“‘I who am something of a lover of antiquities must be a very great admirer of Knole. I think it the most interesting thing in England. It is pleasant to have preserved in one place the succession of the several tastes of ages. This is not the sort of place which every banker, contractor, or nabob can create at his pleasure.”

— Edmund Burke, c1790

Date: Jan - Mar 2013 and Apr - June 2014
Client: National Trust
Funder: National Trust & Heritage Lottery Fund
Visitor experience: National Trust consultancy
Interpretation and content development: Devorah Moritz working with NT

KNOLE, SEVENOAKS, KENT

Project context

Knole is a complex and fascinating historic house and park - one of the most significant sites in the National Trust's portfolio. It is undergoing a five-year high profile conservation project.

A grade I listed property, former Archbishop's palace and home to the Sackville family since the 17th century, Knole sits within a medieval deer park with rich and diverse ecology. It houses extraordinary collections, including royal furniture, many of which are the only surviving examples of their kind and have been displayed here for centuries.

Role

I developed the interpretive approach for the successful National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) round 2 application in collaboration with Dee Halligan and the National Trust project team. Subsequent work agreed messaging to be used across content, learning, and marketing teams and to inform design briefs. This capitalised on Knole's unique nature, which has been likened to a town more than a house.

Impact

This work contributed to the successful NLHF round 2 application and subsequent project content and design developments.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/knole/knoles-inspirational-project#