The first ‘Camberwell-Saint Catherine’s’ conservation research project, the Condition Assessment Survey of the Bound Manuscript collection was undertaken under the auspices of the University of the Arts London – Camberwell College of Arts, a European centre of conservation excellence. Between November 2001 and March 2006, 35 conservators made 15 visits to the monastery in teams of four to six. They recorded details of 3,307 manuscripts in what must have been the largest and most comprehensive survey of a manuscript collection.

Angela Kraft and Lara Speroni at work, February 2004.

The survey has provided a detailed picture of the condition of the manuscripts at Saint Catherine’s, as well as a record against which any further continuing deterioration can be measured. Conservators can now make accurate estimates of the conservation work required for individual books. They have the ability to prioritise and organise conservation work, so that the most important and most vulnerable material can be treated first, with as little waste of resources as possible.

Members of the February 2004 Camberwell-Saint Catherine's conservation team pictured at the monastery: Thanasis Velios (far left, Research Fellow, Camberwell College of Arts, London), Angela Kraft (Public Record Office, Kew), Lara Speroni (freelance) and Bob Proctor (Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge).

The project leader was Professor Nicholas Pickwoad, Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts London, External Lecturer at the University of Oxford, fellow of the International Institute of Conservation and advisor to the National Trust of Great Britain.