A TEAM from the National Portrait Gallery have started conservation work on historic paintings at a North Yorkshire stately home.

The 43 Kit-cat Club paintings were gifted to the National Portrait Gallery by the National Art Collections Fund in 1945 to mark the end of the Second World War.

Since 1979, 19 of the paintings have been on display at Beningbrough Hall and Gardens, and the conservation team from the NPG are carrying out the work in public today and tomorrow afternoon.

The paintings were painted between 1697 and 1721 by Sir Godfrey Kneller, and are hung in the dining room at Beningbrough Hall.

A spokesman for the hall said: “Through the week, the specialists will be de-installing and un-framing the works to allow for full access to the paintings and frames.

“The paintings are displayed unglazed, as they would have been originally.

“For this reason the National Portrait Gallery carefully monitors the paintings and their environment and undertakes regular condition checks.

“Where necessary, small age cracks will be consolidated and any debris that can compromise the paint layer or gilt frame will be carefully removed.”

The paintings and frames will be carefully documented so the NPH can monitor any future changes to the collection.

Beningbrough Hall and Gardens are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 5pm, and the hall is open from noon.

To find out more, go to nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough or phone 01904 472027.