Traditional Building Skills,
Conservation Courses
and Lectures
April 2016 – March 2017
Welcome to our 2016-17 Traditional Building Skills and Conservation
Courses and Lectures. The programme has been designed to enable
conservation and building professionals, contractors, general builders,
and the owners and managers of historic buildings and sites, the
opportunity to increase their knowledge and skills in the technical and
practical issues involved in the conservation management and repair of
historic buildings and the wider historic environment. All our courses and
lectures are delivered by leading craftsmen and experts in their specialist
fields.
Our CPD lectures continue to be run from the magnificent Cressing
Temple Barns near Braintree in Essex. New subjects for this year include
the conservation of ruins, heritage interpretation, and managing the
relationship between trees and historic buildings.
HANDS ON COURSES 3
SPECIAL EVENTS
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YOUR THOUGHTS 10
CPD LECTURES
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BURSARY SCHEME 15
BOOKING 16
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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Practical, ‘hands on’ courses are either workshop-based, or run from ‘live’
projects on historic buildings. This year we have a fantastic new venue
in Suffolk for our timber frame repair course, and we will be providing the
rare opportunity to learn historic brickwork repair skills on a 19th century
windmill in Essex.
We are also excited to be hosting a day conference on designed
landscapes in Essex, to be held at Audley End as part of the national
Capability Brown Festival 2016, celebrating the 300th anniversary of the
birth of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and in recognition of the important role
that livestock have in the traditional management of historic landscapes,
we have teamed up with the Essex Grazing Project to offer a course on
the management of livestock for conservation grazing.
Please check the event pages of our web site for the most up to date
details on the courses and lectures we offer.
www.placeservices.co.uk
Our Traditional Lime Plaster tutor
Roy Cafferty
Our hands on courses provide practical training in
the repair and maintenance of historic buildings and
structures. They are delivered by outstanding craftsmen
who use their skills every day in the course of running
their own businesses, and who have a wealth of
knowledge and experience from working on important
and high profile historic buildings.
The courses are designed for practising craftsmen who
want to specialise in traditional repairs, general builders
and contractors, interested amateurs and the owners of
historic buildings.
HANDS ON COURSES
REPAIR AND CONSERVATION
OF FLINT WALLING
Students on this three-day course
will repair and rebuild a churchyard
wall using flints and lime mortar.
There will also be a demonstration
of flint knapping with the
opportunity to have a go. The
course will be of interest to
bricklayers, general builders and
home owners.
Simon is one of the country’s few
remaining flint knappers, dealing
with the repair and restoration of
knapped flint walls as well as work
on new developments.
No experience needed.
Date: 22 -24 June 2016
Venue: St Botolph’s Church,
Hadstock
Tutor: Simon Williams, Anglian Flint
Cost: £270 excluding VAT
TIMBER FRAME REPAIRS
This three-day course will offer
you the rare opportunity to learn
new skills while working on a
traditional timber-framed building.
The focus during this course will
be on increasing awareness of the
need to continue working with
traditional materials in a traditional
style to ensure the survival and
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continuation of our built heritage
and craft skills. During the
course we will analyse the repair
strategy, look at how you choose
the right timber, and carry out
various repairs to the structural
frame of a 19th century cart lodge.
The course has been designed for
working carpenters and joiners,
but homeowners with basic skills
are very welcome.
We are privileged this year to be
working at Little Wenham Hall, a
fantastic location on the Suffolk/
Essex border, which is regarded as
one of the most important medieval
domestic buildings in England.
Rick runs his own carpentry
business working mainly in Suffolk
where he has built up an excellent
reputation for his high quality work
on the historic buildings of the area.
His work ranges from conservation
repairs to ancient structures, as
well as new bespoke framed
buildings
Date: 15-17 June 2016
Venue: Little Wenham Hall, Little
Wenham
Tutor: Rick Lewis, Traditional Oak
Carpentry
Cost: £270 excluding VAT
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AN INTRODUCTION TO
TRADITIONAL BRICKWORK
REPAIRS FOR BEGINNERS
This two-day course is aimed at
beginners or homeowners who
would like to learn about using lime
mortars, and how to tackle areas
of repointing and bricks that are
spalling.
The course will be run at Stock
Windmill, a 19th century tower mill
owned by Essex County Council,
and will include a guided tour by
the County millwright.
