[HBP#31] - James Kenton - Conservation Secrets with a National Trust Architect

From Archaeology to Heritage Planning: Andrew Rudge on Managing Change, Sustainability & Inconsistent Decisions *🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps.* Welcome to the Heritage Buildings Podcast! Host Vincent Read welcomes Andrew Rudge, Regional Historic Environment Director at Landpro in Birmingham, to discuss his career journey from environmental archaeology and archaeological science into field archaeology, historic building recording, curatorial heritage roles (including Cornwall County Council and Historic England), and finally consultancy supporting clients through development. They explore what draws people from archaeology into historic buildings, the detective work of understanding building change, and the importance of storytelling. The conversation examines sustainability, local materials, and how post-war pressures and later-20th-century practices contributed to more disposable construction. Andrew and Vincent discuss the often inconsistent relationship between heritage and planning, resourcing gaps, risk-averse decision-making, impacts on homeowners, and the need for better communication and access to skilled specialists. Andrew outlines his new role building Landpro’s Midlands heritage offer across varied projects. Topics covered include: Andrew Rudge's journey from archaeology to heritage planning consultancy Understanding historic buildings through investigation, recording, and storytelling Traditional building materials, sustainability, and construction waste The influence of post-war development on Britain's building culture Challenges and inconsistencies within the heritage planning system The impact of planning decisions on homeowners and building conservation Improving guidance, communication, and access to trusted specialists Building Landpro's Midlands heritage consultancy and conservation team

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps. Welcome to the Heritage Buildings Podcast! In this episode, Vincent Reed sits down with Louis Curtis, founder of Breakspear Conservation, to discuss his journey from school and kitchen fitting into conservation carpentry and specialist timber frame repair across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Buckinghamshire. Curtis shares how he developed his skills through the Building Crafts College and specialist timber frame repair courses, as well as a formative early project repairing a major eight-bay barn. He explains how enthusiasm, practical problem-solving, and a willingness to take on challenging work helped him establish his career in conservation. The conversation also explores the realities of running a small conservation business, including pricing work on historic buildings, managing unknowns, investigating existing structures, and setting realistic expectations with clients. Curtis discusses completing the MSc in Timber Building Conservation at the Weald and Downland Museum, support from the QUEST Scholarship and business training, his dissertation research into historic lime finishes and evidence of formerly plastered timber frames, and an experimental archaeology project in Copenhagen recreating a 1620 Stock Exchange roof truss using traditional tools. Topics covered include: • Louis Curtis's journey into conservation carpentry and specialist timber frame repair • Training at the Building Crafts College and learning through practical experience • Repairing historic timber frames, including a major eight-bay barn • Running a small conservation business, pricing work, and managing unknowns in old buildings • The MSc in Timber Building Conservation, QUEST Scholarship, and business training • Research into historic lime finishes, formerly plastered timber frames, and experimental archaeology • Recreating a 1620 Stock Exchange roof truss in Copenhagen using traditional tools Whether you're a conservation carpenter, timber framer, architect, building surveyor, heritage professional, student, or simply passionate about historic buildings and traditional craftsmanship, this episode offers valuable insights into the skills, research, and practical challenges involved in conserving Britain's historic timber buildings.

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps. Welcome to the Heritage Buildings Podcast! In this episode, Vincent Reed sits down with Zoe Hooton, Specialist Conservation Architect and Director at HPA Architects and Woohoo, alongside Jessica Barrow, Heritage Consultant and Director at both HPA Architects and Woohoo. They discuss how conservation architects and heritage consultants work together to deliver successful listed building, historic building conservation, and heritage planning projects. From early collaboration and pre-application advice to working with conservation officers, they share practical insights into navigating the UK planning system. The conversation also explores the challenges facing heritage conservation, including inconsistent planning decisions, reduced conservation resources, managing change in historic buildings, and balancing heritage significance with modern requirements. They also share lessons from their work on Lancaster Castle's Well Tower (Witches' Tower). Topics covered include: • What does a conservation architect do? • The role of a heritage consultant in listed building projects • Historic building conservation and adaptive reuse • Listed Building Consent and heritage planning permission • Working with conservation officers and local planning authorities • Heritage statements, significance assessments, and public benefit • Pre-application advice and avoiding planning delays • Managing change in historic buildings and conservation best practice • Challenges facing UK heritage planning after COVID-19 • Conservation of Lancaster Castle's Well Tower (Witches' Tower) • Balancing accessibility, archaeology, fire safety, and conservation • Why collaboration leads to better heritage outcomes Whether you're an architect, heritage consultant, planning professional, building surveyor, student, or simply passionate about historic buildings, listed buildings, and heritage conservation, this episode offers valuable insights into conserving Britain's built heritage. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps (Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section) 00:00 Podcast Introduction 01:35 Meet Zoe and Jess 02:16 How They First Met 04:19 From Council to Collaboration 08:26 Architect vs Heritage Consultant 11:33 Managed Change and Tradeoffs 14:45 Team Decisions and Stakeholders 18:01 Working Together With Clients 21:41 Pre-Application Advice Explained 23:48 Planning System Frustrations 29:32 Skill Shortages and DIY Heritage 33:04 Bad Heritage Statements and Myths 38:06 Delisting a Troubled Hotel 44:59 Non-Designated Heritage Challenges 46:20 Listed Windows and Proportionate Info 47:57 Restoring Timber Windows 48:31 Why People Skip Consent 48:47 Fixing The Planning Process 50:11 Training And Better Tools 51:10 Hastings Fishing Heritage 52:54 Intangible Heritage And Gentrification 01:00:07 Have We Gone Too Far 01:06:37 Lancaster Castle Witches Tower 01:15:26 Budgets Samples And Surprises 01:21:33 Bring Trades In Early 01:22:35 Heritage Action Zone Wins 01:27:19 Where To Find Them 01:29:41 Conservation Community And Events 01:32:47 Final Thanks And Goodbye

