HISTORIC BUILDINGS - a sustainable future

CONFERENCE 2009

THE PRIORY CENTRE, ABERGAVENNY, MONMOUTHSHIRE, WALES

FRIDAY 26 JUNE 10.00am – 4.30pm

The Village Alive Trust (in partnership with Cadw, Monmouthshire County Council and The Civic Trust Wales) offers a unique opportunity to attend a Conference at Abergavenny in the heart of the beautiful Welsh Borders, close to the Brecon Beacons and easily accessible by rail and road from London, Cardiff and all parts of the UK.

The Conference is for:

• owners interested in making the most of their historic domestic, commercial, church or farm building
• professional advisors for historic buildings
• providers of traditional materials and building techniques

The Conference will feature:

• Keynote speaker Richard Keen: a specialist in the industrial history and archaeology of Wales. He has made over forty television programmes and published many books and articles on various aspects of Welsh history and landscape. He was formerly a Curator for the National Museum of Wales and then an Advisor to the National Trust for many years. He has been a member of the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales and is now Chairman of the Historic Buildings Advisory Council for Wales.
• Cliff Blundell: author and the Building Limes consultant to the Aberglasney Restoration Trust in Carmarthenshire, who has been responsible for “saving” over fifty buildings in West Wales from the destructive effects of modern materials. A director of The Lime Company of West Wales, he teaches on courses throughout Britain for The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (S.P.A.B.) and through the Society for the R.I.C.S and the National Trust. He sits on the National Committee of the Building Limes Forum and is on the advisory panel to the National Heritage Training Group.
  
• Michael Davies: architect and BBC presenter, graduated from the Welsh School of Architecture in 1987 and went on to study building conservation at the Architectural Association in London. He formed Davies Sutton Architects in 1993, which has now become one of the most respected conservation practices in the country. Some of his more notable works include the restoration of Sker House, Glamorgan, which received a RIBA Award; the Shell Grotto in Pontypool Park; and new visitor centres in Caerphilly Castle, Aberdulias Falls, and Raglan Castle. Michael is the Cathedral Architect to St. Woolos in Newport and regularly lectures on building conservation. One of his particular interests is how new buildings can fit into an historic setting. Michael also presented the television series 'Discovering Welsh Houses'.
• Geraldine Delaney: Historic Buildings Consultant, has a wealth of experience in many areas of the Built Heritage Environment and Rural and Urban Regeneration. Working extensively in Community Development and Community-Based Education and Training and with the Voluntary Sector, she has developed and managed both SRB projects and schemes. She also has over 20 years construction management experience and has successfully developed funds from a variety of public and private sources. More recently, as Development Officer (Wales) for the UK Association of Preservation Trusts, she worked with Building Preservation Trusts in all areas of constitutional and business development and heritage projects development and management. She is now Consultant Director with Heritage and Regeneration UK currently working in development of projects with the Cardigan Castle and Cadwgan Trusts (Cardigan Castle) and Narberth Museum Trust (Narberth Bonded Stores).
  
• Edward Holland: projects advisor for The Prince's Regeneration Trust, was for many years, an Inspector of Historic Buildings for Cadw. He then became a Curator with the National Trust advising on the conservation and presentation of the North Wales properties. In 2001 he moved back to South Wales as Conservation Manager for Monmouthshire County Council and in 2006 took up his present post where he supports heritage regeneration projects throughout the UK. Edward lives in Abergavenny and is Vice-President of the Village Alive Trust.
  
• Simon Robertshaw: the Conservation Manager at Monmouthshire County Council, initially joined the local authority in 2004. By training he is a Chartered Surveyor who qualified in 1990 within the Planning and Development division of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. After over ten years in private practice, primarily in central London, he completed a Masters in Historic Building Conservation at Bath University in 2003. In the summer of 2003 he worked at the Palace of Westminster before coming to Monmouthshire.

