Preserving Halling’s Hidden Medieval Treasures
We first visited St John the Baptist Church in Halling back in 2018, when the remarkable 13th-century wall paintings initially caught our attention.
A condition assessment and conservation report was commissioned by Philip Badman, Treasurer of the PCC at St John the Baptist Church, Halling, following concerns about the deteriorating state of the church’s rare 13th-century wall paintings, thought to form part of a Passion Cycle. Over time, water damage and accumulated dust had left many of the scenes barely visible, with the central Crucifixion sadly lost.
Despite their historic importance, the murals had been largely overlooked in standard references on medieval English art. The PCC began exploring options for cleaning and conserving the paintings, aiming to ensure their long-term stability and improve their legibility.
The proposed conservation work was intended to address areas of plaster detachment and water staining, while also enhancing the overall presentation. Plans included improvements to the lighting and the addition of interpretive signage to help visitors better understand and appreciate these significant but often forgotten medieval artworks.
Now, in 2025, we are back to complete stabilisation and restoration of these hidden pieces of English heritage.
