Results are presented from the monitoring of internal and external temperature and relative humidity, and surface temperature and resistance of the Roman mosaics at Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight, since July 1994. Changes in surface resistance generally reflect changes in surface temperature, but longer- term trends appear to indicate cycles of wetting and drying of the mosaics.
58/94
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AT ST ALBANS ABBEY: FIRST
REPORT ON MEASUREMENT OF VISIBLE AND ULTRA-
VIOLET
LIGHT FALLING ON WALL PAINTINGS
Barry Knight BA MSc DPhil CChem MRSC
Number of pages - 15
Data loggers to record air temperature, relative
humidity, visible and ultra-
violet light have been set up
in St Albans Abbey to monitor light levels falling on two
recently-
restored wall paintings. This is in response to
the discovery that light-
sensitive red lake and indigo
pigments were used, and to concerns that they might start
to fade now that they have been revealed. First results
show that light levels are generally low, but that direct
sunlight with a high ultra-
violet content does fall on the
paintings for about two hours per day in summer. The
significance of these findings is discussed, as is the
question of what are acceptable light levels for wall
paintings.
62/94
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AT DOVER CASTLE, KENT
Barry Knight BA MSc DPhil CChem MRSC
Number of pages - 15
The results of monitoring temperature and relative humidity at four locations within Dover Castle, Kent, are presented: these are Hellfire Corner, the 'Live and let's spy' exhibition, the Battle of Waterloo Diorama and the casemate containing Queen Elizabeth's Pocket Pistol (a large 16th century bronze cannon). Recommendations are made for improvements to the environment.
63/94
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AT BATTLE ABBEY, EAST SUSSEX
Barry Knight BA MSc DPhil CChem MRSC
Number of pages - 17
Results of monitoring temperature and relative humidity in the display cases in the Gatehouse at Battle Abbey, East Sussex, since 1991 are reviewed, and recommendations for the quantities of desiccated or buffered silica gel to be placed in each case are made. The use of adequate quantities of correctly conditioned silica gel has resulted in a general improvement in the stability of the relative humidity in each case.