Salisbury Cathedral, a guardian of one of the world's most significant historical documents, implemented an advanced surveillance system to protect its Magna Carta copy, housed in a specially designed low-light environment in the Chapter House.
ARC Fire Safety & Security, known for its longstanding partnership with Dahua Technology and servicing other cathedrals like Winchester, Chichester, and St Albans, was chosen to oversee the transition of fire and intruder alarm servicing and to evaluate and enhance the surveillance system around the Magna Carta at Salisbury Cathedral.
Security and Preservation Requirements
Displayed in a dimly lit room to prevent light damage, the Magna Carta's protection strategy includes strict visitor protocols—allowing only one visitor at a time and banning flash photography.
Surveillance needed to adhere to specific requirements, including positioning away from the document and emitting less than 10 LUX of light, ensuring the ancient manuscript's safety.
Implementation of Dahua Camera Technology
The system operates through motion detection, activating a subtle cabinet backlight when a visitor enters
With support from Oprema, ARC Fire Safety & Security installed a suite of Dahua cameras, specifically the 5MP IR Fixed-focal Eyeball WizSense Network Camera (DH-IPC-HDW3541EM-S-S2). This camera, chosen for its compact design and excellent low-light capability, fits well within the project’s constraints.
The system operates through motion detection, activating a subtle cabinet backlight when a visitor enters. This indirect lighting allows the camera to capture high-resolution, color footage without direct light exposure.
Successful Integration and Future Projects
The installation included six strategically placed cameras, covering the Magna Carta, the Chapter House, and entry points while adhering to historical preservation protocols. ARC and Dahua successfully fulfilled the Cathedral’s needs, integrating their solution into the existing Dahua-based network.
A representative of ARC Fire Safety & Security stated, "The cameras specified met the client’s brief perfectly. Despite the strict requirements around light emission and camera positioning, Dahua’s technology offered a reliable, image-rich solution. This ensures that Salisbury Cathedral’s Magna Carta is protected – discreetly and effectively – from intentional damage or interference."
Continued Commitment and Acknowledgments
Following the recent completion of Dahua Level 1 certification by all engineers, ARC Fire Safety & Security stands ready to extend this valued partnership to additional heritage projects.
The success of this endeavor was largely due to Salisbury Cathedral’s diligent staff, whose dedication to preserving the Magna Carta ensures its protection for future generations. Appreciation is also extended to the Cathedral’s visitor team, enriching the historical encounter for thousands each year.
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As custodians of one of the world’s most important historical artefacts, Salisbury Cathedral required a highly specialized surveillance system to safeguard its copy of the Magna Carta – housed in a controlled low-light environment within the Chapter House.
ARC Fire Safety & Security, a long-term partner of Dahua Technology and trusted security provider at Winchester, Chichester and St Albans Cathedrals, was appointed to take over the servicing of the fire and intruder alarms, as well as the existing surveillance systems at Salisbury Cathedral. During this transition, ARC were also tasked with reviewing and upgrading the surveillance around the Magna Carta.
The Magna Carta is displayed in a specially designed dark room to prevent light damage. Strict visitor control measures are in place – only one person may enter at a time, and flash photography is strictly prohibited. The surveillance solution had to meet demanding requirements – most notably, that the camera must not face the document directly and must emit less than 10 LUX of light to protect the ancient parchment.
Solution
With the support of Oprema, ARC Fire Safety & Security specified a range of Dahua cameras that met the project’s unique constraints. Central to the installation was Dahua’s 5MP IR Fixed-focal Eyeball WizSense Network Camera (DH-IPC-HDW3541EM-S-S2), selected for its compact design, superior low-light performance and adaptability.
To comply with conservation restrictions, the infrared (IR) lamp was disabled and cameras were configured to operate via motion detection only. When a visitor enters the exhibition area, a dim cabinet backlight is activated. This soft, indirect light is sufficient for the Dahua camera to generate high-resolution color footage without emitting harmful direct illumination.
The full deployment of Dahua’s solutions included six strategically positioned cameras to cover the Magna Carta, Chapter House, and entrance areas without violating historical preservation protocols.
Results
The installation was delivered with precision and sensitivity to the historic environment. ARC Fire Safety & Security and Dahua were able to meet the Cathedral’s requirements entirely, protecting an 800-year-old document while integrating the solution into a larger Dahua-based network infrastructure that is already in place across the site.
“The cameras specified met the client’s brief perfectly. Despite the strict requirements around light emission and camera positioning, Dahua’s technology offered a reliable, image-rich solution. This ensures that Salisbury Cathedral’s Magna Carta is protected – discreetly and effectively – from intentional damage or interference,” ARC Fire Safety & Security Ltd.
With all engineers recently completing Dahua Level 1 certification, ARC Fire Safety & Security is well-positioned to expand this trusted partnership for future heritage projects. The success of this project was made possible by the ongoing dedication of Salisbury Cathedral’s staff, whose careful stewardship of the Magna Carta and commitment to its preservation ensure this national treasure remains protected for future generations. Thanks are also due to the Cathedral’s visitor team, whose efforts in guiding guests through this remarkable piece of history continue to enrich the experience for thousands each year.
