CONTEXT 187 : MARCH 2026 7 held one of the most secure, varied and well-renumerated architectural offices in Britain. Alongside his inventive architectural and urban planning works for the City, he undertook a handful of notable private commissions and was an influential member of the Royal Academy. Sadly the destruction of most of his buildings has resulted in his posthumous reputation being consistently overshadowed by those of his more famous pupil, John Soane. The Georgian Group’s annual architectural awards are also celebrated. The eight categories include re-use of a Georgian building; new building in a Georgian context; and work in the spirit of the Georgian era. The winners demonstrate the sensitivity of the architectural solutions (and in some cases their context) and the value of enlightened clients. SPAB Magazine The Winter 2025 issue of the SPAB Magazine emphasises that historic building maintenance should be not just a late-autumn routine, but something to undertake little and often. It uses its recent Old House Project to argue that if basic tasks like gutter care or the renewal of failed glazing putties are neglected, rot can quickly set in, particularly on buildings that have been long disused. Particular emphasis in this issue is given to roof access, traditional window joinery and drainage. The last aspect, being below ground, is often overlooked. Matthew Slocombe, chief executive of the SPAB, highlights the recent National Audit Office report that had concluded that ‘98 per cent of homes with external wall insulation installed under the government ECO scheme require work to correct major issues that will cause problems such as damp and mould’. It is distressing that so many heritage organisations warned that this would be a problem, yet schemes developed by past and present governments still failed to understand the underlying issues. The SPAB’s own research into the U-values (insulation performance) of traditionally constructed walls goes back as far as 2011, with the society pointing out the potential pitfalls of ill-considered solid-wall insulation. This concern was supported by a range of bodies, including the National Trust and the Church Buildings Council.While the society firmly supported the reduction of carbon emissions, it stressed the risk of unintended consequences from wall insulation. Unfortunately the drive for quick political wins led to over-hasty implementation of publicly funded insulation schemes, without the necessary degree of background research. The National Audit Office concluded that 40,000 homes were harmfully affected by external or internal wall insulation. Whether this gives the government any pauses for thought (or sympathy and support from the Treasury) remains to be seen. Mills News In addition to SPAB Magazine, the society’s mills section produces its own quarterly publication Mills News, the latest issue of which is January 2026 (No 185). An editorial explains that the Mills Archive Trust, although separate from the SPAB, shares many of the same views. As an educational charity and the UK’s leading archive dedicated to traditional milling, the trust cares for thousands of irreplaceable millwrighting records. Its role goes far beyond preservation, being committed to highlighting the practical value of these materials. In 2025 the trust decided to invest even more in addressing the information needs of those with an interest in the repair and care of wind and water mills.The aim over the next two years is to make millwrighting records much more easily available, with an archivist and their team promising to publish much material of heritage interest, supported by the National Archives and the Swire Charitable Trust. Of note is an article regarding Draper’s Mill, Margate, affected by Kent County Council’s 2023 decision to divest itself of all mills previously in its care. The mill, listed Grade II in 1973, was upgraded to Grade II* last year. This aspect may be of interest when the longstanding (nearly six decades in this case) public ownership of mills is increasingly being called into question. Readers might also note an AI tool making its presence felt in the heritage sector. Goose is a free AI tool built by the Arts Marketing Association, and made possible by NLHF funding as part of the Grow phase of its Heritage Innovation Fund. The aim is to upskill people from small organisations working in the sector who often do not have the time or resources to acquire the skills they need. See www.higoose.co.uk
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