Current Issue
A first for heritage blacksmith training
The National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) will be setting up and running a Heritage Blacksmith Bursary project, the first specialised training programme for Blacksmith Conservators thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant awarded under its ‘Skills for the Future’ programme.A great British summer at the Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is forecasting a Great British Summer, with the launch of a major new exhibition and the opening of new galleries.12 million restoration of Chiswick House Gardens unveiled
Chiswick House Gardens is a site of international importance both as the birthplace of the English Landscape Movement, and as the setting for one of the most beautiful houses in London. The regeneration of the gardens is a result of many years of campaigning, four years of fund-raising and two years of work on the site.
English Heritage (manager of the House) and the London Borough of Hounslow (owner of the Gardens) established The Chiswick House and Gardens Trust as an independent charity to drive forward an ambitious rescue plan for the Gardens and secure its future for the 21st century.
The garden restoration, managed by English Heritage, and supported by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £7.9 million, recovers the original vistas and design from decades of disrepair and underfunding, and also repairs and restores the statuary and garden buildings. The result is an inspiring balance between a historic landscape and a public park.
Highlights include the planting of over 1,600 trees, including trees propagated from the original 18th century cedars of Lebanon; the opening up of historic views from the Classic Bridge, the complete restoration of the 19th century conservatory housing a rare and internationally important collection of camellias; the planting of native trees and shrubs in the Northern Wilderness, and the restoration of the Walled Gardens, which will be open to the public on special days.
To complement the restoration, award-winning architects Caruso St John have designed a new café within the grounds, on a carefully chosen site close to Chiswick House on the east side. The new café provides indoor seating for 80 people and external seating for over 100, and forms the social hub for the park, with a newly created children’s playground beside it.
The Pratt Green Trust and a history of the man
Born 1903 at Roby, near Liverpool, England, the third child of Charles Green, a leather merchant, and Hannah, nèe Greenwood. The abbreviation Fred has been used by the author for his hymnwriting: his close family, and in particular his late wife Marjorie, used Derick.
Effective answer to scrap metal crime wave
In response to the huge increase in the theft of scrap metal, wireless security specialists Tag Guard Ltd have developed a purpose-designed solution that could become a major deterrent.
Building Limes BS/EN459, revised Standard to be introduced.
The revision of EN 459 (BS/EN459) Standard for Building Limes has been a protracted process that started in 2004. The final draft is now at the stage of being approved at National level within the EU Nations. The revised Standard re-classifies Building Limes as follows:Read more: Building Limes BS/EN459, revised Standard to be introduced.
New faces grace Chapter House restoration
The future of one of London’s oldest buildings, the Chapter House at Westminster Abbey, has been secured following a major English Heritage-led repair and conservation project. Over the past 18 months a team of 20 master carvers and stonemasons has painstakingly cleaned, repaired and conserved the badly weathered gargoyles, stone floral friezes, flying buttresses and stained glass windows. The colossal scaffolding has now come down to reveal the majestic exterior completely refreshed, revived and weather-tight.Employing specialists is a must
Since setting up a surveying practice in 1993, I have often been asked to look at period properties, particularly for a pre-purchase inspection. In my experience there seems to be a common theme running through many of the cases that I look at, issues that we in our profession need to address: a lack of maintenance and poor quality of work.To see more information about Hall & Ensom click HERE
National Trust introduce new apprenticeship scheme
The National Trust has created a new Apprenticeship Scheme in a bid to tackle the severe building skills shortage in the heritage sector.The programme, which is aimed largely at 16 – 19 year olds, will train young men and women in traditional skills including stone masonry, carpentry, joinery, lead work, plumbing, painting and decorating.
Read more: National Trust introduce new apprenticeship scheme
Two Commissioner vacancies announced
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is seeking to appoint individuals with expertise in i) Education/Community Engagement, and ii) Local Authority Representation as Commissioners of English Heritage.
Heritage Lottery Fund invests £17m in skills
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced an investment of £17m – treble the amount it originally set aside - in 54 projects under its Skills for the Future programme¹. This money will deliver 808 placements and adds-up to an impressive 780 years’ worth of paid training opportunities for people across the UK seeking a career in heritage. It will not only support traditional conservation training but also a wide variety of more contemporary skills, such as managing volunteers and using social media to get people involved in heritage, that will help reinvigorate and broaden the appeal of the heritage industry to job-seekers.
English Heritage flies the flag for England
In 1568 while staying at Carlisle Castle in Cumbria, Mary Queen of Scots became the first recorded monarch to actively enjoy watching a football match. Twenty of her retinue played a two hour game and according to Sir Francis Knollys, all played "very strongly, nimbly and skilfully, without any foul play offered."
Heritage Lottery Fund invests over £1m in skills in the North East
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is announcing an investment of almost £1.2m into three projects across the North East under its Skills for the Future programme.
Read more: Heritage Lottery Fund invests over £1m in skills in the North East
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