A CONSERVATOR from BBC’s The Repair Shop has been helping to conserve precious altar frontals at Salisbury Cathedral.

Rebecca Bissonnet, who has become a familiar face on the popular TV show The Repair Shop, was brought in to assess the cathedral’s altar frontal collection a few years ago and to prepare a plan moving forward to keep the frontals in the best kept condition.

The work is part of ongoing conservation project across a wide range of the textiles in the cathedral, including the cushions and other fabrics in the quire.

Ms Bissonnet’s latest work saw her cleaning and repairing the frontals while checking for any wear and tear.

This involved a surface clean and a mechanical clean, which involved using make-up sponges to dab off any smoke residue from burning candles and incense that the fabric had absorbed over the years.

“Some of the fabric used to make the flame design was beginning to rip, so a technique Rebecca used to repair the fabric, without replacing it, is overlaying, where transparent netting is placed over the fabric to protect it and provide support with minimal intervention,” a spokesperson for the cathedral said.

Ms Bissonnet said: “Salisbury Cathedral has an amazing collection of altar frontals which, as an embroidery as well as a textile conservator I am very excited to be working on.

Ms Bissonnet has been working with Salisbury Cathedral for a number of years Picture: Martin Cook

“These working textiles were in need of a clean, which I did using low-powered vacuum suction to remove surface soiling.

“Next I mechanically cleaned using dry sponges to lift ingrained dirt, so they can continue their very busy working life.”

The reverend canon treasurer Kenneth Padley said: “It’s great to have Rebecca here in Salisbury with such excellent expertise, to help us preserve and protect these beautiful altar frontals so they can be used and enjoyed for many years to come.”

The altar frontal was made in the 1980s by Jane Lemon and the Sarum Group Embroiderers Guild, who worked on ecclesiastical embroidery in and around Salisbury.

These designs were made combining machine and hand-sewn techniques and are part of the current working collection at the cathedral.