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Liveryman Graham Marley appears in BBC Two’s Hidden Treasures of the National Trust
Conservator Graham Marley, a liveryman of ours, was recently featured in Series 3, Episode 1 of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust on BBC Two. The episode, which aired as part of the documentary series, highlighted conservation work at historic properties once inhabited by celebrated writers including Beatrix Potter, T. E. Lawrence, and Henry James.
Filmed at Lamb House in Rye – former residence of both Henry James and E. F. Benson – Graham was shown conserving a 19th-century secretaire attributed to the house’s historic furnishings. Although he had already completed much of the restoration work prior to filming, Graham was invited to contribute on camera, offering viewers a rare glimpse into the skill and craftsmanship involved in furniture conservation.
The secretaire, veneered in a fine book-matched timber and originally mounted with gilded brass (ormolu) fittings, required a range of complex treatments. Graham addressed multiple conservation challenges including the repair of veneer losses, adjustment of worn hinge pivots, fabrication of replacement keys, and careful cleaning of ormolu elements that had been heavily abraded over time. A significant portion of the filmed segment focused on the subtle toning of sun-bleached areas and the application of traditional wax finishes.
“Although my appearance is limited to around four minutes out of several hours of filming, I was pleased that the programme helped to highlight the level of detail and dedication that goes into conserving pieces of this nature,” Graham said.
This was not Graham’s first involvement with the Hidden Treasures series. He previously participated in conservation work filmed at Sissinghurst and was briefly visible in an earlier episode during the reinstallation of a portrait of Lady Astor at Cliveden.