The Shortlist: Deene Park | The Collections Award 2024 | Historic Houses x Dreweatts

Deene Park is a stunning estate with over 600 years of history. Various families leased the property until it was acquired in 1514 by Sir Robert Brudenell (1461-1531) and has remained in the Brudenell family line ever since. At the heart of the collection at Deene Park is the Tresham-Brudenell library. The library of Sir Thomas Tresham (1543 1605) was one of the largest in England of its time and it is believed that a portion of the library residing at Deene Park may well have been a dowry from the Tresham family for his youngest daughter, Mary Tresham, who married Thomas Brudenell in 1605. The 2,000 books consist of the latest works on architecture, mathematics, astronomy and science, Catholic theology and devotion, and a wide range of works on history and literature. The books are written in Greek, Roman, German, French, Spanish, Italian and English. The care of the collection of books is paramount. Each day new discoveries and interpretations mean that the collection can be opened to wider audiences.

This year’s judging panel includes Julie Montagu, Hatta Byng, Will Fisher, Will Richards, and Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE. They are on the look-out, not for the ‘best’ collection, but rather for the most compelling story of custodianship.

Over the summer, Julie Montagu, (also known as American Viscountess) visited Deene Park to learn more about their collection and the essential conservation work they do to safeguard it for the future.

The winner of this year's Historic Houses Collections Award (which is sponsored annually by Dreweatts) will be announced this November. Stay tuned over the coming weeks as we announce the shortlist!

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