Generous Donation For Heritage Skills Training

The philanthropist Hamish Ogston CBE has donated £29m to boost heritage skills training in the UK. The Guardian reports that the generous funds will help new apprentices learn traditional crafts such as plastering, carpentry and stonemasonry. These skills have been dying out, putting the future of historical buildings at risk. 

Ogston is a British businessman and philanthropist who co-founded one of the first retail loyalty card companies, and has gone on to develop numerous other enterprises. In 2020, it was estimated that he was worth around £131 million. Over the past 10 years, he has donated around £10m to initiatives in health, heritage, and music. 

His latest contribution is thought to be the largest ever private donation to heritage training. It will create up to 2,700 opportunities for trainees to learn about traditional crafts that can be very different from modern techniques, ensuring that the skills are carried forward to the next generation. 

The funding will be divided between various UK heritage organisations, with English Heritage set to receive £11.2m. There are currently 5,000 buildings on the English Heritage At Risk Register due to deterioration and neglect. The apprentice scheme will aim to recruit people from some of the less privileged areas of the country. 

Robert Bargery, the heritage project director at the Hamish Ogston Foundation, said:

“There could be some very good people who need a bit of a leg-up. The point of this programme is to help them do that, actively to go out and encourage people to look at heritage skills they might not otherwise have thought about as a career.”

He added that the aim was to create an “ecosystem of heritage conservation expertise”, commenting: “With this new funding, we hope to establish such an ecosystem, so that more young people, no matter who they are or where they come from, can access the unique opportunity of a career in heritage conservation.”

One such traditional skill that is used to restore older buildings is lath and plaster. This is often found in listed buildings that must be repaired or renovated to strict guidelines in order to preserve the original character of the building. 

It’s a technique that dates back to the 18th century and involves fixing laths (strips of timber) to joists and then building up layers of plaster. The first coat, known as a pricking coat, consists of coarse lime plaster with hair or fibre mixed in for additional strength. The plaster is pushed through the laths to ensure that it stays in place. 

The next coat is known as a floating coat, and consists of medium or coarse lime plaster that may contain hair, but is not always included. The plaster is applied evenly, and then scratched to prepare it for the application of a finer top coat. This final layer does not contain hair and gives a slightly textured finish. 

Lime plaster is especially suitable for older buildings because it allows the timber frames and solid masonry to breathe. It can also be removed without damaging the masonry and can be recycled and used for further plastering projects.

How Is Decorative Plasterwork In Listed Buildings Restored?

Decorative plasterwork is an architectural feature that dates back to the days of the Roman Empire, and various techniques and styles have come in and out of fashion over the centuries.

Although the feature is often associated with stately homes, palaces, and grand old public buildings such as banks, theatres and town halls, some beautiful smaller scale examples of ceiling roses and coving can be found in period UK homes, especially those dating from the Victorian and Edwardian era. 

If you are involved in a restoration project or interested in commissioning decorative plasterwork for a building, here is some useful background information.

What materials are used for decorative plasterwork?

A range of materials can be used, including stucco, lime plaster, and clay plaster. If you want to restore plasterwork features in a listed building, you may be advised to use fibrous plaster. This is composed of plaster of Paris and layers of hessian fabric, and was used extensively in the late 19th century for ceiling roses and cornices.

Fibrous plaster could be used to mass-produce smaller intricate items and for precast elements such as panels and niches. Compared with other materials, fibrous plaster is excellent for forming detailed ornate shapes, and is light and quick to work with. 

This made it a very popular material, reaching its peak during the late 19th century when it was used extensively to decorate the numerous theatres and music halls that were built during this era. Prominent examples can still be found today in public  buildings such as the Royal Opera House and St James’ Hall in London. 

During the postwar era in Britain, the use of fibrous plaster declined as newer techniques and materials such as gypsum came into wider use. The restoration of fibrous plasterwork in historical buildings is now a highly specialised skill and should only be attempted by suitably qualified professionals. 

Plasterwork in older buildings is particularly susceptible to water damage from rising damp, leaks, erosion, or general neglect. Moisture can cause the plaster to soften and break apart, and much of the fine ornate detail is lost. 

Therefore the restoration of plasterwork should be carried out alongside other repairs or restoration work to ensure that the building is watertight and damp proof. 

How are decorative plaster features made?

Traditionally, ornate decorative plasterwork has been produced by making a full-scale model of the decorative feature and then producing a mould. Historically, these moulds were made from gelatine and animal glue, but nowadays modern materials such as silicone or fibreglass are usually used. 

For a larger and more intricate piece, several moulds may be made separately to form the whole to make the project manageable. The plasterwork is then built up in layers inside the mould. 

Once the plaster has set, it is carefully removed from the mould and stored in optimum conditions to allow it to dry out without becoming damp. The piece or multiple pieces will then be delivered for expert installation on site.

Victorian Houses To Visit For Interior Design Inspiration

The interior design styles of the Victorian era have been undergoing a revival in recent years. This has partly been a reaction to the ubiquity of the minimalist trend and strictly neutral colour schemes, and has also reflected a nostalgic mood driven by a longing for past times, sometimes referred to as ‘cottagecore.’

During the Victorian era, Britain became a wealthy and powerful nation, with huge progress in scientific and cultural life. The flourishing economy, driven by the industrial revolution, created a newly wealthy middle class who were keen to create fashionable homes. 

Mass production and distribution of goods began to occur for the first time, making it quicker and more affordable to decorate homes. Victorian architecture is characterised by well proportioned homes with high ceilings, and a generous amount of decorative detail that is still sought after today. 

Prime examples of houses from this era feature ornate cornices, architraves, and ceiling roses. They may also have picture rails, high skirting boards, tiled floors, and decorative fireplaces. Textiles were opulent and richly patterned with bold deep colours. Here are two inspirational well-preserved Victorian homes that you can visit today. 

Leighton House and Sambourne House

These neighbouring houses are open to the public in the leafy Holland Park area of West London. The interiors remain largely unchanged from their heyday in the late Victorian era, when they were the respective homes of Frederic Lord Leighton (1830-1896) and Edward Linley Sambourne (1844 -1910).

Leighton was a successful painter and the president of the Royal Academy of Arts, and Sambourne was the chief cartoonist of Punch magazine. They were both aesthetes who took pride in creating eclectic and beautiful homes that also served as their working spaces. They lived among the elite ‘Holland Park circle’, an informal collective of artists.

The most striking feature of Leighton House is the Arab Hall extension, which was built between 1977-81. Leighton was inspired by his frequent trips to Turkey and Egypt and Syria during this time, where he acquired a collection of decorative tiles and fabrics. 

The hall features a collection of tiles from Damascus regarded as one of the most important in the UK. The hall also features decorative marble columns and a gold frieze created by some of the most prominent artists and craftsmen of the day. 

Although some of the original features of the house have been lost over the years, it has undergone a major restoration programme and is now a museum space open to visitors.

Sambourne House 

The interior of Sambourne House remains very well preserved. It was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and contains William Morris prints and wallpapers. These feature designs influenced by nature, such as flowers, birds, and trees, in muted earthy tones of red, blue, green and brown. 

The house still contains many items of furniture and ornaments that were accumulated during the owner’s lifetime, and reflect their eclectic tastes. To some, the sheer amount of detail and furnishings may be overwhelming, but it’s certainly a fascinating and beautiful home to visit.

If you are looking for coving specialists in London, please get in touch today.

Why Do Some Listed Buildings Still Fall Into Disrepair?

Listed buildings in the UK have extra legal protections within the planning system, meaning that the owner has to apply for permission before making any alterations or renovations. To qualify as a listed building, the structure must be deemed to be of significant historical or architectural merit. 

However, sometimes buildings that have been awarded this special status fall into disrepair, as the Victorian Society has highlighted with its list of what it considers to be the top 10 most endangered sites in England and Wales. But why do certain buildings become at risk despite the extra legal protection that they are afforded?

Despite all the rules and regulations, owners of listed buildings are not legally obliged to keep them in a good state of repair. However, local authorities do have some powers to act if a designated heritage asset has deteriorated to the extent that it may be nearing a stage where it is beyond repair. 

These include the power for a local authority to carry out urgent works, which are broadly defined as emergency repairs to make the building safe from the risk of collapse, protect it from the elements, or to secure it against vandalism or theft. However in reality these powers are used sparingly, and must be approved by the Secretary of State.

Notice must be given to the owners, and work can only be carried out in an unoccupied building or in the unused part of an occupied building. The building must also be deemed to be of exceptional interest or in a conservation area where loss or damage to the building would substantially affect the character of the locality.