Mac is one of the highest qualified
bricklayers in the UK and has
spent over 40 years working with
brickwork, including the repair of
historic buildings. His experience
includes work on many of the royal
palaces, such as Hampton Court,
where he has been responsible for
repairing and re-building sections of
specialist brickwork.
No previous experience needed.
Date: 14-15 July 2016
Venue: Stock Windmill, Stock
The course will be held within the
walled garden at The Gardens of
Easton Lodge near Great Dunmow,
Essex, which is currently being
restored to its former glory by a
team of dedicated volunteers.
Date: 14-16 September 2016
Venue: The Gardens of Easton
Lodge, Great Dunmow
Tutor: Mac Knox-Weir, Brick
Conservator and Consultancy
Tutor: Mac Knox-Weir, Brick
Conservator and Consultancy
Cost: £270 excluding VAT
Cost: £215 excluding VAT
LIME PLASTER FOR
BEGINNERS
LIME MORTAR &
CONSERVATION BRICKWORK
These one-day courses are aimed
at owners of historic buildings who
want to tackle small patch repairs to
their homes and those with no prior
experience. The day will show how
This three-day course aims to
encourage correct brickwork repair
and the use of lime mortar. We will
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also look at a selection of different
pointing styles. The course is aimed
at working bricklayers or those with
experience who would like to
broaden their knowledge in
conservation techniques under the
tutorage of Mac Knox-Weir, one
of the highest qualified bricklayers
in the UK who has spent over 40
years working with brickwork,
including the repair of historic
buildings. His experience includes
work on many of the royal palaces,
such as Hampton Court, where he
has been responsible for repairing
and re-building sections of
specialist brickwork.
to hand-mix small amounts of lime
plaster, and to repair or replace
patches.
Roy runs his own plastering
business and has been in the trade
for over forty years. He works in all
aspects of lime plaster but
specialises in fine plaster finishes.
No experience needed.
Date: 11 November 2016 and
3 March 2017
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Tutor: Roy Cafferty, Traditional
Lime Plastering
Cost: £99 excluding VAT
RUN MOULDINGS
A two-day practical course covering
the art and craft of mouldings run
in situ. The course will begin with a
talk on lime, with an emphasis on
ornamental work. We will look at
interior, exterior and ornamental
work with our tutor Roy Cafferty.
Roy runs his own plastering
business and has been in the trade
for over forty years. He works in
all aspects of lime plaster but
specialises in fine plaster finishes
and is one of the few lime
plasterers who still run mouldings
in situ. The course is one for
working plasterers who want to
broaden their experience, home
owners and enthusiastic amateurs.
Date: 23-24 February 2017
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Tutor: Roy Cafferty, Traditional
Lime Plastering
Cost: £215 excluding VAT
LIME PLASTER FOR
PLASTERERS
A two-day hands-on course aimed
at working plasterers interested in
broadening their experience, and
amateurs with some plastering
skills. The course will explain how
to fix laths, prepare lime putty
mixes, and plaster on lathes as
well as highlighting the importance
of good preparation and aftercare.
Roy runs his own plastering
business and has been in the trade
for over forty years. He works in all
aspects of lime plaster but
specialises in fine plaster finishes.
Date: 30-31 March 2017
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Tutor: Roy Cafferty, Traditional
Lime Plastering
Cost: £215 excluding VAT
No experience needed.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
DAY CONFERENCE ON
LANCELOT ‘CAPABILITY’
BROWN AND DESIGNED
LANDSCAPES IN ESSEX
As part of the Capability Brown
Tercentenary year celebrations this
day conference will explore Brown’s
contribution to the gardens of
historic houses in Essex, and the
wider issues of the understanding,
management, and restoration of
designed landscapes in the county,
and beyond. The conference will
include a keynote session by
garden historian and author Dr
Twigs Way, and talks by Dr Sarah
Rutherford, author of the recently
published book, ‘Capability Brown:
Father of Landscape Gardens’, as
well as local experts.
Full details are available on our
website: www.placeservices.co.uk
Date: Tuesday 24 May 2016
Venue: St Mark’s College, Audley
End, Essex
Cost: £45 excluding VAT.
A light lunch will be provided.
(10% discount for members of
the Essex Gardens Trust)
Portrait of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, c.1770-75,
Cosway, Richard (1742-1821)/Private Collection/Bridgeman Images.
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LIVESTOCK AND
CONSERVATION GRAZING
WORKSHOP
This one-day workshop is aimed
at anyone involved in the
commissioning, planning or
implementation of heritage or
‘conservation’ grazing schemes.
The day will start with an indoor
session which will consider the key
requirements for managing a herd
of cattle (what they need, when and
why) and aligning livestock
management with conservation
outcomes.
The second part of the day will be
more hands-on and will include a
visit to SSSI grassland where our
herd of native breed Red Poll cattle
will be grazing, and where a range
of new cattle infrastructure can be
viewed having been installed as
part of the Hadleigh Park Olympics
Legacy.
The workshop will be led by
Roger Beecroft who manages
Place Services herd of Red Poll
cattle and Cheviot goats as part of
the Essex Grazing Project. With a
background as a wildlife consultant
and contractor, Roger has used his
own livestock in heritage grazing
projects throughout eastern
England. In addition to his work
with Place Services, Roger
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currently manages cattle grazing in
Epping Forest on behalf of the City
of London where an invisible fence
system is being pioneered.
www.essexgrazing.org.uk
Date: 10am-3.30pm
Thursday 9th June 2016
Venue: Hadleigh Country Park
Tutor: Roger Beecroft, Essex
Grazing Project
Cost: £95 excluding VAT - A light
lunch will be provided including the
opportunity to try one of our Red
Poll ‘Legacy’ Burgers.
HERITAGE INTERPRETATION
WORKSHOP
Conservation is not limited to
physical intervention, but also
includes activities such as
interpretation, which can increase
the potential for the appreciation
of the significance of historic
buildings, and other cultural and
natural heritage assets. This is a
‘taster’ workshop for anyone
working in an interpretive
environment who has had no, or
only limited, formal training in the
profession of interpretive
communications. This course is
ideal for architects, curators,
planners, site managers, tourism
officers and park rangers based at
cultural, environmental and historic
sites and visitor destinations.
The course is hands-on, and will
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involve a classroom training
session followed by a walk-about
critique of the existing interpretation
and visitor presentation at Cressing
Temple Barns. Topics covered will
include Tilden’s Interpretive
Principles, recreational learning
theory, the interpretive planning
model, interpretive theme and
objective development, ‘Who’s
coming to my site?...Who isn’t!’
and evaluation techniques.
Crispian Emberson, founder of
HDC, is a highly regarded
international interpretation expert.
He is a fully qualified NAI and
NPS heritage interpretation
professional with over 30 years
experience working at a senior level
within the international heritage
tourism community.
During his career he has
undertaken a huge range of
heritage interpretation projects
for thousands of clients in over 40
countries around the world.
TOUR OF A TRADITIONAL
BRICK WORKS & GUIDED
WALK THROUGH BURY ST
EDMUNDS
This is a rare opportunity to visit
Bulmer Brick and Tile Company’s
brickworks and Bury St Edmunds
in the company of one of the
country’s leading traditional
brick-makers, Peter Minter.
You will look at and discuss the
conservation and repair of historic
rubbed and gauged brickwork.
The day will help professionals to
specify and oversee work in the
correct manner, and will also be of
interest to the enthusiastic amateur.
Date: 9am to 4.30pm
24 March 2017
Cost: £99 excluding VAT
YOUR THOUGHTS
“It was good to work on a real
life scenario, rather than in a
class room environment”
“The speaker was very good
and is obviously passionate
about work which came
across. Great use of case
studies.”
“This was an excellent event.
It was delivered with real
insight and knowledge in a
clear and meticulously
presented format. The
technical content was
delivered in an easy to
understand way.”
“I’m a trainee carpenter - the
knowledge gained from the
lecture will be very useful.
The way Joe speaks and how
he explains things was really
good for me.”
Date:10am-3pm
Tuesday 21 June
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Tutor: Crispian Emberson, HDC
International
Cost: £95 excluding VAT
A light lunch will be provided
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Each lecture will consist of two one-hour talks.
They will be of interest to conservation professionals,
architects, surveyors, and planners for specification
writing, commissioning, and site supervision, as well
as owners of historic and listed properties. A light lunch
and refreshments are included. All lectures take place
at Cressing Temple Barns unless otherwise stated.
The IHBC recognises that this programme may
provide part of the compulsory CPD requirements of
a full member.
