parts of the palaces still extant.

  Many objects in this collection were made by renowned architects, artists or craftspeople, and fixtures and fittings that are less decorative are important evidence of the construction, life and use of the palaces. Some architectural elements can be studied in combination with the archaeology collection and archive, and architectural drawings, to understand parts of the palaces which are no longer extant. Other collection elements are works of art in their own right, including ceiling paintings and murals, and sculptural decoration of the palace buildings.

  This collection also includes in situ inscribed and applied graffiti that has been created over many centuries, often by well-known residents without formal permission, instruction, or commission by a controlling authority.

  New objects are added to the collection frequently as the palaces are conserved, updated, and remodelled. As part of conservation practice and to enhance the environmental sustainability of HRP within building projects, there may occasionally be scope to reinstate or reuse architectural elements within the palace from Permanent and Support Collections where appropriate.

  Visual Arts

  This category includes paintings and works on paper, including all types of drawings, prints, free-standing sculpture, tapestries and embroideries and art photography as well as some contemporary works in various media. Some works of art have a long historic association with a particular palace, forming part of a planned royal interior scheme; most have been acquired in more recent years to support visitor interpretation of the palaces or the lives of their inhabitants, exhibitions, or for research.

  There are two principal narrative areas: topographical works (landscape views of our palaces and gardens and historic scenes set within palace interiors) and portraiture (royalty and individuals associated with our palaces).

  HRP occasionally commissions contemporary works of art and design, in support of new displays or presentations. These artistic collaborations are made to complement and work with the historic collections and interiors and usually support visitor interpretation.

  Books and Manuscripts

  HRP possesses a small collections’ library which includes rare books and manuscripts, and historic archival documents. The majority of these have been acquired for display. There is a sub-collection of important books and historic documents which have been acquired for their direct relevance to palace history and for specific display purposes. Because of their rarity, value, and conservation requirements, or their historic value, these books are all treated and accessioned as items in the Permanent Collection, rather than included in our several research libraries.

  Decorative Arts

  The diverse nature of the objects in this category reflects the fact that the palaces under our care have been lived in or used constantly, in one case for more than a thousand years. This category includes metalwork, glassware and ceramics, paper hangings, decorative textiles (but excludes dress, furnishings, and tapestries) and historic models. These can be of a decorative nature or utilitarian objects valued for their social history significance.

  Some of these objects have been acquired to refurnish historic rooms in order to improve visitors’ understanding of life in the palaces. Objects have also been acquired because of their relevant history, for use in displays which to tell the stories of the people who lived in the palaces. In some cases, the objects in this category have been left behind by former residents and users of the palace.

  HRP also commissions contemporary decorative artworks and design from time to time, as part of new displays or presentations. These are made to complement and work with the historic collections and interiors and are usually created to support the stories and other interpretation presented to visitors.

  Furniture and Furnishings

  The furniture and furnishings collection includes pieces from the 17th to the 21st century. Some pieces were inherited by HRP, and were either made for or have been used in the palaces in their original context. These items of furniture are of site-specific importance because of their provenance and some objects are nationally or internationally significant. Other items of furniture have been acquired because they are known to have been displayed in one of the palaces in a historic context or owned by a person closely associated with one of the palaces.

  Palaces and People – Social History

  The diverse nature of the objects in this category reflects the fact that the six palaces under our care have been lived in or used constantly, in the case of the Tower of London, for more than a thousand years. This collection includes a very wide range of material and content, including letters and postcards, photographic material, newspapers, magazines and cuttings, as well as personal effects and ephemera.

  A special subcategory is our collection of oral history records (in the form of transcriptions and sound recordings), which currently have no other archival home at HRP. By its nature the social history collection includes types of objects that could also be included in other collection categories (such as decorative objects, photographs, prints, portraits) but are more usefully grouped in this part of the collection because of their social and local history content, rather than their media.

  Many of these objects have been found at the palaces or donated by people with palace connections. Others have been acquired because of their relevant provenance, to tell the stories of the people who lived in the palaces or to furnish rooms to improve visitors’ understanding of life in the palaces.

  Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection (RCDC)

  This is an important Arts Council England-designated collection of largely British royal, court and ceremonial dress, established at Kensington Palace in 1984 under HRP’s predecessor, the Department of the Environment, and now based at Hampton Court. The Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at HRP comprises objects from the 16th to the 21st centuries and comprises accessioned collections and significant long-term loans.

  The Royal Collection and individual members of the Royal Family are significant lenders, whose collections care and storage is delegated to HRP. The collection also includes an important long-term loan from the AFH Bowden Settlement of 19th and early 20th century military and ceremonial dress and regalia, and other long-term lenders.

  The principal areas of the RCDC are clothing worn by members of the royal family past and present and clothing worn at the royal court and palaces including court dress; ceremonial dress and uniforms; orders and insignia; related archival material; items used in the production and care of these types of clothes. A particular strength of HRP’s own collection is its growing holdings of dress representing key historical figures, including that of Queen Victoria, and Diana, Princess of Wales.

  The collection has a designated curator who manages the collection day to day and facilitates access and research to the collection by appointment.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2025

  Licence: CC BY-NC