Historic houses, untold stories and a passion for the past, Chesterfield-based Paige Emerickis redefining how heritage is experienced today, as Nicola Doughty discovers
When it comes to impressive workspaces, there are few that can rival those enjoyed by Paige Emerick. As a Project Manager for the National Trust, she spends her days in some of the nation’s most beautiful historic buildings.
Right now, she is working on two big projects that take her from the imposing 18th century mansion of Kedleston Hall in the heart of Derbyshire to the medieval Powis Castle in Wales. Her work is anything but ordinary as she helps the teams at both sites bring to life the remarkable stories hidden within their treasured collections.
For as long as she can remember, history has been a large part of her life and so it might seem that this has been a natural career choice for her.
“History was always my favourite subject at school,” she says, recalling childhood picnics with her grandparents at historic houses and time spent watching history documentaries together.
“Actually though, I always planned to be a teacher,” she admits. “When I went to university, I did a degree in history and it was only later that I decided to pursue a career in the heritage sector.”
After her degree instead of stepping back into the classroom, she found herself drawn down a different path. She went on to complete a Master’s degree before doing her PhD, which focused on the royal visits of George III and George IV.
“I discovered a love for research and delving into archives and uncovering stories and I fell into this career in quite a gentle way.”
It was while studying for her PhD, Paige came to volunteer at the National Trust’s Sudbury Hall and it proved to be a pivotal move. When a role came up at the 17th century country manor house shortly after the Covid pandemic, she jumped at the chance to work there. She became Project Coordinator on the Children’s Country House project and the hall was later renamed to reflect its focus on the experience of childhood and heritage.
“It was an exciting moment to be involved,” she says. “It was new, it was groundbreaking and we were asking big questions about what direction the Children’s Country House should take.”
From there, her career gathered momentum and she joined the Trust’s central team, working with other heritage specialists, curators and conservators as part of a national programme. It’s how she came to work with the teams at Kedleston and Powis Castle.
Paige says that working with the teams at both projects has been a fantastic experience. While both places boast extensive historic collections, they couldn’t feel more different. “They each have their own character and that’s what makes it so interesting. You’re having to think about how to present their collections in a way that feels right for that place.”
Her role as Project Manager, she explains, is less about owning the projects and more about simply keeping it on track. “Each project belongs to the property team. I’m just there to keep everything on an even keel. I look at budgets, clock what risks might come up and take care of coordinating what needs to be done. It’s about making sure all the moving parts keep moving.”
It’s fair to say there are many moving parts.
“There’s no such thing as a typical week,” she laughs. Her diary is a constant balancing act as she juggles meetings with project boards, on-site visits, conversations with curators and external partners, while keeping in touch with internal colleagues. Her day might range from racing between meetings to quietly measuring up display spaces for contractors.
“Sometimes it’s only by looking back at the past six months that you realise what a difference we’ve made and how much change we are making and that’s what is so rewarding.”
Working on the creation of the ‘How Did We Get Here?’ exhibition at Kedleston Hall has been a standout point for her. It was launched earlier this year and runs through to the end of September. Developed in collaboration with members of the Tibetan community living in Britain, the exhibition explores the journey of Tibetan artefacts within the hall’s historic collection.
Pieces have been carefully selected and conserved for display in the hall’s magnificent State Rooms for visitors to see at close quarters. As visitors explore the hall they get the chance to learn more about the artefacts and hear previously untold stories. The displays sit alongside Encounters, a new film created by British-Tibetan artist Nyima Murry, which features powerful stories about the displayed objects.
“The exhibition has been a long time in planning. It completely occupied my brain for that entire time,” Paige admits. “It was something I’d been thinking about for so long that to see it finally in place, inside Kedleston Hall, and so well received that I was on a high long after the launch. It felt like a real milestone moment.”
For her, the heart of her job lies in preserving the past while ensuring it remains visible and relevant.
“There’s little point conserving historic objects if they’re hidden away in storage. We preserve them so people can experience them. We hope that the objects on show will spark conversations. For me, it’s all about breathing life back into the objects for people to see and enjoy.”
At 31, Paige speaks with real passion about her work. “I love my job and I am conscious that we all work with the National Trust because we love the organisation and its values. It’s fun. I get to work with amazing people, in extraordinary places, surrounded by remarkable collections.”
Looking ahead, her focus now turns to Powis Castle, a red-brick 13th century castle which perches high on the hills above Welshpool in Wales – a little over two hours away from Kedleston. The project is still in its early stages but, like at Kedleston, plans are afoot to reimagine how its collections are displayed and experienced.
“We’re thinking carefully about what audiences want to see, how we tell those stories. This year will be about planning and shaping that vision.”
While work takes her across the nation, home for Paige is in Chesterfield. She moved to the town a year ago from the south of Derbyshire and is enjoying exploring the north of the county.
“Derbyshire holds a special place in my heart. Apart from the Peak District, it’s a county that is sometimes overlooked, I think. But there are so many wonderful places to visit such as Haddon Hall, Chatsworth House, the Museum of Making – and, of course, Kedleston Hall! And there are lots of lovely towns to mooch around, great cafés and good pubs.”
Even in her spare time, history isn’t that far away though as she often spends weekends visiting heritage sites as work and home life blend seamlessly.
For someone who once planned a career in teaching, it seems that she is inadvertently doing just that as she helps to share the hidden stories behind the historic buildings.
“I love the variety of my role. No two days are ever quite the same. And that’s how I like it. It’s all about working together within these extraordinary places to share the stories behind the collections and create experiences that visitors will remember.”
*To find out more about Kedleston Hall and the How Did We Get Here? exhibition visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston-hall?