Cooperage, Canals, Choirs and Chairing An Interview with David

Transcription

News
Issue No. 28
THE UK ASSOCIATION OF PRESERVATION TRUSTS
Cooperage, Canals, Choirs
and Chairing
An Interview with David Trevis-Smith
BPTs scoop up Awards
New HQ for Belfast BPT
PPS15 - The UK APT Response
Historic Properties and Heritage
Conservation - DVS
Winter 2009/10
Contents
APT People
3 From the Driving Seat
5 Cooperage, Canals, Choirs and Chairing:
Interview with David Trevis-Smith
8 Congratulations to …
APT Strategy & Policy
8 The New UK APT Mission Statement
8 PPS15 Consultation: The UK APT Response
9 An Economic Framework for Investment in
Heritage
APT Funding
12
12
13
13
HLF Skills for The Future
Landfill Tax
Communitybuilders
Heritage Link Funding Directory
APT Regions
Cover image: The UK APT Exeter Conference Visit to Poltimore House
Scotland
14 North East Scotland Preservation Trust Completes
Restoration of Key Banff Building
15 Dundee Project Receives Prestigious National
Award
15 Heritage Building Preservation Trust and its
Involvement in Beith
North-East
17 News from the North-East
18 Partnership working – the Northern Way
19 South Yorkshire Building Preservation Trust Limited:
Conservation and Regeneration in Thorne, Near
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
22 Elmswell Old Hall and The Esher Award for 2009
East Anglia
23 6 Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
24 ‘This water here caught …’ Gybsons Conduit
Wales
28 News from APT Wales
29 Major Restoration Project for Community Trust:
Great Trerhew Barn, Monmouthshire
Midlands
30 Message from the New Chair
30 Two more Lincs in the Chain
31 Cromford Station Scoops Two National Heritage
Awards
North-West
31 A Watery Theme: Tour of Buildings at Risk
32 Georgian Award for Blackburn
33 St James the Less Arts Centre Project
Northern Ireland
34 Georgian Award for Knockbreda
34 New HQ for Belfast BPT
35 The Restoration of Gracehill Old School
South-West
36 Message from the New Chair
36 ‘Your Sustainable Future’: The 2009 UK APT
Conference, Exeter
APT Partners
48 News from AHF
48 Solway Heritage and the Annan War Memorial:
The War Memorials Trust
49 Historic Properties and Heritage Conservation –
DVS
50 Princes Regeneration Trust – Conservation Plan
Guidance
APT Events
51 News of Future Conferences
51 Event Calendar
South-East
25 Extreme Themes: The Work of the Environment
Trust for Richmond upon Thames
27 Much Hadham Forge Museum… a heritage gem
The UK Association of Preservation Trusts (APT) was established in 1989 to promote and improve the effectiveness
and efficiency of its members, Building Preservation Trusts (BPTs), through the provision of support and advice. APT
is a Registered Charity (No. 1027919).
2 APT News Issue 28 Winter 2009/10
APT PEOPLE
From the Driving Seat
At our recent
Conference
in
Exeter, delegates
attending one of the
workshops were
asked to suggest a
make of car that
would best identify their organisation.
Not surprisingly, given that some BPTs
have enjoyed more birthdays than the
twenty-one UK APT will be celebrating
in 2010, quite a lot of ‘mature’ vehicles
rolled in - a respectable Singer, Austin
Healey Sprite, even a Vintage Jaguar.
Somehow a Robin Reliant, a TVR, a
Sinclair C5 and even a three-wheeled
tricycle also crept into the line-up.
Others conjured up vehicles capable
of carrying substantial burdens – a
Hummer, Fordson tractor and trailer,
charabanc, convoy, bus.
The point of the exercise was to
draw out unarticulated thoughts about
our organisations. Particularly striking
is the sense of diversity – and this is a
message from the BPT movement that
needs constant nurturing. BPTs travel
down many different roads – some on
country lanes, some on urban highways.
The buildings and settlements
encountered on the way are
extraordinarily diverse. It stands as a
reminder that there is simply no ‘onesize-fits-all’ solution that UK APT can
offer to cater for all its members’ needs.
Nevertheless, though the parade of
vehicles was happily inclusive of
many sizes and types (a few did align
themselves with more contemporary
models such as a Smart Car, a Focus,
or a VW Golf), there is just a hint of
the ‘vintage’ about the cavalcade.
These vehicles take special care to
maintain. UK APT can help with
ensuring roadworthiness. UK APT can
also perhaps assist with making the
parade sparkle more. And finally,
there are other vehicles out there
which are not yet appearing on the
grid. UK APT can invite them to take
part; existing participants can then
choose whether these newer models
have something to offer in terms of
design and performance.
So, at the risk of labouring it, let’s
milk the extra ‘mileage’ to be had from
the car metaphor by working through
the analogy on a number of levels. If
your BPT is a car, what do you have to
do to make sure it’s roadworthy?
Level 1: Basic Checklist
At the most basic level, have you
checked all your documentation
recently? Are you comfortable that the
log book is up-to-date and accurately
records your ownership. Does it
describe the vehicle properly – it may
be worth re-visiting your charitable
objectives to check they cover your
remit. (The AHF, for example, is
currently
updating
the
draft
Memorandum and Articles of
Association for Preservation Trusts).
And does it record the owners
correctly- are all the right names listed,
and have they passed the appropriate
tests to be there?
Have you given your vehicle its
annual MOT health check? Part of the
challenge is to make sure the vehicle
meets current expectations, standards
and requirements. Are you protected
against risk with adequate insurance to
limit the liability of trustees,
employees, contract workers and
consultants? Would BPTs find it useful
if UK APT was to develop toolkits to
carry out regular health checks - a kind
of DIY MOT?
To enable UK APT to respond to
members’ needs, your annual
subscription can perhaps be compared
to a (benign) car tax that ensures the
right infrastructure is in place for a
smooth journey. That is why UK APT is
looking to strengthen regional
groupings (think of it as a regional car
rally) and to improve navigation
around the information highway by
updating the website. The Guidance
Notes (or Manual) currently available
to all members, are also intended to be
updated during the course of this year.
Level 2: Routine Maintenance
BPTs, like cars, require two things to
keep going - regular maintenance and
fuel and oil to run on.
• Maintenance
Regularly servicing a vehicle will
ensure it is properly tuned, and that it
can brake and accelerate sensitively in
response to external conditions. A BPT
Service should provide an opportunity
to update your strategy and business
plan (you could try the ‘balanced
scorecard’ approach – an example is
featured in the 2009 Conference Papers
on www.ukapt.org.uk) and to check
whether reality is keeping up with
aspirations.
Perhaps
you
are
experiencing a recurrent problem –
remember that UK APT may be able to
help with its Practice Advisers Scheme
or VAT Advice – a mechanic is always
close to hand!
• Fuel
One major problem is concern that
the ‘juice’ that BPTs depend on - in
the shape of potential projects, funding
and resources - is diminishing or
threatened. Research carried out for
UK APT demonstrates there is no lack
of potential projects (and to monitor
opportunities UK APT is now represented on the Buildings at Risk
Committee convened by English
Heritage.)
UK APT will be doing all it can to
ensure members are aware of new
funding streams and opportunities.
Follow-up work on the back of the East
APT News Issue 28 Winter 2009/10 3
APT PEOPLE (continued)
Midlands Project for example is
investigating ways of working more
closely with regeneration agencies,
particularly on the opportunities
offered through enabling development
and links with housing associations.
Accessing expertise and sufficiently
skilled manpower is also clearly a key
challenge. There is great potential for
members who already deliver training
to assist other BPTs. A series of
roadshows is therefore planned for
development during 2010.
Level 3: Improving Performance
Nevertheless, if we focus solely on
maintaining the car and keeping it
running, we may be missing
opportunities
to
upgrade
its
performance and appearance. It’s
good therefore to see signs of failing
paintwork or scuffed interiors being
renewed – Ela Palmer’s Report on the
East Midlands identifies that old
‘County’ Trusts in the region tend to
be struggling. But one of these Trusts,
which I recently visited, has taken
matters into its own hands - new
Trustees have been recruited, solid
links with the Local Authority have
been forged, and a review of potential
projects undertaken.
If they’re
compatible with your ‘brand’, why not
make a similar resolution in 2010 to
try at least fitting one new ‘part’. It
might be adopting a new marketing
initiative (aim to get one media ‘hit’ a
month, for example), or it could
involve recruiting one new passenger
– a volunteer, trustee or member of
staff.
UK APT itself will need to become
more commercial if it is to help source
these new ‘parts’. We may want to
develop an Enterprises arm, perhaps
with a pool of project organisers, to
work with BPTs so that they can enjoy
an easier ride; part of a one-stop shop
that could also help those struggling to
crank themselves back into life. Would
this type of support be of interest to
your Trust?
Level 4:Time to Change to a New Model?
The risk is ever-present that the skills
and parts required to maintain and
service these older cars are no longer
available. There is also the more subtle
threat that BPTs are being overtaken by
other, slicker vehicles that deliver a
smoother and more efficient ride.
APT News can showcase some of the
newer ‘vehicles’ – some may be out of
your price bracket, have too many
gismos or simply not be your ‘brand’.
But there are certainly opportunities to
look at more sustainable models – the
Conference theme addressed precisely
this, and the reports included here
should help to refresh memories for
those who attended, or provide new
insights for those who weren’t able to
make the journey to Exeter.
Some new models of working are
being tried and tested across the UK.
‘Hybrids’ are just as much a feature of
the BPT movement as the car industry trusts are working with or within THIs
(as in Beith), umbrella trusts have
evolved to provide a bridge between
two independent trusts, cross-regional
partnerships are being formed to
capture funding opportunities (see the
article for example on The Northern
Way ). Other options are more akin to
car-sharing with larger trusts
mentoring smaller ones. UK APT can
assist by helping to identify partners,
bringing BPTs together or simply
providing the right networking
opportunities.
Level 5: Improvements to the Infrastructure
UK APT will also keep a keen watching
brief on how the routes travelled by
BPTs can be improved so that none end
up in a cul-de-sac or somewhere they
really don’t want to be. So, we will
campaign for improved signage (as in
revising the Heritage Lottery Fund
application guidelines) and seek to
improve the route maps that are
available – as we did by joining many
heritage organisations who responded
to the PPS 15 consultation. In January
we are meeting with AHF to ensure that
our evolving strategies are ‘tuned’ to
speak more harmoniously on behalf of
the Building Preservation movement
and thereby amplify the message.
Level 6:Thinking Outside the Box
UK APT is also keen to disseminate best
practice. It can do this is by talking to
new partners, learning what they do
well, and putting forward the case of
what BPTs can offer in return. In
January, we are meeting with DTA
senior management to explore how
BPTs can be more closely involved in the
process of asset transfer. UK APT can also
learn from, promote and disseminate
R & D. This will happen as the findings
of the Scottish Study emerge. In 2010,
we will also be undertaking studies in
the South-West and Wales. This
substantial body of work is flagging up
the fact that we should not be afraid to
think about other types of ‘delivery
vehicle’ altogether.
And then there is the bigger picture
– are driving conditions getting worse?
There is clearly a need to build in
resilience to changing climates.
Inspiration might be found outside the
UK. That’s why next year’s Conference
in Glasgow will be exploring the
international funding picture in more
detail, as an optional addition to our
established two-day format focussed on
the UK scene.
The final fundamental point? The
spectrum of vehicles you encounter in
this club is very wide. But you don’t
necessarily need to know exactly how
the vehicle works to drive it. And that is
what the BPT movement is blessed with
– a fleet of very capable, inventive
drivers who are eager to hone their skills
by sharing their knowledge and
expertise – as reflected in the wide
range of contributions to this edition of
APT News. Here’s to a smooth ride in
2010.
James Moir, Director
Cooperage, Canals, Choirs and Chairing:
Interview with David Trevis-Smith
David, members of
APT will be keen
know more about
the new man at the
helm, so thanks for
agreeing to do this
interview.
You’ve been in post now for six
months.What have been the
highlights so far?
The warm support I’ve received from
members and UK APT partner
organisations, our stimulating, busy
and productive annual conference in
Exeter, and the willing contribution to
UK APT’s future strategic thinking by
National Committee members and
conference delegates alike.
What attracted you to become
Chairman and what qualities are
required of the chair?
From my experience as a Project
Organiser working for several BPTs I
have found great value in the support
provided to member Trusts by UK APT,
the only membership association
offering specialist assistance to BPTs.
Under Colin John’s leadership as Chair,
in 2007 UKAPT carried out a strategic
review that identified the breadth and
depth of support for UK APT across the
UK and also identified areas for
attention if the organisation is to
respond to the changing needs of its
member Trusts. A key recommendation
of that review, subsequently supported
by the National Committee, was to
create the post of UK APT Director;
Colin was then instrumental in
implementing that recommendation
via your appointment in May 2009. My
motivation in becoming Chair is to
enable a continuation of that
development of UK APT services
to member Trusts begun by my
predecessor.
As for qualities required, I would say
the Chair of any organisation is wise to
recognise we were all designed with two
ears and one mouth and that they are
best used in that proportion in listening
and responding to members; the aim of
my response is to coordinate resources
to enable UK APT to operate as efficiently
and effectively as possible in delivering
support services that are relevant and of
benefit to member Trusts. In that context
we need to be realistic about what can be
delivered with the current level of
resources, recognising that UK APT is a
voluntary organisation run by its
members for its members.
Describe your ‘Ah-Ha’ moment that
shaped your decision to work with
BPTs
That would have been at the time when
one of life’s unexpected events
(euphemistically referred to as
‘corporate re-structuring’) encouraged
me to re-think my future career! I was
looking for that ideal: a job combining
my educational background, expertise,
and personal interests.
My formal education was in business
management; a degree from the
University of Bradford Management
Centre and subsequently being awarded
Chartered Director certification by the
Institute of Directors. I was born into a
traditional manufacturing business in
the heart of the industrialised Black
Country region of the West Midlands;
the family business had been founded
by my great-great-grandfather, a master
cooper. The terraced house in which we
lived had been built by my greatgrandfather along with the adjoining
house, originally his home (and that of
his thirteen children) but by that time
used as an office for the business. The
cooperage, originally based in the yard
of the house, had spread into
neighbouring properties and at its
height employed over 50 people. I
enjoyed a gradual introduction to the
business; from playing with woodshavings as a child, to learning the
fundamentals of coopering, then
joining other members of my family in
running the business, ultimately as
Managing Director. Unfortunately the
business is no more and I moved on to
become Director of a training company,
responsible in particular for providing
leadership
and
management
development programmes. However
the family made sure that the historic
machinery was retained and is currently
in store at the Black Country Living
Museum, awaiting funding at some
future point (we hope) to refurbish and
exhibit as a complete mechanised
cooperage circa the 1920s-1930s. In
my leadership and management
development role I gained qualifications
in occupational psychology, for use in
performance coaching and for
individual and team development.
Outside of work I’ve always had an
interest in music and have been a
singing member of the City of
Birmingham Choir for a number of
years. Whilst performing to the highest
standard in venues such as
Birmingham’s Symphony Hall and Town
Hall and engaging professional soloists
and orchestras (such as the CBSO) the
choir is actually self-managed, with
members volunteering their time to run
the organisation (does this sound
familiar?) and over recent years I’ve
been involved in its management,
including a term of office as Chair.
From an early age I’ve also been
involved with canals: my parents
rescued a working narrow-boat in the
1960s that is still used by the family for
boating holidays and the fight to save
canals from destruction in the 1960s
and 70s involved us all in work parties
and campaigning boat rallies. This led
me into voluntary work to save historic
buildings, initially for Canal Societies
associated with canals but then for my
local BPT, the West Midlands Historic
Buildings Trust (WMHBT).
One of the WMHBT trustees served as
volunteer Project Organiser for their first
project, repair of a timber-frame house in
Kinver; the project was successfully
completed but from the workload
experienced the Trust decided that a paid
Project Organiser post would be
necessary for future projects. The Trust’s
next project was to rescue the former
office building of the Harris & Pearson
The Harris & Pearson Building - after renovation
Company, a manufacturer of refractories,
the building being a three-dimensional
showcase of their product range of glazed
firebricks. The Trust had reached the stage
of appointing a Project Organiser at the
point of me reviewing career options…
and the rest, as they say, is history!
If you could destroy one myth about
BPTs, what would it be?
Can I be allowed to destroy two? The
first is any notion that ‘voluntary
organisation’ equates to ‘amateurish’ or
‘inferior’. The ‘volunteer’ trustees within
BPTs are often highly qualified in their
respective fields, often of direct relevance
to BPT projects, such as conservation
officers, surveyors, architects, engineers,
as well as in allied specialism such as
solicitors and accountants. Yes, BPTs
need advice and guidance in specialist
areas, but so do all organisations
whatever their sector and in the case of
BPTs that’s where organisations such as
the Architectural Heritage Fund and UK
APT play a vital role.
The second is the notion that BPTs are
‘developers of last resort’; why so? If a
BPT approach is clearly the best solution
for a historic building at risk, why lose
time exploring all other options before
supporting it as a BPT project? The delay
involved will surely only serve to increase
the project cost and increase the risk of
losing the building before a solution can
be implemented.
Do you think we know enough about
BPTs and how they could perform
more effectively?
We know a lot, after all the first BPT
(Cambridgeshire Preservation Society)
was formed in 1929 and UK APT is
now in its 21st year of providing
support to BPTs. However there’s
always more to learn and new ways of
working to be explored, in particular to
suit a constantly changing operating
environment. Current considerations
of how best BPTs can support initiatives
involving Asset Transfer is a case in
point, i.e. the transfer of under-used
land and buildings from the public
sector to community ownership and
management; the existing BPT model
may be ideal, or minor changes to the
way of working could perhaps further
enhance its suitability. UK APT can play
a part in exploring such new
opportunities and, to increase its role in
this respect, probably needs to gather
more information from member Trusts
on different ways of working that have
been attempted; those that have proved
unsuccessful as well as those that have
been successful.
In your experience as a project
organiser, what are the key elements
that lead to a project’s success?
First and foremost has to be to start
with the end in mind; having a clear
‘vision’ helps motivation during what
can be a lengthy process and helps
focus resources. Carrying out an
Options Appraisal study is often
necessary to provide this ‘vision’ for the
project and to identify the key issues
that will need to be addressed. It can of
course be a challenge to fund this type
of preliminary work, one area where
the Architectural Heritage Fund plays a
vital role.
Other key elements I would say are
support by the local authority and by
the major funders. In the case of each
type of potential project partner I’ve
found it’s useful to consider the project
from their perspective; expressing
potential benefits of the project from
their point-of-view is more likely to
gain support, even where those aspects
of the project may not necessarily be
the highest priority to the BPT.
Then of course it should go without
saying that the calibre of the building
contractor and of the professional team is
crucial, particularly that of the architect.
What do BPTs have to do to
convince the Government they
deserve more support?
As a sector we need to raise the profile of
our work, particularly of successful
projects, of the urgent need to tackle the
enormous under-utilised resource
represented by the stock of historic
buildings at risk, and of the potential
route for their rescue offered by BPTs.
BPTs can do that at a local level, but this
is also where I believe UK APT has
potential to make a difference at a
national level, to include lobbying the
powers that be to provide support
necessary for BPTs to play a much bigger
role than at present, and as a nation to
capitalise on the latent opportunity to tap
into the willing enthusiasm represented
by BPT trustees and members.
Should BPTs be more commercial
and seek to compete with developers
in the market place?
If by ‘commercial’ you mean financially
realistic to ensure long-term sustainability of the building and of the BPT,
then the answer must be “yes”, but in
my experience BPTs are already pretty
good in that respect. Indeed it could be
said they have to be, more so than
commercial developers, as BPTs have
more regulators to satisfy and should
therefore be a ‘safer pair of hands’ in the
eyes of interested parties. On the other
hand if you mean competing on
commercial terms with developers then
the answer is “no” in my opinion.
However I would argue that BPTs hold a
particular relevance in the market-place
where the future of a building needs to
be considered on more than just what
scheme will give the greatest financial
return. ‘Social return’ is a term seldom
used by commercial developers, but is at
the heart of what BPTs are about; hence
my earlier assertion that BPTs should
not be considered ‘developers of last
resort’ but rather ‘developers of first
resort’ in certain situations.
Who do you see being our key
partners in the future?
BPTs, BPT projects, and UK APT as the
Where do you see APT in five year’s
time?
Continuing to be the hub supporting
BPT activity across the UK, but with an
expanded range of services that are
contributing to an increasing level of
BPT activity.
How do you meet the demands of
working from home with a busy
family life?
By having an incredibly understanding
and supportive wife and children!
Working from home has its advantages:
the daily commute to my home-office
via the kitchen is a far cry from my
previous 50 mile round-trip along the
M5 motorway (known occasionally as
the M5 car-park), both in terms of
stress-levels and carbon footprint. It also
has its disadvantages of course, not least
the temptation to allow work to
dominate. I can’t claim to have got the
balance right yet (let’s call it work in
progress) but that’s where gentle
demands from my family can help;
examples of welcome distractions being
Sunday’s transporting members of my
son’s youth football team to the netherregions of the Midlands and making
sympathetic noises from the sideline
(whatever the weather!), or supporting
my daughter’s rope-skipping team in
their attempts to set a new world record
or win another medal for Team UK;
they’re current world record holders in
two separate disciplines, won overall
bronze medal at the 2009 European
championships in Sweden and overall
bronze medal at the most recent world
championships held in 2008 in Cape
Town, South Africa. The rope skipping
world championships are being staged
in the UK for the first time in July and
August 2010, with my wife
volunteering to serve on the organising
committee, so this is likely to be another
busy year in that respect. And on
occasions I get to enjoy some quality
time with my wife for a concert or
theatre performance, other than simply
the occasional exchange of car keys for
the next taxi duty!
Your favourite book on buildings?
That has to be “The House that Jack
Built” by James Wynn, a true story that
epitomises why I’m so engrossed by
preserving our built heritage for
current and future generations to
understand and enjoy. The book is
about Saltford Manor, a wreck of a
building rescued by James and Anna
Wynn to become their family home
and, in the process, uncovering
fascinating secrets such as the oldest
(unless you know different!) domestic
wall-paintings in Britain, a medieval
window worthy of a cathedral (for
good reason), initials on a carved
fireplace dating to the English Civil War,
and through these and other clues a
pathway to re-telling the everyday
history of the people of Saltford over a
period of almost 1,000 years. I don’t
know of a better way than historic
buildings to engage interest in our
heritage and maintain a sense of place
and local pride.
Which three historical figures would
you have join you at the dinner table?
It would be useful to have Sir Richard
Arkwright (the Richard Branson of his
day) and Abraham Darby debate whose
invention really was the instigator of
the industrial revolution: Arkwright’s
factory system or Darby’s smelting of
iron using coal? I suspect they may not
reach agreement but information
gleaned from the debate would help
with two of my current projects:
Park Head Locks, Dudley Canal: during and after restoration
membership organisation of BPTs have
between us all benefitted from support
by a range of agencies over the years.
Clearly it is to be hoped those agencies
will continue to be key partners for the
future. However our sector is having to
come to terms with significant budget
cuts affecting a number of those partner
organisations, whilst the same
economic climate is also serving to
increase the urgent need for BPT activity
to rescue historic buildings under
threat. So if BPTs are to maintain and
expand their level of activities then new
partners will be needed, to build upon
assistance from our existing supporters;
I see this as an important area for UK
APT’s attention: to develop partnerships
that (a) enable UK APT to expand the
extent of its services and (b) open up
new opportunities for member Trusts.
working with the Arkwright Society on
converting Building 17 at Arkwright’s
Cromford Mills in Derbyshire into a
visitor gateway for the Mills complex
and the 15 mile long Derwent Valley
Mills World Heritage Site; and working
with Dudley Canal Trust on creating a
Learning and Access Hub for visitors to
the complex of underground canals and
limestone mines at Dudley Canal
Tunnel. Although best known for his
connection with Ironbridge and
Telford, Abraham Darby was in fact
born in Dudley. Indeed a conversation
with Abraham might put to rest the
debate on whether he was first to solve
the challenge of smelting iron using
coal (rather than charcoal) or was
actually pipped to it some years earlier,
as some claim, by his great- great-uncle
Dud Dudley.
My third guest would be Benjamin
Mander, inventor of coloured inks and
dyes, and whose property in George
Street, Wolverhampton is my most
recently completed project (by the City
of Wolverhampton Regenerating
Buildings Preservation Trust). No
doubt he would add to the ArkwrightDarby debate with examples of their
influence on his activities, including the
automated production of flour and
bread (he was originally a master
baker) that led to established millers
and bakers bringing forward a Bill of
Indictment for conspiracy!
If I’m allowed an extra guest, from
outside the world of historic buildings,
it would have to be Sir Ernest
Shackleton, my hero for skills in
leadership; I would relish an
opportunity to learn more about how
he coped with the desperate situation of
saving the lives of the men stranded
with him on an Antarctic ice floe for
almost two years. By comparison,
saving even the most perilous of
historic buildings is surely a doddle,
even if it does often take a lot longer
than two years!
If you were to make a movie about
your life, what actor would you pick
to play you?
Harrison Ford comes to mind, no doubt
for many of us involved with the work of
BPTs; the image of Indiana Jones working
against the clock to rescue a national
treasure whilst avoiding the snake-pit and
other perils that lie in wait, seems to have
certain similarities to a typical BPT
project so I’m sure Harrison Ford would
find the role comes quite naturally!
Top selection from your CD collection?
There are too many to list but as a
flavour, from the classical scene I would
say Durufle Requiem, Bruch Violin
Concerto No.1, Beethoven Symphony
No.6 (the ‘Pastoral’), and VaughanWilliams “Serenade to Music”;
enduring favourites from my youth
include Pink Floyd “The Dark Side of
the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here”,
Elton John “Captain Fantastic And The
Brown Dirt Cowboy”, and “Jesus Christ
Superstar” by Tim Rice and Andrew
Lloyd Webber; from the contemporary
scene I enjoy listening to artists such as
Duffy, James Morrison, and James
Blunt although choosing individual
tracks is now of course taking over
from album collections. I’m not sure
what that says about my personality
preferences apart perhaps from having
broad tastes!
Thank you, David. It’s obvious from
your answers that UK APT is
fortunate to have someone of your
skill and experience as Chair. It is
reassuring to know that we share a
common purpose in seeking to build
the organisation into an effective
voice for Building Preservation Trusts
across the UK.
James Moir
Congratulations to ...
Many congratulations to the following who have were
awarded MBEs in the New Years Honours List :
Dr the Reverend Jean Prosser (Village Alive Trust). For services
to Conservation and to the community in Monmouthshire
(Abergavenny, Monmouthshire)
Dr Alan Turtle (Richhill Building Preservation Trust, Co.
Armagh). For voluntary service to the County in Richill
County, Armagh (Armagh)
Dr Henry Will (Ford Park Cemetery Trust, Plymouth). For
voluntary service to Ford Park Cemetery Trust in Plymouth
(Plymouth, Devon)
Mrs Susan Tamlyn (Suffolk Architectural Heritage Trust). For
services to Heritage in Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk)
APT STRATEGY AND POLICY
The New UK APT
Mission Statement
A pithy new mission statement- to
reflect our twin objectives of
raising the profile of, and
providing support, information
and advice to BPTs - was adopted
at the last National Committee
Meeting of UK APT
‘APT is the voice of Building
Preservation Trusts in the UK; it
promotes and supports the
rescue and sustainable use of
historic buildings at risk’.
PPS 15 Consultation:The UK APT Response
In October UK APT, along with many
other heritage organizations, responded
to the Consultation Paper on a new
Planning Policy Statement 15: Planning
for the Historic Environment
On a positive note, APT welcomed
the new statement as it celebrates the
historic environment’s role in
maintaining and enhancing the quality
of life for this and future generations. It
is good to see Building Preservation
Trusts being recognized as effective
mechanisms for dealing with Buildings
at Risk, requiring them to be included
at an early stage in consultation on the
future of any threatened heritage asset.
We argued however that further
guidance should be issued by English
Heritage to clarify how the consultation
process would be triggered, and how
its scope would be defined. We also
stressed the role of local community
organisations in offering alternative
uses which place fewer development
pressures and higher conservation
standards on the asset itself.
This emphasis on ‘significance’ is
where PPS 15 departs from PPG 15. On
a practical level, PPS 15 demands better
resourced HERs (Historic Environment
Records) if the ‘significance’ of a
heritage asset is to be fully understood.
On an interpretational level, we
thought that the definition of
‘significance’ could prove difficult
where it is confined to matters of good
design, rather than considering all
aspects of the heritage asset including
its potential for re-use etc. The
subjective application of the concept of
‘significance’ to determine planning
issues is compounded by the failure to
carry over the more straightforward
wording of PPG 15; this advocated the
“desirability of preserving the listed
building or its setting or any features of
special architectural or historic interest
which it possesses.”
UK APT believes PPS 15 places too
negative a ‘spin’ on heritage assets as
potential barriers to development. PPG
15 categorically stated that ‘once lost,
heritage assets cannot be replaced’
and that destruction of a heritage asset
would be justified only in ‘wholly
exceptional’ circumstances. This clarity
appears to have been lost in translation.
PPS 15 only kicks in where a
development proposal is being
considered. It has nothing substantial
to say about how neglected heritage
assets should be cared for, nor the
mechanisms by which they can be
brought back into beneficial use when
so neglected. A key objective for UK
APT is to see Heritage at Risk
embracing all threatened structures
and collections of assets of
‘significance’ (not just buildings that
are Grade 1 or Grade II*), and to
ensure there are clear mechanisms for
removing these from the ‘At Risk’
register. PPS 15 fails to lay out a robust
strategy for addressing the future of
structures of significance at risk. The
lack of reference to enforcement that
appeared as policy in PPG 15 is
particularly alarming.
PPS 15 does not make a strong
enough case for heritage being an
essential driver of sustainable
development. The historic environment
should be pitched more forcefully as a
positive contributor to the quality of
life (and not just good design) by
stimulating regeneration, sustainable
development and healthier living.
It is good to know that the
consultation has had some impact. In a
letter to the Minister for Planning, John
Healey MP, Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, Chair,
CLG Committee & John Whittingdale
MP, Chairman, CMS Committee, write:
‘We write following the receipt by both
of our Committees of a significant
amount of correspondence from
interested parties concerning the
recently-published draft planning
policy statement on the historic
environment (PPS15). It appears that
there is a considerable degree of
concern amongst a range of
stakeholders about the proposals
contained in this draft. We understand
that you have noted these concerns, and
you are reported as having said:
“The current language in the planning
policy statement is not clear enough.We
will redraft it to make clear that the
protection of heritage buildings will not
be reduced...The consultation shows that
there is some confusion, which we will
clear up before we publish the final
statement. In the light of the concerns
which have been raised with us, we are
pleased to see that you are committed to
redrafting the statement. However, we
note that you have not committed
yourself to consulting stakeholders on
the redrafted PPS to ensure that their
concerns have been appropriately
addressed. Our Committees have no
current plans to take oral evidence on
this PPS. However, the weight of opinion
amongst stakeholders is such that they
may wish to consider doing so if
stakeholders’ concerns are not allayed. A
commitment to ensuring that there is
adequate opportunity to comment on
the redrafted policy before it is finalised
would, we are sure, go some way
towards reassuring not only stakeholders
but also our two Committees that the
Government is treating their concerns
seriously. We are copying this letter to
the Institute of Historic Building
Conservation,APT, the UK Association of
Preservation Trusts, the Historic Towns
Forum, Heritage Link, the Joint
Committee of the National Amenity
Societies and the Society for the
Protection of Ancient Buildings, all of
whom have been in correspondence
with us on this matter.”
We await further news …..
James Moir
An economic
framework for
investment in
heritage
The following article has been
contributed by Paul Bodenham,
Policy Adviser for English Heritage,
East Midlands Region. It provides a
helpful framework or ‘logic chain’
when seeking regeneration funds for
BPT projects.
Rationale for Intervention
In applying for regeneration funding,
heritage projects must be able to
provide a clear justification as to why
public sector intervention is needed.
Such a justification may be advanced on
the basis of market failure or the
existence of a specific need and/or
opportunity.
(a) Market failure
Market failure is a situation where
market mechanisms alone cannot
deliver an efficient outcome. There are
a number of reasons for market failure,
including:
• externalities in production and
consumption causing private and social
costs and/ or benefits to diverge;
• imperfect/ asymmetric information
– i.e. where the different parties to a
transaction have different information:
• public goods;
• market power; and
• equity (‘fairness’ issues) – i.e. to
correct a situation where markets
generate an ‘unacceptable’ distribution
of income, possibly resulting in social
exclusion.
In the case of heritage, market failure
particularly arises due to its public
good characteristics. Public goods are
those which the market cannot supply
efficiently because of the impracticality
of withholding benefits from those
who do not pay. This leads to the ‘free
rider’ problem, whereby people may
avoid paying for a good/service on the
grounds that they believe that someone
APT STRATEGY AND POLICY (continued)
else will pay for it but they will still be
able to enjoy the benefits.
Externalities occur where there are
costs and benefits which are external to
the market and therefore not reflected
in market prices. Heritage assets have
potential to result in a number of
important social benefits (such as those
deriving from the educational
opportunities provided or the
contribution they make to the
attractiveness of an area). However,
typically, such social benefits are not
reflected in the level of private benefits
experienced by the market. Without
intervention, the market will make a
decision on the ‘level’ of heritage to
provide based upon its own (internal)
costs and benefits; with the higher level
of social benefits provided by the asset
not being incorporated into this
decision leading to an under-supply.
Given such circumstances there is an
argument for public sector intervention
to ensure that a socially optimal level of
heritage is provided.
Market failure may also occur for a
combination of reasons. In the case of
heritage a key argument for
intervention is the conservation deficit
(i.e. the increased cost associated with
conserving heritage merit as opposed
to simply maintaining its current
condition), which highlights both
public good and externalities aspects.
(b) Need / Opportunity
Another
basis
for
justifying
intervention is through highlighting a
specific need or opportunity for
investment, such as the need to address
skills shortages (such as in relation to
traditional craft occupations), or else
the opportunity to contribute to the
creation of a major new visitor
attraction. In such cases the applicant
would be expected to present strong
evidence corresponding to the specific
need or demand for such an
intervention. Additionally, where the
identified need / opportunity is
ultimately the result of a market failure
then the applicant should provide
elaboration and to explain why there is
not a case for private sector intervention
in such an instance.
Rationale for intervention by
regeneration agencies
Whilst regeneration funding has
supported a range of heritage-related
projects - including, for example, canal
restorations, townscape heritage, and
restoration of historic buildings - it is
important to note that regeneration
agencies do not as a rule fund heritage
per se; rather they support activity that
can contribute to the further economic
development of the area, by delivering
against the themes highlighted in the
relevant economic strategies.
As a result, it is therefore conditional
that potential applicants must first
justify why public sector intervention is
needed, but then also provide further
rationale as to why this intervention is
necessary. This could equally apply to
any other category of potential funder
that a particular project has chosen to
approach.
Having established the economic
rationale for intervention, an
application for regeneration funding
should explain how the objectives of a
project will deliver it – its ‘strategic fit’.
From there the case for the application
can be developed using the ‘logic chain’
illustrated in the chart on the right.
This allows the inputs required for the
project, its output, the results,
outcomes and impact, and the
consequent contribution to strategic
priorities to be articulated in terms
which regeneration funders will
recognise.
Paul Bodeham
Adapted from Old and New - A
Strategic Framework to Inform
Investment in Heritage Projects
(ECOTEC / EMDA, 2009)
www.intelligenceeastmidlands.org.uk/
content/view/1242/2/
What is the rationale for public sector
intervention in heritage?
The case for investment should be clearly
set out. This can be highlighted in terms of
market failure and/or need and
opportunities. In the case of need /
opportunity supporting evidence should
be provided, and any related market
failure should be noted.
What are the objectives of the
intervention? How does it complement/
contribute to relevant strategies and fit
into the local/regional vision?
What does the project set out to achieve,
and how does this relate to the rationale
for investment?
What are the inputs needed to ensure
effective delivery?
Evidence that applicant is aware of the
inputs that are required and that these will
be made available.
What will be the direct outputs of the
project?
All outputs should be identified and
quantified where possible. Outputs should
be expressed in terms of the indicators
used by the relevant funding body.
RATIONALE
MARKET
NEED AND
OPPORTUNITY
Public goods
Natural heritage
Externalities
Iconic buildings
Imperfect/
Visitor attractions
asymmetric
Skills shortages
information
Brownfield land
RESULTS
Attract visitors/increase tourism
Attract investment/new businesses
Increase land/property values
Improve image/identity
Improve access to employment
Improve access to leisure
opportunities
Improve skills
Attract new occupiers/residents
What will be the results that flow from
the intervention?
The project will potentially generate a
number of changes in the wider
economy.
Market power
Equity
OUTCOMES
OBJECTIVES/STRATEGIC FIT
To improve the built/natural
environment
To help address market failure
To improve accessibility
To attract investment
Increase in investment
Increase in visitor spend
Increase in incomes
Increase in business/consumer
expenditure
Improve confidence in future of
community/economy
Reduction in vacancies
What are the economic outcomes of
the project?
The results of the intervention will lead to
a range of outcomes which should be
identified and quantified where possible.
To improve skills levels/access to emp.
To reduce crime and disorder
IMPACT
INPUTS
Funding/resources
Strong partnership/local support
Support of owners/landlords
Experienced delivery
body/contractors
Experience/know how
Jobs created
Businesses created
Investment secured
Tourists attracted
Crime reduced
Floorspace upgraded
Increase in properties occupied
(commercial/residential)
What will be the impact of the heritage
project?
Moving from gross to net will require
adjustment for any deadweight,
displacement, substitution, leakage and
multiplier effects.
Assessment of risk
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
OUTPUTS
Space for business/residential use.
Green space.
GVA/output
Competitiveness
Employment
Sustainability
What will be the wider impacts of the
project?
How will the intervention contribute to
the achievement of wider regional and
local priorities?
Learning opportunities.
Jobs created/safeguarded.
Community/visitor facilities.
Brownfield land remediated
Improved building fabric/public realm
APT FUNDING
The Heritage Lottery Fund: Skills for the Future
Skills for the Future funds projects which provide paid
training placements to meet a skills gap in the heritage
sector, and which fully support trainees to learn practical
skills. The programme aims to:
• fund high-quality, work-based training opportunities
to equip people with the skills to pursue a career in
heritage;
• enhance the capacity of the heritage sector to deliver
sustainable training and share good practice; and
Partnerships – for example of community and voluntary
organisations, professional bodies and learning and training
providers – can also apply. Priority will be given to not-forprofit organisations. If private sector organisations are
involved, HLF expect the public benefit to be greater than
any private gain.
There is only one opportunity to apply to Skills for the
Future. The closing date is 19 March 2010. There will be
one application form and a single-stage assessment process.
Online application forms are now available and Awards will
be made in May 2010.
• demonstrate the value of heritage skills to modern life.
Skills for the Future will award grants of between £100,000
and £1million. Projects should last no more than five years
but should provide long-lasting benefits. HLF welcome
applications from organisations which can deliver training
opportunities in heritage that are additional to current or
recent provision.
UK APT is considering submitting a bid to develop a pool
of trainee Project Organizers and would welcome
expressions of interest from Trusts interested in working as
partners in providing placements. Please contact Dr James
Moir ([email protected]) for further details.
For further information, consult www.hlf.org.uk/skills
The Landfill Tax
Tax on landfill waste was introduced in 1996 as a means
to reduce the amount of land-filled waste and to promote
a shift to more environmentally sustainable methods of
waste management. The Landfill Communities Fund
(LCF) is an innovative tax credit scheme which enables
operators of landfill sites to contribute money to enrolled
Environmental Bodies (EBs) to carry out projects that
meet environmental objects contained in the Landfill Tax
Regulations.The LCF is a way for Landfill Operators (LOs)
and EBs to work in partnership to create significant
environmental benefits and jobs and to undertake
projects which improve the lives of communities living
near landfill sites.
LOs can contribute up to 6% of their landfill tax
liability to EBs, and reclaim 90% of this contribution as a
tax credit. They may bear the remaining 10% themselves,
or else an independent third party can make up this 10%
difference to the LO.
Funding is targeted to projects which fulfil specific
‘objects’. Of most relevance to BPTs is OBJECT E : The
repair, maintenance or restoration of a Place of Worship or a Place of
Architectural Importance. The primary intent of this objective
is to maintain, repair or restore a Place of Worship; or a
building or structure that must have listed status or
equivalent where the general public can access the
building. This objective does not allow works to private
residences. Trusts applying under this category will be
asked to demonstrate:
• The Building or structure is open and accessible to the
general public;
• The works you propose are to repair, restore or
maintain the Building or structure;
• All the costs of the works relate to the actual Building
or structure.
Other Objects of possible relevance include:
OBJECT A: The remediation or restoration of land which can not
now be used because of a ceased activity that used to take place there
OBJECT B: The reduction, prevention or mitigation of effects of
pollution that has resulted, or may result, from an activity which
has now ceased
OBJECT D: The provision, maintenance or improvement of a
public park or other general public amenity
OBJECT DA: The conservation of a specific species or a specific
habitat where it naturally occurs
For further information see www.entrust.org.uk
Communitybuilders
Communitybuilders is a £70m investment fund which
takes forward a commitment within the ‘Communities in
Control: real people, real power’ White Paper to build more
cohesive, empowered and active communities.
Communitybuilders invests in the sustainability of multipurpose, inclusive, community-led organisations
(sometimes known as Community Anchors). These
organisations can be the platform to support empowered
communities by:
• providing a place for community activities to take place
• generating independent sources of income
Communitybuilders is a joint programme between
Communities and Local Government and the Office of the
Third Sector and is lead by the Adventure Capital Fund and
delivered by The Social Investment Business and The
Community Alliance.
• stimulating community involvement and enterprise
There are three elements to the Communitybuilders
programme: Feasibility which provides grants and business
support; Development which provides grants, one-to-one
mentoring and business support; and Investment which
provides loans and grants and business support.
See www.communitybuildersfund.org.uk for further
information.
Montgomery Town Hall: A BPT project seeking funding under the Community Asset
Transfer programme and venue for the January meeting of APT Wales
Great Torrington Town Hall: a BPT project that has received assistance from the Landfill Tax
credit Scheme
• providing and running local services
Heritage Link Funding Directory
The Heritage Funding Directory is a
comprehensive guide to sources of
financial support (and more) for anyone
seeking to undertake creative projects
connected with the UK’s heritage. It is
available at www.heritagelink.org.uk
training, funding advice, education,
interpretation and publication, and
other “in kind” resources.
It includes details of the majority of
substantive sources of funding from
central and local government, nongovernmental agencies and grantmaking trusts which specialise in
supporting heritage projects, as well as
many which provide such funding
within a wider remit.
• Categories of heritage include the
countryside, historic landscapes,
parks, gardens, churchyards and
cemeteries; industrial, transport and
maritime
heritage;
archives,
collections, spoken history; historic
churches and other buildings;
museums and gallery collections;
land and maritime archaeology;
environmental; heritage skills and
conservation.
• As well as detailing sources of grants,
the Directory also lists bodies
offering loans, awards, scholarships,
• Each entry includes a detailed
descriptions of the type of project
which the funding source is willing
to support, together with contact
details for where you can go to
seek further information. Where
appropriate, a direct link is provided
to the source’s own website.
