C O N T E X T 1 7 3 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 7 Periodically The Georgian One of the key areas of professional competence for members of IHBC is evaluation, involving a knowledge of the development of the historic environment and an ability to analyse and record it. Having a clear understanding of the age and development of historic buildings is therefore a crucial skill. One way of evaluating the age and development of buildings is by understanding their historic details and fixtures. Over many years Charles Brookings has provided an invaluable adjunct to this aim based on his outstanding collection of architectural details, fitments and so on. Over four recent issues of The Georgian he has illustrated clearsightedly the development of specific features, with particular reference to Georgian buildings, making the task of accurate dating somewhat easier. Having already covered the subjects of window glazing bars sections, sash framing, details and types of pulleys, and window shutters, the latest issue of The Georgian (Issue 1, 2022) sees Brookings address the question of sash-window furniture, including catches, sash weights and shutter bars.This well-illustrated guidance is proving to be an invaluable resource. Other short articles include an excellent one byWilliam Aslet (recipient of the George Clark Prize for research pertinent to Stowe) on the contribution of James Gibbs to the landscape one of Britain’s finest country houses; Amy Frost, senior curator at Bath PreservationTrust discussing exploratory excavation in the landscape surrounding William’ Beckford’s famous tower to uncover a ‘lost’ grotto tunnel under his famous local landmark; and Pamela Cooksey exploring the notebooks of JosephWood (1750– 1821) on decorative wallpapers. These notebooks are housed in the Brotherton Library at the University of Leeds. Although a number of excellent books about historic wallpapers already exist, this article is helpful in highlighting another invaluable resource that may be helpful where decoration may facilitate the dating and conservation of historic interiors. SPAB Magazine In the SPAB Magazine (Summer 2022) events in Ukraine prompt the society’s director Matthew Slocombe to muse about the damage to that country’s heritage and why we in the UK should so cherish our own. With regard to the ruination of war, he notices that here, many of those standing monuments currently in public care face an uncertain future, particularly in Scotland, where Historic Environment Scotland closes a number of sites where surveying work is occurring. Slocombe notes that this is a huge concern but a product of a genuine fear by HES about loose masonry and the risks to visitors. The underlying problem is the lack of state funding for monuments in guardianship. Slocombe goes on to state that in the inter-war period many monuments across the UK were taken into state care. Much work was done at that time – not all of it well advised by modern standards – but we are now at a point where this major investment must be renewed.Without comparable state support, long-term closures seem inevitable. As SimonThurley, chair of the Heritage Fund, said at the Heritage Alliance’s Heritage Day in March, perhaps it is time to put aside arguments about economics and regeneration, and make a more emotional plea to government about the value of heritage to culture and well-being? This is not ‘woke’. At the time of writing it remains to be seen who the new prime minister will be, let alone the new chancellor and new culture secretary, and whether any of them will be prove to be responsive. The issue also contains a nicely illustrated peon of praise to London stock bricks, dubbed an urban vernacular material, written by UlrikeWahl, a stonemason, surveyor and SPAB fellow. On technical matters Douglas Kent highlights the unconventional solution to the urgent repair of an apsidal roof on the unique double-treadwheel crane at Harwich (both scheduled and Grade II* listed). Lead or zinc sheet have been considered too grand for such a prosaic structure but some form of modern membrane was also determined to be inappropriate. The breakthrough came with the discovery of historic references to the use of tarred sailcloth at Chatham Dockyard.This seemed to offer a viable pragmatic solution with a historic precedent.Trials of the material have proved successful.
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