To help mark the IHBC’s 25th anniversary – #IHBC25 – IHBC’s East Midlands (EM) Branch opened a day of celebration and learning at The National Trust’s Hardwick Hall on 27 March, when Ramona Usher, IHBC Professional Development Officer, also offered advice on the institute’s accreditation support MATE sessions.
image: Felix Mayle
… opportunity to hear…. the work including the Conservation Management Plan, building design, architectural history and archaeology….
Jude Wheeler, the IHBC’s Branch Liaison & Volunteer Support Officer, who helped many Branches apply for dedicated funding to deliver IHBC25-linked events, said: ‘It was wonderful to see the way the IHBC25 funding could help so many members get together in person to mark this special anniversary and get some great-value IHBC CPD.’
‘The day offered attendees the opportunity to engage in a wide range of stimulating discussions: ‘presentation versus conservation’; witnessing first-hand the effect of sunlight, not only on textiles, but also on stone; securing scaffolding for historic building work; and how photogrammetry can aid surveys.’
IHBC East Midlands Branch and Jude Wheeler write:
The full CPD day evolved around recent research and current National Trust projects with the opportunity to hear from project team members on aspects of the work including the Conservation Management Plan, building design, architectural history and archaeology. The day embraced all the IHBC’s Areas of Competence, (and Competences).
Roy Lewis, IHBC Policy Secretary and a stalwart of the East Midlands Branch, welcomed guests and reflected on the IHBC’s 25 years, highlighting the long-standing involvement with conservation at Hardwick Hall.
Moving to the High Great Chamber, Dr Karey Draper (Caroe Architecture) gave a talk on ‘The History of Hardwick Hall and the Conservation Management Plan’. Karey talked in-depth about the holistic and multi-disciplinary approach needed to prepare a Management Plan for a site as complex as Hardwick Hall and how the plan will inform the evolution of Hardwick moving forward.
This was followed by a talk on ‘New insights into Hardwick Hall discovered while undertaking a historic building report for the CMP’ given by Dr. Adam Menuge (University of Cambridge). Adam gave an insightful talk into his experience of recording the fabric of Hardwick Hall and how this had developed understanding of the building.
The attendees split into two groups, one led by Karey, another by Adam where attendees benefitted from the first-hand experience and knowledge of such experts, with the added bonus of being able to ask questions directly and getting further clarification. Liz Waring, Property Curator, talked about the living history of the building: at some point in history dogs were raced along the Long Gallery, this discovery was based on scientific analysis of historic dog urine.
A tasty lunch was provided before re-convening in the High Great Chamber to hear Oliver Jessop (The Jessop Consultancy) give a talk on recent archaeological recording of the exterior elevations, through which a significant series of mason’s marks had been found. Oliver also talked about the techniques used in recording the fabric including photogrammetry which is the science of creating 2D or 3D models from a series of photographs.
Mark Balkham (Rodney Melville & Partners) has been involved at Hardwick Hall for many years, he spoke about the overarching approach to conserving Hardwick Hall through development of ten-year plans, and the trials and tribulations of making changes to such a highly significant building. Yves Carew (Rodney Melville), Hardwick’s incumbent project architect talked about securing funding for works, navigating the consent process and the difficult task of affixing a scaffold to Hardwick Hall without intervention into the fabric of the building, as it transpired the scaffold was wrapped around the towers to hold it in place.
Delegates then moved outside, the weather fortunately remaining fine, and benefitted again from the first-hand experience of Oliver, Mark and Yves, pointing out various conservation issues and solutions, and being able to view first-hand the loggia column repairs, inspiring some interesting discussions amongst attendees.
Delegates then returned to the High Great Chamber for a Question & Answer Session, followed by Matt Bentley, Chair of IHBC East Midlands Branch closing the day and thanking all involved in making the day so successful, noting how valuable it was to have the opportunity to meet in person and glean from experts with first-hand experience.
See links to all IHBC Branches, and Branch and volunteer guidance HERE
