Demonstrations

Live demonstrations and short talks programme 2024

Held throughout the day, experts will demonstrate practical skills, conservation techniques and give short talks on issues including:

PRACTICAL DEMOS

Decorative Objects Conservation, Covering, care, cleaning, handling and damage restoration (including porcelain, fine china, terracotta and earthenware)
Stonemasonry, 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.
Woodcarving, A practical demo, cutting dovetail joints and assembling all the elements of a cabinet draw.
Creating Stunning Plasterworks. From original design concept to installation. Design Sketch, Architectural drawing and render, Model and sculpture, Moulding process, Manufacture, Installation

SHORT TALKS

Collections Management Lighting, display, temperature regulation, inventory management, listing, auditing, conservation: practicality and cost efficiency.
Climate change adaption and resilience for historic buildings and gardens.
Renewable energy technologies, advantages and pitfalls
Controlling Dampness in Older Buildings

There will also be a SPAB Technical Advice Surgery. Once registered for the event you can pre book your slot. If you need free, friendly and impartial technical help with an old building, you can have direct assistance from the SPAB tailored to answer your query.

We are adding to the programme all the time, so please check back regularly, but already confirmed are:

ART ADVISORY GROUP

Crispian Riley–Smith, Founder, Short talk on Collections Management which considers, Lighting and displaying to best effect. Heating: impact and options, Inventory management: listing and auditing, Conservation: practicality and cost efficiency.

BUILDING CRAFTS COLLEGE

Practical demos in Stonemasonry and woodcarving by Max Higgins and Piers Shorrock.

Max Higgins, Mason in residence, 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.

Piers Shorrock, student, at the BCC gives a woodwork practical demo, cutting dovetail joints and assembling all the elements of a cabinet draw.

FINE ART RESTORATION

Amy, Decorative Objects Conservator, will demonstrate Decorative Objects Conservation including how to care, clean and handle decorative objects (including porcelain, fine china, terracotta and earthenware) within historic properties as well as what to do when damage occurs and the results restoration can achieve.

INGLETON WOOD

Morwenna Slade (Director, Climate Change) – Climate change adaption and resilience for historic buildings and gardens: headline hazards, implications and actions.

Peter Webb (Director Building Services) – Renewable Energy Technologies: advantages and pitfalls of air, ground, and water source heat pumps, biomass boilers, HVO boilers, direct electric heating.

LOCKER & RILEY

Ryan Stanford, artisan in Plaster will be giving a practical demonstration to take you through the story of originating and creating stunning plasterworks for any use or specification. From original design concept to installation. Covering: Designer’s Sketch/Concept, Architectural drawing and render to show the concept and moulding, Model and sculpture of the item, Moulding process, Manufacture and Installation.

SPAB

Douglas Kent, SPAB Head of Technical and Research will be giving a short talk on Controlling Dampness in Older Buildings. Most forms of deterioration affecting buildings in the UK result from excessive moisture. Despite being commonplace, dampness problems are widely misdiagnosed with resources frequently being wasted on damaging and ineffective treatments. This talk offers a few pointers on how to treat dampness successfully in older (pre-1919) buildings.

The SPAB team will also be offering an advice surgery throughout the day (you can book your slot to guarantee a place).

Meet the experts

Building Crafts College, The SPAB, The Victorian Society, William Morris Society, London Gardens Trust, Professional Gardeners Guild, The Gardens Trust and many specialist organisations, suppliers and professionals are on hand to help with all aspects of historic buildings, landscape and heritage conservation.