42 FINDING FAULTS A Checklistfor the Strnctural Survey of Period Timber Framed Buildings. David Swindells & Malcolm Hutchings. Produced under the auspices of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' Building Conservation Group. Spiral bound sofcback A4. ISBN O 85406 543 I. Price £14.95. Is this the book we have all been waiting for? Its aims set out in che foreword are, to act as a survey checklist of traditional pre-Georgian timber framed buildings for a Chartered Surveyor or suitable qualified person. A checklist to cover the regional variations must be diverse and flexible. However, by page I it is obvious that it is not capable of coping with simple anomalies. Were oak, black poplar and elm really the only structural timbers in use before 1700' Terminology of timber framed buildings has always been biased towards strong regional preferences. In a nationally aimed publication why wasn't use made of the CBA Glossary of Timber Framed Buildings? Sketches accompany the checklist but their purpose is unclear as are many of the drawings. Were they checked before publication as some are incorrectly labelled, or drawn, leading to further confusion? Whether they were included to illustrate terminology, faults or the correct method of repair, no explanation is offered. Lathes butted together fail to provide the key needed for plaster but do make for ease of stripping for survey purposes! Plaster ceilings can be applied directly to the underside of floorboards but sandwiched between joists and boards? A cable repair detail is included but is this to be recommended or condemned - it certainly cannot create a cross beam effect when attached back to the floorboards. There is not one drawing of plan form and how this affects the structural integrity of a framed building, neither is there any mention of the structural problems so often encountered after a roof raise alteration. The further reading list extends to 34 books including the mammoth tome of documentary research of Salzman, but there is no mention BOOKS of the SPAB Technical Leaflets which include an informative one on timber frame repair. Where within the 34 books, as suggested by the foreword, does one obtain the greater details on preinspection preliminaries, on tool kits, including a sharp pointed implement? Is it the Bibliographies of these books chat suggest a further large number of books to read to find these derails? What a pity char the publication wasn't tried and tested before incurring additional expense for waterproofing cover and pages. It will now be with us for longer than it deserves. Brenda Watkin GROWING POSSIBILITIES Redundant Farm Buildings Present Liabilities, Future Assets, Problems, Possibilities, Procedures. Nigel Harvey. 1993. 21 pp. Available direct from the author: 41 Corringham Road, Golders Green, London NWl 1 7BS. Price £4.50 inc p&p. respected writer on farm buildings and is President of the Historic Farm Buildings Group. For 25 years until his retirement, he was on the farm buildings staff of MAFF as a land agent. Bob Kindred THE WAYIT USED TOBE Construction Revisited - An illustrated Guide to Construction Details of the Early 20th Century. James Amrose. John Wiley & Sons, 1993. 250pp, 189 full pages of illustrations. ISBN O 471 59130 0. Price £62.00. A model of clarity, consisting largely of traditionally drawn, technical line illustrations reproduced from American construction manuals published between I 926 and 1941. Useful for anyone interested in how early 20th century buildings were assem bled, based on the largescale detailing of a great variety of materials and styles. Unfortunately, none of these drawings are accompanied by a contemporary commentary on their technical propriery, Careful study and thought about current best practice would be essential before any of the details were replicated and a repetition of any inherent design problems or weaknesses in the originals were to be avoided. For example, the short accompanying text to the illustrations of terra-cotta assembly makes no mention of the crucial importance of nonferrous metal fixings. An informed critique somewhat along the lines of Jack Bowker's Building Construction would have been much more helpful. Expensive. Bob Kindred AMERICANWAYS WITH MATERIALS Conserving Buildings - A Guide to the Techniques and Materials. Martin.£ Weaver. John Wiley & Sons. 1993. 270pp, 350 b/w plates, numerous line drawings. ISBN O 471 50945 0. Price £49.50. A materials based study based on North American examples. The physical and chemical characteristics and the various This report may only be of passing interest to Conservation Officers but it will perform a useful service in informing those interested in redundant farm buildings what alternatives to demolition exist, and can be recommended as a concise guide to owners considering the alternatives. These are ouclined and at appropriate points, the legal aspects (including listing) and managerial considerations (including tenancy agreements, insurance and taxation) are referred to. The making of proper graphic records of the building and the recommended public deposit for future reference is a welcome point well made. Appendices on sources of finance, advice and awards are given and there is a list of useful publications. This has inevitably involved selection in such a brief work but this reviewer would certainly have expected to see mention of SAVE's 1988 report 'A Future for Farm Buildings' by Gillian Darley. Nigel Harvey is a LETTERS PLEASENOTE THE EDITOR'S NEW ADDRESS IS 4 HENLEYROAD, IPSWICHIPI 3SF FUN HASITS LIMITS Dear Editor I was pleased to read your item 'Marginalia' in the March issue of Context. Indeed, I hope I do bring an element of "fun" to the realms of the Architectural Heritage Fund and Building Preservation Trusts. I would however like to take this opportunity to say chat, although it is a well known fact that I am a keen football supporter, I have no connections whatsoever with Chelsea Football Club!! Maria Perks Development Officer Architectural Heritage Fund SHOPFRONT SUGGESTIONS Dear Editor When, as at present, so many historic areas exhibit shopfronts which for the time being are empty, is it not worth actively coord ina ting and re-presenting chem, in the interests of their better collective and civic image? There is nothing quite so depressing as an abandoned display window, littered with unwanted residue, no longer cleaned and looking forlorn. Might it be even that some corporate advertising -even, perhaps, for a local Chamber of Commerce or for a City Corporation itself -could be used to enliven these otherwise 'blind eyes'? At the very least, a regular tidying campaign would do much to ensure chat a temporarily quiescent but still attractive area might still look its best! And the modest financial cost would surely be more than matched by the enhanced image for neighbouring traders. The problem is, as ever, simply getting everyone organised'. Can Conservation Officers promote action in this hopefully useful direction? Donald Insall Donald W Insall & Associates 19 West Eaton Place Eaton Square London SWJX BLT CONTEXT 38
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