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Avebury Manor

In 2009 the National Trust, along with celebrated interior designer Russell Sage, embarked upon an innovative and ambitious project. Nine rooms were decorated and furnished in four distinct period styles from the 500-year history of Avebury Manor. The process was recorded for a TV series by the BBC under the title 'The Manor Reborn'.

The National Trust realised that it would have been prohibitively expensive to make new tapestries so Zardi & Zardi was commissioned to source and print images taken from appropriate historical references. It was decided copies of the Abraham Tapestries from the Great Hall at Hampton Court would be most appropriate. Zardi & Zardi had previously worked on these tapestries for Historic Royal Palaces and special permission was granted to the National Trust to use them at Avebury Manor.

Photographs were digitally manipulated so proportions could be adjusted to fit into the Tudor Parlour and each design printed on to heavyweight linen. There was debate over the strength of colour to be used. Should the tapestries be as bright as the originals were when made 450 years ago or should they be mellowed to indicate the effects of the passing of time: wood smoke from the fire and sunlight through the windows?