• To avoid unnecessary duplication,
Heritage Link’s Heritage Funding
Directory includes details of funding
sources which cover historic
buildings if they are part of a wider
heritage project/context. If you are
specifically searching for funding for
work on historic buildings, you are
recommended to go directly to the
Architectural Heritage Fund’s
dedicated Funds for Historic Buildings
(FFHB) website.
APT REGIONS
APT SCOTLAND
Area Representative
Chairman: George McNeill: [email protected] (01506 845541/07833 728789)
Vice-Chairman Alan Lodge: [email protected] (01592 646278)
Secretary/Treasurer: Sarah Mackinnon: [email protected] (0141 248 4013)
North East Scotland Preservation Trust Completes Restoration of Key Banff Building
Top left: The property suffered structural problems due to subsidence. Work to repair the
building started in 2008.
Top right: The rear of the property in 2008 as work gets underway.
Bottom right: The rear of the property in August 2009 as work neared completion.
Bottom left: The completed house, from left to right – Architect Les Hunter; Local Councillor
John Cox; Trust Member Patricia Seligman; Quantity Surveyor Bill Runcie; Trust Project
Manager Paul Higson; Trust Chairman Councillor Marcus Humphrey.
A landmark building in the heart of Banff has been
successfully restored to its former glory after lying derelict
for more than 20 years.
The Trust managed the £800,000 collaborative project
at 2 Old Castlegate, a B-Listed Georgian town house which
has been transformed into two private houses. Work took
nearly a year to complete and both of the new houses have
already been sold on the open market.
The house occupies a prominent position in the centre
of the Banff Outstanding Conservation Area and was seen as
a key project by the Banff Townscape Heritage Initiative.The
fact that the building was suffering from severe structural
problems meant that any repair and restoration programme
was completely commercially unviable.
With support from a wide range of organisations the
Trust was able to manage an extensive programme of works
to overcome the structural problems and bring the building
back to life. Grant assistance was received from
Aberdeenshire Council (£50,000), Historic Scotland
(£199,412), the Heritage Lottery Fund (£74,243 through
the Banff Townscape Heritage Initiative), The Pilgrim Trust
(£30,000), The Monument Trust (£30,000), The Leche
Trust (£5,000) and Scottish Enterprise Grampian (£3,286).
One of the essential features that made the project
possible was the provision of up to £500,000 in interest
free loan funding from Aberdeenshire Council. In the event,
the Trust drew down £375,000 to help cover the project
costs in advance of the sale of the two houses. All this loan
funding will be repaid and it is hoped that this sort of
arrangement can be used on future projects. With
continuing uncertainty in the housing market this
tremendous support from the local authority minimises the
risk to the Trust and protects its cash flow position.
The Trust received a management fee of £30,000 and
following the successful sale of the two houses, the project
is likely to make a modest overall profit of around £10,000.
These funds with be invested by the Trust in its extensive
programme of building restoration and repair. Work is
already underway on an Options Appraisal on a collection
of B Listed buildings owned by the Trust at Back Green,
Portsoy. The Trust is grateful for financial support from the
Architectural Heritage Fund and Aberdeenshire LEADER
towards the cost of the Appraisal.
NESPT Chairman and Aberdeenshire Council’s Deputy
Provost, Marcus Humphrey, said: “Aberdeenshire Council
acquired this Grade B Listed Georgian town house in Banff
several years ago as it is a key property in the renovation of
the town centre being carried out under the Towns Heritage
Initiative.
“The house was in very poor condition and was
formerly used as a dentist’s surgery. It was transferred to the
North East Scotland Preservation Trust to carry out the
restoration as the Trust has charitable status and can access
funding which the council cannot.
As Chairman of the Trust I am thrilled that we have been
able to complete this project, which would not have been
possible without support from Aberdeenshire Council in
helping us to employ a full time project manager.”
NESPT Project Manager and trust administrator, Paul
Higson, said: “This project clearly shows what a vital role a
building preservation trust such as the NESPT has to play in
restoring and protecting important buildings. The project
was not commercially viable and could not be achieved by
conventional means. As a registered Scottish Charity the
NESPT was able to secure grant assistance from a variety of
sources and support from many agencies for which it is
very grateful”.
Paul Higson
Dundee Project Receives
Prestigious National Award
Heritage Building Preservation Trust
and its Involvement in Beith THI
Beith, The Cross –
before and after
Above left: Gardyne’s Land, front elevation
facing on to Dundee High Street
Above right: Drawing by William Gibb c.
1880 of the central merchant’s house
Right: Refurbished panelled room
In September, in what some have referred to as the “Oscars”
of the planning profession, Regeneration and Renewal Magazine
awarded the accolade of Heritage-Led Project of the Year to the
Gardyne’s Land project in Dundee city centre.The award came
as a surprise to members of the Tayside Building Preservation
(TBPT), who whilst extremely proud of the part that they
played in the project were only too aware of the high
standards of the other nominations for the award such as St
Martin’s in the Fields.
Gardyne’s Land is in fact a complex of five buildings,
situated within an Outstanding Conservation Area, the
majority of which had sat empty for over thirty years. At the
centre of the complex sits an A listed merchants house, from
which the project took its name, surrounded by two further
town houses, a Victorian shop and a 19th century billiard hall.
It would appear that two major factors swayed the decision
of the judges. Firstly the project’s economic impact on
development within the city. The end use as a 90 bed backpackers hostel provided a facility that the city had otherwise
been lacking. A spokesman for the magazine stated that, “The
complete absence of hostel accommodation in the area meant
that Dundee was not on the itinerary of the majority of young
travelers, so opening this facility filled a real gap in the
region’s tourism offer.”
Secondly the judges were very impressed with the way that
historical details had been incorporated into the buildings
new use. These features include a highly decorative panelled
room, now used as a reading room, and traditional bedboxes.
TBPT would like to take this opportunity to thank Dundee
City Council as the project would never have reached
completion without their support and timely intervention. A
big thank you also goes out to all of the students from the
European Urban Conservation masters course at the
University of Dundee who worked on the project over the ten
years it took to complete.
Kevin Moore
In 1996, two trustees of Heritage Building Preservation
Trust (formerly called St Vincent Crescent Preservation
Trust) surveyed the neglected and derelict centre of Beith
which reinforced their view that here was high quality
vernacular architecture which must be saved.
They presented their proposals for the restoration of the
town centre to Beith Community Council. This was
received most positively - to quote “this could be the
answer to our prayers”.
The Local Authority had commissioned a Feasibility
Study the previous year which recommended demolition
of most of the area at The Cross.
As the neglect had made this area a blight in the town
centre, the general feeling was that those in authority
would welcome any action, even demolition, as there had
been much local criticism of their lack of remedial action.
Following meetings with Historic Scotland, Heritage
Lottery Fund, the Local Authority, the local council and
Scottish Development Agency, the BPT lobbied the Local
Authority and Historic Scotland to designate a Conservation
Area in the centre of Beith.
At this point a grant application was submitted to the
AHF for a Feasibility Study. This was successful and with
Page\Park Architects appointed as the lead professionals the
study was carried out which confirmed the Trust’s belief
that there could be a positive and sustainable outcome.
The BPT then gradually acquired 9 buildings from 14
owners at The Cross and into Eglinton St in preparation of
their restoration. This was a lengthy and expensive process
involving both willing and unwilling owners, lawyers,
surveyors and fees of course. Having agreed to purchase
from one couple whose building was below tolerable
standards, the BPT arranged for them to be re-housed by
the Local Authority.
Insurance and security was put in place for all
properties, they were made as wind and watertight as
practicable where there was occupation below. Over the
years there were many weekend callouts asking the trustees
APT SCOTLAND (continued)
Above left and right: Beith, 15-19 Main St. Image courtesy of Robert Potter and Partners
Above middle, left and right: Beith THI. Eglinton St/The Cross - commercial units
Above bottom, left and right: Beith, Reform St / Main St, before and after
to attend to water dripping off the light fittings in the post
office and barbers shop which were still operating.
The BPT lobbied the Local Authority to serve a
Compulsory Purchase Order on one of the abandoned
properties agreeing to buy it from the local authority at
District Valuer’s valuation. This they paid to the local
authority; however they then also wanted payment of half of
their legal department’s costs. The property was in joint
(unknown whereabouts) ownership – one thought to be in
Hong Kong and one in London or the USA. This took from
Jan to Dec 1998.
One of the properties had been owned by a prominent
minister, the Rev John Witherspoon, who preached at the
Auld Kirk nearby. He went on to found Princeton College in
the American colonies and was a signatory to the Declaration
of Independence. It was a useful point of interest that we
could show potential funders his signature on the deeds and
on the Declaration. One of the restored shops has been
named Independence.
Meanwhile the Trust was submitting applications for
grant aid including instigating a HLF THI application - Stage
1 in 1999 and Stage 2 in 2000 which was successful in
achieving an award of £1.2m leading to over £3m total
development funding.
At this point the Local Authority wanted a housing
association to act as project manager and asked the Trust to
sell the properties and direct grants to them.This the Trust did
as they felt they had no option. The housing association
would not purchase until they were about to go on site
which meant that the revolving fund BPT had to keep the
properties insured, secure and stable while being unable to
earn any income for the BPT for two years.
Following access to their capital from the sale, Heritage
BPT purchased other derelict properties at Main St, Reform St
and Bellman’s Close, all supported by AHF grants and or
loans. Other funds came from Beith THI, Historic Scotland,
The Pilgrim Trust, William Tracey (landfill tax credits), Beith
Christian Action Group and contributions from Heritage BPT
itself.
The Trustees carried out a lot of hands-on work at Reform
St and Bellman’s Close without grant aid as it often seems to
involve more effort in fund raising than the benefit gained.
This work included many of the joys of appreciating the built
environment from the extremes of clearing foul drains, and
general building work to negotiating with the feudal
superior to buy out his right to Tack Rent.
At Reform St and Bellman’s Close the architects were
Page\Park Architects while at Main St and The Cross it was
Robert Potter and Partners.
The Trust earned a fee while acting as advocate for Beith
THI Reinstatement of Architectural Detail scheme, visiting 86
owners to encourage them to participate in the grant giving
scheme.This was most successful with all of the grants being
taken up, however no one was willing to replace their double
glazed UPVC windows with the more appropriate single
glazed timber sash and case and a number of owners of
visually prominent properties would not participate even
after persistent lobbying.
Public Realm improvements were also carried out at
Reform St and The Cross with a view of enhancing the
community use, giving the properties their presence and
introducing spaces that ‘defend’ the buildings. e.g. the railings
erected one metre from a gable at Main St which had been
vulnerable to graffiti. This was designed to ‘guide’ people
slightly away from the properties. This proved to be a most
successful feature.
Awards
The projects have received several awards: Glasgow Institute
of Architects Design Commendation 2004; Royal Institute of
Chartered Surveyors Scotland Regeneration Award 2005 (best
project in Scotland); and BURA British Urban Regeneration
Award for Best Practice in Regeneration 2005 (one of 5 UK
awards and only winner in Scotland); and Scottish
Government Quality in Planning Award.
Robert McCallum
The Scottish APT Meeting 11th December 2009
Ecotec Presentation at the Scottish Parliament Building
Always aim high. The salubrious and
inspiring interior of the Scottish
Parliament Building provided a
venue for the initial presentation by
consultants Ecotec on the Scottish
study of Building Preservation Trusts.
The findings of the report will
feature in the next issue of APT
News. George McNeill, Chairman of
APT Scotland, made a presentation
on the initial findings at the Exeter
Conference – see the report later in
this issue.
APT NORTH-EAST
Area Representative
Anne Hallowell: [email protected]
(0191 232 9279)
Regional meeting held at Wentworth Castle on Friday 2nd October
Wentworth Castle
The second meeting of the year was
held in South Yorkshire, for the first
time in a few years. The turn out was
good, with 9 trusts represented and 16
people in attendance.
The meeting began with each Trust
setting out the brief background to
their trusts, and their current projects
or issues.
Bradford BPT continue to work with
their local authority to tackle small
buildings at risk in the Bradford area.
Renewable Heritage Trust was
suffering from a spate of vandalism at
Howsham Mill, but was hopeful of
moving onto the next phase of
restoration once the current problems
had been dealt with.
Yorkshire BPT remain undefeated in
their fight for Elmswell Old Hall, after
over 20 years of campaigning. Helen
Kirk has recently been awarded a SPAB
award for her efforts.
St Andrews Trust, established to
rescue the gothic façade of St Andrews
Church nr York, are working on
restoration of the riverbank adjacent to
the site, and the rebuilding of a
footpath along the bank.
Heritage Works, formally Ancoats
BPT, concentrates its efforts on projects
within a 50 mile radius of Manchester.
At present they are working on two
projects in Halifax, and having secured
a loan for emergency works to one
hope to be on site in a couple of
months to convert the ground floor to
office accommodation that will provide
income to repay the loan. They are also
holding the freehold title of properties
for Yorkshire Forward, acting as land
agent for the RDA.
Buildings at Risk Trust are exploring
a number of projects including a
Malting Brewery in Mansfield where
they have secured funding of £.37
million towards a £4.2 million project.
They are also hoping to apply for a THI
for Thorne town centre, working with
the town (See the article overleaf).
Following an introduction from AHF at
an APT meeting in March 2008, they
have taken on Victoria Cottage nr Hull
and now own it thanks to an AHF loan.
It has been carefully stripped and
planning permission for conversion to
two dwellings has been submitted.
Richard Robinson attended the
meeting to learn more about APT. He is
involved in a family company that own
Grade II* Candlewick Mill nr Belper in
Derbyshire and Grade 2 Cannon Mill,
and was looking for ways forward for
both buildings.
South Yorkshire BPT have been
working extensively in Thorne, nr
Doncaster to restore a Merchants
Town House as well as looking at
APT NORTH-EAST (continued)
other properties in the town centre
with a view to leading regeneration
of the area. They ran a programme of
lectures and tours over Heritage
Open Day weekend which proved
very popular, and are collaborating
with BART over the potential THI for
the town.
Hillsborough and District BPT are
ticking over, with no paid staff and very
limited resources. They currently try to
fulfil their charitable aims by
undertaking educational tours, but
would be interested in ideas from
others around increasing their capacity
to undertake live projects.
North of England Civic Trust
undertake conservation planning
consultancy work as well as BPT
projects. At present they are exploring
options for Workington Hall, a Grade 1
roofless ruin in Cumbria, working with
English Heritage in Northumberland
on a county wide project to remove
structures of non beneficial use from
the Heritage at Risk register and
exploring the potential to get involved
in two churches in the North East
where the local authorities have failed
to find a solution.
There was wider discussion about
how Trusts operate in terms of Trustee
recruitment, resourcing for paid staff to
give greater capacity, how to access free
professional help through Pro Help and
other matters arising from the projects
covered above.
Gavin Richards then gave an update
from AHF, outlining the current
pressures on their funding, particularly
with regard to grants for options
appraisals and other pre project work.
Following a break for lunch, we
were taken on a tour of the gardens at
Wentworth by a volunteer guide.
Having held a previous meeting here
several years ago, members were
amazed at the progress in the restoration
in the intervening period.
Back in the meeting Dr James Moir,
Director of APT ran through his vision
for APT. He set out how he felt it could
be resourced, and what action he had
taken to date to secure funding to
improve services to members through
better use of technology, such as his
hope of providing a searchable database
of projects and compiling data that will
strengthen the case of BPTs nationally
when seeking funding. He mentioned
the use of larger regional trusts as a
resource to assist smaller/newer ones. It
was felt, in due of time pressures in the
meeting that it would be useful to hold a
separate discussion on the future of APT.
Andrew Whitham then gave a very
interesting presentation on the
restoration of 42 King Street, Thorne.
Anne Hallowell
Partnership working – the Northern Way
Heritage Works and North of England
Civic Trust have just completed a short
study for the Northern Way, a
partnership itself between the three
RDAs in the North, looking at
partnerships
in
heritage-led
regeneration, and how the skills and
expertise from the third sector could
be put to better use, through
partnership working, in delivering
economic value in regeneration.
Having less than 6 weeks between
the commissioning meeting, and
submitting the final report, this was a
particularly short, sharp study so we
would like to thanks all those who
responded to our questionnaire and
took the time to speak to us along the
way. Our final report will be published
by the Northern Way and presented to
a regeneration conference being held
in Bradford on 15th January, but the
immediate recommendations coming
out of it are:
• To establish a cross sector working
group in the North to take forward the
suggestions and convert them into an
action plan. We hope that this cross
sector working group will include
representation from APT, the DTA,
English Heritage and all three RDAs.
• To hold a workshop to further
explore potential delivery mechanisms
that allow for changing ownership and
risk over the life of a project, as
something moves from an idea, to a
capital (heritage) project, through to a
sustainable end use. From this we will
identify pilot projects, across the three
RDA areas, that we will then seek to
work up and deliver.
• To develop a “roadshow” to bring
together local BPTs, DTAs and those
charged with regeneration in the
public sector in a given local area to
look at potential projects and the
barriers that need to be overcome.
We hope that the delivery of these
three points will lead to better
communication across a variety of
networks that already exist, and pave
the way for developing new
partnerships in difficult times.
Following on from this, the envisaged
pilot projects should provide
mechanisms for capturing the best bits
of different sectors that can be used by
others. Pilot projects will hopefully
include one where a BPT delivers a
capital scheme and then passes the
asset to a development trust, one
where a BPT works across an area to
look at options and feasibility on a
number of sites to allow quicker
development as the economy emerges
from recession and one where the
public sector, a BPT and a private
developer work in partnership to
secure the future of a site and bring it
back into economic use.
Further information on the whole
programme, and the report once it is
published, can be found on the
Regeneration Momentum website.
Anne Hallowell (North of England Civic Trust)
and Kate Dickson (Heritage Works)
South Yorkshire Building Preservation Trust Limited: Conservation
and Regeneration in Thorne, Near Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Buildings the Trust has an interest in: 42/44 King Street,
(unlisted, CA) and 1 and 2 Market Place, (grade II, CA),
Thorne
Background
The South Yorkshire Buildings Preservation Trust Limited has
taken an active interest in Thorne for the last decade during
which time it has been involved with two important sites;
42/44 King Street, acquired in 2005 for £76,000 and near
completion and 1 and 2 Market Place which it hopes to
acquire in 2010 for £1, estimated cost around £1,000,000.
The Trust was introduced to the buildings in Market Place
in September 1998 by the Rural Buildings Preservation Trust.
At that time Thorne-Moorends Town Council, TMTC, which
falls within the Metropolitan District of Doncaster, were
interested to explore the possibility of acquiring and restoring
the buildings to provide a variety of community uses
including its own offices, funding to be partly obtained
through a proposed Townscape Heritage Initiative.
In 1999/2000 the Trust was asked to assess the
significance of the buildings and jointly funded a feasibility
study with TMTC. The study was prepared by the University
of Sheffield’s Architecture Department and Andrew Whitham,
then part time Director for SYBPT. Sheffield University were
able to bring in the considerable expertise of lecturer Russell
Light, now a Trustee, and eminent architectural historian
Professor Dan Cruickshank who continues to take a keen
interest in the Trust’s work.
In 2000/2001, in order to address problems of neglect
across the wider Conservation Area, Doncaster Metropolitan
Borough Council, DMBC, had commissioned Woodhall
Planning and Conservation to prepare the stage II submission
for a Townscape Heritage Initiative. The bid document for the
scheme, which ultimately failed, has become the blueprint for
much of the Trust’s strategy over the years. It identified
buildings throughout the Conservation Area both listed and
unlisted which were considered to be at varying degrees of
risk. 42 King Street and 1 and 2 Market Place were both in
high risk categories and have therefore been targeted by the
Trust as part of a wider regeneration strategy.
Completion of the shell restoration at 42 King Street in
September 2009 has removed just one building from the list.
With the prospect, in 2010, of acquiring 1 and 2 Market Place
the Trust hopes to add to its considerable success within the
town centre but with time running out for much of Thorne’s
heritage asset and with much more to be done the Trust
recognizes, with growing public support for its work, that it
has assumed a much bigger, more complex role in providing
regeneration impetus. For this reason it has started to work
with the Buildings At Risk Trust, BART, to resurrect a
Townscape Heritage Initiative aimed at targeting other “key”
buildings previously identified.With Heritage Lottery support
BART hope to be able to bring around £1,000,000 of funding
to the Conservation Area, now designated by English Heritage
as “At Risk”.
Town History
Thorne is a Market Town about twelve miles north east of
Doncaster. Standing on a low glacial ridge less than ten meters
above sea level it was, in medieval times, entirely surrounded
by wetlands and water courses and lay at the heart of one of
the largest and most plentiful royal hunting parks in the
kingdom known as the Hatfield Chase and extending to
180,000 acres or 270 square miles. In either 1534 or 1544
Henry VIII’s Antiquary and diarist, John Leland, recorded an
itinerary to Thorne noting of the area that “there is great
plenty of red deere that haunt the fennes and the great mores
thereabout…”. Visiting what remains of the moor, around six
thousand acres, one still gets the sense of this prehistoric
wilderness.
In 1620, at the instigation of Prince Henry, older brother
of Charles 1, the Dutch drainage engineer, Sir Cornelius
Vermuyden was commissioned to drain 73,500 acres.
Financed by a consortium of Dutch Bankers, one of the
earliest major civil engineering projects of its type finally took
place between 1626 and 1629 during the reign of Charles I.
With the ancient swannery and fisheries swept away,
Thorne evolved into a mercantile centre being granted a
market charter by Richard Cromwell in December 1658. 1
and 2 Market Place date from this time and are an extremely
rare survival from this period in Thorne’s development.
