Rebinding

The Royal Bindery in Windsor Castle specialises in the conservation and collections care of books, manuscripts and archival material held within the Royal Library and Royal Archives.

Comprising a team of conservation and bookbinding specialists, The Bindery works to preserve, stabilise and repair bound items across the Royal Collection, guided by the conservation principle of minimal intervention to preserve each item’s unique structure and history.

In addition to its work as a conservation studio, The Bindery crafts new work, such as state gift presentation bindings and creating new miniature books for Queen Mary's Dolls' House, continuing practices used since the reign of George III, when the Bindery was founded in what was then Buckingham House in London. This dual role ensures that the department maintains a skill base of traditional hand bookbinding, edge gilding and gold finishing (the decoration on leather book covers). Members of staff are also actively involved in contemporary craft and design binding.

The Royal Library & Royal Archives are diverse and historically significant working collections, and the work of The Bindery continues to make these collections accessible now and into the future.

Working with colleagues across the Royal Collection, Royal Household and Palaces, The Bindery uses its expertise to consult on and conserve other leather-based objects, as well as advising and forming policy on long-term collection care and housing. It also manages conservation provision for digitisation programmes, supports exhibitions and displays, and furthers understanding of the collections through academic/professional lectures and publications.