The costs of the repairs are recoverable from the owner of the building, and only essential works can be carried out to keep costs at a reasonable level. The local authority must take into consideration the ability of the owner to pay for the work at the outset, and the owner has the right to appeal if meeting the final costs will cause them hardship. 

A local authority also has the power to serve a repairs notice on the owner of a listed building, which are able to include non-urgent works and can also be applied to occupied buildings. The work must be ‘reasonably necessary for the proper preservation of the building.’

This wording has been subject to some legal disputes in the past, as it is open to interpretation and needs to be considered on a case by case basis. 

The repairs notice cannot be used to request the renovation of features that were already in a state of disrepair when the building was listed, unless they are necessary to the survival of the building, such as a repair to the roof. 

If no reasonable action is taken within two months of the repairs notice being served, the local authority has the power to begin compulsory purchase order proceedings. In such cases, any future purchaser will have an obligation to carry out the necessary repairs.

If you are looking for cornice restoration in London, please contact us today.

Report Warns Palace Of Westminster ‘At Risk Of Collapse’

A new report has warned that the iconic Palace of Westminster is at risk of collapsing and is in need of urgent refurbishment. The Architect’s Journal reports that the 19th century neogothic structure is in a poor state of disrepair and the delaying of renewal projects could lead to a ‘catastrophic event.’

The original Palace of Westminster, which contains the UK Houses of Parliament, burnt down in the Great Fire of 1834. A public competition was organised to design the replacement building, and it attracted 97 entries. From a final shortlist of four, the entry by Charles Barry for a Gothic revival style building was selected.

Construction of the new building began in 1840, and it wasn’t fully completed until 1870, although the House of Commons was able to sit in the new Palace from 1952 onwards. The new building was praised for balancing tradition and imagination with a functional design that was well suited to the needs of a modern parliament. 

However, 150 years later, the building is straining under the weight of multiple urgent renovation challenges. The huge and complex structure costs £1.4m per week to maintain, and is the workplace of thousands of people. It covers an area of 34 acres, and this is served by an outdated water, sewage, gas and electric system.

Furthermore, the building is considered to be at high risk of flooding, fire, and falling stones, and is also riddled with toxic asbestos. It is predicted that a full restoration programme will cost multiple billions of pounds. However, plans to vacate the building and temporarily transfer parliament to a neighbouring site were cancelled in 2020.

Now, a report published by the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee said there was a ‘real and rising risk that a catastrophic event will destroy the Palace before it is ever repaired and restored’. It also criticised the ‘years of procrastination and debate’ around implementing a comprehensive and integrated repair and restoration programme.

In response, a UK Parliament spokesperson said: ‘We are already getting on with work across the Parliamentary estate to ensure the safety of those who work and visit here, and to support the continued business of Parliament. This includes planning for the large and complex restoration of the Palace of Westminster to preserve it for future generations.’

‘Last year, members of both houses agreed a more integrated approach to restoration, prioritising safety-critical work. The Restoration and Renewal Programme Board is shortlisting options for the restoration and members in both houses are expected to vote on the way forward later this year.’

The Palace of Westminster is a unique part of Britain’s heritage, is Grade I listed and a Unesco world heritage site that houses many works of art. It’s one of a handful of buildings that is universally recognised around the world, and it draws thousands of visitors every year, boosting the economy. 

However, it is now clear that this much-loved building can no longer withstand being patched up, and is in need of urgent and significant refurbishment.

If you are looking for cornice restoration in London, please get in touch today. 

The UK’s Biggest Building Restoration Projects

Restoring a historic building is rarely a quick and straightforward process, particularly if it is Grade I or Grade II listed. This means that you need permission from the planning authorities to make any changes, and the restoration must be sympathetic to the original character of the building and the surrounding area.

That isn’t to say that a building of historical or architectural importance has to stay frozen in time, and it may be possible to extend or modernise such buildings if required. However, sometimes a landmark building is so well known and loved that it has become part of the cultural fabric of the country, and restoring it is no mean feat.

Here are some of the most complex and challenging restoration projects that have been undertaken in the UK.

Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben

The Elizabeth Tower, better known to millions of people worldwide as Big Ben, recently underwent a huge five-year restoration project to modernise it and conserve it for future generations. The iconic clock tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been a regular source of bongs for 160 years. 

The 96 metre tall Clock Tower was designed by the architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin and completed in 1859. The structure features some of the finest Victorian engineering and craftsmanship, but the effects of time, weather, and pollution had taken their inevitable toll.

