Institute of Historic Building Conservation No 116 September 2010 IHBC Annual School in London Delivering excellence in conservation
Build Restore Renew Restores ComptonVerney, Warwickshire. RIBA Award 2004. From cathedrals and abbeys to small churches and chapels. From stately homes and royal palaces to small houses and cottages. For historic buildings across Britain, Linford-Bridgeman is the contractor of choice for repair, restoration and conservation. For more information about Linford-Bridgeman, find us at: www.linfordrestores.com, or call 01543 414 234 Linford-Bridgeman Ltd, Quonians, Lichfield, StaffordshireWS13 7LB Tel: 01543 414 234 Fax: 01543 258 250 [email protected] www.linford.com Stonemasonry • Architectural Metalwork •Traditional Plastering • Fine Joinery Linford SpecialistWorks brings together Linford Group's renowned stable of craft companies to provide a unique service for the property owners, architects and specialist contractors concerned with the care of traditional and heritage buildings. Our skilled and directly-employed teams can be contracted individually or in combination for projects of all sizes across the UK. By helping our clients to source multiple craft services from a single organisation, we can deliver outstanding craft quality alongside savings in client time and money. For more information about Linford SpecialistWorks, please visit www.linfordSW.com, or call us on 01543 414 234 today. L I N F O R D S P E C I A L I S T W O R K S Linford Masonry • Dorothea Restorations • Trumpers • Linford Joinery Linford SpecialistWorks A division of Linford Group Quonians, Lichfield, StaffordshireWS13 7LB [email protected] www.linfordSW.com
C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 1 Cover: IHBC Annual School delegates visit the historic London Hippodrome, currently a spectacular shell. (Photo: Jonathan Taylor) Editorial Institute ofHistoricBuildingConservation No116 September 2010 IHBC Annual School in London Delivering excellence in conservation The serious business of heritage The organisers’ first thought had been to focus the 2010 IHBC Annual School on the theme of how the historic environment meets today’s leisure needs in the context of the run-up to the Olympics. But it was pointed out to them that they might be misjudging the sensitivities of some of those who might pay the fees of potential delegates or sponsor the event. In a recession, the organisers concluded, leisure might be thought to be just too lacking in seriousness. So the theme became how to provide high-quality conservation services. Of course, as David McDonald pointed out in chairing the Day School, leisure is still a major force in the economy, and in a recession some people have more time on their hands than they would like. The question is how to support heritage at a time when money is tight. But then, money is always tight for heritage. Even in economically buoyant times the sector has to explain how heritage is valuable not just for our enjoyment, and to learn from, and as a force for social cohesion, and to help us to understand where we came from, and for its aesthetic value, and for creating successful places, but also for its role in supporting economic growth. In a recession, and at a time when the government is keen to let communities decide for themselves what they value (or how much compensation will persuade them to sacrifice something they value), we need to find new opportunities for expressing the familiar truths. It’s what we are good at. A decade ago, Robert Grant noted that ‘at Safeway, the label “Heritage” denotes a superior grade of meat; at B&Q, a simulated mahogany shelving system’. Such was the value – or at least the assumed selling power – of a concept that is as powerful as ever. People ask: what is the difference between heritage and history? You could say that heritage is what we value from the past. And Safeway is history. www.ihbc.org.uk Registered as a Charity Number 1061593. Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England Number 3333780. Registered Office: 3 Stafford Road,TunbridgeWells, Kent TN2 4QZ. Officers President Eddie Booth email [email protected] Chair Jo Evans email [email protected] Vice Chair Sheila Stones email [email protected] Secretary Richard Morrice email [email protected] Treasurer Michael Knights email [email protected] Membership Secretary vacant email [email protected] Education Secretary John Preston email [email protected] Publicity Secretary Doug Black email [email protected] Law & Practice Coordinator vacant email [email protected] Director Seán O’Reilly email [email protected] Projects Officer Fiona Newton email [email protected] Consultant Consultations Coordinator James Caird email [email protected] Membership Services Officer Joanna Theobald email [email protected] Administration Officer Lydia Porter email [email protected] Committee Chairs Policy Mike Brown email [email protected] Membership & Ethics (Acting) Richenda Codling email [email protected] Finance & Resources Richard Morrice email [email protected] Education John Preston email [email protected] Communications & Outreach Charles Strang email [email protected] Branch Officers North Geoff UnderwoodTel 0191 433 3435 NorthWest Kate Borland Tel 0161 235 8803 Yorkshire Keith Knight Tel 01904 658482 West Midlands Charles Shapcott Tel 0121 7044312 East Midlands Roy Lewis Tel 01636 619335 South Julia Foster Tel 01296 585888 SouthWest Ian LundTel 01225 477687 East Anglia Phil Godwin Tel 01263 516131 South East David Kincaid Tel 01227 862185 London David McDonald Tel 020 7361 3352 Scotland Stuart Eydmann Tel 01506 775279 Wales Nathan Blanchard Tel 01492 583443 Northern Ireland Sharon BrownTel 028 9754 3087 Republic of Ireland Cormac O’Sullivan Tel 00353 5677 62907 Business Office Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA England Tel 01747 873133 Fax 01747 871718 email [email protected] Briefing 2 Out of Context 4 Periodically 5 The writer’s voice 7 IHBC Annual School 2010 Going for Gold in 2010: a capital conference Sheila Stones 9 Day School reports Keynote address Debbie Dance 13 Delivering a high quality conservation service John Davey 13 Knowledge is power: historic environment records Alyson Cooper 14 Creative thinking: making the best of design panels David Clegg 15 The way ahead: PPS5 and all that Marc Timlin 16 Structural works to the Royal Albert Hall Rik Fox 17 A game of two halves: Highbury Stadium redevelopment Edmund Bird 18 Waving not drowning: keeping historic swimming baths in use LouiseWallace 19 London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust RoseWakelin 20 Seminars and tours London’s Theatreland tour David McDonald 21 South Bank walking tour Michael Taylor 23 Kings Cross canal-side development tour David Blackburn 24 Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields tour Stewart Ramsdale 25 Royal Albert Hall tour Pippa Card 26 Bursary winner reports Nourishing fare at the beginning of a career Lynda Tomkins 29 Learning about excellence Liz Bates 29 Architecturally speaking 31 Archaeological view 34 Notes from the chair 38 Director’s cut 39 The 2010 Gus Astley Award 40 Vox pop 41 Conference report: Heritage as Opportunity, Vilnius 42 Book reviews 43 Products and services 45 Advertisers index 48
2 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 Briefing made possible by a £350,200 Heritage Lottery Fund grant awarded under its Skills for the Future programme. The NHIG Bursary Project is the first specialised course for blacksmith conservators providing heritage-specific training for advanced students of blacksmithing. For more information see www.nhig.org.uk. Culture and crisis Dennis Rodwell writes: The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) ‘Amphictyony’ (from the Ancient Greek for a ‘league of neighbours’) is a network of cities and localities of the Mediterranean. Its objectives include the promotion of cultural identity and diversity, scientific collaboration, and the exchange of best practices. The majority of the EGTC Amphictyony members are municipalities in Greece, followed by Cyprus and Italy. The network’s headquarters are in Athens. The conference ‘Cultural Policy and Local Government’ was hosted on the Aegean island of Chios in May, supported by the British Council Greece. It highlighted ways in which local government can lead in the planning and implementation of long-term cultural policies that coordinate with political, social and economic development. The delegate list comprised mayors and senior local government officials, cultural heritage managers and academics. The conference sessions covered issues such as the management of heritage sites, financial planning for cultural tourism and citizen participation. The accompanying half-day tour highlighted the creative development of local handicrafts such as pottery, and production based on the distinctive arboriculture of the island (citrus fruits and mastic gum). This conference was oriented to reflect the acute crisis in the Greek economy. Aspasia Louvi, general director of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, presented the foundation’s creation of a network of thematic, living museums in local communities across mainland and island Greece. She proposed this as an important contribution to the development of regional cultural policy. The museums promote awareness and engagement with the human traditions of their locality: marble, roof-tile and brick crafts; industrial olive oil production; and Context Editor Rob Cowan Editorial Coordinator Fiona Newton 21 George Street, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9JU Tel 01507 602567 email [email protected] Editorial Board Fiona Newton (chair) Nigel Crowe (main features) Peter de Figueiredo (book reviews) Michael Taylor (main features) Cartoons by Rob Cowan Context is distributed to all members of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation. © Institute of Historic Building Conservation 2010 ISSN 0958-2746 Publisher Published for the Institute of Historic Building Conservation by Cathedral Communications Limited, High Street, Tisbury,Wiltshire, England SP3 6HA Tel 01747 871717 Fax 01747 871718 email [email protected] www.buildingconservation.com Non-member subscriptions to Context Context is available to non-members of the IHBC at an annual subscription rate, including postage, of: United Kingdom £50.00 Elsewhere £75.00 Subscription orders, together with remittances payable to Institute of Historic Building Conservation, should be sent to the IHBC Business Office at Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA. The views expressed in Context are not necessarily held by the IHBC or the publisher. Neither the publisher nor the IHBC shall be under any liability whatsoever in respect of contributed articles. We gratefully acknowledge the support of firms whose advertisements appear throughout this publication.While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this issue of Context is current and correct, neither the IHBC nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions which may occur. Copy deadlines Context is published five times a year, in March, May, July, September and November. The deadline for submission of material for issue 118 (March 2011) is 13 January. Heritage ironwork launch The National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) was launched at Hampton Court Palace in July. Its aim is to promote awareness and discussion of the need to develop good practice in the heritage ironwork sector. The Tijou Screen at Hampton Court, made in 1690 by smith Jean Tijou and acknowledged as one of the finest examples of the work of the artist blacksmith, provided the perfect backdrop for the day, which was attended by a wide range of representatives from the built heritage sector. The UK’s precious heritage of blacksmith-made architectural wrought ironwork displays a mastery of design and superb craftsmanship. Many items are listed, often at the highest grades, yet currently heritage ironwork is neglected in both education and standards. It is the one area of conservation where there are no codes of practice, and practitioners do not need to be properly trained or qualified. The NHIG argues that the future of the rich heritage of decorative ironwork depends on creating a system of training and accreditation for heritage blacksmiths. While the group is primarily concerned with heritage work, it recognises the importance of grass-roots training for new smiths who may one day specialise in heritage work. At the launch the group announced a new initiative to address the lack of craft training in the historic ironwork sector, The Tijou Screen at Hampton Court
C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 3 understanding of the interdependence of humankind and nature. The contribution of community volunteers in strengthening the linkage between museums and lifelong learning was emphasised by Lila de Chaves, ethnologist at the Benaki Museum, Athens. There the educational programmes of seminars and handson workshops for adults cover such diverse fields as Byzantine icon painting, jewellery, sculpture and palaeography. Continuing this theme, Evangelia Sofi spoke of the educational programmes at the Folklife and Ethnological Museum of MacedoniaThrace, where the outreach extends across all age groups, encourages inter-generational involvement within families, and integration with socially weaker groups and those with special needs. In this, culture is not the property of the academic elite: it is an important vector for both individual expression and social cohesion. In an age when culture, heritage and tourism are regarded by many as synonymous, recognised principally for their contribution to national and local economies, the conference’s distinctive message was that culture has a wider role in society. As EGTC Amphictyony president Dimitrios Argianas remarked, culture is a source of hope and well-being, especially at a time of economic crisis. At the same time, it is difficult to present and implement cultural policies in political mandates of four years. Culture lasts for ever, and cultural events are not a substitute for enduring cultural policies. Making the most of PPS5 The Southport Group writes: PPS5 represents one of the most significant opportunities in decades for archaeologists, their client sector and the public to get more from archaeology. So agreed the delegates at the Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) conference in Southport in April 2010. The conference recognised that, if it is to realise the opportunity, the whole sector would have to think creatively and radically about how archaeology is practised and how the PPS may best be implemented. A group was convened to scope the potential, the aims and the means of achieving them. The group hopes to reach all parts of our multidisciplinary sector, and is committed to promoting a broad and rapid debate across England and, as far as planning policy permits, across the UK. It intends to stimulate contributions from the sector and beyond. It is proposed to issue frequent updates on the discussion, and produce a draft report for debate at the IfA conference in April 2011. This report will contain preliminary recommendations to heritage and property organisations, government and decision-makers on what is necessary to deliver the stated goals. The town and harbour of Chios, the focus of the island’s merchant shipping community. The group proposes to complete its report and wind itself up in July 2011. The group believes that archaeological practice can be achieved which demonstrably produces even greater public benefit, which is more costeffective for those that commission it and which is more rewarding for those that undertake it. The policy framework has never been more robust. The government’s vision on the potential of the historic environment, published alongside the PPS, envisions that ‘the value of the historic environment is recognised by all who have the power to shape it; that government gives it proper recognition, and that it is managed intelligently and in a way that fully realises its contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of the nation.’ The government and the historic environment sector now agree that the historic environment is a resource with huge potential for understanding identity and place, for contributing to the quality of life, for sustainable growth and for delivering a wide range of economic, social, cultural and environmental agenda. Previously the extent and quality of public benefits that government – and archaeologists – desired could not be delivered consistently because of failures in the way in which the market functioned. PPS 5 changes everything. It gives the potential consistently to help the property sector get the best out of development-led investigations; to deliver stronger research through a more collaborative approach; to focus on understanding and enhancing cultural significance; to promote public participation and support; and to build the expectation of professionally accredited quality. Enabling works are to be carried out to the Grade II listed Florence Institute in Liverpool. Built in 1889 as Britain’s first purpose-built boys’ youth club, it was commissioned by former mayor Sir Bernard Hall as a memorial to his daughter, who died at the age of 22.William Anelay is the specialist contractor.
4 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 ‘Aswe continue to battle the tide of inappropriate UVPC replacement windows that blight historic properties throughout the country – often causing enormous problems for the buildings in the process – it is a delight to see that a traditional, wooden, hand-crafted window can stand the test of time more than a millennium after its construction.’ Matthew Slocombe of SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) puts a spin on the news that repair work at St Andrews Church, Boxford in Berkshire has revealed one of the earliest intact timber windows in the country – a frame complete with a hinged wooden panel dating from the Saxon period.The discovery was made by architect and SPAB member Andrew Plumridge, of Peter Scott and Partners, during the course of repairs to the chancel of the church. St Andrews, Boxford: no need of replacement ‘THIS IS A bid for national recognition and statutory protection for a group of buildings which are intimately associated with the four men who, together, became the greatest cultural phenomenon of the 20th century. ‘In 1973, Liverpool’s celebrated Cavern Club, birthplace of the Beatles, was demolished because of a council compulsory purchase order, to make room for a ventilation shaft that was never built. The destruction of Madryn Street would represent another tragic loss and a further assault on the heart and spirit of the city. ‘It is astonishing and distressing that Liverpool City Council retains such a callous disregard for its cultural heritage, and sad that it should fall to organisations such as SAVE and the Merseyside Civic Society to protect and promote buildings within the city that have such huge historic and socio-economic importance.’ William Palin, secretary of SAVE, calling for the listing of a childhood home of Ringo Starr, threatened with demolition, and other houses associated with the Beatles. ‘We have strict rules on advertising to preventWestminster being overrun with a plethora of adverts and these apply to everyone – including Addison Lee.’ Rosemarie MacQueen, the City of Westminster Council’s strategic director for the built environment, commenting on the council’s decision to go to court over 21 branded cigarette bins located in the Marylebone Conservation Area, which, it claims, require planning permission. ‘So now, more than three years after we started providing these bins at zero cost to businesses in London, somebody atWestminster Council with too much time on their hands has decided to persecute us for helping to reduce the 2,700 tonnes of cigarette butts dropped in London streets each year.’ John Griffin, chairman of the cab company Addison Lee, which has provided 16,000 free bins for smokers outside pubs and restaurants across London. ‘WE SHOULD say that if you live in a house built after 1945 you should be able to do what you want with it. If a neighbour objects to what you propose, the council should appoint a mediator – not a planner. Most estates built since 1945 would be better for a lot of maverick building.’ Lord Deben (John Gummer) speaking at the Planning Summer School inYork (one of whose sponsors was the IHBC). This needs to be done in the face of the challenge from substantial cuts that could significantly weaken local government historic environment services and alter the way in which developmentled archaeology is managed. The group is planning seminars with a wide range of audiences to gather and develop ideas that will refine the goals and help defend PPS 5 principles from being weakened or lost in reform of the planning process. The outputs of the project will draw on good practice case studies, and will include detailed recommendations for improved standards, guidance and training for planners, the archaeological sector and others. Such guidance should cover how to design, manage and implement investigation and understanding of all elements of the historic environment – built, buried and submerged – in a way that realises the public benefits that PPS 5 envisages. [email protected] Fortifications at risk The Fortress Study Group (FSG) is holding a symposium on 8 and 9 March 2011 at the National Army Museum London. Fortifications at Risk will highlight concern at the number of 19th and 20th century fortifications – particularly first and second world war defences – that have become derelict or have been destroyed. Building on the Defence of Britain project, the FSG is focusing on the preservation of these structures and imaginative ways in which they might be re-used. Speakers include Marcus Binney of SAVE, Mike Heyworth of the Council for British Archaeology, andWayne Cocroft and Roger Thomas of English Heritage. Details from www.fsgfort.com An appraisal is to be carried out into options for Mealbank Quarry, northYorkshire.The former 19th century industrial site – abandoned in 1910 – contains the remains of a Hoffmann kiln, associated spoil heaps, and standing remains of lime extraction and production. Capita Symonds is the consultant.
C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 5 Periodically On this occasion your reviewer has chosen to concentrate on two substantial periodicals and the future prospects for a third. The latest issue of the Journal of Architectural Conservation (Vol 16, No 2) provides the usual invaluable mix of repair techniques and evaluation methods. In the first paper, the consulting engineer Michael Beare discusses his appraisal of the principal facades of Selfridges department store, Oxford Street, London. Designed with input from Daniel Burnham of Chicago in a visually uniform, classical beaux arts style, the store was built in eight phases between 1909 and 1928. This resulted in significantly different constructional forms being adopted which now pose different challenges for maintaining the fabric. The author discusses the use of cathodic protection systems on the steel framework. He demonstrates the potential for the principles adopted in this project to be applied to other steel frames located behind masonry constructions elsewhere in the world. Other protective treatments, this time for the sugaring of marble, are set out by Elena Charola, Silvia Centeno and Kyle Normandin in respect of their work on the NewYork Public Library. The marble was found to be in a fairly good state of conservation apart from the more exposed elements, such as quoins and the many delicately carved decorative elements. The authors explain the treatment developed for areas that showed significant sugaring. Laboratory examinations and analyses were carried out, and preliminary tests were made with silicate ester- based consolidants. As these did not perform well in tests, an approach using inorganic materials was developed. This used saturation spray applications of an ammonium oxalate solution to increase the cohesion of the marble and reduce the intensive sugaring. A shelter coat followed, based on Type S hydrated dolomitic lime to protect these surfaces further, while being fully compatible with them. The authors conclude that one of the advantages of the oxalate treatment is that it is closely related to the inorganic nature of the stone substrate, in comparison to silicate ester treatments. Over a century had elapsed without a major intervention to the library, aside from a comprehensive cleaning of the facade in 1989. If present conditions persist and air pollution continues to decrease, 25 to 50 years may elapse before more ‘extraordinary maintenance’ will be required. The journal regularly provides insights into the conservation of innovative modern construction materials that are coming to be seen as historic. One such is Vitrolite, used in the early part of the 20th century but no longer manufactured.The paper by Fiona Hudd examines the history and importance of the glass, and practical issues surrounding its conservation today. Hudd uses case studies to demonstrate the specific problems and solutions. Case studies include the well-known Grade II* listed former Daily Express building in Fleet Street by Ellis, Clarke, Atkinson and Sir OwenWilliams (1932). These illustrate some of the issues at the heart of the debate surrounding the conservation of 20th-century historic buildings. The author points out that the architecture of the early 20th century is vulnerable in two ways. The fabric of buildings often suffers from the cheapness of the construction, in-built design faults and lack of maintenance. But it is also vulnerable to change from upgrading and renovation work. Lack of double glazing or insulation in external walls is increasingly considered unacceptable in 20th-century buildings, and the consequences of experimental forms of construction such as reinforced concrete frames or flat roofs are seen as defects which must be rectified before a building can remain in active use. If the perception is that past ‘imperfections’ must be brought up to date, the unique historic value may be lost. Hudd concludes that if an original fabric such as Vitrolite has inherent value, and its particular visual qualities and resilience to weathering are recognised and properly cared for, it could continue to function as originally designed for the foreseeable future. Replacement of an entire Vitrolite facade with an alternative, modern material could be seen to undermine its heritage value. It has yet to be demonstrated that there is a comparable modern material which can achieve the particular blend of depth of colour, reflectance and surface finish which Vitrolite and similar glasses provided. The value of these glasses lies not only in their aesthetic appeal, but also in their evidential and historical associations. They tell the story of glass manufacture in Britain and its links with America in the 1920s and 1930s, and of architectural innovation and development in British architecture. The ruined city of Petra in Jordan is internationally famous. It had decayed only slowly in the 2,000 years of its existence. This changed with the emergence of mass tourism in the 20th century. The city now sees 4,000 visitors a day, with all the attendant physical erosion and increases in humidity, particularly at its two most celebrated structures, al-Khazneh and the Urn Tombs. Thomas Paradise, professor of geosciences and geography at the
6 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 University of Arkansas, has been conducting research at Petra since 1990. He has been looking at the insidious impact of increased interior relative humidity from tourist groups entering the chambers. He has found a significant relationship between visitor numbers and chamber humidity after the visits.Wall measurements have shown interior surfaces to have receded as a result of visitor-induced abrasion (such as touching and leaning) by up to 40mm during the 50 to 100-year era of increased tourism in the region. This recession has serious implications for the chambers’ long-term integrity. The aim of the final paper by Karen Morrissey, a senior historic paint researcher for Hirst Conservation, is to bring architectural paint research to the attention of a wider audience. She hopes to provide an opportunity for heritage specialists to appraise the subject afresh. The author sets out the motivation for paint research, the advantages of employing an experienced researcher, the processes involved and the common issues that arise. Such research is now being used more widely as part of conservationbased research and analysis. There have been calls for greater understanding of this specialised field from professionals working within it; many building conservation specifiers of paint research are unaware of the processes involved and therefore miss opportunities to commission enlightening pieces of work. This article should help redress the balance. It should be required reading for those promoting research who have not requested this type of work before. The latest Transactions of the Association for the Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings (ASCHB) have been recently published for 2009. They continue to run a year in arrears, but present wellillustrated subjects in great depth. In the opening article, Lee Prosser looks at the roofs of Kensington Palace. The palace was constructed under the supervision of Sir ChristopherWren between 1689 and 1705, assisted by Nicholas Hawksmoor as clerk of works. Its roofs are all forms of modern king or queen post designs. Kensington differs in many respects fromWren’s other commissions by the variations in its roof construction. Over 20 separate structures survive, no two exactly alike. The article explains how these variations probably arose, analyses the residual vernacular techniques of the construction of the time, and suggests interesting possibilities for the source of the timber. Prosser points out that late 17th and 18th-century techniques of roof construction, though revolutionary, have received less scholarly attention than earlier roofs. Kensington is interesting because of its variations. In contrast, at buildings like Hampton Court Palace, once a roof system was established it seems this was applied systematically throughout the building. The author feels that, despite a collaborative effort between architects and carpenters, they had not yet entirely settled into a standard system and were bound by the requirements of the moment. This stimulated diversity, and the evolution towards a perfection of modern roofing technique. Those who did not choose the church of St Martins in the Fields as their tour option at the IHBC London 2010 Annual School missed a highly informative and absorbing morning led by Tim Lynch of Eric Parry Architects.The building and its association with Trafalgar Square might seem almost too well known, but for many its pivotal role in helping the London homeless is less well understood. In the article on the regeneration of the site, Robert Kennett ranges widely over the historical development of the site and the church’s social purpose.The article explores the key elements of the design that won the architectural competition for the scheme, and the negotiations withWestminster City Council, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund during the approval process. Kennet describes the challenges of the major excavations to extend the crypt and the external and internal repairs and alterations. He emphasises the importance of the conservation plan as a tool to assist the parochial church council plan for the long-term care of the church as in effect a user’s manual. Another Heritage Lottery Fundsupported project has been the repair of the Church of St John and St Mary Magdalene in Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire. One of England’s first substantial concrete buildings, the church was designed by the relatively unknown AY Nutt for Lord Halifax and completed in 1918. By the 1990s, it had suffered so much from the sulphur-rich dust of a local coking plant less than a mile away that it was almost abandoned. Goldthorpe is highly unusual, and the strategy adopted