Our team has been busy enhancing their conservation expertise over the past few months through courses organised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB).

At the end of May, Ellen, Phil and Zanna attended the SPAB Repair of Old Buildings Course. Over the week, guided by leading building conservation professionals, they deepened their understanding of the repair, maintenance, and conservation of historic buildings. They were also able to learn from ongoing conservation projects, through visiting the live sites at the Natural History Museum, the SPAB’s own Old House Project and the Charing Palace in Kent.

In July, Camila and Amy joined the SPAB Working Party in the Peak District National Park. For a week, they engaged in hands-on work at an 18th-century farmhouse and the local 12th-century church in Alstonefield, guided by SPAB specialists. They learned various techniques, including roof and masonry repairs, lime pointing, timber repairs, stone carving, and dry-stone walling. The experience also included a guided tour of Cromford Mills, the birthplace of the modern factory system and part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Working Party offers an excellent opportunity for those in the built heritage field to gain practical insight into traditional crafts and materials, and not even the weather could dampen their enthusiasm!

Both experiences provided invaluable knowledge and practical insight into traditional crafts and materials, and we’re excited to see our team bring this knowledge back to the office to enhance our practice.