New industries emerged and by the mid eighteenth
century Thorne was shipping peat from nearby Thorne
42/44 King Street, Thorne. Far left and middle: front elevation before and after restoration. Far right: Rear elevation before restoration
Conservation Area, designated 1968. Designated
“Conservation Area At Risk”, English Heritage, June 2009.
Decline
Thorne’s economic decline in the twentieth century resulted
in the most brutal demolition of much of its medieval core
during the 1960’s and 70’s, leaving the thirteenth century
church of St. Nicholas, grade I and Peel Hill Motte, a
scheduled ancient monument, marooned and regularly victim
to vandalism. Many of its surviving buildings are also at risk,
the majority of its “key” buildings boarded up and often
derelict, notably 1 and 2 Market Place (Grade II),Thorne Hall
(Grade II) and The Old Vicarage (Grade II).
Possessing one of the most exciting and romantic histories
in the region and even now, a good deal of historic built
environment, its demise in the latter twentieth century is
nothing short of a tragedy. The Trust believes this situation
must change if Thorne’s economic prospects are to improve
but it is in no doubt about the size of the task, which it alone
cannot achieve.
For a town so well connected to the national road network
Thorne should be a thriving, attractive Market Town
destination for businesses, visitors and residents alike. Thorne
enjoys two motorway junction connections to the M18, is
fifteen minutes from the M62, five minutes from the M180
and with the conurbations of Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and
Doncaster all within less than an hours drive it is little surprise
that major distribution centres operate from its periphery.
Two train stations put it within easy access of Scunthorpe and
Doncaster’s electrified East Coast Line.
Immediately to the north of the town is Thorne Moor, six
thousand acres of raised peat bog and one of the most
ecologically diverse habitats in the country. Depicted in the
Inclesmore map of 1406 incredibly it too almost faced
destruction as a result of mechanised peat extraction and the
possibility of becoming a landfill site! Now managed by
English Nature there is open access although wandering off
piste is not advisable. Guided walks throughout the year will
allow one to listen, at night, to the song of the nightingale,
one of the northern most points in Europe where the species
is found, or discover rare insect and plant life.
The failure to recognize the tangibly diverse heritage asset
combined with the impact of failed industry and poor
planning over nearly four decades has left a town neglected
and grey. Many of its buildings stand empty, boarded up and
vandalized, frustrating those who live here and resulting in a
steady exodus over the past fifty years. As one visitor to the
Trust’s Heritage Open Day commented:
“ I moved here 3 years ago because of the good transportation
links and what I thought could be a lovely period Market
Town. Sadly due to the continued neglect of the town centre
and with no end in sight I have put my house on the market
and will move away from the area. I guess others including
business will do the same.”
The Trust recognize that in order to impact on Thorne’s future
prospects it must, through conserving and restoring key
landmarks change the mood of despondency and cynicism
that prevail. Only then can private investment be encouraged
to return. Here are some more comments from the Heritage
Open Day:
“Any new shops opening up sell cheap tat because that’s what
the town looks like it can afford.”
“The parish church is currently without a vicar….If vicars
cannot see good in the place what chance do business men
have?”
“An attractively restored town will encourage new business
Far left: Rear elevation after. Middle: work on the lime floor. Right: the repaired staircase
Moor, building boats and trading with the continent. The
Dutch investment brought with it the brick and pantile
vernacular associated with The Fens and still in evidence
today. 42/44 King Street now stand as one of the best
examples of mercantile domestic architecture from this
period in the town.
Shipping and peat cutting continued throughout the
nineteenth century but were in decline by the beginning of
the twentieth century. By the 1930’s Thorne had become a
coal mining town. The Thorne Pit, not conceivable in the
nineteenth century due to the wet terrain, was now possible
with new freezing technology. The shaft was frozen through
the peat moor to access the South Yorkshire coal field
beneath. Expensive to maintain, the colliery’s life was shortlived, closing in the 1959. Thorne’s mining community
travelled daily to the nearby Hatfield Colliery but by the late
1980’s this too had gone.
“A sense of history could impact on local pride, heritage
could have a feel good factor. A positive environment
definitely affects the morale of an area and its population. I
have to open my curtains every morning and look at the
Old Vicarage on Stonegate and the effects of another night
of damage from youths and another day of apathy from
DMBC towards an absent and irresponsible owner. It’s
heartbreaking.”
“Thorne still has the “feel” of a small, working, lived in
market town, but only just. Restoration now could prevent
further decline. It could be, hopefully, the opposite of a
downward spiral.”
“History helps to instil a sense of pride in its citizens.”
“Instead of a run down ugly building there is now an elegant
prestigious house. It looks like the street is valued and going
upmarket. It makes the area seem desirable.”
Thorne has ceased to perform its important role as a market
town serving the wider area. Instead it services its own
diminished needs with ever fewer commercial outlets and with
little emphasis on the diversity of amenities essential to any
thriving local economy. After three hundred and fifty years its
market fails to attract hardly any outside interest, largely selling
low-grade domestic hardware with little evidence of the vast
agricultural wealth which surrounds the town.
Its extraordinary history as one of the earliest fenland areas
to be drained remains largely forgotten, its shipyard which
built ocean going vessels into the early twentieth century is
filled in and the remaining prehistoric moor, which should be
a major local attraction, is virtually impossible to find.
The Buildings in detail
Placed in this context the broader significance of the buildings
that the Trust is involved in should now be evident.
1 and 2 Market Place: represent early development dating
from the mid seventeenth century with some evidence of
timber framing that may date to the the sixteenth century.
Significantly remodelled in the mid eighteenth century the
buildings retain a wealth of features from all periods though
much obscured by late nineteenth and twentieth century
adaptation for retail use. The Trust hopes to restore the fabric
revealing the layers of development and proposes returning
the buildings to residential use.
Largely in tact in 2000 the Trust carried out emergency
work in June 2008 following a structural collapse brought
about by the removal of 50% of the roof covering. The works
were funded by DMBC and EH and cost forty thousand
pounds.
The principal casualty of neglect and vandalism was the
mid eighteenth century hallway built over an earlier courtyard
at the heart of the building. The fine oak staircase with
carved, gadrooned vase balusters dated to around 1750 had
been smashed to pieces and is now in store. The saturated
walls were starting to fail and the applied joinery and
panelling beginning to rot. The Trust has constructed a
temporary roof over a series of valleys and the building is at
last starting to dry. By inserting a complex lattice of scaffold
the roofs and walls are now stable. The Trusts own
comprehensive photographic archive prepared in 1999 will
enable faithful conservation work to be carried out.
In June 2005 the Trust applied for the buildings to be
placed on the Statutory List being granted a grade II
designation in November of that year. Following three
attempts by the present owner to demolish, the Trust,
following its own campaign of opposition, has now entered
into an option to acquire for £1. If successful in raising
funding of around £1m it will start work in 2010. The owner
will in turn acquire adjacent undeveloped land from DMBC.
The complicated legal mechanism has taken two and a half
years to negotiate and has incurred considerable legal costs for
the Trust.
An Options Appraisal Study Grant, a Project Development
Grant and the prospect of a loan are the mechanisms by which
the Architectural Heritage Fund is supporting the Trust and
without which the realisation of this scheme could not have
been contemplated. The Trust is also looking to DMBC and EH
for further key funding before it approaches the private
charities it has identified. In order to attract more support
from DMBC it has been working with the Buildings At Risk
Trust to resurrect the Townscape Heritage Initiative mentioned
earlier. English Heritage have made an in principle
commitment to further funding both independently and as
part of their “Conservation Areas at Risk” strategy.
42/44 King Street: In June the completed shell restoration
of this merchant’s town house built in 1747, was featured in
an English Heritage press release as a model of the type of
work that needs to be done in Conservation Areas at Risk. It
was juxtaposed against the still derelict 1 and 2 Market Place,
Far left: Thorne Hall from Memorial Park. Middle: The Old Vicarage. Right: The Market Place, Thorne
and consumers to the town and the towns people will again
have something to be proud of.”
the contrast could not have been more profound.
In September King Street was open for two Heritage Open
Days and was greeted by local residents with enthusiasm and
support for the initiative. Trust Secretary, Project Planner and
Manager, Andrew Witham, put on a total of seven one hour
power point presentations tracking the complex restoration
work achieved since 2005 but also contextualised the building
within the town’s history as it transformed itself from
medieval hunting park into mercantile centre. Analysis and
restoration of the historic lime ash floors provided a tangible
glimpse of Thorne’s sea faring past as they were, unusually,
found to contain volcanic aggregates imported from the
Mediterranean. Images of eighteenth century wine bottles
found on site were brought to life with contemporary images
of gentlemen drinking wine and helped visitors to imagine
what sort of people might have lived in a house like this.
After nearly twenty five years of neglect and latterly
extreme dereliction the handsome town house now stands
back from the street much as it would have appeared in 1747.
The Open Day visitors, who were all subsequently canvassed
with questionnaires, unanimously remarked that historic
integrity and reference to a more prosperous past was perhaps
a key to Thorne’s future and should be replicated elsewhere.
As one visitor commented “A town without its old buildings
is like a man without a memory”. Most believe that this kind
of work will ultimately generate inward investment but
recognize there is a very long way to go.
With practically every structural defect conceivable at over
£400,000 the project has been extremely costly. Yet close
attention to the archaeology of the building to determine
detail finishes and original plan layout has resulted in a
building that retains immense character and authenticity. The
Trust believes it remains of listable quality and will apply to
have it added to the statutory list. Obscured by twentieth
century accretions and general undergrowth its importance as
one of the town’s best examples of mercantile domestic
architecture had largely gone unnoticed.
Future proposed use of the building is residential. The Trust
has long felt that a contributing factor to the demise of the
town centre has been the ever increasing reduction in
residential density with much commercial property empty and
invariably unused at first floor level. By division of the main
house and workshop into one large and one small unit
together with a total of three new dwellings to the rear of the
property the Trust hope to set a new precedent in an area where
demand for commercial premises is in decline. One is to be
built on the footprint of existing outbuildings and will
integrate a large section of eighteenth and nineteenth century
garden wall as its north elevation. The remaining two will have
no historic reference point but will respond to the workshop
and outbuildings in scale and material treatment. If successful
the Trust should, by way of sale, be able to discharge its liability
with the AHF and recuperate the £90,000 it invested itself. The
project has also received grant aid from both English Heritage,
£80,000 and Doncaster MBC, £20,000.
There is a cautionary note for other BPTs if change of use
is being considered. An application for the above proposal
was submitted in August 2009. Despite twelve months of
pre-application discussions with local authority, DMBC, the
Trust was not made aware of crucial Flood Risk Policy
interpretation and has since had to withdraw its application
for resubmission in the new year once a new case can be
made. Seriously impacting on the Trust’s cashflow situation
it has reluctantly decided to sell an asset in Sheffield, 19
Shrewsbury Road, so that it can fulfil its brief to deliver the
restored shell back into viable use. Sometimes it feels as if the
restoration is the easy part!
In conclusion
As the Trust considers the impact of the economic downturn
on its work at 42 King Street together with the considerable
planning complications which it now faces it can at least
reflect on a year where it established its credentials as a BPT
with the ability to deliver a project many thought too
ambitious. In 2010, having secured considerable public
support, support of both Town Council and DMBC it is
optimistic that it can secure the future of 1 and 2 Market Place.
SYBPT’s role in Thorne has become much more than an
effort to save one building; at stake is the future of the town
centre conservation area now formally “At Risk”. Failure to
deliver a positive outcome will not only continue to impact
adversely on the residents as evidenced but will, one day,
when more history has been lost cost so much more in
economic terms to rectify.
Andrew Witham
Elmswell Old Hall and The Esher Award for 2009
The Esher award was presented to Helen
Kirk, Project Officer and Honorary
Secretary of the Yorkshire Buildings
Preservation Trust Ltd, at a ceremony
held at Trinity House, Newcastle upon
Tyne, on the 4th July 2009.
The Award, made by the Society for
the Protection of Ancient Buildings,
commemorates the late Viscount Esher
who was Chairman of the SPAB from
1932 to 1960.
Mrs Kirk’s particular credit has been
for her tenacity in working towards the
preservation of an important Grade II*
Manor House, at Elmswell, near Driffield
in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and its
return to a habitable dwelling. Currently
it is placed on English Heritage’s Heritage
at Risk Register in the most endangered
category. This puts it amongst the 8%
most important buildings in the land
and among the 3% of At Risk Grade I and
Grade II* buildings in England.
Not only is Elmswell Old Hall a rare
Right: Elmswell Old Hall, 1981. Far right: Helen Kirk
survivor of vernacular architecture in
this part of Yorkshire, being an example
of very early use of brick, but it was
built in 1635 by Henry Best whose
treatise on Agricultural Practices in
Northern England is an example of
practical farming of that period. The
Farming and Memorandum Books are a
very early written account of farming
and animal husbandry in East Yorkshire,
written in the East Yorkshire dialect.
They tell about crop growing too and
give instructions on when to sell for the
best price, all written for Henry’s son
who was away from home so in need of
comprehensive information to help him
farm the land capably on his return.
It was as a result of this dual
connection that the building was upgraded to a Grade II*, due in no small
measure to Helen’s efforts.
Many individuals and organisations
have supported this crusade to see the
rescue of Elmswell Old Hall from over
40 years of neglect, but as Honorary
Secretary of the Yorkshire Buildings
Preservation Trust, Helen has
galvanised the interest of many
supporters.
This award is given to “those who on
purely altruistic grounds have furthered the cause
of building conservation and thus the work of the
SPAB”.
According to Helen “My aim, in my
crusade to see this particular building
restored, is to see an end to neglect and
the return to use of a small dwelling in
the countryside. This building matters,
for we can all see the exhibition display
at the Beverley Treasure House on the
Farming and Memorandum Books, but
we cannot be sure how the other part of
the story, the Old Hall, will fare without
the carefully carried restoration which it
richly deserves. Lived in until 1965,
and uncared-for ever since, Elmswell
Old Hall languishes, roofless, in
greenery, but English Heritage’s
structural engineers say it is still fully
capable of restoration, and the
Spitalfields Historic Buildings Trust is
ready and waiting to get on with the
project.
I have been working towards the
restoration of Elmswell Old Hall for
over twenty-one years now, and I have
been willingly assisted by the National
Amenity Societies. It so happens that
the Society for the Protection of
Ancient Buildings decided that this
year I should be the recipient of their
prestigious Esher Award because of my
work to see this neglected building
restored, whatever vicissitudes reality
might throw at me. I am really
delighted to have been proposed for
this Award, and was very pleased to
receive the Award at the SPAB AGM in
Newcastle upon Tyne very recently.
Individuals can do so much by
working tirelessly to achieve their aim.
SPAB knows how important it is to
care sympathetically for neglected
buildings; that is its aim. I will
continue to pursue the restoration of
this modest brick building. Elmswell
Old Hall is so weighed down with
history, and it so richly deserves to be
brought back into use as a dwelling.”
APT EAST ANGLIA
Area Representative
Dr Alan Coday: [email protected] (0845 196 3944 or 01245 227946)
The Vice-Chairman of UK APT,
Malcolm Crowder, doing some
important research on microbreweries – this example located in
the former stables to the rear of the
Blue Boar in Maldon was visited at
the APT East Anglia Meeting in
October 2009.
6 Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
A landmark Grade 2* property in a
prominent position on Bury’s Angel
Hill, with the first and second floors
empty and neglected for 25 years,
supported internally with Acrow props.
Surely this must be a project to excite
any active Building Preservation Trust.
Previously used as a Doctors Surgery, the
property was purchased in poor
condition by the Local Authority to use
the ground floor as the Tourist
Information Centre. Certain structural
work was carried out to make the
building safe, but at that time the upper
floors were not dealt with. However the
great benefit of finding a building in
this condition is that it still retains all the
additions placed over the centuries,
which reflect the changing historical
fashions, here ranging from C16th
panelling to hefty Victorian mahogany
curtain fixtures.
Left: 6, Angel Hill, prior to restoration
Right: Microbrewery at Maldon
Meeting in Maldon
APT EAST ANGLIA (continued)
Right: The blocked window re-opened. Far right: Angel Hill now
All photos for this article: The Whitworth Co-Partnership LLP
Although still requiring major structural
work, the Authority had been very
careful to keep the building watertight.
Following on from a successful joint
project with the Local Authority, and a
Housing Association, to rescue a
derelict, but early, timber-framed
maltings, a deal was agreed for the Trust
to purchase 6 Angel Hill. The Trust
would obtain planning and listed
building consents to make two flats on
the upper floors. The AHF funded
Options Appraisal indicated the sale of
the completed flats would cover the
repair and conversion costs, together
with an agreed sum to purchase the
freehold. The Trust would then receive
an on-going rent from the Tourist
Centre.
Unfortunately the Great Financial
crisis then intervened, and the Trust was
reluctant to commit to an essentially
speculative project, although the
building itself was increasingly in need
of help. The Local Authority was
understanding of the Trust’s position
and allowed the purchase to proceed for
a nominal sum, but with the Authority
to be repaid on completion of the flats.
The fair legal interpretation of this
agreement proved difficult and costly.
The essential internal and external
works are now near complete just about
on budget [it was difficult to judge what
lay below the ivy and we expected the
worst].The bonus was finding a hidden
window, complete except for the sashes,
which is now reinstated.
Because our trusts funds have been
limited, we have had to prioritise the
work, but what we have done, we have
tried to do to the best standards of
building conservation. 6, Angel Hill is
now safe, sound and secure.
We have greatly benefited from
having a conservation accredited
Architect. He has worked closely with,
and earned the respect of, the skilled
craftsmen employed on the project.
But perhaps most important has
been the support and encouragement
the Trust has received from the
Property and Conservation teams within
the Local Authority.
The Trust has now just about spent
all of its capital [we may need to ask the
AHF to support our final building costs,
covered by a Local Authority
Guarantee]. We now intend to use the
building to publicise the Building Trust’s
aims, and allow wider public access to
enjoy the building.
Martin Lightfoot
This Water Here Caught …
Gybsons Conduit (St Lawrence’s Well)
Gybson’s Conduit
Robert Gybson was a
wealthy brewer, also sheriff
of Norwich in 1596, whose
house and brewery were
sited next to St Lawrence’s
Well, a well which was for
the use of the parishioners
of St Lawrence parish, a
right granted to them in 1547.
In 1576 the ownership of the well was passed to Gybson
with a requirement that he was to provide an alternative
supply for ‘the ease of the common people’ and maintain it
thereafter. However, he went a stage further and in 1578
constructed a large decorative stone surround to the pump
which included the Royal Coat of Arms, flanked by a
portcullis for the House of Tudor and a red rose for the
House of Lancaster.
Robert Gybson informed the public of his kind act,
that it cost him a great deal of money and was much
appreciated by the local people by including the following
inscription on the stonework:
This water here caught
In sorte as ye see
From a Spring is brought
Threskore Foot and thre.
Gybson has it sought
From Saynt Laurens Wel
And his charg this wrowghte
Who now here doe dwel.
Thy ease was his coste, not small,
Vouchsafed wel of those
Which thankful be his Work to se
And thereto be no Foes.
Despite his beneficence Gybson appears however to have
been be a rather cantankerous man and is recorded as having
insulted the Mayor on two occasions and on the second, in
1603 he was stripped of his status as an Alderman and
disenfranchised.
The founding of the Anchor Brewery with the
construction in 1867-8 of a new brewery building led to
Gybsons Conduit being carefully relocated and inset in a wall
fronting Westwick Street where it was maintained as a public
drinking fountain.
In the 1980s the site of the brewery was the subject of a
scheme to regenerate the site and the resulting development
of Anchor Quay was opened in 1984. To protect the
monument from traffic pollution it was dismantled in 1987
and reconstructed in its present location on the other side of
the wall. However, the developer of Anchor Quay went into
administration and Gybsons Conduit, together with other
assets, was vested in the Crown Estate.
When it was relocated the structure was set in a brick
surround against the main body of the wall. Damp entering
from the top and from behind coupled with hard mortar
used in the surrounding brickwork has led to deterioration
of the stonework and its decorative features.
Norwich Preservation Trust with the help of grant from the
Architectural Heritage Fund commissioned a study of the
condition of the monument and what work was necessary to
restore it to a sustainable condition. With a grant from the
Norwich Society the Trust purchased the monument and its
site and was able to take the project of restoration forward
with a contract signed on 17 November 2009.
A very experienced team has been assembled to undertake
the complex and delicate works of restoration. It is led by the
architectural practice of Purcell Miller Tritton, based in
Norwich, with the main contractor Universal Stone Limited,
of Great Dunmow in Essex, and Andrea Kirkham a wall
painting conservator from Norwich.
The work will require stabilising the fragile stonework
and the paintwork on site before removing it to the
workshops of Universal Stone Limited where skilled
conservators will work on the stonework and paintwork.
During this period the present site will be cleared of
excessive vegetation that currently encompasses the
monument and treatment carried out to the wall at the back
of the monument to prevent dampness affecting the structure
when it returns to its site.
The work started in December 2009 and should be
completed by April 2010. Most of the work will be
completed offsite but there will be final finishing work once
it is returned to its home.
This project will cost in excess of £80,000 and is
supported by English Heritage with a grant of £44,204 with
further help provided by the Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, a
local charity, with a grant of £2,000.
Norwich Preservation Trust will be seeking further
grants from local charitable bodies to help offset the cost of
the project.
Malcolm D Crowder OBE FRICS IHBC, Surveyor and Secretary
Norwich Preservation Trust
APT SOUTH-EAST
Area Representative
Judith Martin: [email protected] (01962 854763)
Extreme Themes:
The Work of the Environment Trust for Richmond upon Thames
The Terrace Gardens Watchman's Hut
Apart from our usual monitoring of
and campaigning for buildings at risk,
the Trust’s activities in 2009 have had
two themes: funerary architecture and
the smallest possible listed buildings!
