THE INSTITUTE OF HISTORIC BUILDING CONSERVATION NORTH BRANCH

NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

Interior of St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, venue of the IHBC Annual School 2007 – Report on page 5. 1 Introduction

Welcome to the second edition of the new newsletter for the North Region of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation. This edition contains articles on the recent public inquiry at Easington into the demolition of a grade II listed school, a report on the North East Heritage Skills Project’s recent Lime Day, a report on the IHBC annual school in Liverpool, and a note on the Durham Environment Awards. We hope you find it interesting and informative. As before we would welcome articles, news or suggestions, see page 9 for contact details.

Easington Colliery School – saved from demolition following Public Inquiry

Easington Colliery School. Photo: ©

Following a Public Local Inquiry, the Secretary of State has accepted an inspector’s recommendation to refuse permission to demolish the grade II listed former Easington Colliery School buildings and to redevelop the site for 39 houses.

Easington Colliery is a former mining community on the Durham coastline. The school buildings were erected between 1911 and 1913 for the education of the colliery children. Designed by little known North East architect John Morson the buildings are robust and have a dominating presence in the village. Morson had earlier designed the notable school buildings in Blaydon, also listed grade II, and still in use for that purpose.

2 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

However the school has been vacant for nearly 10 years and has been allowed to deteriorate. Local feeling is very much in favour of demolition.

The lead up to the Public Inquiry was kick started by Council issuing a section 215 Notice to tidy the site. The schedule of work was comprehensive covering the buildings, the boundary railings and the grounds. The response by the owner was to apply for the building to be de- listed which was declined and then to apply for demolition. The application for demolition was then “called in” by the Secretary of State for her determination.

A Local Inquiry was held in March 2007 and the case for retaining the building was made by English Heritage represented by Martin Roberts and Alan Hunter with support from DTZ (property consultants) and the Victorian Society. Cross examination was thorough with the proofs of evidence alone filling several lever-arch files. Paragraphs 3.17 and 3.19 from PPG 15 concerning demolition and the tests for demolition were key to the debate.

Easington Colliery School. Photo: © Durham County Council

The decision by the Secretary of State was received at the end of July. She agreed with the Inspector that it was desirable to preserve the buildings and that the tests for consent to demolish in PPG 15 had not been met. She stated that the failure by the owner to sell the site deprived other potential developers the opportunity to find a viable new use.

Significantly the potential of listed buildings to aid regeneration was also acknowledged by the Inspector who stated in his report that “the conversion of the only listed building at Easington Colliery, a local landmark, could do more to raise the spirits of the community than relegation to housing”.

3 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

So now all that has to be done is to get the owner to sell the site to a developer who will re-use the building in a viable way. Not simple but worth the effort.

North East Heritage Skills Project – Lime Skills Day

An Introduction to Lime Skills Day took place on Sunday 15th July 2007 in a vernacular farm building on the National Trust’s Wallington Estate in . This was an initiative of the North East Heritage Skills Project. The aim of the day was giving those attending a basic understanding of lime, the lime cycle, why and when it is used, why it stopped being used, the differences between hydrated and hydraulic lime and a demonstration of lime slaking. Participants then had an opportunity to try their hand at building using lime, pointing with lime, plastering in lime and using lime as a wash.

After an introduction from the regional Heritage Skills Co-ordinator, Andie Harris, the day started with Nev Kirby, Buildings Manager for the National Trust for the North East and Yorkshire discussing the lime cycle – the make up of lime and the processes gone through to make it workable for use in building. He then gave a spectacularly effervescent lime slaking demonstration, the amount of steam generated by the process made taking a suitable photograph impossible, before moving on to discuss various mixtures the National Trust use in their properties.

Nev Kirby, discussing the lime cycle. Photo © North East Heritage Skills Project

With this completed the group was then split into four teams, got kitted out in appropriate (and very attractive!) personal protective equipment before joining the tutors - John Richie (National Trust, Retired Clerk of Works), Jason Richie (National Trust, Project Building Surveyor), Ray Stockdale (English Heritage, Technical Manager) and Tony McNally (Historic Property Restoration Ltd, Works Manager).

Each group then spent an hour with each of the tutors who demonstrated the subject before letting participants ‘have a go’ while discussing their subject area and answering questions as they arose.

At the end of the day there was a question and answer session, evaluation and a booklet given to each of the participants which contained general information on lime (kindly reproduced from the Scottish Lime Centre material

4 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007 with their permission) and specifics on the National Trust mixes used throughout the day.

