West Dean College Of Arts And Conservation has announced its first blended online and practice-based training in Building Conservation, supported by a grant from Historic England.
image: West Dean
…Historic England to fund a pilot of courses…
… learn how to analyse historic mortars and recognise defects…
West Dean writes:
The first course Mortars for Repair and Conservation is on Monday, December 7 to Tuesday, December 8, 2020, comprising a 2-day practical workshop complemented by online units. The Building Conservation Masterclass is bookable now, with the online element to be done in advance starting from Monday, November 23, 2020.
Targeted at architects, surveyors, engineers, stonemasons, carpenters, bricklayers, conservators and graduates, this course offers the opportunity to learn how to analyse historic mortars and recognise defects commonly found on historic structures. It will enable students to carry out condition assessment and develop and evaluate appropriate remedial work options. Students will learn how to prepare and apply lime-based mortars using a range of methods, materials, and tools.
All the courses will incorporate “hands on” practical exercises where students carry out repair techniques on the purpose-built Ruinette on-site at the College, along with two weeks of online learning (approx. 5 hours per week, 10 hours total) which will be accessible in the students’ own time, with scheduled online support. This blended learning approach delivers more flexibility for students and reduces the cost and time impact of professional development for building conservators.
As Catherine Woolfitt, Subject Leader of Historic Building Conservation at West Dean College, explains: “In June, West Dean College of Arts and Conservation was awarded a grant of £47,564 by Historic England to fund a pilot of courses that blended online and on-site approaches to learning. The grant comes from Historic England’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund, set up to help heritage organisations that have been affected by the impact of Coronavirus by providing grants to help them survive the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic, and to prepare for recovery. The aim is to make building conservation more accessible, to widen participation and provide the knowledge and skills necessary to conserve our irreplaceable historic environment.”
She continues: “This course is open to anyone with an interest in historic buildings and their conservation. It is designed for those with some knowledge of building conservation who wish to develop their practical skills and experience. Students on building conservation courses typically include a mix of building professionals and practitioners. Participants normally find that interaction with others on the course is a key part of their learning experience. Learners with no knowledge in the field of building conservation may find they need to do additional reading or other work to benefit fully from the course.”…
See more background
