'From stolen snuff boxes to England's earliest tea - I look after treasures at an Leeds historic home'

For most visitors to Temple Newsam, the treasures on display are what capture the imagination.

The grand furniture, sparkling silver, priceless paintings and historic interiors offer a glimpse into centuries of history.

But behind the scenes, curator Adam Toole is helping to ensure those stories continue to be preserved, researched and shared with future generations.

As curator of collections at Temple Newsam, Adam is responsible for one of the country's most important decorative arts collections, a role that combines conservation, research, acquisitions and public engagement.

"Broadly speaking, I care for the collections at Temple Newsam," he said.

"The collection has designated status, which means it's recognised as being of national and international importance.

"It includes furniture, ceramics, silver, textiles, wallpaper and paintings. My job is to look after those collections, working with colleagues to care for them, conserve them and display them safely."

The collection is regarded as one of the finest of its kind in Britain. While many historic houses retain objects that have remained in the same family for generations, much of Temple Newsam's collection has been carefully rebuilt since the house came into public ownership.

"We're also constantly developing the collections," Adam said.

"In recent years we've acquired some incredible 18th-century furniture and silver, while increasingly collecting contemporary pieces as well."

No two days are the same.

Alongside overseeing conservation projects and acquisitions, Adam spends much of his time carrying out research, supporting exhibitions and helping specialists from around the world access Temple Newsam's collections.

"There isn't really a typical day," he said.

"Research is a huge part of the role.

"The variety is enormous. One day you're discussing 18th-century furniture and the next you're learning new conservation techniques or planning an exhibition."

One of the most significant recent projects has been the restoration of the Butler's Pantry, a space that now houses Temple Newsam's silver collection while telling the often-overlooked story of the servants who kept the house running.

"For many years the focus in historic houses was on the grand rooms upstairs, but visitors are increasingly interested in the lives of servants and estate workers," said Adam.

"The Butler's Pantry had been used as a workshop since the 1960s, but historically it was where silver was cleaned, prepared and stored.

"Restoring it allowed us to bring those stories back to life while also creating a much better display for our silver collection."

The project reflects a wider shift in how historic houses tell their stories, giving greater recognition to the people who worked behind the scenes as well as those who owned the estates.

Adam has also been involved in some remarkable chapters of Temple Newsam's more recent history.

Among them was the return of a collection of snuff boxes stolen from the house during the infamous Fulford thefts of 1981.

The objects resurfaced decades later and were eventually reunited with the collection.

"It was wonderful to see them come home," Adam said.

"The boxes had been stolen in 1981 and eventually resurfaced at auction.

"Everyone involved wanted to see them return to Temple Newsam and we're delighted they're now back in the public collection where they belong."

For someone surrounded by extraordinary objects every day, choosing a favourite is no easy task.

Yet one item stands out.

"There are treasures around every corner, but one object I particularly love is a tea equipage made by Paul de Lamerie, probably the most celebrated British silversmith of the 18th century," he said.

"It's a beautiful set containing everything needed to serve tea, housed in an exquisite mahogany case.

"Because it's relatively small, people can easily miss it, but it's a really special object."

Tea also forms part of one of Temple Newsam's most intriguing discoveries.

Research carried out using historic documents uncovered evidence suggesting the house may have been among the first places in England where tea was consumed.

"My predecessor Rachel Conroy discovered an apothecary's bill dating from around 1642 which listed something called 'China drink' - the name originally used for tea in England," Adam explained.

"As far as we're aware, it's the earliest known documentary reference to tea in England."

While such discoveries continue to shed new light on the house's history, Adam believes Temple Newsam's significance lies in the combination of its architecture, landscape and collections.

"The site has connections going back to the Knights Templar and parts of the house are more than 500 years old," he said.

"Every century has left its mark on the building.

"Then you have one of the finest decorative arts collections in the country.

"But perhaps most importantly, it's publicly owned. These collections belong to the people of Leeds and are accessible for everyone to enjoy."

Looking ahead, Adam is excited about plans to showcase more of Temple Newsam's collections, including projects focused on sculpture, wallpaper and textiles.

Much of that material remains behind the scenes because of its fragility, but future displays will allow visitors to explore even more of the stories held within the house.

Despite being at the centre of many of Temple Newsam's biggest projects, Adam is keen to stress that preserving Leeds' heritage is a collective effort.

"The conservators, technicians, registrars and many other colleagues all play a huge role in caring for these collections," he said.

"It's important they get the credit too."