for its repair was equally novel. AndrewWiles, architect for the repairs, explains clearly the decay mechanisms affecting the concrete and the basic processes of analysis and testing which preceded the repairs. It seems that the choice of construction material was incidental to the original design. At Goldthorpe, concrete was a practical means to an end. Fortunately, the wall finish was irregular exposed aggregate, which proved easier to match in colour and texture using traditional raw materials of sand, gravel and cement than would have been the case had a rough-shuttered technique been used. The scheme required a multidisciplinary approach in which the architect acted as ‘a moderator between science and aesthetics’. Despite preliminary surveys and advice from specialists, it proved impossible to anticipate the full extent of the overall repairs. One lesson learnt was an understanding of the potential unforeseen cost of concrete repairs before starting a programme funded by a fixed sum. The works were started in 1999 and completed in 2002. Sufficient time has now elapsed for conclusions to be drawn about the success of the works. The project was awarded the 2007 King of Prussia’s Gold Medal for church conservation by the Ecclesiastical Architects’ and Surveyors’ Association. The work of Ian Bristow will be known to many. His investigations of historic paint finishes at important historic buildings have appeared regularly in the Transactions of the ASCHB since its inception in 1973. Bristow has recently undertaken a colour evaluation of the courtyards and north kitchen at the Sir John Soane Museum, a paint scheme of great complexity. The aim was to establish the sequence and disposition of colours used in Soane’s lifetime, from his initial construction of the courtyards in 1812 to his death in 1837. This was undertaken
C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 7 to enable detailed decisions to be taken about any redecoration, and the contractor to apply the chosen colours. The author contrasts this to the method commonly adopted for fine-art subjects. This often starts with a careful surface examination, but employs a limited number of cross-sections to confirm the perceived paint structure. At the Soane Museum, the unravelling of schemeupon-scheme of plain architectural paintwork required a more extensive series of cross-sections (155 in all). The final article looks at the work of the largely ignored architect George Smith (1783–1869) in Hertfordshire, the county of his birth. It outlines the context of the time, particularly the changes in architectural training and practice which had taken place prior to this period. It explores some of Smith’s public and residential buildings, in St Albans in particular. Your reviewer recently received for the first time The Institution of Civil Engineers Proceedings on Engineering History and Heritage, which may be an occasional source of interest to readers in future. Volume 163, issue EH2 (May 2010) deals with historic highways on the Antrim coast, in the USA and Italy, the Preston by-pass (the UK’s first motorway) and the M1. Some readers will recall the Twentieth Century Society’s concerns about the fate of the bridges of highly characteristic design on the M1 where carriageway widening is being contemplated. Considering the impact of roads on our history and culture, and on the character of our towns and countryside, perhaps we should consider ‘highway listing’ for the best examples? Bob Kindred MBE EngineeringHistory andHeritage volume 163 • issue EH2 May 2010 pages 63–136 Institution of Civil Engineers Engineering History and Heritage Highways The Antrim Coast Road – a civil engineering legacy Highway design by highwaymen Two pioneering American roadways Autostrade: the Italian interwar achievement Documenting New York’s Bronx River Parkway, USA Preston By-pass: the firstmotorway in the UK TheM1: Britain’s first inter-urban motorway www.engineeringhistoryandheritage.com ISSN 1751-9430 Proceedingsof the InstitutionofCivilEngineers volume163• issueEH2 May 2010 he ilEngineers ueEH2 From An Introduction to Railway Architecture by Christian Barman (1950) The men who built our railway stations had three important things to think of. The first was to build practically and strongly, to satisfy Wootton’s first two conditions of firmness and commodity. Their buildings had a job to do, and this job must be done in a sound, workmanlike manner. In the typical station house the job was a straightforward and familiar one; elsewhere, as in the cantilevered verandas and in the great train sheds, it was a novel and adventurous job requiring new kinds of skill and often a high degree of confidence and pluck. This kind of problem is a typical engineer’s problem, involving mainly physical factors and only incidentally concerned with human ones. There are great spaces to be bridged and covered, and the spaces must be encumbered with the fewest possible supports. Not since the days of the great cathedrals had the constructor of buildings been faced with such a challenge. The second thing these designers had to consider was the relation of their work to the prevailing visual environment. The craftsmen and engineers who made our railways were not themselves men of culture, but they understood and respected the great humanist tradition. They did not want their iron machines or their iron structures to offend against this tradition; they preferred that their work should be well received by the environment in which it was placed. It was inevitable that the assumption of power by a new social class should involve many breaks with the past; but the new leaders had no desire to break unnecessarily and indeed all their work shows how earnestly they strove to maintain a sense of continuity. Their buildings were often strange and curiously shaped, but the people who designed them did their best to show that they could fit in and belong. There was also a third problem to which the railway builders paid much attention. They were constructors, they were guardians of a great tradition, but they were at the same time the leaders and organisers of the greatest adventure in the world. For that is how the railways of England were regarded not only by their creators but by the more thoughtful of their contemporaries. These men were out to conquer space, they were out to establish civilisation in a new dimension, not only in their own country but throughout the world. They sought to express this sense of leadership in their architecture. The humanist culture had placed a high value on the idea of leadership. Its architects had known how to project that idea in terms of building. They had also been working on another idea, the idea of military victory. Vanbrugh’s great composition in honour of the victory of Blenheim had been followed on the other side of the Channel by a long, systematic exploitation of the same theme under Napoleon which went on until his eclipse at Waterloo was celebrated by the building of the finest classical bridge in the world. The railway builders knew, as everybody knew, that the day of great military victories had passed; but they also knew that another very different sort of victory was at hand. Napoleon has left bigger arches than Stephenson, but he never left a grander one. In the triumphal porticoes of Euston and Birmingham, of Newcastle and Huddersfield, the conquest over nature’s forces is even more apparent than is the dominant position attained by those who had laboured to bring that victory about.