In the latter category, we helped to
achieve the restoration of two grade 2
listed structures: the Terrace Gardens
Watchman’s hut, a rare example of
Victorian Chinoiserie style, in a listed
Victorian Pleasure Garden, which was
restored by Richmond Council at a cost
of £1million during 2008 and 2009
and opened by Prince Edward in the
summer, and the 1787 Petersham Lockup and Pound, an Ancient Monument,
which had defeated both the Trust and
the Ham and Petersham Association for
12 years. For some reason, the smallest
buildings are the hardest! In both
cases the Trust’s architects provided
drawings and specifications, and sought
funding from the ever-generous
Heritage of London Trust, matched by
funds from Richmond Council, and in
the case of the Lock-up, the Ham and
Petersham Association.
Kilmorey Mausoleum, built in 1854
in the Egyptian style by H.E. Kendall for
the Earl of Kilmorey, listed Grade 2* and
owned by the Council since boundary
changes with Hounslow in 1994, has
been cared for by the Environment Trust
and opened to the public since 2001.
The coffins of the Earl and his young
mistress Priscilla Hoste lie inside. The
Trust has established a popular wildlife
garden around the mausoleum, and
holds regular education events there.
This year the Council applied to itself
APT SOUTH-EAST (continued)
Sir Richard Burton, famed Victorian
explorer, author and translator of the
Kama Sutra and the Arabian Nights, was
laid to rest in 1891 in a stone-built tent,
decorated with both Christian and
Islamic symbols, in the church yard of
St Mary Magdalene at Mortlake. The
Grade 2* structure, on the Buildings at
Risk Register, attracted to it a group of
Friends of Burton, who brought their
project to the Trust. With project
development funding from English
Heritage and the help of Paul Velluet
and HOK architects, a specification was
drawn up and the contract for the
restoration is about to be let. A unique
feature of this tomb is a glass vision
panel allowing sight of the coffins of
Burton and his wife Isobel, and
frescoes, a tabernacle, belongings of the
explorer and other decorative devices,
all to be restored.
Two more recent buildings that the
Trust is campaigning for are both in
Mortlake: one that towers over the
River, and one that barely reveals itself
above ground. The 1903 Malt House
associated with Mortlake Brewery is at
risk of redevelopment with the closure
of the Brewery.The Victorian Society has
made an application for listed status and
its survival as a Thames landmark is
supported by many local residents. The
Trust has applied for listed status for a
wonderfully preserved 1938 air-raid
shelter at St Leonard’s Court, which, if
successful, could provide a unique site
for education opportunities about the
Second World War.
Angela Kidner
Petersham Watchman’s Lock-Up and Pound
The Lock-Up
The white-boarded, slate roofed building is the original
village watchman’s hut and was erected in 1787.
The small walled area in front of the lock-up was the
corporation or old village pound. Here stray cattle were held
until claimed by their owners. Originally the lock-up had
opened directly onto the roadway with the pound behind it.
Parish Councils introduced lock-ups in the late
eighteenth century to deal with the increase in vagrancy and
drunkenness and nearly every village in the country had its
own lock-up. The Parish constable or watchman would be
elected each year at the annual vestry meeting of the Parish
Council. They were also known as Sergeants of the Night.
The building housed the watchman with his musket,
bayonet, pair of pistols, cartridge box, three pounds of
grapeshot, powder flask, lantern and his greatcoat to keep
him warm throughout the long winter nights.
In 1787 the watchman was paid 11 shillings a week to
guard the village from 9 o’clock at night to 3 o’clock in the
morning. He had orders to ‘stop all strangers of a suspicious
appearance found in the Parish, or conveying articles in carts
or otherwise at unseasonable hours and not being able to
give a good account of themselves’. Highwaymen were
frequently active on the Petersham Road.
In 1821 a Richard Wigley of Ham was employed as a
Far left: Sir Richard Burton’s stone-built tent. Left: Kilmorey Mausoleum. Bottom left: Mortlake Brewery
for listed building consent for reinstatement of the surrounding castiron railings and repair of the
supporting walls. The Trust is preparing
to help with the fundraising efforts to
ensure the works are carried out before
the wildflower meadow blooms next
summer.
watchman. He attempted to stop a horse and cart driven by
a Robert Knight of Richmond. Knight was engaged in
smuggling spirits at the time.Wigley shot Knight in the head
and he died shortly after. The affair excited a great deal of
interest and was reported in the Times Newspaper. Wigley
was committed for murder and the case was heard at the
Surrey Assizes at Kingston. Wigley was found guilty of
manslaughter and sentenced to six months imprisonment.
The Metropolitan Police was formed in 1829 and by the
late 1830’s the new police had taken over most of the outer
areas of London. As new police stations were built lock-ups
became redundant and most were pulled down for
development as they were on prime sites in town centres.
It is thought that the Petersham lock-up survived as the
Council used it as a storeroom for their tools.
In 1940 the old timber constructed Fox and Duck public
house, which probably dates from about 1700, was
demolished. Originally it was called the “Horse and Groom”
and served as a posting house on the London to Guildford
stagecoach route.
Fortunately the lock-up, still intact, was moved back to
just in front of the building line of the archway of the Forge
Garage. The pound area was moved from the back to the
front area of the lock-up.
In 1955, the lock-up survived another reprieve. Some
Petersham villagers felt that it should be demolished on
account of its dilapidated state. Fortunately the Ancient
Monuments Committee stepped in and decided that it was
worth preserving. Surrey County Council agreed to repairs
costing £40. Since that time the condition of the lock-up has
deteriorated. It is a listed building, Grade 2 and in 2004
thanks to the representations made by the Environment Trust
for Richmond upon Thames, the lock-up appeared on
English Heritage’s list of important buildings at risk (the
BAR register).
The Environment Trust is a registered charity working to
protect and restore buildings and landscapes at risk in the
Borough of Richmond. For over ten years the Trust has kept
a watch on the Lock-up and worked with Ham and
Petersham Association to persuade the Council to carry out
the restoration in accordance with drawings provided by the
Trust.
Funding obtained by the Ham and Petersham Association
together with a donation secured by the Trust from the
Heritage of London Trust, has enabled the restoration of this
historic structure.
Ham and Petersham Association 2009
Much Hadham Forge Museum… a heritage gem
enable a blacksmith to work on site
once again and in 1991 a small
museum was opened in memory of the
Page family blacksmiths who had
served the local community for over
150 years. Behind closed doors, Jean
Page employed conservator Jane
Rutherfoord to uncover the wall
paintings, a process that took 8 years.
The paintings depict the Royal Arms of
Elizabeth I, the Newce family Coat of
Arms and The Judgement of Solomon.
During this work the buildings were
revised to Grade II* listed status to take
account of the nationally important
wall paintings.
Jean Page died in December of 1999
and in the years that followed Phase 2
of the project began. The HBPT carried
out high priority repairs to Forge
House, re-laid the entire roof and
started to plan for sustainable
development of the site. On a personal
note, I wanted this project to pay tribute
to the memory of Jean Page and her
ancestors. I was fortunate enough to
know Jean well and we had many
discussions about her hopes for the
future of the museum. Without her
foresight and generosity, none of this
would have been possible. As a curator,
I wanted to make sure that the many
heritage assets the site had to offer were
represented in the new museum,
located in a building that itself is an
exhibit.This was certainly going to be a
Far left: The Re-opening. Left: Wall-painting at Much Hadham Forge
The Hertfordshire Building Preservation
Trust first became involved with the
forge at Much Hadham in 1988, and
like many BPT projects, it has evolved
through several phases. When Jean Page
first donated the property to HBPT there
was little doubt about the heritage merit
of the Grade II listed site: a complex of
timber-framed buildings dating from
1480 comprising several cottages, a
working forge complete with tools and
a room with a spectacular paintings
hidden beneath thirteen layers of
distemper, paint and wall paper.
During the first phase, the cottages
were refurbished to allow Jean Page a
much improved income from rents, the
forge was cleared and tools cleaned to
APT SOUTH-EAST (continued)
challenging project.
The Heritage Lottery Fund
recognised the potential of the site and
had the patience to provide funding
over several years to plan and then
execute the project. So often forgotten
are those who helped to shape the
project in the early stages, I am
indebted to consultants Crispin Paine,
Suzanne Rider and Paul Thomas, who
all worked above and beyond the fees
we paid them in order to ensure that
we had a well planned project that
could attract the funding it required.
The officers at East Herts Council also
gave their support and budgets to help
us, in particular Andrew Holley and
the late Mike Welburn.
Within the Trust, several Directors
deserve a special mention. Richard
Threlfall lent his expertise as project
planning architect, helping our scheme
take shape and gain planning
permission and listed building consent.
Duncan Brand steered the museum and
Trust through the financial complexities
of the project which have been many
and varied, and Bryan Norman as
museum Chairman was local advocate
and fundraiser too, as well as a great
source of moral support to me.
Recognition is also due to Russ Craig
and the late Adrian Gibson, who
provided expertise and support to the
museum since its development in the
late 1980s. Twenty years and £400,000
later, we now have a museum of which
we can all be proud.
New displays include local history
rooms and an area themed to building
conservation. For those who want to be
more hands on, the blacksmith’s shop is
operated by Richard Maynard, who
offers Forge Experience Days.The newly
built Jean Page Room provides
temporary exhibition and activity space
as well as the Charity Café serving
delicious homemade cakes supplied by
the WI.
The grand re-opening of the
museum, held on 20th March was well
attended by everyone who participated
in the project, funders, local people, the
project team (including architects,
consultants and contractors) and
volunteers. HBPT President, the Countess
of Veralum, cut the ribbon for us.
Much Hadham Forge Museum and
the Charity Café are open between April
and December on Fridays, Saturdays,
Sundays and Bank Holidays between
11am and 5pm (check for extended
opening hours during school holidays
and groups are welcome at anytime by
arrangement).
Entry is £7 for a family ticket, £3.50
for adults, £1.50 for a child and £2.50
for concessions. Alternatively, a Friends
of the Forge visitor season pass is £15.
This includes other membership
benefits such as invitations to Private
View and Preview evenings and
reduced entry to talks and events
throughout the year.
We are always looking for new
volunteers who can help us with
stewarding the museum, research and
exhibition development, collections
documentation and conservation,
volunteer management and serving in
the café. If you are interested in joining
the volunteer team or becoming a
Friend, please call Cristina on 01279
843301 or 07949 577760 or email
[email protected].
Cristina Harrison, Curator
APT WALES
Area Representative
Area Co-Ordinator: Gareth Clarke: [email protected] (029 2085 1359 or 07840 862527)
News from APT Wales
Ty Castell, Cardigan
Cadwgan Building Preservation
Trust has just announced that they are
to take on the lease of the Cardigan
Castle site from Ceredigion County
Council and commence their planning
and development period on the
Cardigan Castle project. The project has
had a HLF Round 1 pass for £500,200
for the development of the project
towards a Round 2 submission to the
Heritage Lottery Fund. The total
anticipated project cost is £9.2 million.
The Narberth Museum Trust is
restoring the Bonded Stores in Narberth
as the new home for the Museum.They
have just completed a period of
development and planning and
submitted a Round 2 bid to Heritage
Lottery Fund for a decision in March
2010.
Cardigan Castle Building Preservation Trust has just completed a 1st
phase refurbishment of Ty Castell with
the assistance of funding made
available through the Cardigan
Townscape Heritage initiative the
building is to be used for community
letting, office space and a separate
retail area.
The
Cardigan
Buildings
Preservation Trust, working in
partnership with Menter Aberteifi (a
local
community
regeneration
company) has just completed the £1.1
million final phase of works on
Cardigan Guildhall. The restoration
and refurbishment has allowed the
development of facilities on the
ground floor and the courtyard,
including increased visibility of the
gallery and market. The upper floor of
the building has also been brought
back into community use. The project
aims to satisfy the current and future
community needs and aspirations of
the people of Cardigan.
Cytal APT Wales - The next regional
meeting is to be held on January 28th at
Montgomery Town Hall from 11.00 1.00 pm.
Geraldine Delaney
Major Restoration Project for Community Trust:
Great Trerhew Barn, Monmouthshire
Jean Prosser
Left: Great Trerhew Barn before work. Bottom: Maypole Megan
After restoring two well houses and a cider house in north
Monmouthshire, the Village Alive Trust four years ago
embarked on its most ambitious restoration. The Trust’s
growing experience of working with farmers to conserve
vernacular buildings which would otherwise be lost,
alongside its community programme which attracted
funds from local and national government in Wales, gave
the confidence to develop an approach which would save
Great Trerhew barn.
The great barn on Great Trerhew Farm, Llantilio
Crossenny, near Abergavenny. Monmouthshire, is Grade
11* and possibly the last barn of this quality remaining in
agricultural use in the county, if not in south Wales. It was
extended in the late 17th century, has eight bays with two
king post trusses, gabled additions with cider mill and
press, cattle stalls, stable and haylofts with stone chaff bin.
Adjoining to the north is a yard enclosed by cattle pens
with pent roofs supported by rounded stone pillars and a
couple of smaller barns (also listed). The farm buildings
are sited alongside a house with medieval foundations and
the site of a watermill, which supplied nearby White Castle
(early Norman - mid 15th century) when troops were
garrisoned.The floor area of the barn is around 460 square
metres; the total complex at least twice this area. The barn
is at the centre of a working farm with three generations
of the same family now caring for its landscape and built
heritage.
Starting with a condition survey and conservation
statement, the Trust commissioned historical research
about the site and began a programme of community
activities including medieval fairs and open days. A ‘Land
and Legends’ Trail taking in the farm, mill and nearby
White Castle (in the care of Cadw: Welsh Heritage) and
supported by tourism grants, was launched.
At the same time, the Trust invited local politicians,
farmers and grant bodies, including Cadw and
Monmouthshire County Council, to visit and discuss the
design of a strategy for community development alongside
conservation of the barn in support of the rural economy.
Emergency repairs were necessary to rebuild gable ends
and support part of the roof and the Trust negotiated a 25year lease and a licence to use for agricultural purposes to
safeguard the structure and community access to the barn.
The Architectural Heritage Fund supported an Options
Appraisal which formed the basis of bids for funding.
The project has received funding through the Rural
Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded
by the Welsh Assembly Government and the European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, grants from
Cadw and Monmouthshire County Council, and private
donations.
Last September the conserved barn was ‘opened’ with
events featuring maypole dancing by local children (part of
a three-year programme by the Trust to re-introduce
maypole dancing into the primary school) and a Harvest
Home, featured in the Abergavenny Food Festival Fringe
programme, to showcase local food and Perry.
The Trust commissioned a DVD about the conservation
project and will show this in part of the barn, with
interpretation, as part of its educational programme for
visiting groups. The barn is to be the setting for a BBC2
‘Lamb Watch’ programme in March 2010. The Trust, in
partnership with the Welsh Perry and Cider Society, will
hold the first Monmouthshire
Pear and Perry Festival,
sponsored by the Welsh
Assembly Government, in the
barn on May Day Bank Holiday
3rd May 2010 and other
Open Days next summer - see
www.villagealivetrust.org.uk
for details.
APT MIDLANDS
Area Representative
Roger Herrington: [email protected] (01902 3266474 or 07710 175262)
Message from the New Chairman
warehouses, cottages, locks, toll houses
and complete town & inner City
regeneration strategies. All requiring a
delicate balance of old and new ensuring
appropriate sustainability and vibrancy. I
was directly responsible having prepared
detailed feasibility, investment and
business plans justifying the capital
outlay.
You may rest assured i will do my
upmost to ensure APT, the region and its
members prosper and move forward in
these challenging times. I am sure I will
be on quite a steep learning curve
getting to know everyone and fully
understand my new role.
If our members visit my web site,
Roger Herrington Associates at,
www.rhinoincorporated.co.uk it carries
a photograph and brief overview which
they may find interesting and useful.
I look forward to working with
everyone but if I can be of any help or
assistance in the mean time please do not
hesitate to contact me.
Roger Herrington
www.rhinoincorporated.co.uk
Roger Herrington (left) with Peter Child, Trustee and guide at Poltimore
House, Devon, visited on the Exeter Conference in November 2009
I would like to introduce myself to APT
members and thank the Midlands region
particularly for their support by electing
me as their new chairman.
First of all, my background, I am a
member of the Chartered Management
& CIOB Institutes, with an MBA, a degree
in Building Construction and a
background in heavy civil engineering
and historic building regeneration. I
worked for a number of large Building &
Civil
Engineering
Contractors,
Consultant Engineers and Central
Government before joining British
Waterways. Working with BW for over
20 years I was fortunate to be directly
involved in a wide variety of restoration
and regeneration projects throughout
the UK ranging from bridges, aqueducts
& lifts to water mills, bonded
PS … The venue for the 19th March for
the combined WMHBT annual seminar
and APT combined meeting is arranged
for Walsall Leather Museum.
Two more Lincs in the Chain …
An 18th Century Farmhouse…….
or is it?
Helpringham Manor Farmhouse was
last used as three farm labourers
cottages and the Grade II* building has
been empty for over 20 years. A recent
archaeological study on the building,
commissioned by Heritage Lincolnshire
to inform an options appraisal, has
found that the complex alterations to
the building have disguised the original
construction.
Top left: Helpringham Manor Farmhouse.
Bottom left: The Midlands Meeting visit to Helprigham, October 2009
116 High Street, front elevation
Repair and Conversion of 116 High
Street, Boston
Heritage Lincolnshire is about to
embark on a new project to restore this
early 18th century town house in the
centre of Boston. This Grade II* listed
Georgian house was the location of the
first private bank in Lincolnshire,
founded in 1751 by William Garfit II.
The building has been vacant for over
20 years and this neglect has caused
significant decay of the structure.
Alterations made to the building over
the last 200 years have also weakened
the building to the extent that it is now
supported internally by several phases
of scaffolding.
The Trust aims to gain ownership of
the building in order to begin urgent
repairs in the new year. In the current
economic climate this project presents a
significant challenge and Heritage
Lincolnshire’s trustees are aware of the
risks involved. However, the past
experience of the Trust and the support
received from English Heritage, the
Heritage Lottery Fund and the
Architectural Heritage Fund has
encouraged a proactive approach to
ensure the building is repaired and
regenerated. The aim now is to find a
new owner, who will help to revitalise
this area of the town by offering a use
that will bring benefits for the local
community.
As fashions and owner’s needs
changed over the centuries, the
farmhouse has been extended, refronted, and altered. After thorough
survey, Dr Jonathan Clark of Field
Archaeology Specialists now believes
that the original construction of the
rear wing could be as early as the 15th
century. Further research and dendro-
chronology tests are required but the
results of the survey have already been
invaluable for informing the repair of
the building. Structural repairs,
installation of services and conversion
for modern use are all required and the
project is likely to cost in excess of £1.5
million.
Heritage Lincolnshire aims to
complete the options appraisal in the
new year and is grateful to English
Heritage, the Architectural Heritage
Fund, Lincolnshire County Council and
North Kesteven District Council for
their contributions to this research.
Liz Bates
Cromford Station Scoops Two National Heritage Awards
The photograph shows Lord
Adonis (centre), accompanied
by Sir William McAlpine
(second from left), presenting
the two National Railway
Heritage Award plaques to Dr
Charlton (far left) and to Ryan
Phelps and Tim Collis (second
from right and far right)
The recently restored Cromford Station and Waiting
Room both received the highest accolade from the UK’s
Railway Heritage Committee at the glittering National
Railway Heritage Awards 2009 held in London’s Merchant
Taylor’s Hall.
Secretary of State for Transport Lord Adonis presented the
Railway Heritage Trust Conservation Award to both projects
individually after the awarding committee decided that they
both headed the final shortlist of national railway restoration
projects that also included Laurencekirk Station in Scotland,
Shirebrook Station Building in neighbouring North East
Derbyshire and the Centenary Lounge at Birmingham’s
Moor Street Station.
Tim Collis and Ryan Phelps, joint owners, collected the
award for their Waiting Room restoration project and Dr
Christopher Charlton, former Director of the Arkwright
Society, collected the award for the Arkwright Society’s
Station Building restoration project, both of which were
carried out over the last two years.
Tim Collis said after the event, “There were 4 other
excellent contenders - one being the Arkwright Society’s
restored station building - which made us slightly nervous
as in effect we were pitched against each other. In fact at that
point when I saw the competition for the first time - I
thought that was the end of our nomination. Even then the
penny didn’t drop with me until they announced that the
waiting room and the main station building were to be
awarded their own first prize awards.”
Dr Charlton was overjoyed to receive the award for the
Station Building and said afterwards “This is great news for
the World Heritage Site.Two of its buildings at risk have been
saved and found new uses and to achieve this, plus national
recognition, is more than I would have dared to hope.”
Architect for the station building, George Jones of
Belper’s Mansel Architects, Building Team Manager, Peter
Bowler, and Steering Group Member, Robin Lumb, also
attended the event.
This is the thirtieth year of the The National Railway
Heritage Awards and Award winners are presented with an
oval shaped cast metal commemorative wall plaque
recording the details of the award. In presenting the awards,
Lord Adonis expressed the wish to visit Cromford to view
the recently opened buildings.
Robin Lumb
APT NORTH-WEST
Area Representative
John Miller: [email protected] (01282 661704)
A Watery Theme: Tour of Buildings at Risk, Manchester
Water was a unifying theme of the Tour
of Buildings at Risk in the North-West
Region which took place on Friday 3rd
July 5, 2009. Pouring rain constantly
reminded us of how buildings which
were uncared for could become so
vulnerable. We also visited two
swimming baths (and there was a third
one tucked away at Houldsworth Mill
which we didn’t see) – all ironically
empty of water.
