2023 Programme

(Please note timings may be subject to change)

9.00AM Historic Buildings Parks & Gardens Event opens. All day Exhibition of products and services with 75 exhibitors.

Tea, coffee and refreshments available, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall. 

9.45AM Demonstration from SPAB Guardian, Lynn Mathias, Director of Mathias Brick and Flint and expert in Gauged Brickwork, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall,  Stand E64.

9.45AM Adam Architecture, Short talk on Upgrading historic building’s energy performance and efficiency Sustainability expert Dr Martina Pacifici talks about the importance of the UK’s historic building stock in the context of the climate change and UK Net-Zero policy; upgrading energy performance and efficiency, possible increases in value, reduction in operational costs and achievement of high-profile energy certifications, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 2.

10.00AM Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers, Heritage and History | The Price of Provenance, The importance of ‘Provenance’ in adding value to items consigned to sale whether it be silver, furniture, Jewellery or works of art etc, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 1.

10.00AM Cliveden Conservation, Practical demonstration of how to protect historic statues and decorative stonework from frost and water damage with the application of Winter Covers, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Stand E61.

10.20AM Crown and Canopy, Glamping and the wonderful world of luxury outdoor accommodation, 12 years in, what are the opportunities, options, and an industry update, With many shapes and forms, glamping is a broad term for what is now a very broad church. A discussion led by industry experts on what the opportunity can mean for an estate or historical house. Learn more about where the opportunities lie, where the industry is at, and the options for development and likely returns. E59 & Demo Area 1.

10.30AM Building Crafts College, Practical demos in woodcarving. Arthur Campbell, student at the BCC gives a woodwork practical demo, cutting dovetail joints and assembling all the elements of a cabinet draw, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 2.

10.30AM Hostology, Improving event management efficiency, Phil Godsal, chair of Historic Houses Wales gives a short presentation for venues interested in improving event management efficiency, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 1.

11.00AM Demonstration from SPAB Guardian, Lynn Mathias, Director of Mathias Brick and Flint and expert in Gauged Brickwork, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Stand E64.

11.00AM Historic Houses AGM (Historic House Members only), Churchill Auditorium 

11.30AM Address by Martha Cobbold, Historic Houses President*, Churchill Auditorium 

11.50AM Historic Houses Guest Speaker *, Lord Parkinson, Churchill Auditorium 

12.00PM Historic Houses Awards *, Churchill Auditorium 

12.15PM Building Crafts College, Practical demos in woodcarving. Arthur Campbell, student at the BCC gives a woodwork practical demo, cutting dovetail joints and assembling all the elements of a cabinet draw, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 2.

12.30PM Cliveden Conservation, Practical demonstration of how to protect historic statues and decorative stonework from frost and water damage with the application of Winter Covers, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Stand E61.

1.30PM Crown and Canopy, Glamping and the wonderful world of luxury outdoor accommodation, 12 years in, what are the opportunities, options, and an industry update, With many shapes and forms, glamping is a broad term for what is now a very broad church. A discussion led by industry experts on what the opportunity can mean for an estate or historical house. Learn more about where the opportunities lie, where the industry is at, and the options for development and likely returns. E59 & Demo Area 1.

2.00PM Historic Houses Savills Lecture*, Lord Montagu, Churchill Auditorium

2.15PM Demonstration from SPAB Guardian, Lynn Mathias, Director of Mathias Brick and Flint and expert in Gauged Brickwork, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Stand E64

2.30PM Building Crafts College, Practical demos in stone carving, Adeline Wartner. Tutor at the BCC will be giving a stone carving demo, Carving a Tudor rose, the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England. It consists of five inner petals representing the House of York, and five outer petals representing the House of Lancaster, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 2.

2.30PM Historic Houses Panel Discussion: ‘The past, present and future of Historic Houses’*, Julie Montagu, Penny Cobham and Norman Hudson and Ewan Frost-Pennington, Churchill Auditorium

3.15PM  SPAB Technical & Research Director, Douglas Kent, Short talk on ‘Key Tips for dealing with Dampness’, Dampness is the biggest cause of deterioration in buildings. Standard solutions that are used to treat dampness in modern properties may be highly inappropriate and ineffective in traditionally constructed (pre-c1919) ones. In order to successfully treat dampness problems it is important to understand their nature and causes, how to accurately diagnose them and the range of methods suitable for their control in older buildings. This talk will offer a few pointers, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 1 

3.15PM Anniversary Reception, Britten Lounge (Historic Houses members ticket only)

4.00PM Celebrating 50 Years, Special Address by Ben Cowell Director General, Historic Houses, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 2

4.15PM Building Crafts College, Practical demos in stone carving, Adeline Wartner. Tutor at the BCC will be giving a stone carving demo, Carving a Tudor rose, the traditional floral heraldic emblem of England. It consists of five inner petals representing the House of York, and five outer petals representing the House of Lancaster, 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Demo Area 2.

4.30PM Demonstration from SPAB Guardian, Lynn Mathias, Director of Mathias Brick and Flint and expert in Gauged Brickwork. 3rd Floor Exhibition Hall, Stand E64.

*By kind permission of Historic Houses and subject to seating availability