Ballot Archive

31 Oct 2024

Candidate Details

Candidate Name

Matthew Hirst

Academic degrees, honours etc.

MA Historic Interiors & Decorative Arts , University of Buckingham BA (Hons) History of Art, University of Buckingham

Profession or occupation

Curator, Woburn Abbey & Gardens

Grounds for election

Matthew Hirst has served as senior curator to three pre-eminent private country house collections - Waddesdon Manor (2000-07), Chatsworth House (2007-15), and Woburn Abbey (2015 - present), overseeing the historical research and implementation of conservation projects as part of the masterplans of the last two houses. This gives him over 15 years experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary, restoration and conservation projects within family-owned historic houses, which requires sensitivity and tact as well as a deep understanding of the subject. He has researched and published guidebooks, essays and scholarly articles on aspects of these projects, notably on furniture, upholstery and decoration, and currently serves as a Trustee of the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (since 2020) and the Leche Trust (since 2022).

Signatories

The following Fellows have signed this Blue Paper