Almost every British monarch since 1308 has been crowned on this throne at Westminster Abbey.

The throne's gilding has come off the wood and it is being repaired, it said. The newly installed heaters in the church produced considerable variation in humidity, causing the damage. Also the central heating system maintained the temperature in the church at 20 degrees celsius, which is hotter than the temperature in museums that are specially geared towards conserving works of art, experts said.

The church was not a museum, and this was exactly the problem, said art restoration expert Marie Louise Sauerberg. Several wooden panels with 14th century paintings were also under threat, as was a mosaic by the Restoration work on the damaged items will start next year.