dk nkf - Nordisk Konservatorforbund Danmark

Figure 8. Wigmore Castle after conservation. Photo by Jeffery L. Thomas 2002.
significance of this project was that the castle was
consolidated as it was in a ruined state. Like the
inductor coil the function had changed and this was
incorporated into the conservation treatment. After
conservation the site looked little different than it did
before the project started (figure 9). This approach
was decided because the ‘romantic ruins’ of the castle
were such an integral part of the landscape and the
experience had by visitors.
This experience is important as people feel a
connection with the past [13]. There are other
examples of castles from this period which are
presented in a state of restoration yet the experience
had is not the same. A fully restored structure lacks
the sense of decay that some find desirable and also
a sense of discovering a place seemingly untouched
by the modern day. Thus, it was the goal of English
Heritage to prevent the ruins from collapsing while
preserving not only the material fabric but also the
sense of place it created.
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Conclusion
Some objects need to be seen performing their
intended function in order to be fully appreciated and
experienced. Yet function is not simply a mechanical
concept; it can go beyond the physical material.
An object’s function can also be to give a sense of
nostalgia, an experience of discovery, or they can
act as portals into the unknown. Simply put the
experience is part of an object’s function; therefore
this value must be incorporated into the conservation
of the place or object.
In the case of this Ducretet inductor coil the function and
value of the object have gone from that of a scientific
instrument, to an example of industrial innovation from
times gone by, to that of a visual oddity appreciated for
its aesthetics and impact on the senses.
What is so innovative about this approach of leaving
the coil in a deteriorated state, is the way it attempts
to deal with the ever increasing demands being