C O N T E X T 1 3 4 : M A Y 2 0 1 4 9 canal to encourage greater use, but reinstatement of historic gate designs is sometimes considered unsuitable for locks that have statutory protection. Information about original designs and subsequent alterations therefore becomes significant when deciding what type of replacement gates should be used.The author explains the reasons for replacing modern lock gates with those of a traditional design. A very dramatic set of photographs accompanies the article by Jeremy Foster concerning the rebuilding of the clock tower atWoolwich Arsenal. With the 90 per cent of the overall site development complete, a large earth-moving digger almost completely destroyed the Grade II listed 1803 clock tower.The article is informative about the rigorous investigation, adherence to traditional detailing and careful minimal intervention to recover the situation after the cupola had fallen into the building, badly damaging the walls. Foster sets the repairs in the context of current conservation principles. As such a dramatic and successful recovery and reinstatement is not often clearly documented, this article is well worth reading. On a more historical note, Nicholas Bill provides the first comprehensive review of the safety record of the thousands of British timber railway bridges built in the 30 years from 1840. Having evaluated accidents associated with these bridges, the author notes that, despite problems with decay, they proved considerably safer than those built of cast-iron. Of the thousands completed in the UK, none failed while in use. The final article highlights the career of ‘supreme’ resident engineer Frederick Cooper (1841-1933). He is a man much less well known than his major projects: the London Underground Circle and Central Lines and the Firth of Forth Railway Bridge. The latest ASCHBTransactions (Vol 36, 2013 [sic]) commences with some reflections by Richard Harris on the conservation of theWeald and Downland Museum at Singleton,West Sussex. First, Harris provides a European context for the development of open air museums and shows what a relatively late developer theWeald and Downland was by comparison with, for example, Scandinavia. He provides a philosophical and practical context for the difficult issue of moving buildings in the path of development (most notably the HS1 London-to-Channel-Tunnel route). This will inevitably resonate with the opponents of the proposed HS2 facing similar issues in the near future.The author demonstrates how dismantling and re-erecting buildings helped to refine repair techniques for timberframed buildings re-erected at Singleton, and how this informed the training programmes being undertaken there. IHBC member Edmund Bird, transactions volume 36 for 2013 ASSOCIATION FOR STUDIES IN THE CONSERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS Birmingham Institute of Art and Design For further details visit bcu.ac.uk/conservation-ma or contact christian.frost@bcu.ac.uk / 0121 331 5595. MA Conservation of the Historic Environment Flexible part-time postgraduate study with September 2014 start. •Obtain key skills in conservation with practical skills-based workshops and lectures. •Study flexible, part-time two days per month (with Saturday provision). •Recognised by the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), and contributes towards becoming a Member of the Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC). C M Y CM MY CY CMY K BCU Historic_Environment Advert AW.pdf 1 09/05/2014 13:17
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjgyMjA=