New awards celebrate historic buildings and craftspeople

The SPAB are proud to announce a shortlist of 28 of the best built heritage projects and craftspeople from across the UK and Ireland. The winners of the first SPAB Heritage Awards will receive their award from designer, writer and TV presenter Kevin McCloud on 3 November at an event at Conway Hall in London. 

The SPAB’s (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) expert judges have shortlisted a range of wonderful buildings cherished by their communities and owners. Building repair projects on the shortlist include a Glasgow tenement, a country house in Yorkshire, an ancient church in Holyhead and a historic town centre in Co. Donegal. The traditional skills that repair historic buildings are also celebrated, highlighting the work of craftspeople new to their trade, from a conservation bricklayer to a cabinet maker. 

Three new awards – Best Loved Building, Sustainable Heritage and Building Craftsperson of the Year – join the SPAB’s established awards, Philip Webb and the John Betjeman Awards.  

Kevin McCloud says: “These awards celebrate excellence in everything I hold dear: conservation, intelligent design, sustainability and craftsmanship. The appeal of ancient buildings and places is a strong and undeniable force. It connects us to our past, points us to our future and helps us understand the value of our built and natural environments. In turn, these are powerful tools in helping us tackle the big new societal challenges of climate change, sustainability and energy efficiency. Now more than ever we need wisdom, clarity and the long view, qualities abounding within the SPAB.” 

Matthew Slocombe, SPAB Director says: “The SPAB has always championed the traditional skills needed to look after our old buildings. Old buildings contribute positively to the world’s beauty and sustainability. When cared for well, they improve the quality of people’s lives and promote wellbeing. The SPAB Heritage Awards celebrate our historic buildings and those that care for them.” 

The Best Loved Award is for the buildings that have been kept in good repair, that are well-maintained and loved by the community and/or their owner.  The winners will be voted for by the public. Voting on the SPAB website is open until 31 October. 

Shortlisted (public category): The Old Town Hall, Faringdon, Oxfordshire; Union Chapel, London; The Endeavour, Godstone, Surrey; Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire. 

Shortlisted (private category): Camphill Gate Tenement, Glasgow; the Thatch, Attleborough, Norfolk; Berwick Lodge, Ryde, Isle of Wight; Nunwick Barn, Ripon, Yorkshire. 

The Sustainable Heritage Award celebrates projects that take a ‘whole building’ approach when tackling sustainability.  

Shortlisted: Abbey Strand, Edinburgh; 4, Black Bull Close, Dunbar; Ramelton, Co. Donegal. 

The Building Craftsperson of the Year Award recognises the best up-and-coming craftspeople working with traditional materials and old buildings across the UK and Ireland.  

Shortlisted (under 30): Killian O'Flaherty, stonemason; William Gaches, traditional plasterer; Adam James Innes, stonemason; Ronnie Douglas, conservation bricklayer. 

Shortlisted (career changer): Wilma Wyatt, cabinet maker; Rob Thompson, HES Craft Fellow; Jack Lewis, lime plasterer.  

The John Betjeman Award celebrates excellence in the repair of places of worship of all denominations and faiths.  

Shortlisted (England & Wales): Church of St Peter, Rodmell, Sussex; Church of St Peter, Knowstone, Devon; Church of St Cybi , Holyhead, Anglesey; St Mary’s Church, Beverley, Yorkshire. 

Shortlisted (Scotland): Shore Chapel, Isle of Bute; Bishopton, West Glasgow; Carntyne Parish Church, Glasgow; St Aloysius' Church, Glasgow. 

Shortlisted (Ireland): the Church of the Ascension, Timoleague, Co. Cork; the Honan Chapel, Cork. 

The SPAB is delighted that Storm Bespoke Secondary Glazing, a company the SPAB has worked with for 15 years, is the headline sponsor of the SPAB Heritage Awards. Terra Measurement, a surveying, measurement and engineering services company, sponsors the Philip Webb Award. Keymer Tiles, a company crafting handmade tiles and fittings since 1588, is the sponsor of the Sustainable Heritage Award. Owlsworth IJP, one of the leading specialist contractors within the building conservation sector, is the sponsor of the Building Craftsperson of the Year Award.

For further information about the awards please visit the SPAB website www.spab.org.uk/get-involved/awards