C O N T E X T 1 7 2 : J U N E 2 0 2 2 53 What is the biggest frustration in your job? I am not at all frustrated working for myself. But I did get frustrated by the lack of planning enforcement at several of the local authorities I worked for. Leaving unauthorised works without regularisation, and especially where something of such value is lost that can not be replaced, and then not taking legal action, gives out all the wrong messages. There should be specialist conservation enforcement officers in every local authority. What would you like to be doing in five years’ time? To be semi-retired, hoping to have someone else working with me who will eventually take on my small practice. I shall then enjoy travelling with my husband in our vintage touring caravan, gardening and making jewellery. What is your favourite building? When I read Vox pop, I always think this a particularly cruel question for anyone who works with historic buildings. I have a favourite building (and building type, for that matter) in every country, county and even district, that I have visited. But a real favourite is Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, a fine red brick house of 1700 with stone dressings. I have an attachment to the house, inside and out, its landscape gardens and its history after studying it as a student.William Massingberd was responsible for building the house. Meticulous account books tell how he imported facing bricks from the Netherlands, and how much he paid for stone to be brought to site and for his sash windows. Gunby Hall was frequented by Tennyson and was his ‘haunt of ancient peace’. It was nearly demolished for a runway during the second world war, but thankfully the owners gave it to the National Trust to ensure its survival. My favourite place to sit is in a sweet little gazebo in a sunny spot in the garden, designed by Elizabeth Massingberd in the 19th century. Your favourite place? Apart from my lovely home town of Louth, noted in a report by the Georgian Group as one of the best-preserved Georgian market towns in England, it is Venice. I fell in love with the place after visiting in 2018. I visited every Palladio building in Venice between palazzowatching from a good seat on the vaporetto, cruising a loop around the Grand Canal and the Canal de Giudecca every day to look at them. Your favourite book? An original 1925 edition of A History of English Brickwork: with examples and notes of the architectural use and manipulation of brick from medieval times to the end of the Georgian period, to give its full name, by Nathanial Lloyd. It is a marvellous study of brick buildings in England, richly illustrated with black-and-white photographs, and pull-out pages with scaled drawings of buildings and all manner of architectural details drawn brick by brick. What do you do in your spare time? Silversmithing and jewellery design. I attend evening classes, having a night off from historic buildings. What organisations are you a member of? National Trust, Lincolnshire Gardens Trust, Sutton on Sea Beach Hut Association and Historic Houses Association. Which one issue would you particularly like the IHBC to campaign on? Removing permitted development rights in conservation areas. What is the point of having an area that is designated in law for its special architectural or historic interest with a statutory planning duty to preserve it, and then undermining this with permitted development rights? Liz Mayle is a historic buildings consultant with Liz Mayle Heritage. Gunby Hall, built in 1700: meticulous account books tell how William Massingberd imported facing bricks from the Netherlands.
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