In an effort to enhance the security of one of the world’s most significant historical artefacts, Salisbury Cathedral has upgraded its surveillance system surrounding the Magna Carta. The treasured document is preserved within a specially controlled, low-light environment in the Chapter House, necessitating a surveillance solution with exacting specifications to ensure its protection.
ARC Fire Safety & Security, a long-established partner of Dahua Technology and security provider for other notable locations such as Winchester and St Albans Cathedrals, has been entrusted with the task of servicing and updating the existing fire, intruder, and surveillance systems at Salisbury Cathedral. As part of this transition, ARC was commissioned to review and enhance the surveillance focused on the Magna Carta exhibit.
The Magna Carta at Salisbury Cathedral is showcased in a darkened room to avert light-induced damage, with stringent visitor control measures enforced—allowing only a single visitor at any time and prohibiting flash photography.
The upgraded surveillance system needed to adhere to particular demands, such as avoiding direct exposure to the document and maintaining camera light emissions below 10 LUX.
Collaborating with Oprema, ARC Fire Safety & Security introduced a selection of Dahua cameras specifically tailored to meet the project’s distinct requirements. The focal point of the installation is the Dahua 5MP IR Fixed-focal Eyeball WizSense Network Camera (DH-IPC-HDW3541EM-S-S2), praised for its compact structure, excellent low-light capabilities, and flexibility. To ensure compliance with conservation regulations, the cameras’ infrared lamps were turned off, and motion detection functionality was employed.
When visitors enter, a subtle cabinet backlight is automatically triggered to provide enough indirect illumination for the cameras to produce high-quality colour video without causing detrimental direct light exposure.
The complete array of Dahua solutions includes six carefully positioned cameras, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the Magna Carta, Chapter House, and entry points without compromising historical preservation standards.
This installation was achieved with meticulous attention to the historic environment, allowing ARC Fire Safety & Security and Dahua to align with Salisbury Cathedral’s specific needs effectively. The new setup safeguards the nearly 800-year-old parchment, while seamlessly integrating into the larger Dahua-based network infrastructure already deployed on-site.
Feedback from ARC Fire Safety & Security Ltd emphasised the cameras’ ability to “meet the client’s brief perfectly,” acknowledging that despite tight restrictions on light emissions and position, Dahua’s technology provided a trustworthy and detailed imaging solution. This ensures that the Magna Carta remains guarded against malicious acts or unintended harm.
With their engineers recently achieving Dahua Level 1 certification, ARC Fire Safety & Security is well-prepared to further this collaboration in future heritage conservation projects. The project’s success can also be attributed to the commitment and diligence of Salisbury Cathedral’s dedicated staff and the visitor team, whose guidance enhances the historical encounter for numerous guests annually.
