Annual Report 2013
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The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Annual Review 2013 www.spab.org.uk Annual Review 1 2 3 The SPAB is the country’s oldest building conservation body. Ideas set out in our Manifesto of 1877 guide work to this day. The Society is an association of practical enthusiasts who care deeply about the integrity of old buildings and encourage a respectful approach to their care. 2013 was a year of significant growth for the SPAB. Eight new employees joined the Society to run our Courses: 432 delegates new Maintenance Cooperatives Project (MCP). MCP is Heritage Lottery Fund-backed and aims to Scholarship: 197 site visits in 6 countries encourage and support communities’ care for their historic places of worship. Education and training, technical advice, and Technical Helpline: 814 calls received casework remained core SPAB activities in 2013, 4 5 6 but with innovations on all fronts. For the first time Website: 161,441 hits our annual Working Party project included children from local schools as well as adult volunteers. Cases logged and considered: 1799 Our new Eco Courses proved immensely popular, (April 2013-April 2014) bringing together knowledge gained from research into the energy efficiency of old buildings and information from the SPAB-backed Old House Eco Handbook. The Society is principally concerned with the 7 UK’s historic buildings, but in 2013 there was also 1 Members visit Winchester Cathedral as part of the 2013 some involvement further afield. SPAB Chairman AGM (Andy Marshall). David Heath was invited to speak at the first 2 Dan Cruickshank: 2013 AGM guest speaker International Congress of Restorers in Moscow, (Andy Marshall). attended by delegates from all areas of Russia 3 Staircase at SPAB HQ: repaired and redecorated with and beyond. Deputy Director Sara Crofts helped support from members (SPAB). with conservation training in Jamaica and former 4 SPAB Craft Fellow Emlyn Harris talks to Europa Nostra 8 9 Secretary Philip Venning represented us in Taiwan President Denis de Kergolay at Boxley Abbey (SPAB). for a celebration of the life and work of founder 5 Architect Neil Birdsall accepts his 2013 Esher Award William Morris. Our 2013 Scholars and Fellows (Andy Marshall). spent time in the Irish Republic and also visited 6 Work to SPAB HQ included analysis of its historic paint. Romania to participate in a practical building (Patrick Baty). conservation project. 7 The Old House Eco Handbook published in association The Society put its principles into practice with the SPAB. through the repair and redecoration of its HQ at 37 8 The 2013 SPAB Scholars and Fellows (SPAB). Spital Square. The project was generously supported by the SPAB membership. 9 Former SPAB Secretary Philip Venning represents the Society in Taiwan (Philip Venning). Front Cover: SPAB brick masterclass at Hampton Court Palace (SPAB) SPAB ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 www.spab.org.uk Working Party Spital Square Project ‘That was epic!’ 37 Spital Square became the SPAB’s HQ in the School child who visited the 2013 SPAB early 1980s. Repairs and additions at the time Working Party site were carefully managed by architect Julian Harrap, following SPAB principles. By 2013, the building was In 2013, our annual summer working party helped a in need of redecoration and there was concern about medieval barn at Croxley Green in Hertfordshire. some localised structural movement to the staircase The working party generates its own special and head of an opening between ground floor rooms. atmosphere. Leading building conservation The Society’s trustees had set aside some funds professionals and craftspeople provide volunteers for the work, but it soon became apparent that with an opportunity to learn conservation skills there would be strategic and financial benefits in and to be part of a team effort, supported by the tackling both the building’s interior and exterior welcoming host community. together. Consequently help was sought from SPAB Under the watchful eye of experts including SPAB members and generous donations flowed in. Building technical staff and Technical Panel members Stafford surveyor Alan Gardner was engaged to oversee the Holmes and Anthony Goode, as well as the 2013 work, assisted by structural engineer Clive Dawson SPAB Scholars and Fellows, volunteers got to grips and, after a competitive tendering process, Lodge & with a range of tasks. These included pointing with Sons builders were appointed to carry out the work. lime mortar, lime plastering, plinth repair in flint and The main elements of the project were internal and general maintenance duties around the barn. external redecoration, electrical upgrading and an We were also delighted to work with staff and improved lighting scheme, structural repairs to the pupils from neighbouring Rickmansworth’s St Joan School children visiting the SPAB working party at Croxley ground floor and improved loft insulation. Panelling repair at No 37, prior to redecoration (SPAB). of Arc School. Groups of pupils enjoyed building barn (SPAB). SPAB work had to