The Albion United Reformed
Church at Ashton-under-Lyne (189095 by John Brooke, and with excellent
stained glass) was the meeting point,
clearly an essay in one-upmanship
when compared to the medieval Parish
Church, which stands within a bow-
APT NORTH-WEST (continued)
Top left: The swimming baths at Reddish. Bottom left: The former Corporation Baths, Ashton-under-Lyne
shot of it. The products of that rivalry
are now both paying the price, faced
with dwindling congregations and
large repair bills.
Passing through the planned street,
mini-circus and shopping Arcade in
Stamford Street Conservation Area, we
arrived at the former Corporation
Baths, listed Grade II*, Byzantine in
style and built in 1870 at a cost of
£16,000. This gargantuan structure
suffers from continuing vandalism, its
future still unsecured.
The tour encompassed both urban
and rural examples. Stayley Hall,
Stalybridge – again Grade II* - is being
repaired as part of an enabling
development. Looking at the empty
shell (in the rain), the poor quality of
the new housing and the evermenacing presence of probably the
worst-sited pylon in England prompted
some on the tour to question whether
this building could ever be truly
removed from the At Risk Register.
After lunch, Reddish was the next
point of call, an interesting Edwardian
complex of buildings constructed in
1907-8 following an architectural
competition won by Dixon & Potter.The
building incorporated a library, fire
station – and of course swimming pool.
The integrity of this excellent
community facility should not be
compromised by piecemeal development. Similarly, at Houldsworth Mill, it
was unclear why the ‘powerhouse’
buildings at the heart of the complex
had been omitted from an otherwise
sensitive regeneration scheme. We
completed the tour at the magnificent St
Elizabeth’s Church at the centre of
Houldswoth’s model village.The watery
theme here? Designed by Alfred
Waterhouse. Oh yes, and we were given
a demonstration of the original lifting
mechanism for the font cover.
The tour demonstrated that there is
a vast range of potential projects still to
be undertaken in the Manchester Area.
And the point was made forcibly that
though cared for now, buildings such as
the Albion Church were on the cusp of
being in danger. The ‘At Risk’ Register
can never be a finite list of building
projects to tackle, and in this respect
there will always be a role for Building
Preservation Trusts. Particular thanks
must go to John Miller, Chair of APT
North-West, for organizing such a
thought-provoking day.
James Moir
Georgian Award for 43 King Street
and 3 Freckleton Street, Blackburn
John Miller (centre, Heritage Trust for the North West) and Jonathan Ratter,
Chartered Surveyor, receiving the award from HRH the Duke of Gloucester
The story of these buildings was
featured in the last edition of APT
News. It has now won a commendation
in the category ‘Restoration of a
Georgian building in an urban setting’
in the Georgian Group’s 2009
Architectural Awards, the citation for
which reads:
43 King Street and 3 Freckleton St,
Blackburn. The story here is one of a
peripheral Georgian building, longvacant, then ruinous following an arson
attack in 2003; and finally at risk of
demolition. Now it has been
painstakingly restored by The Heritage
Trust for the North-West, with the
project used to offer training in
traditional building craft skills. The
scheme also carries a wider message. It
is hard on the edge of the Georgian
conservation area.The area immediately
to the east is vacant – except for one
listed Georgian building, which is itself
now threatened by a new link road.We
are fighting to stop the road ploughing
through it. No 43 sends out a powerful
message: restoration and preservation
of historic fabric is the saner option, the
greater net contributor to urban
regeneration. Let us hope that the
message is heard and heeded in
Blackburn.
St James The Less Arts Centre Project
Far left: The design team at work. Left: St James The Less
to be retained.
Hatching indicates
+178.80
new extension
Metal railings on
new retaining wall
IC CL
178.07
+178.86
178.03
m
GV
YARD
SERVERY
+177.50
177.89
FUNCTION ROOM
24.4msq
New raised plantin
R/L
G
177.60
178.00
IC CL
STORE
10.1msq
FFL +176.83
m
STORE
2.0msq
R/L
New retaining
R/L
BAR
25.5msq
Design proposals
Tree to be felled
Existing stores / toilet block
178.13
FFL +176.83
FFL +176.83
R/L
ALMSHOUSE OVER
Extg window opening
altered to form
Hatched walls indicate
R/L
new door opening
new partitions
DWC
NORTH TRANSEPT
R/L
R/L
Paviours
FEMALE WC
MALE WC
G
+176.80
rwp
Tie bar
Tie bar
Tie anchor
Tie anchor
M3
M2
M1
M4
Aumbrey
Tree to be felled
2 no. new doors &
spandrel panel.
New stage & steps.
New opening formed
in boundary wall,
1 no. gate repositioned
+176.80
Stage Extension
HALL
NEW STAGE
2
SECTION AA
+1600
ON AA
+2400
new metal railings
Stage Extension
FFL +176.83
1
Gas riser
G
E
recess
+1540
+1800
rwp
G
new timber
screen & door
rwp
rwp
rwp
G
G
G
Extg window opening
altered to form
+176.56
new door opening
900
1200
+176.36
Gradient 1:14
FFL +176.83
Gradient 1:12
TARMA
1500
new glass
C
screen & door
1205
GRASS
900
Lawn
Gradient 1:13
+176.14
+176.08
new handrails
New opening onto
new ramped access
TARMAC
SECTION BB
G
TARMAC
MKR
At the beginning of December
2009 the St James the Less
Preservation Trust submitted
its Round 2 bid to the Heritage
Lottery Fund - the culmination
of over five years of work by
the Trust and its consultants.
In 2004 the Parochial
Church Council stated its
intention to declare redundant
the Victorian Chapel of Ease of
St James the Less in New Mills, Derbyshire. In response,
people from the local community established a BPT to
preserve, restore and adapt this important building as a
community arts centre. Since then, while working towards
the HLF bid, the Trust has been promoting and managing
arts-based uses of the church by community groups and
professional performers; the church has meanwhile
continued to be used for Sunday services. Income from these
events provides a source of funding for the Trust, as does a
“Friends” group numbering 125+ who pay a small annual
subscription and provide volunteer support.
The building is Listed grade II and was designed, along
with the adjacent almshouses, in the High Victorian style by
W Swinden Barber of Leeds; its benefactors were Mr & Mrs
John Mackie and it opened in 1880. The glass, which is
complete, is by C.E.Kempe and the polychromatic decoration
with four Evangelist wall panels is by Powell Brothers of
Leeds.The layout of the building is unchanged.The wall decor
has been over-painted white but exists beneath this layer.
Supported by a Project Planning Grant from the HLF and
a series of grants from the AHF, the Trust appointed a Project
Manager, Architect and Consultants and commissioned the
preparation of an Activity plan, Conservation Management
Plan, etc.
The scheme is to build a small extension onto the vestry
to provide ancillary accommodation and storage. Planning
permission and listed building consent have been obtained.
In the main body of the church, the pews will be removed
and the chancel reduced to create a performance/rehearsal/
exhibition space which enables the building to function as a
modern, fully-equipped Arts Centre offering a full range of
Arts and community activities. There will be an educational
programme and interpretive material relating to the history
and conservation of the church and the history of the town,
its people and its Victorian benefactors.
The project received a Round One pass from HLF in March
2009. Securing Partnership Funding of around £150,000 has
proved the biggest headache for the Trust, mainly because of
the impact of the recession. Grant offers have been pledged but
there is still some way to go. The Trust is optimistic that other
offers will be received before the application goes to the HLF
committee in March 2010. Watch this space!
Notes
Do not scale from this drawing.
All dimensions must be checked on site by contractor prior
to construction.
Existing toilet block wall
to be retained.
g
g
g
g
g
g g
Metal railings on
xisting window opening
new retaining wall
tered to form
ew door opening.
New extension
Dotted line indicates
existing ground level.
Existing window opening altered
to form new door opening.
NORTH ELEVATION as PROPOSED
Bernard Taylor Partnership Ltd.
Architects
ELIZABETH HOUSE, 486 DIDSBURY ROAD, HEATON MERSEY,
STOCKPORT, CHESHIRE, SK4 3BS.
Tel: 0161-443 1221
Fax: 0161-442 1672
E-mail: [email protected]
Client
St. James' Preservation Trust
Job
St James The Less
New Mills
Description
North Elevation
As Proposed & Existing
NORTH ELEVATION as EXISTING
DJ
Drawn:
Date: 10/10/2008
Scale:
1:100
Drg No:
Job No:
2134
Rev.
10
A
Notes
Do not scale from this drawing.
All dimensions must be checked on site by contractor prior
to construction.
New extension
Metal railings on
new retaining wall
ss screen &
oss opening
Dotted line indicates
New opening
new ramped access
WEST ELEVATION as PROPOSED
Bernard Taylor Partnership Ltd.
Architects
ELIZABETH HOUSE, 486 DIDSBURY ROAD, HEATON MERSEY,
STOCKPORT, CHESHIRE, SK4 3BS.
Tel: 0161-443 1221
Fax: 0161-442 1672
E-mail: [email protected]
Client
St. James' Preservation Trust
Job
St James The Less
New Mills
Description
West Elevation
As Proposed & Existing
Drawn:
DJ
Date: 10/10/2008
Drg No:
Job No:
2134
9
Scale:
1:100
Rev.
A
WEST ELEVATION as EXISTING
John Fildes Website: www.stjamesarts.org.uk
APT NORTHERN IRELAND
Area Representative
Primrose Wilson: [email protected] (0283 887 1238)
Georgian Award for the Follies Trust
Primrose Wilson (left) and Edward Wilson, Company Secretary, The Follies Trust (right).
HRH The Duke of Gloucester (centre) with John Martin Robinson in the background.
Another commendation in the Georgian Group Architectural
Awards went to the Follies Trust, under the category ‘Restoration
of a Georgian garden or landscape’. As Primrose Wilson remarked:
“There were 70 applicants in the various categories and they were
shortlisted down to 16. We were thrilled that the Knockbreda
mausolea project received this commendation.”
The citation read as follows:
The Knockbreda Mausolea project in Belfast, undertaken by
McCollum Building & Surveying for The Follies Trust, involved the
conservation of two derelict mausolea to the Greg and Rainey
families.These are, as James Stevens Curl has said, “the oddest and
finest of all buildings in the genre in Ulster”. But weeds and trees
were growing out of the tops, pilasters and lumps of stone were
becoming displaced and the fanciful upper works were suffering
rapid disintegration. “Death comes even to stone monuments and
the names upon them”, said Decimus Ausonius. That is true, but
for these mausolea, now beautifully restored, the mortal moment
that looked close has, thankfully, been postponed.
New HQ for Belfast BPT
Belfast Lodge, before and after restoration
The pre-Christmas months were more
hectic than usual for the Belfast
Buildings Preservation Trust. October
saw the inclusion of the Trust’s longtime project Carlisle Memorial
Methodist Church on the World
Monument Fund watch list, and in late
November, the Trust took possession of
its restored headquarters on Belfast’s
busy Ormeau Road.
The former gate lodge to the
Convent of the Good Shepherd was
built in 1867, and in recent years has
become unused, derelict and seriously
at risk. To prevent its demolition, the
Trust entered negotiations to acquire
the property on a long lease from the
Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor.
The deal was secured with assistance
from the Northern Ireland Environment
Agency acquisition fund (for buildings
at risk), with all additional monies
being provided from the Trust’s own
resources.
Belfast Lodge: the new office after restoration
The architectural restoration was
directed by “Hearth”, and the
contractors were Annvale Construction,
both of whom are no strangers to the
historic buildings world in Northern
Ireland.
Trust founder and patron Fionnuala
Jay-O’Boyle commented:
“The regeneration of this highly visible
and strategically situated building is
further evidence of the transformative
power of historic buildings. Since
completion, the Belfast BPT has been
inundated with congratulations and
enquires about the gate lodge, its
history, and the Trust’s work. In addition
to function as an office for the Trust, the
building will have a dedicated library
on architectural and regeneration
matters.”
Fionnuala Jay O’Boyle
The Restoration of Gracehill Old School (c.1765)
Gracehill Old School exterior
Gracehill is Northern Ireland’s first designated
Conservation area and the only complete Moravian
settlement in Ireland. The award-winning village has
received many accolades over the years including a
European Europa Nostra award.
Alongside the Moravian Church, the old school is one
of the most significant buildings in the village. Its central
status evoked strong support for its preservation when it
finally ceased being used as the village school 10 years
ago. At that time it was in the ownership of the local
education and library board who were minded to sell the
building.
Subsequently Gracehill Old School Trust (GhOST), a
charitable building preservation trust was formed and
with advice from the Association of Preservation Trusts
and the support of Ballymena Borough Council they
eventually managed to purchase the building after
developing exciting plans for the restoration and seeking
funding in the region of £1.5 million to make those plans
a reality. Subsequent grants from the Heritage Lottery
Fund and also from others including Ballymena Borough
Council, Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage
Service and Ulster Garden Villages have secured the
refurbishment of the listed building and in August 2007
work commenced on bringing life back to the Old
School. Interestingly the Environment and Heritage
Service provided £120,000 towards the £150,000
purchase cost of the building in a pilot scheme which has
now been rolled out across Northern Ireland.
The refurbished building now serves a number of
purposes; firstly, this important listed building which was
“at risk” has been preserved and given new life; secondly,
much needed amenities including a community meeting
space, restaurant, business space, after school club, visitors
centre and a historical classroom have been provided and
thirdly, employment opportunities have been created and
enhanced by this dynamic project.
David Johnston Chairman of the Trust said that “On
reviewing the last 10 years I would say anyone embarking
on the ups and downs of such a project needs to be
Persistent, Polite and perhaps a little Potty!”
David Johnston
APT SOUTH-WEST
Area Representative
Russell Lillford: [email protected] (01823 289761)
Message from the New Chair
Russell Lillford
As the newly elected Chairman of the South-West Area
Committee can I please briefly introduce myself to all
members of the APT?
In September I retired, after some 26 years, from
Somerset County Council as manager of the Historic
Environment Service comprising archaeologists, building
conservation specialists and craftsmen. For the last 12 years
I have also been the local planning authorities’ representative
on the Bath and Wells Diocesan Advisory Committee.
I originally trained at Portsmouth School of Building
and Surveying, then at Nottingham School of Town
Planning and Plymouth University School of Architecture
and hold a Master of Arts degree together with postgraduate diplomas in Architectural Conservation and
Town Planning. I am a Chartered Surveyor, a Chartered
Town Planner, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a
Member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
I have been fortunate to be able to spend all my very
enjoyable professional career in both the public and
private sectors working for the care and enhancement of
historic buildings,parks and gardens, and conservation
areas. In 1988 I was a founder member of the Somerset
Building Preservation Trust. Over the years I have been
their honorary Buildings Advisor, and more recently, I
became a Trustee.
My interests, outside historic buildings, include 19th
and early 20th century art and most things Italian. As for
the photograph...taking in the view from a certain Ancient
House in East Anglia.
Russell Lillford
The UK APT National Conference
Exeter 2009
With over half the delegates returning their evaluation sheets,
it is pleasing to report that the Conference, held at the Thistle
Hotel in Exeter, scored an overall average of 4.4 out of 5. It
was good to see over 50 BPTs being represented; the diversity
was particularly striking with Trusts from Scotland, Northern
Ireland,Wales as well as England in attendance. Thanks to the
award of ten bursaries, generously sponsored by the
Architectural Heritage Fund, the conference was opened up
to Trusts, particularly those in the South-West, who might
not normally attend – the only condition was that each
recipient should write a review of one of the lectures or
workshops that took place. Their contributions can be
enjoyed over the next few pages. It was also good to
welcome representatives from a whole range of
organizations with whom UK APT enjoys or is looking
forward to building further links with – English Heritage,
DTA, National Trust, The Churches Conservation Trust,
Heritage Lottery Fund.
complacent. In particular, the unrelenting pace of the
Conference (visits to four buildings in the dark on Thursday
night, six lectures, seven workshops to choose from, together
with a reception and two dinners) clearly left insufficient
time for as much networking as desired; this will be taken on
board when planning the Glasgow Conference.
Although the feedback has been encouraging, we will not be
James Moir
For those of you who missed the Conference, or
for those who attended and wish to refresh their
memories, the presentations are also now available on
www.ukapt.org.uk/events.
UK APT is particularly grateful for the support it received
from its sponsors – Charity Bank, Unity Trust Bank, CCLA and
DVS who also participated with enthusiasm in the
proceedings. The Conference involved input from many
individuals – speakers, workshop convenors, helpers, coordinators. To all of you, UK APT extends its warm thanks.
Lecture 1
Valuing the Common Heritage:Where Trusts can Help
Dr Nicholas Falk, Director URBED
Dr Falk emphasised the need to
‘raise our sights’ where our
common heritage is concerned;
common heritage being the
day to day reminders of the
past which make each area
distinctive. He then gave the
conference an excellent summary of ‘why’ and ‘how’.
Why? Our common heritage is under threat. If it can be
saved it can re-establish the individuality of communities,
reverse the urban exodus, discourage car use, foster social
cohesion and turn liabilities into assets. Re-use of our
common heritage adds environmental and social capital to
our communities.
How? Organise an audit of the local area. Involve the Local
Authority early, their support is essential. Try to get action
underway before the buildings or areas deteriorate. Work
with the Local Authority to acquire buildings and then
transfer them to Trusts who will need to have an
entrepreneurial spirit to really succeed. Trusts must involve
the community, almost acting as intermediaries between the
Local Authority and the community.
The Stroud Preservation Trust and the Canal & Quay Trust
in Exeter were two of the exemplars mentioned and Dr Falk
has written extensively on his ideas. I certainly intend to
follow up on his ideas as I live in a city where we are
drowning in poorly designed ‘executive’ homes built without
much thought for their effect on the character of
surrounding housing and areas.
Judy Crowe
Lecture 2
Building in Resilience: The DTA Approach
Jess Steele
The Development Trusts Association (DTA) formed in 1992
and there are now almost 500
Development Trusts with a combined income of around £270
million, of which £136 million
is earned. These seemed like
impressive statistics and it would be interesting to see the
equivalent figures for BPTs. The numbers were backed up by
an enthusiastic and detailed presentation by Jess Steele, Head
of DTA Consultancy,The Pool.
Community stewardship and ownership of Local
Authority assets has existed for many years, but in 2007 the
Quirk review was commissioned to look more closely at the
barriers of transferring public assets and what can be done to
overcome them.The review concluded, that backed by skills,
capacity, funding and partnerships, there are no substantive
impediments to the transfer of assets to community ownership.The DTA was then commissioned to lead and deliver the
‘Asset Transfer Unit’ on behalf of the Government with the
aim of facilitating Local Authority asset transfers to community organisations and delivering the conclusion of the Quirk
review through community empowerment.Through this and
other programmes such as the ‘Meanwhile Use’ project, the
DTA has evolved into an influential and powerful network of
Trusts and there is much to be learnt from their model- one
which appears to be growing in resilience despite (or maybe
because of) the current financial climate.
There is common ground shared by the DTA and APT:
what Jess termed, “the co-production of places”, bringing
vacant buildings back into use and ensuring their sustainable
future, building partnerships and creating long term social
and economic benefits.
The key to successful asset transfer and to building
resilience is to recognise that there are risks, but that these
risks can be managed. BPTs are well equipped to take on heritage assets but getting local authorities to recognise this is
the crucial part. A robust plan for re-use that comes from the
building itself and a holistic overview of where the project is
going (and how it will get there) are obviously vital. The
“balanced score card” method introduced by Jess could be a
useful tool for this. It allows groups to measure four key elements of the project on three time scales- now, soon and later
and enables them to think about risks and how to mitigate
them. (See www.ukapt.org.uk/events for the basic template).
However, a historic building project can only be de-risked to
a point and sometimes the real risk is that of doing nothing.
The transfer of assets with a dowry and sinking funds,
transfer at below market value, and assets counterweighted
with endowments such as surrounding land or car parking
were all examples of positive (if rare) approaches to reducing
risk and building in resilience to Trusts. The message I took
was that BPTs should negotiate carefully with local authorities if the asset transfer is to be any more than dumping an
unwanted building. If the BPT movement is to produce further sustainable projects, local authorities must recognise that
the transfer of liability and addressing decades of neglect
needs to come with support. The question of funding was
mentioned briefly and with new initiatives aimed at DTs perhaps further thought could be given to how BPTs can access
non-traditional funding pots and if not, why not? Is there a
chance for BPTs and DTs to partner up for some projects?
APT SOUTH-WEST (continued)
The principle of working for a common wealth and the
DTA approach to harnessing the community in the project
was a theme throughout Jess’s presentation. Measuring social
impact is difficult, but the examples of successful DTA projects shown proved their approach is good for the asset and
good for the community. A wide mix of approaches and
engaged investors from the community is a more resilient
model as traditional funding sources dry up.
The presentation included examples of DTs building partnerships with a number of Local Authorities -Devon and
Birmingham are two examples. BPTs as a movement must
strive to reach this level of co-operation and recognition.The
recipe for this success on authority’s side seems to be political will + community capacity + officer imagination with
emphasis on partnerships at every step. In turn BPTs must
continue to build their capacity, their credibility and their
confidence to get projects to the next stage.
Resilience is about survival and how to bounce back: the
capacity to adapt in the difficult times as well as succeed in
the boom times.The DTA has clearly built up a strong organisation, which is doing great things, but they admit they are
not specialists in heritage buildings.There is still a fundamental need and a role for BPTs to play, if we are ready and confident enough to adapt to the new challenges to become truly
resilient.
Laura Jessup
Lecture 3
‘Rising to the Challenge’: The Scottish Perspective
George McNeill
George McNeill is clearly
extremely proud of the
achievements of the Building
Preservation Trust
(BPT)
movement in Scotland. He used
the opportunity of the
conference to summarise the
successes of the past 25 years, but also to highlight the
ongoing hurdles that BPTs in Scotland (and the rest of the
UK) are facing. The review of these Trusts funded by
Architectural Heritage Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and
Historic Scotland was at the data collection stage at the time
of the Conference from which George extracted many of
his statistics. It is now at the consultancy stage with a March
2010 completion date in mind and it is hoped that the
outcome of the review will demonstrate the successes of
the past and provide guidance for the future.