The stonework had badly deteriorated and some of the ironwork was going rusty, not to mention the leaking roof and dated interior with no lift access. Furthermore, emergency repairs to bomb damage carried out during the era of austerity after the Second World War were inadequate and further problems had come to light.

Inside the clock tower, the stone spiral staircase that has been trodden by thousands of tourists has been conserved, and a glass box has been installed to give an unobstructed view of the clock mechanisms. The fully restored building re-opened in 2022. 

Wentworth Woodhouse

Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire is one of the UK’s largest stately homes, twice the size of Buckingham Palace. The original Jacobean structure has been added to over the years, eventually ending up in the hands of the wealthy Fitzwilliam family who made their fortune from coal. 

As the family’s fortunes declined along with the coal industry, the house was left to fall into a state of disrepair over the decades. When it was sold for £7m in 2017, it was in a badly neglected condition. The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) was established, and a massive restoration project got underway. 

The eventual aim is to turn the house and the surrounding country estate into a tourist attraction and event venue with accommodation and office space. The WWPT are working with a team of volunteers and skilled traditional craftspeople to restore the once beautiful interior ceilings, fireplaces, and flooring to their former glory.

The vast project is expected to be ongoing for several decades, and the final bill will run into billions of pounds.

If you are looking for cornice restoration in London, please get in touch today. 

Buildings That Are Listed For Unique Reasons

Over the past century, the biggest debate surrounding the preservation of architectural heritage has focused on the question of which buildings should be protected, which should receive listed building restoration and why.

With over 400,000 entries for listed buildings in England across three separate grades, there are countless unique stories that each write a chapter in the extensive history of the country.

Typically they are included for architectural reasons, by showcasing a particular aspect of design, building technique, or be connected to the history of people important to the nation.

However, some buildings have stranger justifications for inclusion.

A Building From 1981

There are very few listed buildings that were constructed after the Second World War, and almost none that are barely four centuries old.

However, Severels in Chichester makes the list as a Grade II* building designed by the Architect Walter Greaves, the man who designed the Royal Festival Hall.

The reason cited by the organisation was a matter of sheer quality; it was seen as such a fine example of post-war architecture that it became one of the newest buildings to get such a listing.

A Skate Park

The Rom Skatepark in Hornchurch, East London was the first skatepark in Europe to receive preservation status and the only one still in existence, as the Bro Bowl was demolished and moved.

Constructed in 1978, it was one of the few surviving parks from the early era of skateboarding, and as a result, was seen as nationally historically important.

A Zebra Crossing

In 2010, there were concerns that the famous Abbey Road music studios that provided the name to the last album recorded by The Beatles before they split in 1970 would be demolished. This fear was allayed when the studio was given Grade II status.

However, what was more unusual was that the zebra crossing outside of the studios which provided the backdrop for Abbey Road’s famous album cover would also receive Grade II status.

The Most Questionable Building Restorations In The World

The concept of architectural heritage and listed building restoration is relatively new and as a result the definition of what a good restoration is continues to change.

There are buildings which shifted public opinion from architectural blemish getting in the way of major development efforts to beloved listed examples of controversial architectural traditions in barely a decade, such is the rapid development of what it means to preserve and restore a building.

However, there are some restorations where the initial character of the building might have been neglected, to say the least.

Castle Of Matrera

In the ninth century, the Castle of Matrera was constructed to defend the town of Iptuci (now part of the city of Prado del Ray), but by 2010, the ancient walls had taken a beating from the elements, leading to the decision to restore it in a way that has drawn controversy to this day.

However, whilst the sheer white brutalist concrete walls of which the crumbling parts of Matrera are affixed to have received a lot of criticism, it does have its defenders, largely based on the notion that the concrete additions are designed to highlight what is left.

Château de Rentilly

Rentilly Cultural Park, 30km east of Paris, was previously a feudal estate before being converted into a cultural landmark and museum for contemporary art in 2014 when it received quite an unusual makeover.

The classic 16th-century chateau was given a second skin made of mirrors designed to reflect the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

It did do this, to the architect’s credit, but in doing so a lot of the traditional character of the house has been lost considerably, and it has since been described as looking akin to the Death Star from the Star Wars franchise.

There is a defence that can be made for the designer’s intentions, but at the same time, it is also a building that is remarkably easy to hate.