Booklet produced to accompany the day (left) and (right) participant pointing using lime under the guidance of Ray Stockdale of English Heritage. Photo © North East Heritage Skills Project

The event was well attended and as a result of publicity on Tyne Tees TV news, Radio Newcastle Drive time programme and articles in both the Journal and the Hexham Courant the remaining two dates of the 26th September and the 10th of October are now fully booked with reserves and a healthy waiting list for potential events next year.

Another outcome of the publicity has been the request from a local contractor for the Project to produce a lime course with their specific needs in mind for next year.

The event was organised by the North East Heritage Skills Project as a pilot to test the response to the provision of heritage skills short courses being run across the region, the evaluation data being used to secure funding for the provision of a varied and robust programme of events across a range of subjects and levels.

The North East Heritage Skills Project was initiated by the regional Historic Environment Forum and is hosted by the North of England Civic Trust. It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage and is working to identify the shortages in heritage skills in the region and to fill these skills gaps with innovative solutions.

This is done through the creation of working partnerships, identifying common goals and organising and publicising heritage events across the region.

5 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

Ray Stockdale discussing the importance of mortar colour matching when undertaking repair work. Photo © North East Heritage Skills Project

If you would like to be kept in touch with the project or would like to become involved please contact Andie Harris, North East Regional Heritage Skills Co- ordinator at [email protected] or on 0191 232 9279 or 07919 014257 (mobile).

County Durham Environment Awards

The Environment Awards will soon be entering their nineteenth year and continue to grow in popularity and scope. The principle objective of the scheme over nearly two decades has been to encourage good design and sustainable principles in all aspects of the built and natural environment. In addition it aims to promote the care of the environment through sensitive schemes that conserve and enhance natural features and demonstrate good guardianship. The awards continue to evolve with the ever increasing debate on global warming and climate change prompting the introduction of an energy efficiency category in 2004. This year the judges are particularly keen to see innovative and imaginative schemes from this sector.

The Awards are separated into seven categories allowing the widest possible range of participants to enter. The most recent round included architecture from the 1800’s to 21st century sustainable building technologies. In all 24 projects from schools, individuals, companies and organisations received prizes. 6 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

The scheme includes the built environment which covers new buildings, extensions to buildings and environmental enhancement schemes, this year a new serviced office building known as the Rivergreen Centre scooped an exemplary award in this category as a result of its aim of minimising its impact on the local and wider global environment, its features included a rammed earth wall providing high thermal mass, a sedum roof to reduce rain water run-off, wood pellet burning boilers and solar roof panels.

Rivergreen Centre, Aykley Heads, Durham. Photos: © Durham County Council

Sponsored by English Heritage the Craftsmanship Category continues to reward and encourage the continuation and development of traditional skills. This year saw an international flavour to the Award winners as nine people from Romania came to Durham for twelve days of intense lime burning activity. The project included constructing and firing a temporary Romanian lime kiln at Levy Pool (Bowes) and the restoration and firing of an existing lime kiln at Cowshill, Weardale. A legacy of the project is a not for profit company which is already doing further work to examine lost skills and how they can be collectively taught.

Loading of the kiln at Bowes Photo: © Durham County Council 7 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

Other categories include The Natural Environment and Countryside Improvement, The Management and Restoration of Minerals and Waste Disposal, Schools, Local Action 21 and Energy Efficiency.

More information can be found on the Durham County Council website at www.durham.gov.uk or contact Bryan Harris on 0191 383 3164 or [email protected]

IHBC Annual School 2007 – Liverpool

Mike Hein-Hartmann and Elaine Hogg joined David Lovie, IHBC President, as the only North Branch members at the annual school. Stewart Ramsdale was unable to attend but Amy Pearce (not yet a member) attended in his place.

Mike, David and Elaine at the Annual School. Photo: © Mike Hein-Hartmann

We were fortunate to visit Liverpool in the 800th anniversary of its Royal Charter and a year before it becomes European Capital of Culture. There were plenty of building conservation success stories to celebrate, not least St George’s Hall the venue for the conference.

St Georges Hall, Liverpool. Photos: © Mike Hein-Hartmann 8 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

The building comprises a concert room, courts and great hall which have all been refurbished to their magnificent best. However, by the 1990’s it had no clear use and there were even calls to demolish it. The general approach to conservation has been to work from existing details in the most sensitive early Victorian interiors and to undertake modern intervention where public access is being introduced for the first time or where an area was incomplete or the function changed during the original construction.

The AGM was handled with a light and amusing touch by David who continued to enjoy himself at the IHBC 10th Anniversary Dinner.

At the AGM a new Chair, Dave Chetwyn and Vice Chair, Sheila Stones were elected.

