The Painted Tower: Conservation in Context at Longthorpe

26 Feb – 27 May 2026 
Project Space, Floor 2

Explore the creation and conservation of Longthorpe Tower’s medieval wall paintings.

This display offers an insight into The Courtauld’s current collaboration with English Heritage to conserve the remarkable fourteenth-century wall paintings in Longthorpe Tower in Peterborough. Drawing on material from our National Wall Paintings Survey archive, the display will showcase the pioneering role of The Courtauld’s Conservation Department in safeguarding Britain’s wall paintings and the peculiar challenges of caring for paintings attached to historic buildings.  

Exploring the creation of Longthorpe’s exceptionally complete scheme of medieval decoration, the display will illuminate the ways in which wall paintings were influenced by other contemporary art forms and used to communicate with their audiences. Recounting the story of the scheme’s creation and rediscovery, we will examine the evolution of approaches to conserving wall paintings and demonstrate how an understanding of the paintings’ physical history helps inform their preservation into the future. 

This display is included in the Permanent Collection or Permanent Collection + Exhibition ticket. Tickets go on sale in 2026. Sign up to our newsletter to be among the first to hear about exhibitions, events and news.