CPD LECTURES
UNDERSTANDING HISTORIC
BRICKWORK
In this talk, the first of two courses
led by Peter Minter, we will trace
how bricks are made, from the
digging of the clay, moulding and
firing them. Peter will explain how
bricks have changed over time,
how they can be dated, what their
historic characteristics are, and
how we can attempt to match them
today. Peter is a national authority
on old and traditional brickwork,
and has been involved in the repair
of many famous buildings. He is
a director of the family firm
Bulmer Brick and Tile Ltd, a
company formed in 1936, which
produces bricks on a site where
tiles were being made as early as
the 15th century.
Date: 9.30am-12.30pm
Friday 9 September
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Tutor: Peter Minter, Bulmer Brick
and Tile Company
Cost: £65 excluding VAT
A light lunch will be provided
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have significant value themselves.
This talk will examine the
juxtaposition of trees and historic
buildings; give specific examples
and offer recommendations to
manage the relationship whilst
acknowledging the importance of
each in the wider historic
landscape.
Nick Huband is a Chartered
Engineer and Member of the
Institution of Civil Engineers.
Over many years he has
maintained a close interest in
historic and vernacular materials
and methods of construction and
has advised on works at a number
of historic buildings.
Dominic Poston has been involved
as a supervising officer and advisor
to planning teams on many
developments near trees. He
has extensive experience in the
management of large tree stocks,
and implementing the
recommendations within BS 5837.
Date: 9.30am-12.30pm
Friday 23 September
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
TREES AND HISTORIC
BUILDINGS
Speakers: Nick Huband, William J
Marshall & Partners LLP & Dominic
Poston, Place Services
Historic buildings frequently share
space with prominent trees that
Cost: £65 excluding VAT
A light lunch will be provided
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RETROFITTING HISTORIC
AND TRADITIONAL
BUILDINGS
This talk will explore the various
means of improving the
environmental performance of
traditionally built and historic
buildings, recognising that they
must play their part in reducing
greenhouse gas (carbon)
emissions, but that there are
special considerations which have
to be borne in mind – to work with
rather than fight against their
characteristics.
The importance of understanding
how the building and its users
already perform, accurately
predicting the outcome of
upgrades and targeting
improvement measures whilst
avoiding risk will be discussed.
The emerging technical research
in this field will be reviewed,
together with monitoring techniques
and practical application methods
for passive, active and renewable
systems.
With selected examples, this talk
will explain how to avoid the pitfalls
of ‘emptying the box’ characteristic
of many deep retrofit projects and
ensure the outcome of any project
is the most sustainable it can be.
Date: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Friday 7 October 2016
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
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Speaker: Jarrod Hill, Jarrod Hill
Consulting
Cost: £65 excluding VAT.
A light lunch will be provided
WORKING WITH HISTORIC
BRICKWORK: APPROACHES
TO PRACTICAL PROBLEMS
The second course presented
by Peter Minter will look at how
bricks are used in construction and
repairs, at mortars, pointing, bonds,
arches, cutting and rubbing
techniques, and terracotta. It will
cover the building of chimneys and
structural problems, and will be
extensively illustrated with
examples from Peter’s long
experience working with historic
buildings.
Date: 9.30am-12.30pm
Friday 21 October 2016
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Speaker: Peter Minter, Bulmer
Brick and Tile Company Ltd
Cost: £65 excluding VAT
A light lunch will be provided
CONSERVING THE RUINED
REMAINS OF BUILDINGS
AND STRUCTURES
The standing remains of buildings
and structures provide a valuable
resource that is rich in evidence
reflecting and expressing the
evolving knowledge, beliefs and
traditions of past generations.
Such remains can reveal designs,
construction practices and phases
of alteration that help to tell a story
and so enliven our appreciation of
what may appear to be of limited
cultural value. Further layers of
interest may appear or be added
over time, requiring greater
understanding to interpret and
present to a public that is
becoming increasingly disconnected
from its own past. The conservation
of ruined buildings and structures
requires and benefits from an inter
-disciplinary approach that brings
together technical and scientific
knowledge with practical craft skills.
This lecture will cover issues of
conservation management
planning, measured and condition
surveys, specifications, methods
of repair and consolidations,
preventive maintenance and
presentation.
