8 C O N T E X T 1 2 5 : J U LY 2 0 1 2 Consequently its grants, though invaluable, are small in relation to the total expenditure required. For those unfamiliar with the trust’s work, Andrew Savage, its executive director, outlines its formation in 1985, its operational management, and eight case studies of its involvement with, for example, the Newcastle High Level Bridge and the Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash. There are five other papers. One deals with the controversy surround the completion of the Silent Valley dam, a major source of water for Belfast. Begun in 1923, it was the subject of arbitration over parts of the construction from 1926 to 1933.The paper by Philip TA Donald explores the involvement of the engineers and lawyers. Donald lays bare certain untruths about the outcomes that he maintains have been allowed to circulate unjustly for over 80 years. For those involved in classical architecture, Jacques Hayman provides an interesting short paper on interpretations of the phrase scamilli impares, sometimes left untranslated in editions of Vitruvius.The scamilli occur where small geometrical refinements are prescribed for the construction of Greek temples. Opinion is divided as to whether scamilli were some sort of physical aid to the surveying process or more abstract, such as a system of measurement. Other papers deal with subjects as internationally diverse as ancient underground aquaducts in Oman (the aflaj system) now designated as world heritage sites; the evolution of late 19th century large-truss road bridges in New SouthWales; and the career of Russianborn engineer Vladimir Bodiansky, and what this tells us about the gradual change of status of engineers in France in the inter-war period. The latest Transactions of the Association for the Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings (Vol 34 2011) [sic] has recently appeared, presenting wellillustrated subjects in greater depth than is often permissible in most other serial heritage publications. This year the volume was supported by a generous bequest from Corinne Bennett, who died in 2010. Some longstanding IHBC members will well recall during the Brighton Annual School a memorable and highly illuminating tour of the recently restored roofs of Brighton Pavilion led by Corinne. Aspects of her work on that incredible building, together with her work at Wilton House andWinchester Cathedral, are the subject of appreciations by Jill Channer, DuncanWilson and Gary Seymour. Corinne Bennett (and Harry Fairhurst, who died in 2011) is also central to a description by Richard Halsey of the early years of the English Heritage Cathedral Repair grant scheme. Halsey explains how their work greatly contributed to the 20 years of concentrated effort to bring English cathedrals into a good state of repair. He describes the tensions between the Association of English Cathedrals and English Heritage about the latter’s role, and the concerns expressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Prime Minister in 1990 that ‘a proper evaluation of need and the resources available’ should be undertaken in part because of ‘real anxiety among cathedral architects’ about the role of English Heritage. To assuage these concerns, the then English Heritage chief executive Jenny Page agreed to set up a dedicated cathedrals team rather than farm the work out regionally. Halsey’s fascinating resume of the tortuous administrative and political difficulties that were overcome defines aspects of a scheme the like of which we shall not see again. The need to fully understand exceptional significance is demonstrated by an article by Eleni Makri about her painstaking work to stabilise the east parados wall at the Theatre of Dionysos in Athens. This urgent monument preservation, undertaken over a number of years, was completed in 2005. Successful conservation required an understanding of the history of this 6th century BC structure, only rediscovered in the second half of the 19th century, assisted by photographic records of subsequent attempts to conserve it. Such documentation (as in the Swedish case above) enabled an appreciation to be formed of the mechanisms of its decay and structural failure, and provided a basis for the philosophical and technical appraisal of the proposals adopted for its eventual conservation. In the last Periodically, reference was made to an article by Dante Vanoli of Purcell Miller Tritton about the conservation and re-servicing of the Arab Hall at Leighton House, Holland Park (listed Grade II*). The subject reappears in the Transactions. This is also worth perusal as it has more colour illustrations, which helpfully underscore the slightly different emphasis on the treatment of historic finishes. Historic finishes proved almost the least of the difficulties facing the English Heritage project, described by Nick Hill, to rescue the JW Evans silverware factory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The premises, which had been in one ownership from the company’s foundation in 1881 to its closure in 2008, are a unique and remarkably complete survival. The application of the philosophy of conserve as found (preservation in situ and untouched) was taken to its logical extreme. It encouraged a radical approach to preserving the extraordinary atmosphere of the interior on a scale never previously attempted in the UK. Sadly, towards the end the manufacturing skills employed were almost as close to extinction as the business itself. The silvermaking processes have been preserved by a documentary film archive. This is a case where there is not a truly ‘living’ heritage and, if there was, it would almost certainly compromise the remarkable fabric if public access was to be allowed on a commercial scale. Bob Kindred MBE transactions volume 34 2011 AssociAtion for studies in the conservAtion of historic buildings ice | proceedings www.engineeringhistoryandheritage.com ISSN1757-9430 ICEPublishing ICEProceedings EngineeringHistoryandHeritage Volume165 IssueEH2 May2012 Engineering History and Heritage Volume165 IssueEH2 May2012
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