A PAINTING of large proportions which has withstood years of accumulated dirt and dust, not to mention the effects of a toy rocket, is to be taken down for cleaning and repairs at a stately home near Ripon.

The scene depicting the Quorn Hunt measures 14ft by 8ft and is believed to be the largest picture in North Yorkshire. It dominates the entrance hall at Norton Conyers, just outside Wath.

Once scaffolding is in place, it is thought that up to ten people will be needed next week to handle the picture painted by the Leicestershire sporting artist, John Ferneley, which the seventh baronet of Norton Conyers won on the throw of a dice.

The week-long operation involving invisible repairs and surface cleaning represents the latest stage in conservation work on paintings at Norton Conyers, all of which can be seen by visitors when the hall is open to the public, in an attempt to prevent or delay further deterioration.

The painting by Ferneley (1782-1860) has hung at Norton Conyers for 181 years.

It is believed to have been suggested by Sir Bellingham Graham, seventh baronet of Norton Conyers, who inherited 20,000 acres and a number of other houses, including Nunnington, Pickhill and Whitwell-on-the-Hill, when he came of age.

He was so extravagant, however, that by the time of his death in 1866 he had nothing left and all his properties, including Norton Conyers, had been sold.

A well known sportsman, he was master of the Quorn Hunt and is thought to have spent a lot of his own money on improving it.

Sir James Graham, the present 11th baronet, said of the painting: "I suspect it was his (Sir Bellingham Graham's) idea, for he thought and spent on a large scale, to have all the members of the hunt painted together." It was said each of the 33 portraits and those of their horses and hounds is an excellent likeness. Sir Bellingham Graham is depicted on his horse, Baron, and the artist has included himself.''

When the picture was finished, all the sitters met and threw dice for it. It is said that Sir Bellingham, unable to be present, asked a friend to throw for him. The friend had his turn first and threw two sixes for himself. When he threw for Sir Bellingham three sixes turned up.

A small round hole almost in the centre of the picture is the result of a prank by a young family member at a Christmas gathering about 40 years ago. He had been given a spring-loaded rocket as a present and, anxious to discover its potential, fired it and scored a direct hit on the Ferneley.

A grant from the Heritage Conservation Trust towards the cost of renovation has been made on condition that this damage is repaired.

The figure of Sir Bellingham Graham has also been partly disfigured by droppings left by birds which sometimes fly through the open front door when the hall is open to visitors.

Sir James said: "As far as we know, the last time the picture is likely to have been moved was in 1937, when the hall was last redecorated.

"Until it is taken down it is not known what other problems will be revealed."

It is envisaged that four specialist art removal men, a specialist framer and two conservators, all grant aided by the Heritage Conservation Trust, as well as three part-time Norton Conyers gardeners will be needed to handle the painting.

Sir James said: "What complicates matters is that the house is open to the public on Sunday, and immediately the public leave we have to start getting things ready for the conservators. Immediately they leave, we must get things ready for the public again on the last opening of this season on September 7.''

The dining room and some other areas open to the public at Norton Conyers will be stripped of furniture next week to become temporary conservation studios.

Sir James said: "This is the third year of our programme of picture conservation, and if we get the money we hope there will be a fourth and possibly a fifth year.''

Since the programme began in 2001, about 50 paintings at Norton Conyers have been cleaned with the help of the Heritage Conservation Trust.