‘Secret squirrel’ restored to rare tapestry amid major restoration works

The tapestry underwent £140,000 of restoration works after sustaining years of damage

(Barry Batchelor/National Trust/PA)

A “secret squirrel” that had worn off a rare 17th century Flemish tapestry has been restored to its rightful place among the foliage as part of major repair works on a pair of tapestries on display at the National Trust’s Dyrham Park estate near Bath.

The red squirrel was originally woven with wool and silk on the large Enghien tapestry, but disappeared after it sustained years of damage.

Both tapestries underwent £140,000 specialist cleaning and repair works before being returned to the estate ahead of its reopening in mid-May.

Eilidh Auckland, property curator at Dyrham Park, said: “It’s just brilliant to have these amazing tapestries back and looking fantastic.”

“There had been some splitting and loss of detail due to the application of adhesives on old repairs and patches replacing parts so it’s wonderful to see them back to their former glory and with the added bonus of a new squirrel.

“The tapestries appear more cohesive while also being protected for the future.”

The squirrel’s absence was spotted by textile conservators undertaking the work in Norfolk who noticed a gap in the wool weft of the lower border.

(Barry Batchelor/National Trust/PA)

They compared it to other tapestries in the set and discerned that a squirrel had once hidden there among the leaves.

The tapestries were found to be “soiled, heavily stained and light damaged” when they arrived in Norfolk, with “large areas of loss”.

Brittle adhesives were removed from them using a process involving solvent application and a specialist vacuum suction.

The tapestries were then taken to Belgium for wet cleaning, before being returning to Norfolk for intense conservation stitching work.

The complete tapestries depict the fountains and parterres of the gardens at Enghien near Brussels. They are one of only two sets of their type in the UK.

They now hang, restored, on the walls of the Tapestry Bedchamber on the first floor of Dyrham house.