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C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 9 Going for Gold in 2010: a capital conference delivering excellence in conservation, we were on the starting blocks. The organising committee became Team London. We were keen not to delete fun entirely from the proceedings, so when one of the team mentioned that he knew where to source medals for sporting events, Team London ran with it. They were instantly recognisable when organising or marshalling throughout the school by wearing our IHBC 2010 Going for Gold medals. We were well aware of the logistics of moving (we hoped) a large number of people around London, so we decided to focus on the Regent’s Park and Bloomsbury area of central London. There we knew of high-quality, contrasting venues within a hop, skip and a jump of each other. We also knew that the official full school would need to finish by lunchtime on Saturday. Competing with England’s first World Cup match and the temptations of the many attractions in this world city on a Saturday afternoon in June was not a viable option. We had to overcome the hurdle of obtaining sponsorship, which we knew was going to be hard won but never more necessary in the current economic climate. Luckily Sheila Stones writes: Buxton in 2009 and Llandudno in 2011; London branch’s organising committee rapidly realised that unlike those IHBC Annual Schools, delegates based in the capital city for the 2010 Annual School would not be a captive – in the nicest possible way – audience. We knew we would have to shape the school to fit the circumstances. A much higher proportion of delegates than usual would be non-residential and we would have to entice them during a seismic economic recession. We soon decided that the theme of the school would be how the historic environment meets today’s leisure needs in the context of the run-up to the Olympics, and issued our first publicity flyer. We then realised that for local authorities and other potential delegate sponsors to approve, we would have to play down the leisure aspect in case it was perceived to be fun (a totally unacceptable prospect). So we refined the theme to explore the provision of high-quality conservation services, and how they can be delivered now and in the future. Once we had written our strapline Going for Gold: IHBC Annual School 2010 Eddie Booth welcomes delegates at the Grade II* ArtWorkers Guild, venue for Thursday’s seminars
10 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 IHBC Annual School 2010 IHBC Annual School 2009 IHBC Annual School 2010 our polite requests and friendly threats hit the target. Montagu-Evans agreed to be our principal sponsor, while Purcell Miller Tritton, Donald Insall Associates and Conisbee sponsored specific events. We also received support from English Heritage and managed to secure a very competitive rate for hotel accommodation at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square. The 2010 Annual School started in Bloomsbury on Thursday afternoon with Eddie Booth welcoming delegates, while being observed by the portraits of former masters of the Art Workers’ Guild. This Grade II* venue proved to be a highly appropriate place to appreciate the building crafts that a relay of experts sprinted through in the technical demonstrations and presentations session that followed. Topics comprised damp and decay diagnosis with Julian Bagg of the IHBC’s technical panel; repairing, inserting draughtproofing and creating shutters for sash windows with Ged Gardiner; gilding and other restoration work at Stowe House presented by Purcell Miller Tritton; the Bluecoat Arts Centre Liverpool, a comprehensive conservation project presented by Donald Insall Associates (see Context 115, July 2010). There were opportunities to ask detailed questions throughout and finally a chance to fondle Charles Brooking’s collection of architectural details. In the lecture hall students were presenting papers on current conservation research at the Gus Astley Student Awards 2009 event (see p40). Other full school delegates had chosen to head off in showery weather on walking tours. These had contrasting themes of canal-side development at Kings Cross (see p24) and Arsenal’s Highbury Stadium redevelopment (see p18). Both were very popular. For the welcome reception that evening we moved from the beautifully quirky Art Workers’ Guild to the nearby streamlined interior of the Building Centre. There delegates and guests could appreciate the huge model of London and other exhibits. Our hosts, New London Architecture, were surprised by the large quantity of wine consumed. We were very pleased that Baroness Andrews was able to provide the welcome address. It was a pity that Donald Insall, who was also there, was sworn to secrecy about his imminent knighthood Delegates explore the intricacies of historic window details with Charles Brooking The King’s Cross tour: The King’s Cross tour: John McAslan and Partners’ new entrance hall takes shape (Photo: RobertWalker)
