The Merchant's House in Marlborough is one of the very few domestic buildings in England to retain so significant an amount of its original 17th century painted decoration. Fragments of the paintings were discovered during archaeological investigations in the early 1990s. A programme of research including materials analysis and an environmental study was undertaken by Tobit Curteis Associates.

With the support of English Heritage, a programme of conservation treatment was undertaken between 2000 and 2002, involving the uncovering and stabilisation of the wall paintings, and the reintegration of losses.

As a result of the conservation project, it is now possible to see the very fine painted decoration for the first time in many centuries. Not only does this allow visitors the rare opportunity to understand how buildings of this period would really have looked, but it also allows furniture and other artifacts to be displayed in a true context, rather than in museum surroundings.