Rockin’ The Royal Joint

Rock concerts are in danger of damaging some of the royal palaces and stately homes that stage them, according to a conservation group dedicated to their upkeep.

Historic Royal Palaces says events at venues including Hampton Court Palace, southwest of London, have damaged windows, mirrors and objects mounted on the walls.

The 14th-century palace, a popular tourist destination, was home to Henry VIII and a number of his successors as Britain’s monarch.

Ian Gibb, a scientist who assessed damage for Historic Royal Palaces, singled out low bass frequencies as a probable cause of the damage.

Hampton Court Palace hosts an annual three-week music festival in June, attracting 2,500 people each night. The event attracts major rock, pop and classical stars.

Bryan Ferry, Tom Jones and opera tenor Jose Carreras are among the artists who performed there this year.

Sensors rigged up by Gibb’s group during the latest events showed music vibrations affected windows close to the stage and put the ones already suffering from some decay at greater risk.

Fireworks used during concerts also produce low-frequency noise and are damaging windows, he said.

Historic Royal Palaces works to conserve many of Britain’s historical palaces, including the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House, Kensington Palace and Kew Palace.