26 CONFERENCES worn materials. The concept of conservation acknowledges the principle of the life of the building, but this can be structural life, functional life, or the life of its materials. External paintwork may last five years,while joinery will be long lasting if well maintained. The conservator's cask is not renewal, but to preserve, protect, and extend the life of what is there; the first duty is to protect the fabric against forseeable problems. If you have to replace, you may have to re-think the structural as well as the weathering properties of the material (the worst failures are due co the replacement of small units with single large ones); you also have to consider what we really value, and what our successors will relish. He showed his work at Wotton House, Bucks, where the client had asked him to provide a glass fibre replacement for a poor cornice repair by Soane; a white glass fibre cornice had been installed. He concluded his talk with the House of Lords ceiling, which had suffered timber degradation due to heat from the exposed gas heating system; both the carved work (consolidated and backed with ply) and the re-run machine work had to be workable like the original wood, to match its weight, to be inert and flameproof - and to be possible at reasonable expense. The concluding panel session was wide ranging, and included the use of imported materials (Czech glass, imported as "third class greenhouse glass", is a good substitute for crown glass, but Spanish tiles • 1-62daycharts • Robustconstruction • Highquality- low price • Manyotherinstruments. ]ii HUMIDIFIERS JS Industrial Services Limited Dutton Industrial Centre 238 Green Lane, London SE9 3TL Telephone: 01-851 7521 Telex: 21348 JSIND G Fax: 01-857 7742 have failed frost standards for English conditions; Spanish slate is to be tested by BRE); the erosion of materials adjacent to glass fibre; the need for advice on benign change; the protection of unlisted buildings in conservation areas, and problems with Article 4 Directions (English Heritage is receiving a growing series of complaints at the lack of Article 4 Directions, and difficulties in getting them confirmed; it wants to cake this issue up, but needs details of cases); the need to play manufacturers at their own game, and possible provision by English Heritage of model publications; the need not only to show appropriate methods but also to explain that some work may not be necessary at all; and salvage issues. Conference notes will be availablein the Spring, price .(3.00 including p&p, from Ray Osborne, 5 Rose Glen, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9EN. Copies of the 1988Conference Notes ("New Buildings in Old Places") are available now for .(2.50 including p&p from the same address. Cheques should be made payable to ACO (East of England Branch). Thanks once again co all the speakers, the sponsors (Dorothea, Rose of Jericho, Steetley and Ventrolla) and my fellow members of the organising group: James Clifton, Russ Craig, Liz Marten, Mervyn Miller, and Ray Osborne. This year's conference will be on 24th November, and the theme will be "Conservation of 20th Century Buildings". Ideas for future conferences and, particularly, information about potential speakers who are good communicators will be gratefully received! John Presron is Conservacion Officer wich Cambridge Cicy Council. THE REPAIR OF OLD BUILDINGS 11th and 12th April 1990 Crathes Castle, near Aberdeen The Grampian Region of the National Trust for Scotland is organising a short course on conservation. Subjects covered will include repairs co stone, mortar, plaster, render, ironwork, timber, lead and paintwork. Among the guest lecturers are the internationally known conservationists John and Nicola Ashurst. For more information contact Ian M, Davidson, National Trust for Scotland, Rose Lane, Market Place, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire (tel: 0467 22988). GEORGIAN INTERIORS COURSE The Georgian Group is running another of its courses from 18th to 22nd April. "Georgian Interiors" will consist of three days of lectures, from nationally-respected experts, on subjects ranging from listed building consent to Georgian wallpapers, and two day tours to recently-restored interiors in London and Sussex. Lecturers will include experts from the Ancient Monuments Society, English Heritage, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, The Furniture History Society, Pallant House, Brighton Pavilion, The National Trust, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Pitshanger Manor Museum and other professional and academic bodies, For details and application forms contact Dr Steven Parissien, The Georgian Group, 37 Spiral Square, London, E 1 6DY (01-377 1722). ART, ANTIQUES AND ARCHITECTURAL THEFT Plymouth, 15th tO 17th November 1990 This November The Georgian Group and Trace magazine, with the backing of regional police forces, are staging the first national conference co deal with art theft. This three-day conference will, it is hoped, be the first of a series of annual conferences dealing with this area, and will be based in Plymouth, where it will be hosted by the Devon and Cornwall Police. The Georgian Group believes that it will attract considerable national media interest, and as well as encouraging press interviews of this unique event it will be inviting journalists to attend. Delegates to the conference will include representatives from a large number of police forces - including the re-formed Metropolitan Police Art and Antiques Squad - together with officers from English Heritage, the National Trust, national amenity societies, museums and art galleries, the church, auction houses, insurance companies, security suppliers, and from local authorities. Lecturers will be drawn from these bodies, so as to cover a wide range of problems and solutions. The Georgian Group also hopes to include a few general historical lectures as background material. In addition to the British speakers, it will be involving representatives from European police forces and the FBI. For more information please contact Dr. Steven Parissien, The Georgian Group, 37 Spiral Square, London E1 6DY or Philip Saunders of Trace on 0752 228727. CONTEXT 25
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