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps. Welcome to the Heritage Buildings Podcast! In this episode, Vincent Reed sits down with Nigel Castell, an experienced gilder and antique restoration specialist, to explore the traditional craft of water gilding and gold leaf application. Nigel shares his journey into antique restoration at just 17 and explains how he learned traditional gilding skills through hands-on, bench-based training. He takes us through the complete water gilding process, from preparing wood and applying rabbit skin size and gesso, to sanding, gesso cutting, preparing clay bole, laying gold leaf, and finally burnishing with agate stones. The conversation also explores the differences between water gilding and oil gilding, the tools and materials used by traditional gilders, the challenges of working with gold leaf, and why these specialist craftsmanship skills are becoming increasingly rare. Topics covered include: • Nigel's journey into antique restoration and traditional gilding • Learning gilding techniques at the bench • Preparing wood, gesso, and rabbit skin size • Gesso application, sanding, and cutting • Yellow ochre and traditional clay bole • Preparing and applying gold leaf • Traditional gilding tools and techniques • Water gilding vs oil gilding • Repairing and gilding carved decorative details • Burnishing gold with agate stones • The time, skill, and cost involved in traditional gilding • Preserving traditional craftsmanship and heritage skills Whether you're a gilder, conservator, antique restorer, architect, heritage professional, or simply interested in traditional craftsmanship, this episode offers a fascinating insight into the techniques and expertise behind traditional water gilding, gold leaf, and historic restoration. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps (Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section) 00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:17 Meet Nigel Castell 01:47 How He Started 04:37 Learning at the Bench 08:41 Gilding Process Overview 09:41 Cleaning and Prep 10:58 Rabbit Skin Size Basics 14:31 Thin White Primer 17:36 Hot Gesso Application 28:45 Coats and Period Styles 33:59 Sanding and Gesso Cutting 35:52 Puttying and Abrasives 38:46 Wet Sanding Gesso 40:21 Matte Finish for Gilding 42:35 Sealing Coat Yellow Ochre 44:22 Matching Period Yellows 48:54 Bole and Clay Basics 52:26 Applying Gold Size Coats 59:34 Sanding and Buffing Bole 01:04:25 Water vs Oil Gilding 01:12:51 Proper Gold Leaf Handling 01:15:42 Gold Leaf Book Basics 01:17:37 Gilding Cushion Setup 01:18:39 Gilding Knife Cutting 01:20:06 Handheld Tool Workflow 01:23:44 Wetting and Laying Gold 01:29:28 Overlaps and Fault Repairs 01:30:21 Gilding Carved Details 01:32:25 Costs and Time Reality 01:33:12 Burnishing with Agate 01:41:19 Craft Preservation Wrap-Up Connect with Nigel Castell using the links below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-castell-82a82a337/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butler_and_castell_restoration/ https://www.instagram.com/reepham_antiques/ Website: www.butlerandcasstell.co.uk 🔗 Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association https://heritagebuildingsassociation.com Click here to join the conversation: https://heritagebuildings.forum/share 👉 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share this video to support the heritage buildings community! #Gilding #GoldLeaf #GildingTechniques

🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps. Welcome to the Heritage Buildings Podcast! In this episode, Vincent Reed sits down with Pierre Bidaud, an experienced French stonemason, heritage conservation specialist, and advocate for innovative stone construction. Pierre shares his journey from joining Les Compagnons du Devoir to spending nine years travelling across France and the UK, restoring some of Europe's most important historic buildings, including Gloucester Cathedral. Along the way, he discusses the craftsmanship, precision, and passion behind traditional stonemasonry and heritage restoration. Discover how historic stone buildings are repaired using centuries-old techniques, from setting out and templating to hand-carving decorative details and assessing natural stone. Pierre also explores how modern engineering is transforming the industry through post-tensioned stone, prefabrication, and sustainable products like Rock Block and Augmented Stone, helping shape the future of low-carbon construction. Topics covered include: • Pierre's journey through Les Compagnons du Devoir • Restoring historic buildings including Gloucester Cathedral • Traditional stonemasonry and architectural stone carving • Stone setting out, templating, and repair techniques • Assessing natural stone and conservation best practices • The emotional connection between craftspeople and historic buildings • Post-tensioned and prefabricated structural stone • Sustainable stone construction and low-carbon building materials • Rock Block, Augmented Stone, and the future of natural stone Whether you're a stonemason, architect, conservation professional, heritage enthusiast, or simply fascinated by traditional building crafts, this episode offers valuable insights into both the timeless skills and exciting innovations shaping the world of heritage construction.