About the Collections
Above: Chirk Castle, continuously
occupied for 700 years, home to just one of over 200
National Trust Collections.
Discover and view the national inventory
of Collections at all National Trust Places - from fine art
and furnishings in grand show rooms to many rarely seen items from
behind closed doors.
How do I
start?
View
highlights of each Collection, from our Collections A-Z directory,
for a glimpse of what lies within each Place. Or use the search tools to go anywhere, and simply
explore. You can search across all
Collections.
What is a
'Collection'?
A
Collection is the contents of a single Place - art, costume,
household objects, rare books…
Each
Collection is different, and all provide fascinating reflections of
the lives and interests of their former
owners.
Why are some places 'Accredited
Museums' ?
Because they have been assessed through
the Museum Accreditation scheme - there are
currently 142 museums. All National Trust
collections are managed to the same high standard.
Where can I see the
items found in my search?
Click on
the 'Places to see these items' tab, or follow the
'On show at' link on each object page. A
Place can be a National Trust property or an external
location where National Trust items are lent for exhibition, in the
UK or internationally.
How many items are
there?
The total
number of items online is updated daily. We estimate that when
complete the inventory will contain about one million
items.
What about new research
and discoveries?
National
Trust staff, volunteers and specialists are constantly expanding
and improving the inventory with new information and images.
When a new Property is acquired, the inventory of its contents is
added. Over time, records will be enhanced by specialists,
reflecting the latest research and knowledge (search using the
Enhanced filter to see these records) - a continuing
programme of improvement. You can also find
more information on the Trust's holdings of books at Copac National,
Academic, & Specialist Library Catalogue, and more on the
Trust's paintings at the BBC / Public Catalogue Foundation website
Your Paintings.
Please return frequently to discover
more about National Trust Collections.