The Conference Programme

10.00am Conference Opens with Richard Keen Keynote Speaker

10.15am – 11.00am

Demystifying Listed Buildings
Working on historic buildings for over 20 years, Michael Davies will try to simplify the complexities of listed buildings, and how to approach their repair and restoration. He will explore the beginnings of conservation, different attitudes and philosophies, and the art of compromise.

Coffee 11.00am – 11.15am

11.20am – 11.40am

Precious Inheritance - The Conservation of Welsh Vernacular Buildings
Cliff Blundell will present a well-grounded and informative case for repairing and conserving old buildings using traditional and non-harmful materials and methods. He makes a passionate case for the principles of minimal intervention, concern for the environment and the community, and sustainability.

11.45am – 12.15am

Recycling of Historic Buildings
Why do we not think in terms of recycling historic buildings? We are all increasingly conscious at home and at work of the need to reduce energy consumption and to recycle whatever we can. In the same way we should maximise appropriate opportunities to recycle our historic buildings. Too often an historic building is seen as wholly redundant when the use for which it was built ceases. Through examples, the talk will aim to demonstrate how historic buildings can be given new uses and can deliver social and economic regeneration in the process; how their re-use can engender a sense of place and local distinctiveness and how their recycling is environmentally the most sustainable option.

12.20am – 12.40am

Small things make a big difference
Geraldine Delaney will outline the vital role that communities and individuals have to play in saving and developing longer term sustainability for heritage buildings. True sustainability comes from finding new and sustainable uses for an historic building or structure, or working with owners to protect the heritage. She will provide an insight into building conservation and preservation trusts and the many successful projects that have been given new life by community involvement in urban, industrial and rural settings across the UK and in Wales.

Buffet Lunch 12.45am – 1.45pm

2.00pm (variable depending on presenter)

The Village Alive Trust Building Conservation Awards 2009 will be presented at the Conference and there will be a photographic display of winning conservation in Monmouthshire.

2.30pm – 2.50pm

Going with the grain - Planning to Enhance your Traditional Building
For those wishing to carry out building work that requires planning consent the planning system can often seem extremely complicated and sometimes confusing. This talk endeavours to unweave some of the processes, explaining the role of the local planning authority and their objectives. An explanation of who has an input on the application process will be given, together with information on the role of the national bodies that are consulted. There will be guidance in relation to what are the key factors in achieving a successful application and what are the primary requirements when submitting an application. Examples will be given to illustrate some projects that have achieved success.

3.00pm – 3.30pm

Guided tour of the award-winning restoration of St. Mary’s Priory Tithe Barn and Exhibition Centre.

 

A post-conference brochure aimed at Listed home owners will be available to local authorities and others in the autumn.

A programme of visits to The Village Alive Trust projects (including Great Trerhew Barn Listed grade II*) will be arranged for THURSDAY 25TH JUNE with (optional) transport to and from Abergavenny Rail / Bus Station from 2.00pm. PLEASE BOOK.

A Pre- Conference Dinner will be held at the recently restored Kings Arms, Abergavenny, where accommodation is also available, on the evening of THURSDAY 25TH JUNE 7.30pm for 8.00pm where overnight accommodation may also be booked.

Cost for the Conference, including morning coffee / biscuits and buffet lunch:

• £25 individuals (discount price £20 for bookings made before 30th April 2009)
  
• £55 companies and public bodies for each participant (the IHBC indicates that the Conference may be counted as CPD)
• Pre conference 3-course organic, locally sourced dinner at The Kings Arms, Abergavenny 7.30pm for 8.00pm @ £20.00 each
• Tour of Village Alive Sites THURSDAY 25TH JUNE (transport from Abergavenny rail / bus Station from 2.00pm) @ £5.00 each
  

Booking: A completed application form and fee (cheques payable to The Village Alive Trust) should be sent as soon as possible to
The Conference Secretary, School House, Llangattock Lingoed, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 8RR