Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery Bed

This four-poster 17th Century bed had been examined as part of a furniture survey carried out at Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery in 2015. As there was significant movement between the joints of the foot posts, the weight of the tester (the roof or canopy) of the bed and the slope of the floor was causing the whole upper frame to lean significantly away from the wall. A frame was built to support the tester, allowing for the posts to be removed. These were brought back to the workshop, and the joints tightened up and re-glued. As one post was missing some decorative moulding, a replacement was made and fitted. Once done, these were reinstated under the tester, the temporary frame removed, and packing pieces installed under the posts to compensate for the sloping floor. The work was generously funded by The Friends of Astley Hall group.