Next year the Annual School will be in Guildford, Surrey and the theme will be Historic Areas: managing the spaces in between. Let us hope that more members from the North Branch get the opportunity to attend next years School.

David and Amy. Photo: © Mike Hien-Hartmann

In Brief

These pages are YOURS – use them to tell others what’s going on in your ‘neck-of-the-woods’. Items may be long, short, but always lively, informal and illustrated. Please E-mail to Geoff Underwood at: [email protected]

Business Plan for IHBC North Branch We are putting together a branch business plan, setting down the branch’s key objectives for the year ahead. Just as soon as a draft has been prepared we will be seeking your views on its content - hopefully in the next few weeks. So watch your mail box or post with ‘baited breath’ and let us have your two-pennyworth.

Networking help for Stockton-on-Tees

A recent call for help from Stockton’s Historic

Buildings Officer Fiona Short, was networked to all

North Branch members. Stockton’s Health and

Safety specialists were unwilling to allow public access to the restored Edwardian Winter Garden at the grade II listed Preston Hall Museum, without a 9 protective film on the glass panes or toughened

glass. NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

Thanks to your helpful responses, Fiona has successfully negotiated a ‘risk assessment approach’ with daily staff checks and monthly professional checks, etc., avoiding the need for physical intervention.

This way of networking is something North Branch is prepared to offer to all its members as well as non-members engaged in historic building conservation. So, if you have a thorny problem you could do with some help with, Brach Chair, Stewart Ramsdale, is prepared to act as ‘mail-man’ so just e-mail him at [email protected]

Calling all Site Workers ! Can you help? The North Branch Website was brilliantly put together by Alison McCandlish and Sara Crofts a couple of years ago. Check it out: http://www.ihbc.org.uk/Branches/north.htm Can you help your Branch by bringing the site up-to-date with current news, events and pet project pics.

This could be YOUR big opportunity to broadcast to the conservation world! Please contact Stewart Ramsdale or one of the Committee members if you are interested.

Events We are hoping to organise an event later in the year focusing on Heritage Engineering, more details to come. Please let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions for Branch events. Is there a project you are working on that other members would find interesting or have you been working with a team whose skills could be shared?

New Members and Moves There have been no new IHBC full or affiliate members in the Branch area recently. Remember to encourage those whom you feel should be members to join.

We would like to include news of branch members’ moves or other news so please let us know any changes so we can include these in future editions. Please send details to the contact below. Importantly please remember to notify IHBC headquarters too.

10 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

Come and Join Us! North Branch Committee meetings are planned for Wednesday 19th September and Wednesday 7th November. They start at 3.30pm and are held in the North of England Civic Trust’s meeting space at Blackfriars, Monk Street, Newcastle-upon Tyne.

All (paid up) members are welcome to attend, especially if you have something to offer. Please let one of us know beforehand so we can make sure we have enough cups.

Members of the Branch Committee and contact details are set out on page 12, below.

Finally

We would welcome any articles or notices for future editions. As with the first edition you will have noted that this edition is still reliant somewhat reliant on the activities of the committee members and we want to ensure that in future it reflects all of you, our branch members throughout the region. We are one of the smaller branches in terms of numbers but cover a large geographic area (the only non-national branch to extend to both sides of the country!).

To try and help forge stronger links across the branch area we would like the next edition will focus on Cumbria and we would particularly welcome any articles or items of interest from the West of the Branch area (although all submissions welcome).

We would also welcome any suggestions about the newsletter; please contact Geoff Underwood at [email protected] or any of the committee members.

This newsletter is prepared by the North Branch of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation however the views and opinions expressed within it are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute or the Branch Committee.

11 NORTHERN NOTES ISSUE 2, August 2007

NORTH BRANCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2007

Stewart Ramsdale (Chair) Tel. 01287 612349 (office) Tel. 01642 475198 (home) E-mail: [email protected]

Elaine Hogg (Secretary) Design and Conservation Durham County Council County Hall Durham DH1 5UQ Tel. 0191 383 3163 E-mail: [email protected]

Mike Hein-Hartmann (Treasurer) Tel: 0191 383 3237 E-mail: [email protected]

Geoff Underwood (Branch Council Representative and Newsletter Editor) Tel: 0191 433 3435 (office) E-mail: [email protected]

John Pendlebury Tel: 0191 222 6810 E-mail: [email protected]

David Lovie Tel: 01665 603 033 Tel: 01665 578 102 E-mail: [email protected]

Ian Goodman Tel. 01670 519391

Graham Darlington Tel: 01539 733333 ext. 346 E-mail: [email protected]

Clare Lacy Tel: 0191 433 3510 E-mail: [email protected]

12