CONFERENCE REPORT LETTERFROMAMERICAII The Association for Preservation Technology (APT) holds a conference every year in either America or Canada. The format includes a two-day training course in specific techniques, followed by a day of registration and three days of lectures, discussions and tours. This is punctuated with a series of social events culminating in the President's Ball on the final night. Philadelphia, the venue of the last conference, provided a range of sites and buildings to see, and a forum which over 400 attended representing many disciplines and nationalities, to discuss their work and exchange ideas. The training courses lo~ked at the repair of ornamental plasterwork and stained glass conservation and the talks in the second half divided broadly into: building types; preservation in practice; philosophy and professionals in practice. The break down of sessions in the second half of the conference into concurrent talks worked surprisingly well, enabling people to form smaller groups for discussion and allowing movement from session to session to find the most useful debate. The lectures/talks concentrated, with more than an ample number of case studies, on the following areas: sacred sites and domed structures, Historic Structure Reports (HSRs-an American phenomenon SHORT COURSES Planning for Archaeologists: 25 February 1993; venue: Link Suite, University of East Anglia. Speakers actively working at either national or local level will explain the strengths and weaknesses of the planning powers and procedures under recent legislation and PPG 16 as well as practical matters of enforcement and planning agreements. A variety of case studies will also be presented for discussion. Presenting the Past-with the help of farm survey & presentation grants: 17 March 1993; venue: Park Farm, Snettisham, Norfolk. Explains who gives what grants to either present or survey a historic site, including the 'Historic Landscape' category under the Countryside Commission Stewardship scheme, ADAS and the RDC. Will include tour of the Park Farm CONTEXT 36 Sarah Woodcock which I would like to explain further as it seems like a very sensible one), computer applications, education and preservation craftsmi:n training. HSRs are detailed surveys carried out on individual historic buildings prior to reuselfurbishmen t; they are not (yet) a statutory requirement but they are strongly recommended by Conservation Officers as a way of fully understanding the building, its history, fabric and often its needs, prior to carrying out work. An HSR can include full measured drawings and structural analysis, archival research and materials analysis. They also usually include recommendations for its repair. They are then presented in a format which is accessible to everyone involved in the care of the buildings. One drawback is the initial cost of such a report, but often clients are persuaded that it will minimise further cost when work proceeds as it reduces the chance of unwanted surpnses. As well as giving a sense of the American preservation scene, the conference also introduced me to the Smeaton Project which is currently being co-ordinated by English Heritage and ICCROM co research, quantify and publicise the results from tests on mortar mixes and how they perform. Jeanne Marie Teuconico presented some surprising developments, and I look forward Archaeology Trail financed mainly by English Heritage. Both coursesorganisedby the Centre of East Anglian Studies cost £45 inclusive of lunch and refreshments. Acceptable for RICS and RTPI CPD. Further details from the Short Course Development Officer, The Registry, University of East Anglia, Freepost, Norwich NR4 7BR. Tel: (0603) 593016 ILLEGAL REMOVAL OF FIXTURES Coming Unstuck: The Removal of Fixtures from Listed Buildings is the title of the Victorian Society's response to a worrying number of recent cases involving the illegal removal of fixtures from important buildings of all periods. It seeks to set out the problem, explain how the legislation works and indicate certain areas of the law co the results which will be published in the spring of 1993. In addition to the formal discussions, the conference organised tours including Park Service buildings and The Eastern State Penitentiary which is currently being reviewed for re-use. The University of Pennsylvania also runs a graduate programme in Historic Preservation. We were able ro visit the labs and see the research in progress. In total the conference offered more than enough information to absorb; the best approach seems to be co pick those aspects most personally relevant. Moreover it provided ample opportunity to meet others in the field - in fact this seemed co be one of its main purposes. Next year's APT conference will be the 25th in the series and will be held in Ottawa, Ontario, in late September. An ACO/APT dialogue would be a good way to communicate preservation ideas internationally within the profession. For information on the next conference write to PO Box 2001, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIP 5W3. See you there! Sarah Woodcock is with Essex County Council and was one of this year's ICOMOS interns (Context 35 p.29). which need to be tightened up. The underlying message of the report is that the loss of fixtures from historic buildings could be reduced if those involved were better informed. All too often, owners who remove fixtures from listed buildings are not aware they are breaking the law. Many people still believe that only the exteriors of Grade II buildings are protected. Antique dealers who sell fixtures from listed buildings often claim not to know their provenance. Auctioneers may disclaim responsibility for the removal of such items on the grounds that they are merely acting as agents for the owners. All these matters are addressed in the Society's report, and recommendations are made as to how the problem may be contained. Copies of Coming Unstuck can be ordered from The Victorian Society, 1 Priory Gardens, London W4 I TT, for £3.50 (inc. p&p). 7
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