Back in 1984 George was co-author of a publication by
the Scottish Georgian Society “Building Preservation Trusts
- A Challenge for Scotland”. Not long after this, and as I
understand, under his guidance, several regionally-based
Trusts were established in Scotland. This was clearly a
success as four of the five Trusts set up then are still major
players today; Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, North East
Scotland BPT, Highland BPT, Lothian BPT and Strathclyde
BPT. The early figures from the review, which George
referred to, show that in total 83 Trusts have been
established in the last 25 years, of which most are still
active today.
The review data shows that 110 projects have been
completed by Scottish BPTs since 1984 (36 of which were
Grade A listed buildings), and as George asked, “what
would the fate of these buildings have been if not for the
existence of BPTs?” In addition to this, several hundred
feasibility studies and options appraisals have been carried
out. A question that George hopes the review will answer is
where should the balance lie between the number of these
studies in comparison to the number of projects taken
forward? Two thirds of the completed projects that have
been carried out, according to his figures, have been by the
staffed BPTs which account for just 10 of the currently
active Trusts. This should not, as George said, detract from
the significant contribution and determination given by
volunteers and unpaid trustees.
Much of George’s presentation looked at the areas that it
is hoped the BPT review will be able to address, such as
what he perceives to be the disappearance of revolving trust
funds, which he puts down to increasingly stringent
regulations from the various funding bodies. The extensive
and complicated funding applications as well as the
constant changes being made to them seem to be putting
strain on BPTs across the board. A further issue that many
Trusts face is the necessity to be reliant on multiple sources
of funding for a project to be successful. George gave the
example of the Castlemilk Stables, a Glasgow BPT project,
which had 26 different funding bodies involved. The time
and resources required simply for the coordination of such
finances, he argued, has to have an impact on the ultimate
success of the project.
Nevertheless, the last 25 years has seen everything from
‘great country houses to public toilets’ being restored, and a
remarkable track record of success has been established.
George believes that Scotland has the strongest
infrastructure of BPTs of any region of the UK but that this
is not a time for complacency as there is still much to be
done.
Alice Custance-Baker
Lecture 4
Funding Horizons: An HLF Perspective: by South West, Heritage Lottery Fund
Ian Morrison, Head of Historic Environment Conservation and Nerys Watts, Regional Manager, South West,
Heritage Lottery Fund
These are gloomy times for
everyone involved in construction projects whether new
build or restoration. With the
wider availability of people
willing and able to undertake
such work, money is scarce.
Banks are at best cautious, at worst hostile and funding
seems to be ever harder to acquire. Groups within the social
economy sector struggle to exist, let alone deliver
challenging new projects. However with so much to do
hibernation is not an option. Robert Musgraves calls the
recession “good news” for those involved in restoration
projects.Why ? He argues that there is less pressure to knock
down old buildings. The “escape from the wrecking ball”
gives Heritage Bodies time to be strategic.
This need to be more strategic is a theme that was
strongly reinforced by those speaking on behalf of the
Heritage Lottery Fund at the recent National Conference in
Exeter. The shortage in funding for restoration projects was
echoed again and again. With the loss of public sector
funding the HLF has 13 projects whose local authority
funding is in danger. Moreover the depressed housing
market encourages new build because unlike an old building
the location can be changed to fit the demand. With many
contractors going into liquidation and commercial contracts
dropped or postponed, the work of Building Preservation
Trusts is even more important. However the need for the
standard of projects to improve was emphasised.
The good news is that the HLF are unwavering in their
commitment to “place heritage at the heart of a new greener
economy” with a funding allocation of £1.8 billion to be
distributed between now and 2019. This is backed by
Government throwing its weight behind the “green
credentials of historic buildings”. In the Government
document published in May 2009 “H.M Government World
Class Places” the role of old buildings in contributing to a
greener economy is finally given the credit it deserves.While
the HLF states that money is still available to BPTs, it
acknowledges budgets have decreased while applications
have not. The highest number of applications for funding is
in the region of £1–5 million and therefore funding at this
level remains highly competitive.
Clear guidance was given on the need for projects to be
strong, with three elements required to make a good
project:
a) a primary emphasis on conservation
b) meaningful local/community consultation and
c) opportunities for people to learn about heritage through
interpretation and engagement.
Examples of exemplar projects which were funded by
HLF were showcased to illustrate how successful applicants
had taken these requirements seriously and had delivered on
their commitment to the programme funders. One of these,
the project at Walronds, was highly commended because it
met the HLF priorities of learning, conservation and
participation. Theirs was a very strong application. The Trust
had already secured some funding of its own but more
importantly had gone to great lengths to engage with the
local community before and during the work through
lectures, opportunities for volunteering and training and the
production of a DVD film of the restoration process.
In an effort to ensure that funded projects benefit as
many people as possible, The H.L.F are insisting that Trusts
devote more time and energy to consultation and
community engagement, not only when work commences
but at the crucial time when strategic forward planning is
taking place. New minimum standards have been introduced
which will ensure that to be successful, Trusts will have to
provide opportunities for learning and training,
interpretation and engagement. There will also be an
emphasis on volunteering.
For all applications over £50,000 an activity plan is
required, however the level of activity planned should be
linked to the size of the endeavour.
The HLF will also enforce requirements to promote
strategic planning:• All projects over £200,000 require a management and
maintenance plan- [10 years duration to match life-span
of HLF grant]
• All projects costing over £1 million will require a
financial appraisal and a Conservation & Management
Plan
• Plans should be fully informed by effective and wide
ranging consultation.
While funding from the Heritage Lottery will continue to be
available through these difficult funding times, it will
become increasingly competitive and Trusts will have to
work harder to engage with their local communities as well
as consider the structural maintenance and long-term
viability of their project. Prospective applicants should not
be discouraged but are strongly advised to speak to their
local HLF office for further guidance before submitting an
application under any of the funding measures.
Roisin Connolly
The UK APT Exeter Conference, 2009
All Photos of Exeter Conference by Graham Bell, NECT
Cricklepit Mill, Exeter, one of the buildings visited on
Thursday evening
The Friday Evening dinner with the Singing Dean
Inspecting the fabric of Poltimore House, one of two
venues visited on the Friday
Poltimore House
Strategy workshop with the Chair, David Trevis-Smith
Mike Baldwin introducing The Custom House
The Thursday Evening Reception at St Nicholas Priory
Tour of St Nciholas Priory on the Thursday Evening
East Anglia Chair Alan Coday at The Walronds, visited on
the Friday
Meeting the Walronds Project Team
APT Volunteer Workshop with Liz Carlile
Workshop 1
Builiding in Energy Sustainability
Rory Cullen, Head of Building, National Trust and Paul Southall,
Environmental Co-ordinator - The National Trust Wales
Having spent a
rather draughty
afternoon in
the splendid, if
c h a l l e n g i n g,
surroundings
of Poltimore
House,
the
audience for
Rory Cullen’s workshop on Building in
Energy Sustainability had no difficulty
in identifying the links between the
Poltimore project and Rory’s theme.
Poltimore has spent some five years
drying out effectively beneath its
enormous roof and, because it needs
fundamental repair – from the roof
down, the questions of how to mend it
well, for its new contemporary uses
while achieving the very best of
sustainable energy-saving standards, are
all sitting out there, waiting to be
resolved.
Rory’s role at the National Trust, as
Head of Building, is evidently
synonymous with a deep commitment
to sustainability in relation to the Trust’s
wide range of restoration projects on
the go.With his colleague, Paul Southall
(Environmental Co-ordinator – The
National Trust Wales), Rory took us
through some of the complex issues
with which the National Trust is
engaged in working out how to
reconcile the demands of historic
buildings with the imperative to restrict
energy use. The NT has been able to
adopt an experimental approach, trying
different technologies for different
circumstances
and
buildings.
Rory described specific examples
of projects and showed images of some
of them, including the photovoltaic
solar tiles at Kynance Cove café
(www.kynancecovecafe.co.uk/green.
htm), solar panels at Dunster Castle,
high on the roof hidden by the
crenellations, together with the muchdebated example of Gibson Mill where
photo-voltaic panels and solar hot
water panels are installed, visible on the
roof slope, as part of a plan to create a
wholly sustainable complex at this
nineteenth-century cotton mill in the
South Pennines.
(For information on the project see
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/
w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/
w-hardcastlecrags/w-hardcastlecragsgibsonmill_project/w-hardcastlecragsgibsonmill_project-sustainability.htm)
Accounts of the benefits of bio-mass
boilers (using sustainable sources of
wood), ground source and air source
heat pumps provided a great deal to
consider in considering how to ensure
that the Poltimore project makes use of
the most appropriate solutions for the
future demands of the building, and
maintains the integrity of the building
in its context.
But despite all these potential new
technologies the key message from the
National Trust is to think first about
simple mitigation measures – lowenergy bulbs, using shutters to
minimise heat loss, developing high
quality data about the performance of
the building before leaping into
expensive and potentially damaging
insulation or glazing projects. The
National Trust, of course has the kind of
buying power that has enabled them as
an organisation to work with industry
to develop new products. One eyecatching example is the experimental
LED candle-bulb developed by the NT
in collaboration with Phillips, which is
designed to substitute for the hundreds
of watts belted out by the average
adapted chandelier. Poltimore has no
surviving chandeliers – as the
conference delegates could testify – but
such a possibility is good to know
about, good to share!
For the Poltimore House Trust we
have just one chance to get this right.
But this is a great opportunity to take
forward the best current solutions – to
get the balance between minimising
cost now (when we are still so far from
having all the funds we need), and the
benefits of energy economy for the
most effective use of the building for its
future contribution to the community
and capacity to earn its living.There is a
great deal for us to learn from the
National Trust – and from many other
sources of information. Rory’s message
for Poltimore is clear – we need to take
account of sustainability and carbon
reduction in planning the repair and
restoration of the house. But equally, it
became obvious that the choice of
solutions is far from simple. Expect to
hear from us – we will be asking advice
from BPT projects wherever we hear of
good ideas. Equally, do get in touch
with us and let us learn from your
experiences.
Claire Donovan
Poltimore House Trust
[email protected]
Workshop 2
Workshop 3
Building or Business?
Caroline Kay, Chief Executive, Bath Conservation Trust
Building Community Support
Peter Aiers, Major Projects Manager,
The Churches Conservation Trust
Caroline opened with the
history of Bath Preservation
Trust. Up to the 1930s it was
mainly concerned with
restoration, then with war
destruction and the post war
plan. The biggest challenge
came with the so-called “sack of Bath” in the 60s and early
70s when the Trust was vocal against the demolition of
Georgian Bath and poor new developments.
In 1970 the Trust took on a museum – No 1,The Crescent,
with the aim of restoring and presenting a “Georgian House”.
This was followed by acquisition of the Countess of
Huntingdon Chapel to house the Building of Bath Collection
and provide study days etc. The Trust later took on Beckford
Tower (now Landmark Trust) but set up a separate BPT for this.
Currently, as well as managing museums, the Trust acts as
a civic society in a campaigning role, and is heavily involved
in planning consultation. It is a membership organisation
with 1400 members. The Trust has no revolving funds (it
receives funds for its museums) and has not been involved
in a building restoration since 2006 – its current purpose is
only to own buildings.
With a new Chief Executive now in post, Bath Preservation
Trust has drawn up a strategic plan for 2008 -12. Its aim is to
achieve a stable position.The strategic plan includes:
• Ensuring sustainable finances
• Prioritising work
• Managing special projects
In discussion it emerged that Bath Preservation Trust would
not itself take on another building at risk (but would be
supportive to a dedicated single building trust and there are
buildings under discussion). Although the Bath ‘model’ does
not translate easily to other trusts, there was a lot of
common ground which was discussed with Edinburgh over
the responsibilities of being a World Heritage city.
Paul & Katharine Chant
Peter’s role with the Churches
Conservation Trust means that
he is involved with a particular
type of building, churches.
Most people, whether or not
they are church goers, see
churches as having only one
use – as a church. So when a church closes and it is
necessary to find a new use, which will give the building a
sustainable future, the perceptions of the local community
are absolutely key to finding a successful re-use. For this
reason the Churches Conservation Trust has established a
Regeneration Taskforce which has a particular expertise in
building community support.
The first step is a Community Profile which draws
together the health, wealth, demography and other
information relating to the local population including what
the Local Authority’s attitude is. This is followed by a
community consultation exercise which is designed to
challenge people’s ideas of what could happen in the
building. There is extensive publicity and the activities are
very varied, music, drama, climbing walls, face painting,
hawk flying were just some that have been used. It is vital
that the activities, usually held over a weekend, attract all
sections of the community.
Such an event has a cost implication but the investment
is repaid in a variety ways, not least because it meets the
requirements of funding bodies for consultation.
After the consultation exercise it is essential to capitalise
on the interest engendered in the community. Mailing lists
need to be created and maintained so people can be
informed of progress.There should be audits of helpful skills
in the community which can be used to progress the project
to further strengthen links.
Peter gave a number of examples of what can be achieved,
one being St Paul’s, Bristol – now a Circus School and
illustrated the community building exercise in action through
the CCT’s work with All Souls, Bolton, a project to watch.
My own Trust, Benington Community Heritage Trust, is
seeking to find a new use for a
magnificent Grade I listed church in the
village of Benington, just north of the
Lincolnshire town of Boston. I am
pleased to say that we are about to
experience building community
support CCT style first hand thanks to
the Regeneration Taskforce who have
agreed to become involved with our
project. The Trustees are delighted and
full of optimism about the achievements 2010 could bring with the
support and expertise of Peter and his
colleagues.
Judy Crowe
Workshop 4
Lecture 5
Built in Stone - Alternative Models
Jess Steele, with Hester Kuhon
The Civic Society Initiative – The Emerging Strategy
Tony Burton, Director, Civic Society Initiative
A case study of the Lupton
house project formed the
core of the workshop.
Hester Kuhon who had
initiated and led the project
provided the background –
a mansion in 40 acres of
grounds outside Brixham,
needing repair and with an
owner willing to sell. The
only, though very significant, positive factor was that the
owner clearly was happy to sell below market value for a
worthy use and to accept staged payments.
Following the demise of
the Civic Trust earlier this
year, which Tony Burton
ascribed mainly to overreliance on external
funding, Civic Societies
across the country were
left without a representative coordinating
body. The CSI was set up
to look at a possible successor and to define its role in the
21st Century. Funding for one year has come from the
National Trust, RIBA, CPRE, English Heritage and the Esmee
Fairbairn Foundation.
Tony Burton described the process of information
gathering he had undertaken, outlined the needs that had been
established and sketched in a likely strategy for the future.
There are over 1,000 Civic Societies in England, around
850 of which are affiliated.Their total membership is at least
250,000 and reflects enormous potential. Existing Civic
Societies vary widely in the roles they have adopted, some
being more ambitious and influential than others. At their
best they participate actively and constructively in the
planning process: they can also give a voice to communities’
love of structures and bring people together in a common
cause to defend them. The societies can point to notable
achievements - urban improvements, awards, blue plaques,
trails, Heritage Open days – but they can also be seen as
organisations of well-intentioned, superannuated nimbies.
Tony Burton’s enquiries revealed a lack of confidence
among societies, but also a desire to develop and to reach
new audiences. He pointed to an increasing diversity,
individualism and localism as key aspects of the 21st Century
ethos. Modern communications and the growth of
internetworking have led to more rapid and spontaneous
reactions to proposals and events. At the same time people’s
expectations of organisations and services have risen. Civic
Societies’ work and structure should reflect these changes.
Civic Societies said that they aspired to work more with
partners, including schools and businesses; to be more
proactive and less reactive; to achieve a younger profile; to
improve coordination and reduce overlap; to be more
involved in forward planning and to undertake more
campaigning. They felt they needed advice on influencing
local authorities and planners; a structure for exchanging
information and good practice; guidance on fund raising and
Four elements contributed to the positive progress which
has been made:
• local charities who wanted to use part of the building
were identified and they became the members of the
‘umbrella’ charity set up to own it.
• skilled volunteers were found who were able and willing
to undertake major tasks such as rewiring.
• the principle was adopted that the building would be
improved piecemeal; each part which became useable
would generate the funding for renovation of the next
part. A sort of internal revolving fund.
• first years of planning - income was estimated
conservatively and outgoings liberally.
Other points made during the workshop:
Bond issue can be considered for fund-raising. Much
complexity e.g. in issuing a prospectus can be avoided by
setting up an ‘Industrial Provident Society’, a 19th century
device which is still relevant in appropriate circumstances
today. Kent BPT is an industrial provident society but an IPS
can also be set up as a subsidiary of a BPT.
Other organisations in the field are ‘Development Trusts’
rather than BPTs. Yet again there are ‘Community Interest
Companies’, limited companies which exist to provide
community services and profits are ploughed back into the
community.
Paul and Katharine Chant
recruitment and a clear sense of
mission and purpose for the movement
as a whole.
Tony Burton indicated his initial
thinking on the form a coordinating
body should take. It should have more
independence and less reliance on
external funding. Its structure should be
federal and not hierarchical; it should
foster clustering and networking
between societies whilst providing
them with information and advice. It
needed to be nimble and responsive. It
might have 3-4 staff and an income of
£300 - 400,000, drawn principally
from member societies. It would need a
first class website and communications
system. Alongside its coordinating role
it would channel experience and
intelligence from grassroots to
government. The new body is expected
to be set up by Easter 2010: proposals
for a name are invited.
Tony Burton drew parallels between
the organisational needs of the Civic
Society movement and of Building
Preservation Trusts: he also pointed to
opportunities for collaboration between
them. The presentation was helpful in
highlighting both these points and in
putting the situation of BPTs in a wider
context. It reminded us of the
contributions Civic Societies can make
to our campaign for safeguarding the
built environment.
Tony Burton’s investigations are at
the half way stage and it was to be
expected that he might dwell more on
issues than on solutions. In fact this was
a well balanced overview and provided
valuable pointers for the future. Tony’s
presentation was succinct, up to the
minute and well delivered. It was a
useful and relevant contribution to the
conference and good value for the
delegates.
John Hainsworth
Lecture 6
Buildings at Risk – Rolling out the East Midlands Study of Building Preservation Trusts. (Swan Song or Rallying Call?)
Ela Palmer, Ela Palmer Heritage and Director of ASHTAV
Ela Palmer presented the conference
with an overview of her
forthcoming report into the current
situation concerning Building
Preservation Trusts in the East
Midlands region. The report, which
was funded by English Heritage, had
been commissioned due to what
had been perceived as a general lack
of BPT activity throughout the area and to ascertain what the
APT could do to improve situation. However, a lot of the
problems that arose during the presentation could well be
seen as endemic throughout the BPT movement as a whole.
A survey of the Buildings at Risk situation in the area
revealed that all of the six counties within the region were
reasonably well covered by Local Authority conservation staff
which worked out on average at 1.3 members of staff per
authority. Thirty seven out of the forty eight authorities
employ Heritage Champions but we were informed that it had
proven very difficult to find out who these champions were
or what their duties entailed.Three of the six counties do hold
publicly accessible Buildings at Risk Registers with
Nottinghamshire leading the way by updating their register
every six months. Leicestershire do have a register but it is not
accessible and it is at least three years out of date and
Northamptonshire had one but it seems to have been mislaid
somewhere. Which means that on the whole, despite the
excellent work in Nottinghamshire, BAR information in the
East Midlands is very difficult to find and it is highly likely that
this is the case in many regions of the UK. A 2008 study
undertaken by English Heritage revealed that only 57% of
Local Planning Authorities actually maintain registers with
only 26% electing to publish. English Heritage’s own Heritage
at Risk register neglects to even acknowledge the existence of
grade II listed buildings preferring to concentrate on the
crown jewels of grade I and II*. Perhaps it is time that UK as
a whole looked into the possibility of adopting the highly
successful Scottish BAR system which celebrates it twentieth
birthday next year. That is to say registers unified by region
instead of county, updated yearly and maintained by
independent bodies and not the Local Authorities themselves,
in Scotland’s case the Scottish Civic Trust.
The conference was informed that there are currently
twenty two BPTs within the East Midlands area, eight each in
Derbyshire and Lincolnshire, one in Nottinghamshire, two in
Northamptonshire, three in Leicestershire and none in
Rutland. These trusts can be further broken down into three
types. Firstly there are the county wide trusts which were
generally established and supported by county councils and
originally set up as revolving fund trusts, these currently exist
in Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, and
Leicestershire; secondly, area or type BPTs who focus on a
certain district (NB) or style of building and finally, local or
single project BPTs. Out of these twenty two trusts only
fifteen are currently active and only twelve have found it
beneficial to join the APT. Out of those twelve only eight
responded to the survey. However, not everything in the
survey spelt doom and gloom and we were shown images of
some of the regions successful projects. In particular Heritage
Lincolnshire were singled out for very high praise again and
again and even described as the speaker’s “Poster Trust”.
One of the main problems arising from the report was
amusingly referred to as BPT members, “falling off the
shelf”. But joking aside if we are to be honest with ourselves
the problem of aging membership and a lack of new
volunteers is one that affects a high number of BPTs
throughout the UK. Most of us can talk about the sterling
works undertaken by our valued trustees and volunteers,
sometime above and beyond the call of duty, whilst deep
down worrying about how we are going to replace their
drive and expertise when the time comes. Strategies and
recruiting drives, either on a regional or UK wide basis, need
to be developed to attract the new blood that movement so
badly needs. It was pointed out that a little self publicity
could also be very useful here. As members of BPTs we all
know of the great works that the movement has undertaken
and the potential that it holds but we need to get that
information out to a wider audience. We all need to give or
own successful projects as much limelight as possible thus
raising the profile of our individual trusts and the movement
as a whole.
A lack of funding and support were also highlighted as
problems by the BPTs in the area, albeit wrongly. As far as
funding is concerned the county councils in the survey area
confirmed that they do have funds available for building
preservation.Admittedly, partly due to the lack of BPT activity
in the region, these funds are not big with fewer applications
leading to smaller kitties but they do exist. BPTs in the area
tended to recognise that the AHF was the main route to
obtaining funding for projects but stated that it was not
always straight forward as to how to go about securing those
funds. The AHF were commended on the quality of their
outreach work during the presentation but I believe that I
picked up on more than a slight hint that if an extra push
could be made it should be made in the direction of the East
Midlands and other under performing regions.
As members of the APT we all know of the benefits and
support that comes with that membership. Everything from
Guidance Notes, VAT advice and not least being able to
network with like minded people at local APT meetings who
may have experience of and advice on situations that your
own trust currently faces. But how does the APT provide this
support to trusts such as the ten in the East Midlands that
have never taken up the offer of membership? Part of the
solution may lie in the East Midlands BPT’s own suggestion
of smaller regional committees and their wish to have their
own committee rather than being part of the larger dispersed
Midlands Committee. Smaller closer-knit committees would
be easier to approach and if, as suggested at one of the
conference work shops that I attended, the APT were able to
employ more staff they could embark on outreach work such
as that undertaken by the AHF to ensure that underperforming areas and trusts know that the relevant support
and advice is in place.
Some of the trusts in the area were under the
misapprehension that there is a lack of suitable buildings for
them to tackle. Despite the patchy coverage of the region’s
Buildings at Risk Registers, Ela had uncovered evidence for
134 Grade 1 and II* buildings, but also a further 1624 listed
Grade II. As Ela pointed out, and again I would think that this
applies nation wide, the problem is not a lack of buildings
but the way in which funding for those buildings is
prioritised. The numbers we do have show that grade II
buildings far out number grade I and II*. It therefore stands
to reason that the majority of potential trust projects will be
targeted at grade II listed buildings. However, putting
together a funding package to restore a grade II building is
virtually impossible. We need English Heritage to recognise
the cultural value of our lesser listed buildings and above all
start funding grade II projects instead of prioritising all of
their resources towards grade I and II*. The exclusion of
grade II listed buildings from the Heritage at Risk register has
sent out the wrong message, that these buildings are not
valued and not worthy of preservation.
At the end of her talk Ela suggested that the report threw
up four options and presented them for debate. In option
one, the “County Structure”, it is suggested that the role of
mentor and champion to smaller trusts could be taken up by
the large county wide trusts. These trusts would be funded
and supported by the county councils and defuse advice,
support and knowledge down to the smaller trusts within the
county. It was suggested that the major stumbling block to
this model was the fact that not all of the counties have
county wide trusts and whether County Councils could be
persuaded to fund new county trusts or inject cash into those
that have floundered. I see a further problem. We would all
agree that there will always be room for greater cooperation
between planning authorities and BPTs but would it really be
a good idea for the BPT movement to give up a large part of
its independence into the hands of the regional policy makers
and funders?
Option two, “the Regional Structure”, would require the
establishment of a regional BPT to cover all of the East
Midlands area. Again this trust would be funded and
supported by the county councils and would under take an
umbrella role offering advice and support to the county wide
and smaller trusts alike.Again one obstacle would be funding.
Would individual county councils be willing to pay into a
regional pot? And again the question of a loss of
independence must be raised.
In option three, the “National Structure”, it is suggested
that national BPTs could take on the roles of mentors and
champions, with advice and expertise being filtered down
via the regional APT Committee to the county and smaller
trusts. Again funding was raised as a problem and the
possible alienation of smaller trusts.
Option four, and personally my preferred option, is the
“Cooperation Structure”. In this option the APT would
maintain, strengthen and enhance its central role as the main
provider of guidance and support for BPTs. But to be able to
fully sustain this role the APT needs to be able to employ more
staff, at least one regional coordinator/outreach worker.
Raising funds for this will not be an easy but it is a necessary
task. In its own, “UKAPT Evaluation 2007 Executive Summary
Report, the APT acknowledges its own current strengths and
limitations and highlights what needs to be done.
“4.6 APT needs to re-define what it can do and accept its
limitations or apply for or seek development funding to
redress these. It must seek to develop and build its capacity
through its network and partnership initiatives. APTs
strength is in its networks and Areas. Responses from
funders will be crucial….”
Likewise the imminent East Midlands report also points
out the movement’s strengths and weaknesses along with
some possible solutions to our problems. However, the
presentation did raise a lot of questions and I for one, along
with several other delegates that I have spoken to, would have
appreciated a little more time on the day to debate these
matters.
If the forthcoming report were to read as a school report
for the building preservation movement in the region as a
whole the closing conclusion would very possibly read
something along the lines of, “shows enormous potential but
must try harder.” And again it must be stressed that the
problems highlighted are not just limited to the East
Midlands area.
Kevin Moore
Lecture 7
Action Somerset – Somerset People Saving Somerset’s Built Heritage
A Presentation of Somerset Case-Studies by Erica Adams, Russell Lillford, Ross Aitkin, Patrick Stow and Mike Foden
Robin Hoods Hut, Halswell Park
Rook Lane Chapel, Frome
St Margaret's Almshouses, Taunton
Dawe's Rope Walk, nr. Yeovil
What makes a successful restoration
project? This was the issue addressed by
Mike Foden, Chairman of the Somerset
Building Preservation Trust (SBPT) and
Chairman of Tone Mill Trust and past
Trustee and Hon Buildings Adviser of
Hestercombe Gardens Trust; Russell
Lillford, Trustee of the SBPT and
Chairman SW APT Area Committee:
Ross Aitkin, Chairman Dawe’s Rope
Walk Working Group (located near
Yeovil) with Somerset County Council
Consultant Structural Engineer, Patrick
Stow and Erica Adams, Company
Secretary SBPT, Tone Mill Trust and AHF
Mentor.
A successful project has to fit the
following basic tenets.There must be an
achievable, financially sustainable end
use. That end use should show a very
real appreciation of how that end use
can be reached with a strong options
appraisal being prepared by a suitably
qualified professional, with 75%
funding from AHF for this work being
sought. Innovative methods should be
used to give a different perspective to
every project. Having these points in
place is of tremendous importance in
obtaining major grants. Once projects
reach the development and delivery
stages it is vital that absolute budget
control is maintained by the Project
Manager – even if this causes ruffled
feathers sometimes! Ensure that
completed projects have a proper
management structure to run them on
completion.
The SBPT has undertaken 8
successful projects since its formation in
1988. Whenever possible, children and
students, as well as the general public,
are drawn into projects. Erica
mentioned, in particular, the use made
of an old listed folly in the grounds of
Top right and left: Dunster Tithe Barn
Castle House, Taunton, from Inner Ward
Halswell Park near Bridgwater. With
beautiful views from the north side of
the Quantock Hills overlooking the
Bristol Channel towards South Wales,
this dilapidated building was taken on
by SBPT on the understanding that The
Landmark Trust would fit out the
restored building and take it on as one
of its historic holiday lettings. This was
achieved (not without a few problems
along the way but that is part and parcel
of restoration work!).
Russell spoke about several SBPT
projects including Rook Lane Chapel,
Frome – a magnificent 18th century
congregational Chapel which, after a
superb restoration by the Trust, is now
owned by a firm of Architects who
occupy the gallery area with the ground
floor given over to a wide ranging
community use. He also spoke of the
superb St Margaret’s Almshouses,
Taunton, originally a 13th century leper
hospital and converted to almshouses in
the 16th century which, after
restoration from its derelict state, was
converted into social housing and so,
once again, is serving the community.
Dunster Tithe Barn, of great historic
significance to Dunster, has been
restored and converted into a thriving
Hestercombe Mill and Barn
multi-purpose community centre.
Ross Aitkin, Chairman of the Dawes
Ropewalk project (famed for doing so
well in the Restoration Programme on
TV) and Patrick Stow, SCC Structural
Engineer, told delegates that students
through the Carpenters’ Fellowship
would be working on the considerable
amount of carpentry involved in this
project. The IBPT were active in their
support of this project and were
delighted at this innovative move.
Mike Foden spoke of current
projects. The SBPT was in the midst of
working on the unique, medieval Castle
House at Taunton Castle. Although only
in the development stage, its future once
restored was assured as the Vivat Trust
was taking on a full-repairing 49 year
sub-lease of the building for its historic
buildings holiday lettings. This included
a substantial area of the building which
would be used for a robust learning/
activity area – another vital aspect when
applying for HLF and other funding.
The learning programme would be
enhanced during the construction
period by students from the construction department at Somerset
College learning practical preservation
skills on site. Students would also be
undertaking the recording of the
building and would also be used for
publicity purposes and for use in the
interactive display available to the public
once the House is open.
In his capacity as Chairman of the
Tone Mill Trust, which is working
towards this historic woollen mill in
Wellington being restored, primarily to
be used for its original purpose, Mike
said that the main user for the building
had been established. As well, the Trust
was working in partnership with the
Prince’s Regeneration Trust which was
of enormous help.
Mike said that the restoration of the
historic Mill (with historic power
generation from the wheel) and Barn at
Hestercombe Gardens was virtually
complete. This too would have a strong
learning programme in place both for
students, in particular from the
Somerset College and the public in
general.
So, “Action Somerset” is very much
that – full of positive projects past and
present and all having sustainable
outcomes of benefit to the community
as a whole.
Erica Adams
APT PARTNERS
News from the AHF
In the last edition of APT News I wrote about some of the challenges facing The
Architectural Heritage Fund, owing to the reduction in our income caused by the
cuts to interest rates. These challenges remain, but we have still managed to offer
grants and loans to a large number of clients in this financial year. We are working
with BPTs to try to lessen the impact of the cuts to our grant-giving, but we
recognise that in some cases the fact that we have had to delay offering support,
or turn some applications down, has caused problems. Despite this we will
continue to find solutions wherever possible, and to offer much needed help to
projects throughout the UK.
We can now announce our deadlines for applications for 2010, which are as
follows:
11 February 2010 for the March meeting
13 May for the June meeting
12 August for the September meeting
28 October for the December meeting.
As always, please talk to our projects team as early as possible about a possible
application, and also please ensure that your application reaches us well in advance
of the deadline – late applications cannot be accepted.
As we head for the New Year, focus is starting to turn towards the General Election,
with the smart money on it taking place on Thursday 6 May, when there are also
local Council elections. Through my role as Deputy Chair of Heritage Link – soon
to be called The Heritage Alliance, and now Chaired by Loyd Grossman – I had the
opportunity to chair a public debate featuring the heritage spokesperson for each
of the three main political parties. Whilst it was clear that all three – Margaret
Hodge, Ed Vaizey and Richard Younger-Ross – genuinely cared about the historic
environment and seemed engaged with it, we did not receive many new insights,
nor a commitment from anyone to protect funding for heritage or to prioritise the
introduction of new legislation.
Another area, also raised at the debate, for us to keep a close eye on will be the
relationship between central and local Government post the election, and the
impact any further funding cuts would have on local authorities’ ability to support
historic environment regeneration projects.
Earlier in December, Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media
and Sport, gave a speech at the Globe Theatre to key heritage stakeholders, and we
were surprised to hear that the Tories want to revisit the idea of a merger between
English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. If any BPTs, particularly those
outside England, have concerns about this idea, now is the time to express them
to Jeremy Hunt, who said that he was willing to listen to the sector’s views.
On behalf of all my colleagues at the AHF, we would like to wish all members of
APT a happy and successful New Year, and we look forward to working with you
during 2010.
Ian Lush, Chief Executive
Solway Heritage
and the Annan
War Memorial
Solway Heritage is a Building
Preservation Trust which is managing
the Annan Townscape Heritage
Initiative project on behalf of Dumfries
and Galloway Council. The project is
funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund
(HLF), Dumfries and Galloway Council
and Scottish Enterprise Dumfries and
Galloway. A sum of £890,000 was
made available to help with the
restoration and repair of selected
buildings and public spaces in the town
centre over the life of the scheme,
which is nearing completion.
The ethos of this Townscape
Heritage Initiative project was to restore
the mid 19th century heritage context
of the streetscape while recognising the
need for the evolution of the public
realm spaces. The public realm has
evolved to meet the needs of the
community and change is inevitable to
satisfy their future aspirations. It was
envisaged that this would be achieved
by implementing quality improvements
that safeguard and conserve the
character of the town as well as
retaining the existing street geometry.
All works were to respect historic
design by being of conservation
standard using authentic natural
materials and quality workmanship.
Where possible the proposals should be
based on repair and authentic
reinstatement of the streetscape to retain
local distinctiveness.
Aspects of safety, accessibility,
durability, practicality and ease of
maintenance were taken into account
when planning change to the
streetscape.
The area around the War Memorial
was chosen as a priority area for
improvement where work could reflect
the history of the town while ensuring
the safe free movement of both
pedestrians and vehicles.
The following objectives were
identified for the scheme at the War
Memorial:
Erected in 1921, the war memorial is a
bronze soldier modelled on a local farm
worker who had served in the First
World War. It stands on a white granite
plinth and provides a central feature for
the open space and a focal point in the
town. The war memorial helps to
define and divide an irregular space
used for car parking adjacent to the
main street.
The design involved removing
parking spaces from adjacent to the
memorial, resurfacing with Caithness
flags and whin setts, and removing
bollards to reduce clutter in the area.
During the excavation of the parking
area the setts laid in the 1860s were
revealed and retained to increase the
heritage character of the area.
The Annan Townscape Heritage
Initiative will be completed within the
next year and £217,000 is expected to
have been spent on improving the
streetscape in the town centre.
Nic Coombey, Landscape Architect,
Solway Heritage
War Memorials Trust
and support to undertake its work. We
welcome new supporters and members
who are kept up-to-date with the Trust’s
regular Bulletin featuring Trust activities
and war memorial news. The Trust also
has volunteers around the country who
act as our ‘eyes and ears’; they monitor
memorials, assist the Trust’s staff and
may also be available to give talks or
attend events.
War Memorials Trust can be
contacted at 2nd Floor, 42a Buckingham
Palace Road, London SW1W 0RE, by
telephone 0300 123 0764 for the
charity or 020 7233 7356 for the
conservation team, by email on
[email protected] or through
our website at www.warmemorials.org.
Frances Moreton, Director War Memorials Trust
The Memorial in close-up
War Memorials Trust is the charity
that works for the protection and
conservation of war memorials in the
UK. The Trust recently contacted many
Preservation Trusts around the UK,
through the links provided on the APT
website, to raise awareness of its work.
The charity provides advisory and
advocacy services, financial assistance
for repair and conservation through
grant schemes and is a key referral point
for all issues regarding war memorials.
The Trust promotes an understanding
of the historical and cultural
significance of war memorials to ensure
they are cherished and preserved for
future generations.
The Trust was delighted to receive a
number of responses to our mailing
including the story of how the Solway
Heritage Trust incorporated improving
the setting of the Annan war memorial
in a recent project. If any Preservation
Trust is involved in a war memorial
project War Memorials Trust would be
delighted to hear further details. Please
do not hesitate to contact War
Memorials Trust for advice or details of
our grant schemes or visit the Trust’s
website to see our range of helpsheets
and information. The Trust would be
delighted to help with any concerns
about war memorials in your area.
War Memorials Trust is an
independent registered charity which
relies entirely upon voluntary income
Valuing your
heritage…
DVS (formerly District Valuer Services)
is the commercial property department
of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
We are the Government’s surveyors and
valuers, and act as property specialists
for the whole of the public sector. We
have been around for some time now;
our centenary is in 2010!
We had a stall at the recent APT
Conference in Exeter and it was
refreshing to see so many people who
were enthusiastic about the historic
environment. DVS has a Historic
Properties and Heritage Conservation
team of specialists and we are keen to
assist Building Preservation Trusts.
Our specialist Chartered Surveyors
hold the RICS and IHBC accredited
Left: The Annan War Memorial, before (top) and after (below)
• Improve setting for War Memorial,
• Refine car parking layout and setting
down point for bus service
• Improve pedestrian environment
APT PARTNERS (continued)
Postgraduate
Diploma
in
the
Conservation of the Historic Environment from the College of Estate
Management. I’m specifically involved
with valuations affecting historic
properties, but we have specialists in all
aspects of property, including Chartered
Building Surveyors and Chartered
Environmental Surveyors.
We have experience in surveying
and valuing all property types from
stately homes to power stations;
because of this we have access to a very
comprehensive database that covers
most property in the UK. In some
locations, our records go as far back as
1910 and it is this knowledge that gives
us a unique advantage. Examples of our
current projects include the Wellbrook
Estate (see photograph above) for the
Architectural Heritage Fund and Vivat
Trust and we also recently undertook a
full insurance valuation of Temple
Newsham for Leeds City Council.
DVS is specifically mentioned in the
Architectural Heritage Fund’s “Options
Appraisal Grants – A Guide for
Applicants” as approved valuers for
grant applications and our Valuation
Officers have special access rights with
regard to listed buildings under the
Planning (Listed Buildings and
Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
We have undertaken valuations,
structural surveys, negotiations and
provided commentary for the purposes
of grant / funding applications, enabling
development schemes, listed building
and conservation area consent
applications, developments affected by
PPG15 and PPG16, insurance valuations,
feasibility studies for conservation /
restoration schemes; and have been
actively involved in the preparation of
conservation management plans,
heritage impact assessments and
statements of justification for historic
properties. Please contact me for more
information.
Contact:
Alex Wheldon BSc (Hons)
DipConsHistEnv (RICS) MRICS
Historic Properties & Heritage
Conservation
Tel: 0151 802 1008
Email: [email protected]
The Prince’s Regeneration Trust
How to:Write Conservation Reports
This publication is the first in a series of ‘How-to: Guides’.
Understanding and documenting why a historic building is
important is key to its successful restoration and re-use. The
Prince’s Regeneration Trust has found that once they have
identified a historic building to conserve and bring back into
use, groups understandably tend to focus on the new uses it
might accommodate. However, they should concentrate first
on producing the reports relating to its conservation and
adaptation needed to secure grant aid, planning permission
and listed building consent. Funding bodies now often
require Conservation Statements and/or
Conservation Management Plans, something
groups see as hurdles to be overcome rather than
documents that can really help them produce
better proposals for the conservation and
adaptation of the building, and for its subsequent
successful management.
Conservation Statements and Conservation
Management Plans are important as they
underpin sensitive conversion projects, allowing
a historic building to fulfill a new purpose that
reflects current social and economic patterns
(such as providing homes, offices, leisure
facilities or community space). This guide
explains what you will need to consider at each
stage of putting together a Conservation
Statement and Conservation Management Plan,
with advice on how to organise and present the
information. It also usefully includes extracts
from best practice Statements and Plans.
It is described as a guide for non-specialists explaining
how to write a Conservation Statement and Conservation
Management Plan, but in its scope and thoroughness it is a
useful tool for anyone involved in bringing historic buildings
back into use.
How to: Write Conservation Reports is available online at
www.princes-regeneration.org
EVENTS
Event Calendar
Date
Event
28 January
APT Wales: Regional Meeting at Monmouth Town Hall
16 March
APT South West: Regional Meeting at United Reform Church, Taunton
18 March
APT East Anglia: Regional Meeting at the Time and Tide Museum, Great Yarmouth
19 March
APT Midlands: Joint Seminar with West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, Walsall
26 March
APT Scotland: Presentation by Ecotec on the Scottish Study of Building Preservation Trusts, Glasgow
22 April
APT Executive Committee Meeting, London
21 May
APT Scotland: Discussion on Response to the Scottish Study of Building Preservation Trusts, Linlithgow
May
APT North-East: ‘Working with the DTA’: St Clements,York
(Date to be confirmed)
8 June
APT National Committee Meeting, London
18 June
APT Midlands: Regional Meeting
3 September
APT Scotland: Meeting, Fife
9 October
APT National Committee Meeting, London
22 October
APT Midlands: Regional Meeting
October
APT North-East ‘BPTs and Regeneration’ Thorne, S.Yorkshire
(Date to be confirmed)
11-13 November The UK APT National Conference, Glasgow
3 December
APT Scotland, Meeting, Dundee
Future UK APT Conferences:
2010:
Glasgow
2011:
Northern Ireland
2012:
East Anglia
BPT Projects in Glasgow: Venue for the 2010 UK APT
National Conference
APT News
APT News is a vital communication tool – both for keeping members informed and for broadcasting the work of
BPTs to a wider audience, including our funding and sponsoring bodies.
Please do let me know at [email protected] if there are items or subjects you would like to see included.
Do e-mail too with YOUR news, including details of any achievements (projects completed, successful events held,
awards received etc.), issues (VAT, new funding opportunities, building conservation challenges etc.) or prospects
(Events to be staged, projects nearing completion etc.). Contact: Dr James Moir: [email protected]
(07545 786372).
Deadline for Issue No 29 (July 2010): May 31st 2010.
Disclaimer: The information in APT News should not be relied upon in lieu of independent professional advice. Any
opinions should not be taken to represent those of all APT members or its National Committee.
APT News 28 is produced with financial assistance from Cadw, English Heritage, Department for Environment
Northern Ireland, Historic Scotland and the Architectural Heritage Fund.
Design and Printing by Trident Printing.
Printed on 9 Lives Offset 140 gsm which is manufactured from 100% recycled fibre.
The UK Association of Building Preservation Trusts
9th Floor Alhambra House, 27-31 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0AU
THE UK ASSOCIATION OF PRESERVATION TRUSTS
Tel: 020 7930 1629 Fax: 020 7930 0295 Website: www.ukapt.org.uk
Registered Charity No.1027919

Cooperage, Canals, Choirs and Chairing An Interview with David

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