DIY Steamer
Unfortunately, leaving them where they were wasn’t an option as that wall was part of the landing being reconfigured… so I had a go at taking them off. The PVA glue didn’t work so I attempted a DIY steamer job. I didn’t have time to get my hands on a proper steamer so I placed a bowl of boiling water on the floor under the pictures. I had to refill the water a couple of times and gradually the steam loosened the pictures.

Removing the pictures with a gentle touch
Lord Wolseley and Alexander 3rd (or as we call them ‘the lads’) had only been attached to the wall at the edges of the sheet so with a bit of care I was able to very gently peel them off. It took quite a while and the paper was so fragile, it was like rice paper, that it crumbled very easily and was breaking off in my hands. It was also very dirty and dusty!

Clean up with a little TLC
Once I got the pictures off the wall I gently cleaned the muck off round the edges and then lightly wiped them with a damp piece of kitchen roll. Next, I trimmed away the damaged edges using a stanley knife and a ruler, using scissors wasn’t an option as the paper was so fragile so it was important that I was extra careful. Luckily, they turned out really well and I managed not to add to the current damage!

Time to Frame
To give the pictures the respect they deserve I decided to frame them in some simple black frames which I picked up from Habitat. They now sit proudly on my book case in the nook where the toilet used to, in the original spot where the photos were first discovered. I’m so pleased I managed to restore them and give them a new lease of life.