DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT DCMS 179/98 3 August 1998 HISTORIC HEVENINGHAM HALL FURNITURE COLLECTION TO BE DISPLAYED AT HEATON HALL, NR MANCHESTER The magnificent 18th-century Heveningham Hall furniture collection is to be returned to public display after years under wraps, Culture Secretary Chris Smith announced today. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which owns the collection, has negotiated a 7-year loan agreement with Manchester City Art Galleries to display the furniture at Heaton Hall, near Manchester. The furniture collection is one of the most important 18th-century ensembles in the country. It was designed by James Wyatt for Heveningham Hall, Suffolk, a Grade I listed building. The furniture has been in storage in English Heritage's care at Audley End, Essex since 1991. Heaton Hall, also Grade I listed, was Wyatt's first major house. The Hall, which is managed by Manchester City Art Galleries, was opened to the public in 1902. A small number of items from the Heveningham Hall collection are already displayed there. The remainder of the furniture will be displayed over three phases, with the first expected to go on view later this month. Chris Smith said: "I am delighted that people will once again be able to see this splendid furniture collection in an appropriate historic context. In the future, I hope it will be possible to display the collection in its original setting at Heveningham Hall, but in the meantime this loan agreement has major advantages. It secures significant public access, as Heaton Hall is open from Easter to September each year. It also ensures that the furniture will be preserved within controlled environmental conditions." Virginia Tandy, Manchester's Director of Art Galleries and Museums Services, said: "With this wonderful collection adding to the furnishings at Heaton Hall, visitors will get an even better picture of how the house looked in the 18th century. Heaton Hall will also become a major centre for the study of furniture by James Wyatt. We are grateful to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for arranging this loan and pleased to facilitate public access to the Heveningham Hall furniture." Notes to Editors 1. Heveningham Hall, Suffolk, was built 1778-80 by Sir Robert Taylor for Sir Gerald Vanneck, 2nd Baron Huntingfield, with interiors c.1781-84 by James Wyatt and grounds by Capability Brown. In 1970 the Government bought the Hall, the essential furniture and 470 acres of the grounds to keep the unity of the 18th-century design intact. The Hall and grounds were managed by the National Trust until 1981, when the Secretary of State for the Environment sold it back into private ownership. The sale did not include the furniture collection, which remained in the Secretary of State's ownership in order to keep it in its setting and allow some public access. A loan agreement for the furniture was entered into with the Hall's owner. 2. Heveningham Hall was sold again in 1994. It has not been possible to reach agreement with the present owners to display the furniture collection in its original setting. However, provisions have been made within the loan agreement should the position change. A small number of fixture items belonging to the collection remain at the Hall. The Department will be discussing with the owners the future of these remaining items. 3. The Heveningham Hall furniture collection includes console tables, painted chairs, beds, bergeres, chandeliers, pier glasses, pictures, textiles and sculptures. While the collection is on display at Heaton Hall, environmental and condition monitoring will be carried out by English Heritage. 4. Heaton Hall is in Heaton Park, off Middleton Road in North Manchester. The Hall is open Easter - September each year, Wednesday - Saturday / Bank Holidays 10.00 am - 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm - 5.00 pm; Sunday 2.00 pm - 5.30 pm. Admission is free. Tel: 0161 773 1231 (Wed-Sun) / 0161 236 5244. David Dawson email: [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - Outreach Manager - ICT Museum Documentation Association MDA WEB SITE - http://www.open.gov.uk/mdocassn/index.htm MDA Conference - The Cultural Grid - Content and Connections, Sept 9-11 1998 now booking fast - see http://www.open.gov.uk/mdocassn/manch1.htm