C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 11 IHBC Annual School 2010 IHBC Annual School 2009 IHBC Annual School 2010 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. We were unable to congratulate him and celebrate his becoming the first IHBC member to be awarded this honour for services to conservation architecture. Team London had deliberately chosen to hold Friday’s Day School at the venue where we usually hold our annual branch day conferences: the Royal College of Physicians, Denys Lasdun’s Grade I modernist masterpiece adjacent to Regent’s Park. We knew that the college’s attention to detail meant that everything would run smoothly, leaving us to concentrate on the content of the presentations and ensuring that our total of over 200 delegates (much relief all round) were guided swiftly in and out of the lecture theatre during the day. A couple of audio effects were used light-heartedly throughout the day. At an IHBC London Branch visit to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry I had bought a miniature souvenir which tinkled like an Agatha Christie murder mystery ‘more tea, Vicar?’ bell. I put it to good use and encouraged everyone to return speedily to their seats at the end of each refreshment break. The bell performed a dual purpose. David McDonald, chair of the London branch, stepped up to the rostrum to chair the Day School, and rang the bell to indicate when each speaker should be on their final lap. We decided that the audience should be invited to identify the London-themed songs that welcomed them back after each break. Just for the, ahem, record, they were London’s Calling by the Clash, I Don’t Want to Go to Chelsea by Elvis Costello, Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty, Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks and Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant. We had a variety of speakers from local authorities, the private and voluntary sectors and English Heritage. In his keynote address, Loyd Grossman spoke with erudite charm. Rather appropriately for him, he said that we (in the heritage sector) would be served up platefuls of change over the next five years. Bob Stagg, in his presentation on structural works to the Royal Albert Hall, confided that during the course of the contract he had seen The Killers but that they were not as good as Led Zeppelin when he saw them there. Alec Forshaw referred during his presentation on Arsenal’s Highbury Stadium redevelopment to the start of the first game of the World Cup. He wondered whether or not the organising committee had realised that there might be competition when choosing the dates for the Annual School. I think you will find that we were somewhat concerned about a potential clash. With his affable manner and soft Scottish brogue, David McDonald made chairing the Day School look effortless. I know it resulted from detailed preparation that was reflected in his thoughtful use of poetry throughout the day. At the outset he stressed that, despite the recession, leisure is still a major force in the economy. After the next spending cuts many of us may have more time on our hands than we were expecting. We need to address the issue of how to deliver gold-standard care of the historic environment on a reduced budget. The formal reception that followed the Day School Justine Page leads delegates on the Highbury Stadium tour. Bob Kindred introduces Gus Astley Award student KateWalker and her paper on the conservation plan for a Stoke-on-Trent pottery Ged Gardiner outlines measures to improve the thermal performance of traditional windows
12 C O N T E X T 1 1 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 IHBC Annual School 2010 IHBC Annual School 2009 IHBC Annual School 2010 Principal sponsor www.montagu-evans.co.uk School supported by www.english-heritage.org.uk Refreshments sponsor www.pmt.co.uk The IHBC would like to thank the sponsors of this year’s Annual School was also held at the Royal College. We had been keen to have a lively guest speaker. Robert Elms, a BBC London presenter for 16 years, fitted the bill perfectly as he exuded boundless enthusiasm and shared his extensive knowledge of London culture in all its manifestations. An interesting spin on proceedings came when Rosemarie McQueen first asked him where he got his suit from (Savile Row), and then responded to a statement he had made about how he preferred areas of Hoxton that had grown organically without local government intervention. She said that if a conservation area had not been designated around Hoxton it would not have been allowed to grow organically. Instead it would have been bought up by major developers. Networking and socialising continued. I was told discreetly by the management that we were an ‘unusually thirsty’ gathering. No change there then. Over 80 of us then stayed on for a dinner hosted by London branch. This was very enjoyable in an informal way, with a wide variety of colleagues, friends and new acquaintances appreciating the top-class cuisine. Fortunately, the weather on Saturday morning was fine. Team London shepherded walking tour delegates to rendezvous points with leaders for tours of Theatreland (‘never has my name been so appropriate,’ said David Lovie), the Royal Albert Hall roofspace, the South Bank and the Garden History Museum, and St Martin-in-theFields at Trafalgar Square. Anyone keen to continue exploring the historic environment of central London in the afternoon could refer to copies of five self-guided walking tours or visits provided in their delegate packs. As head of Team London I really want to emphasise how important it is to have an enthusiastic group of people who are prepared to jump in at the deep end, and take on a wide variety of large and small tasks. The total of 219 delegates for the Day School allayed our fears that the recession would result in a significantly lower attendance. We received 126 feedback forms, the majority of which were very positive. With much relief, huge thanks go to all members of Team London for makingGoing for Gold such a success: David McDonald, Florence Salberter, Jon Finney, Doug Black, Justine Page, Marc Timlin, John Webb, Jacinta Fisher, Rose Wakelin, Nick Collins and Mike Brown. Many thanks also to the IHBC Enterprises and Business Office staff and to the website gurus for their expert input. Sheila Stones, IHBC vice chair Drinks reception sponsor www.donaldinsallassociates.co.uk Royal Albert Hall tour sponsor www.conisbee.co.uk purcell miller tritton DONALD INSALL ASSOCIATES
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