There is growing concern surrounding the aesthetic and physical effects of microbial biofilms on heritage buildings and monuments. Carboniferous stones, such as limestone and marble, are soluble in weak acid solutions and therefore particularly vulnerable to biocorrosion. This paper aims to determine the differences and commonalities between the microbiome of physically damaged and undamaged Lincolnshire limestone, an area of research which has not been previously studied. A lack of information about the core microbiome has resulted in conflicting claims in the literature regarding the biodeteriorative potential of many microorganisms. To address this, we used metagenomics alongside traditional microbiological techniques to produce an in-depth analysis of differences between the bacterial microbiomes found on deteriorated and undamaged external limestone surfaces. We demonstrate there is a core microbiome on Lincolnshire limestone present on both damaged and undamaged surfaces. In addition to the core microbiome, significant differences were found between species isolated from undamaged compared to damaged surfaces. Isolated species were characterised for biofilm formation and biodeteriorative processes, resulting in the association of species with biodeterioration that had not been previously described. Additionally, we have identified a previously undescribed method of biofilm-associated biomechanical damage. This research adds significant new understanding to the field, aiding decision making in conservation of stone surfaces.

The refurbishment of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel (formerly the Midland Grand Hotel) provided a unique opportunity to investigate the interior design history of this iconic London landmark. During the refurbishment, wallpapers were uncovered from the initial decorative schemes of the hotel in the 1870s and from later interior design schemes until the building's closure in the 1980s. This article demonstrates how the CoBRA (Conservation-based Research and Analysis) methodology can be applied to increase our understanding of the history of interiors. The conservation process adds a new perspective to the historiography of the papered interior and its significance in the interior design process. By combining archival research with access to the original wallpapers during the retrieval and subsequent conservation process, it has been possible to construct an account of this commercial building's decorative schemes. Many of the earliest wallpapers were supplied by Jeffrey and Co., a London firm that worked with William Morris and other prominent designers. The wallpapers illustrate how the approach to the interior design of this building evolved over time, moving away from the Gothic Revival style of interior.

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Mr Straw’s House inWorksop, Nottinghamshire, is a time capsule of social\ud history, housing a wide ranging collection of personal ephemera and everyday\ud items dating from the 1900s to the1980s. Now cared for by the National\ud Trust, the house’s historical importance lies in its exhibition of this wide\ud range of everyday items. It displays the family’s middle-class possessions,\ud and gives a sense of the modernisation and development of household\ud brands. However some of these historical everyday items may pose\ud health risks to staff and visitors, and particular concern was raised about\ud the chemical containers present at the property. While pesticides added\ud to objects have been discussed in some detail in previous studies, very\ud little information is available about what factors to consider when treating\ud objects where the hazardous chemicals are an integral part of the object’s\ud use and history. Therefore a project involving the National Trust and the\ud University of Lincoln’s Conservation Department was undertaken to identify\ud and conserve the contents and containers of the collection from Mr\ud Straw’s House. This article discusses the analyses of the contents and\ud how these were then treated