carry on throughout the craft demonstrations at the site and were enthralled project. The goodwill of staff and cooperation of Christmas 2013, and was within budget. The work by SPAB Guardian Stephen Bull’s grisly accounts of The annual working party has become a great Lodge & Sons made this possible, though we are was used to help explain the Society’s principles life in and around the barn in earlier times. The wider way to show case what the SPAB does and what we grateful to Alan Baxter Associates for use of their of conservative repair. In September 2013, as part community was warmly invited to come along and believe to the widest possible audience. The Society’s meeting room. The project was largely completed by of London Open House weekend, members of the see what was happening at their barn too – and many Technical Officer Jonathan Garlick said: “We were public were able to join guided attended an event at the end of the week. delighted by the number of people who joined the tours that considered not only 2013 working party... Obviously, 1 2 the repair and redecoration, but we took great care to ensure also the building’s history and that everyone operated in a safe work of garden volunteer Dr Julie environment and the work we Charlesworth. Additionally, we carried out was essential for the asked consultant Patrick Baty to building. But the week really was analyse historic paint samples great fun too for all concerned. It’s during the project and this formed definitely something that we at the the basis for a Paint Analysis SPAB all look forward to each year seminar held in early 2014. – a fantastic chance to get out of the city and to put our knowledge into practice.” 1 Sign-written lettering is reinstated after the redecoration at No 37 (SPAB). SPAB Guardian Stephen Bull captivates 2 Garden volunteer Dr Julie his audience with a lively explanation of Charlesworth explains plans for the rear the barn’s history (SPAB). courtyard (SPAB). SPAB ANNUAL REVIEW 2013 www.spab.org.uk Technical Advice & Research Courses & Lectures 1 “No jargon, no strange new materials, just common sense” “Educational, informative and, Review of the Old House Eco Handbook (Suffolk Preservation Society) most importantly, inspirational” Delegate who attended SPAB Old House Technical Enquiries Collaboration Eco course, 2013 • Technical Advice: The technical advice line team • External Committees: We continue to be was augmented to operate five mornings per week. represented on the Technical Panels of the We are grateful to English Heritage for help Institute of Historic Building Conservation and SPAB’s flagship Repair of Old Buildings Course, 2 funding this frontline service. Property Care Association, the committee of the which provides a five-day intensive introduction to Traditional Paint Forum, Conservation of Historic conservation and the SPAB approach, remained well- • Contacts Database: This essential tool, containing Thatch Group, National Federation of Roofing subscribed following refinements to the programme. names of specialists, is now maintained by Contractors’ Lime Mortar Working Group and The Old House Eco Course – a new weekend course volunteer Catherine Peacock, after many years of the Bells Committee of the Archbishops’ Council. primarily, but not exclusively, for homeowners, sterling work by Dr Jenny West. giving practical advice on achieving energy efficiency Research in traditional buildings – has proved popular, as has Technical Events • Energy Efficiency for old buildings:A further the accompanying Old House Eco Handbook. • Seminars: a very well attended seminar on Energy interim report on our Building Performance Participants in our Masterclasses for small Efficiency was run in York, in association with Survey, undertaken for us by Archimetrics Ltd, groups, run in partnership with Historic Royal the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance. was published in October and is available on Palaces, commented very favourably on the Keynote speaker was Dr Hunter Danskin, Head the Society’s website. SPAB research featured combination of expert lectures and hands-on of Technical Analysis at the Department of Energy in the Old House Eco Handbook, published in experience. This year’s classes included stonework and Climate Change. Technical Afternoons in association with the Society. at the Tower of London, with metalwork and 2013 were devoted to Innovations in Lime and brickwork at Hampton Court Palace. Thanks to Treating Dampness in Old Buildings. • Paint: Research by the SPAB and other partners grant support from English Heritage we continued to into alternatives to lead-based paint for offer the popular Faith in Maintenance training by • External Events: Our Technical staff also external timber continued at the Paint Research request to churches across England at a modest fee contributed to events organised by Ecobuild, Association throughout 2013. and more courses are planned for 2014. the Natural Stone Show and National Home A notable development this year was the rise 3 Improvement Show, and lectured to a wide range in requests to SPAB to devise and deliver bespoke of audiences.