4 CONTEXT 178 : DECEMBER 2023 Periodically The link between heritage professional skills and heritage craft skills has never been as strong as it could be. This has always been a particular concern of Historic Buildings and Places (the former Ancient Monuments Society). Since the foundation of the AMS in 1924, one key objective has been the promotion of craftsmanship, with a recognition of the role this plays in repairing and maintaining historic buildings. Heritage Now The availability (or absence) of suitable craft skills has become increasingly apparent in recent years, highlighted since 2017 in particular by the biannual publication of the Red List of Endangered Crafts by the Heritage Crafts Association. Heritage Now (Issue 03/23) draws particular attention to the 2023 edition of the Red List (which reviews 259 traditional crafts). It identifies concerns about the availability of many diverse and scarce skills and products, including those for the repair and maintenance of our building heritage. Among these are crafts that have become extirpated since 2021; crafts that are endangered, some critically; and those considered still to be currently viable. Readers may wish to reflect if any of their professional activities might be directed towards keeping these skills alive. SPAB Magazine The educational remit and fostering of craft skills plays a key part of what the SPAB does. The autumn 2023 issue of the SPAB Magazine emphasises this role, which is illustrated by the approach to the philosophy and practice of traditional repair and maintenance across a range of buildings. Some of them post-date its statutory casework remit of buildings ostensibly dating before 1720. The magazine references the new SPAB initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of the home-produced hazel thatching spars that hold straw or reed in place on roofs. Hazel spars are a by-product of coppicing hazel, as part of traditional woodland management. Spar making in the UK has declined and thatchers have relied heavily on spars imported from Poland. This supply has dwindled for a variety of reasons, including increased transport costs, and has become unreliable and intermittent. Although plastic spars are available, they are non-traditional and environmentally unsound, and the society does not advocate their use. However, without spars thatchers cannot thatch, so there is a pressing need to revitalise the production of homegrown hazel spars. The society is working with the National Trust, the National Coppice Federation, groups representing thatchers and the IHBC, to recruit the support of conservation officers for this initiative. The SPAB continues to promote its exemplary practical Old House Project at St Andrew’s, Boxley in Kent. An article in the present issue explains the approach to research, investigation, community engagement, and identifying and devising appropriate repairs. The works are now well advanced and 2023-24 is the final year of work. On completion, the SPAB hopes that St Andrew’s will be exemplary not only in terms of conservation and sustainability, but also as an appealing place to live, complete with contemporary comforts, compatible with its listed status and the society’s repair philosophy. Completion will enable the society to repay an AHF Heritage Impact Fund loan, which was the first of a new stream of support that incentivises community engagement. The issue also covers the tellingly illustrated, SPAB sustainable heritage award winner at Blackpool Bull Close, Dunbar. There the focus has been on reusing existing materials, replicating methods from residual evidence, and sourcing new materials as locally as possible to create an authentic lowcarbon and mostly plastic-free rebuild. Again, the works reflect the society’s ethos, and the project was also found to inspire greater community cohesion, HERITAGE NOW The Magazine of Historic Buildings & Places | www.hbap.org.uk NO. 7 (WINTER 2023) LOOKING AHEAD TOWARDS OUR CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
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