Alert close - icon Fill 1 Copy 10 Untitled-1 tt copy 3 Untitled-1 Untitled-1 tt copy 3 Fill 1 Copy 10 menu Group 3 Group 3 Copy 3 Group 3 Copy Page 1 Group 2 Group 2 Skip to content

Repairing a document

Here are the steps we go through when preserving documents that have been damaged.


  1. parchment with a hole in itThis 16th century parchment deed has a large hole in it, probably caused by a rodent. If this hole is left untreated, the surrounding area could start tearing.
  2. tracing on parchmentA repair is carefully traced out on repair parchment.
  3. overlapping the repairThe overlap of the repair is pared down until it is transparent and flexible.
  4. repair being stuck downThe repair is stuck down with gelatine. The gelatine must be used at a temperature of 50°C to 60°C. Too cold and it isn’t tacky enough, too hot and it will stain the parchment.
  5. weight on the document repairThe repair is left under a weight to ensure good adhesion.
  6. front of a repaired documentThe repaired document, front.
  7. back of a repaired documentThe repaired document, back.