16 BUILDING CONSERVATION CENTRE On 14 March 1991, HRH Richard, Duke of Gloucester will formally open the United Kingdom's first Building Conservation Centre at a special ceremony to be held at Penshurst Place, Kent. The Centre, based at West Kent College in Tunbridge Wells, is managed by an independent Trust with trustees drawn from localgovernment, the education sector, industry and conservation bodies and professions. The Centre aims to combine training of advanced conservation skills for those already employed in the building industry with the provision of advice and information to all involved in the conservation field - historic building owner or architect, site foreman or craftsman. The idea for the Centre arose out of the staging of the first Kent Conservation Show, a three-day exhibition and demonstration of craft skills and products for building renovation, held at the Museum of Kent Rural Life, Maidstone, in July 1989.The purpose of this event was to promote the use of appropriate materials and techniques for repairs to historic buildings. The show was aimed at both the building industry and the general public and was conceived as an educational exercise - an attempt at getting the conservaTony Wimble describes a promising development in building conservation education and training. tion message across to a wider audience. As a result of contacts made with industry through organising the Conservation Show, it has been possible to achieve broad support for the concept of a permanent Building Conservation Centre. Representatives of a cross-section of manufacturers, contractors, trade federations, conservation bodies and the professions have helped to develop the aims and objectives of the Centre and now form its management committee. West Kent College, with the support of the County Council's Economic Development and Environment Sub-Committees, has agreed to underwrite the costs of the Centre for its first year of operation, after which it must be self-financing. Courses The Centre aims to respond to demand by providing the courses that industry needs. These are arranged in modules to enable individuals to progress at their own pace and can be tailored to individuals' or firms' requirements. Accreditation is being sought from the appropriate certification bodies. The Centre is able to draw on the experienced teaching staff of the college and can arrange for visiting tutors to cover specialist courses. An innovative agreement with Thames Polytechnic offers exciting possibilities for collaboration which will be of mural benefit to both colleges. At the time of writing it seems likely that students on the Polytechnic's architectural and building surveying courses will be able to receive practical training in conservation techniques and staff of the Polytechnic will be available to advise the Centre's trainees on history of building and conservation theory. European dimension The Centre is being widely promoted in other European countries as, in some fields, British practice is superior. Amongst the first craftsmen to undertake courses at the Centre were a number of 'meisters' from one of the German cathedrals who came to improve their knowledge and skills of lead-working. French students have also been over for lead-work training. The County Council is pursuing the possibility of EEC funding to develop these continental links further. A resource centre Although the first aim of the Centre is to CONTEXT 29
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