National Trust admits jobs will be lost, but denies ‘dumbing down’

THE NATIONAL Trust has denied it is to “dumb down”, following reports it is going to cut its specialists amid a £200m loss this year.

The Times reported that internal documents said national specialists in fields including textiles, furniture and libraries face redundancy, in favour of new posts such as “senior national curator in repurposing historic houses”.

The paper also said that insiders claimed that the organisation, which maintains more than 500 historic houses, castles, parks, and gardens, is set on keeping only 20 of its properties continually open to the public.

But the charity’s director-general said that while it was proposing to lose some “good people”, 95 per cent of its properties will open again when it is safe to do so.

In a blog post, Hilary McGrady said that the £200m loss this year was “devastating” but it would try to minimise the impact on its conservation work.

She added: “There is general acknowledgement that a £200m loss this year is devastating – we cannot weather this storm. If we could, we would.

“But the most damaging inference in the press coverage is that we are intentionally stepping away from our built heritage. I refute this.

“The notion that we will only be opening 20 of our houses is incorrect. When it is safe to do so, 95 per cent of our portfolio will open again.

“Some will be booked only, but that will be a good thing both for experience and conservation.”