Harewood House: Behind the scenes at one of Yorkshire's finest stately homes as it opens for 2023

There are more than 400 lightbulbs at Harewood House to change on the state floor alone. In the old kitchen, it takes a team 50 hours to polish 250 copper pieces to a presentable shine.

This is the inner workings of one of Yorkshire's finest stately homes, as it prepares to reopen to visitors today and for the start of a busy season.

First built by Edwin Lascelles from 1759, the country house is home to some of the region's finest examples of architecture and craftsmanship. There's interiors from Robert Adam, pieces from England's greatest furniture maker Thomas Chippendale. There are Renaissance masterpieces, great artworks, and the fine collection of Sèvres china.

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Then the family portraits from Sir Joshua Reynolds. Now, marking 300 years since the celebrated artist's birth, an exhibition Reframing Reynolds opens today exploring his style. All winter, said the trust's collections care and access assistant Niamh Kelly, it's been very busy.

Spring clean at Harewood House, Leeds. Niamh Kelly is pictured cleaning one of the Touchere on display in the Gallery at the House. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon HulmeSpring clean at Harewood House, Leeds. Niamh Kelly is pictured cleaning one of the Touchere on display in the Gallery at the House. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme
Spring clean at Harewood House, Leeds. Niamh Kelly is pictured cleaning one of the Touchere on display in the Gallery at the House. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

"Now is the time for a deep clean - it's all hands on deck to get the house ready from top to bottom," she said. "At this time of year we can get the scaffolding up to reach the very highest levels.

"There's so many lovely things, but what a lot of people don't realise is they can create a lot of dust."

There's dusting and polishing and hoovering - it can take six people to lift a carpet. Then there's the clocks, to be wound weekly. When the house is closed, they are sent for a health check.

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"It's an ongoing process, keeping them ticking,” said Ms Kelly. “We all miss the clocks when they're not here."

Spring clean at Harewood House, Leeds. Roger Stark is pictured cleaning the Pelmets on the scaffold tower in the Gallery at House. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon HulmeSpring clean at Harewood House, Leeds. Roger Stark is pictured cleaning the Pelmets on the scaffold tower in the Gallery at House. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme
Spring clean at Harewood House, Leeds. Roger Stark is pictured cleaning the Pelmets on the scaffold tower in the Gallery at House. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

Roger Stark, from the Harewood House Trust, helps look after the collections. There is a narrow window, he said, between the house closing and opening, to reach every nook and cranny and prepare for a busy season ahead. Now, with a final polish, the country house opens its doors once more.

To Ms Kelly, there is a satisfaction in seeing everything back where it should be: "It's exciting. We do miss having visitors in."