The National Trust (UK) owns approximately 30,000 ceramic objects in over 200 historic houses throughout England, Wales, and Ireland. The author surveys the recordkeeping, treatment policies, exhibition standards, training courses, background, and goals for conservation the National Trust maintains for its extensive collection. First part of a two-part article. See abstract of second part of article by Judy Larney, et al., in this <i>AATA</i> issue.