Date: 9.30am-12.30pm,
Friday November 4 2016
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Speaker: David Watt, Hutton
and Rostron Environmental
Investigations Ltd
Cost: £65 excluding VAT
A light lunch will be provided
but both are aspects of valuable
historic fabric which it is important
to preserve and repair rather than
replace. Joe Bispham will look at
strategies for timber frame repair,
including case studies, and historic
joinery repair techniques, covering
specification, design and selection
of materials.
Date: 9.30am-12.30pm
Friday 18 November 2016
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
Speaker: Joe Bispham, Historic
Buildings Consultant & Contractor
Cost: £65 excluding VAT
A light lunch will be provided
EXTENSIONS TO LISTED
BUILDINGS
The changing way we live in our
houses, and what we expect of them,
mean that listed buildings are put
under great pressure to be adapted
to modern requirements. This
seminar will look at the factors that
have to be considered when
deciding whether change is possible,
and examines some possible
approaches to extension design.
Date: 9.30am-12.30pm
Friday 2 December 2016
Venue: Cressing Temple Barns
REPAIR AND CONSERVATION
OF HISTORIC JOINERY
Timber frames and joinery present
differences of scale and technique,
Speaker: Hilary Brightman and
Natalie Drewitt, Hilary Brightman
Architects & speaker tbc
Cost: £65 excluding VAT
A light lunch will be provided
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BURSARY SCHEME
BOOKING
City & Country is delighted to be able to support, for the eighth year
running, this bursary scheme which helps address a lack of traditional
building skills in the construction industry. By funding the bursary scheme
and offering free places on Traditional Building Skills courses, City &
Country is proud to be playing an important role in expanding the
knowledge and skills of craftsmen.
To confirm your booking return this form with a cheque, payable
City & Country is the market leading heritage developer in the South
with a reputation for creating outstanding developments and homes,
our schemes consistently win prestigious awards for design quality and
exceptional craftsmanship. For the past seven years the company has
won Gold or Silver in the Best Housebuilder category at the esteemed
WhatHouse? Awards, this year the company also collected two Gold
Awards in the Renovation category.
From the former Head Quarters of Fighter Command during the Battle of
Britain (Bentley Priory, Stanmore) to one of the finest examples of Arts and
Crafts Architecture of its time (King Edward VII Estate, Midhurst) and a
portfolio of listed Prisons, City & Country works on some of our country’s
most important and interesting architectural heritage. With exciting
forthcoming projects in Edinburgh, Bristol, Hampshire, Somerset,
Gloucestershire and Dorset, the importance of tradesman with the skills
and knowledge to revive these treasured buildings has never been so
great.
Find out more at www.cityandcountry.co.uk
to Essex County Council, to: Gemma Clayton, Essex County
Council, Cressing Temple Barns, Braintree, CM77 8PD.
Tel: 0333 013 2738 Email: [email protected]
Please check availability before sending in payment.
Course name:
Date of course:
Name:
Company/organisation:
Address:
Post code:
Tel:
Email:
How did you hear about our courses
To find out more about eligibility and applying for funding, please contact
Gemma Clayton.
Call 0333 013 2738 or email [email protected]
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We may use your details at a later date to gain feedback on the
courses. Help reduce the amount of paper we use. Please tick to
receive course information via email. q
Thank you.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
Paying for courses
Payment must be made in full at the time of booking.
Cancellation of course by Essex County Council
If the course is cancelled by Essex County Council we will refund you in
full or you may transfer on to another course within the same programme.
Cancellation of booking by attendees
If a booking is cancelled more than two weeks in advance of the start date
of the course we will refund you in full.
If a booking is cancelled fewer than two weeks before the course, booking
fees will not be refunded unless, the course is full and the place can be
resold.
Changes to published information
At the time of publishing all information is correct, however Essex County
Council reserves the right to make changes to the programme
if necessary.
Any people booked on these events and affected by changes will be
contacted as soon as possible.
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For more information on the courses in this booklet you can contact
us in the following ways
[email protected]
www.placeservices.co.uk
0333 013 2738
For more information on Place Services you can contact us in the
following ways
[email protected]
www.placeservices.co.uk
0333 013 6844
placeservices
Published February 2016
DS15_5056
The Traditional Building Skills and Conservation programme is
delivered by Place Services, a leading provider of integrated
environmental assessment, planning, design and management
services