IHBC AnnualSchool, Shrewsbury 2-5April1998 This year the venue for the Annual School was the historic town of Shrewsbury, County Town of Shropshire, situated on a pleasant loop of the River Severn. In contrast to the Annual Schools of the ACO, the First Annual School of the new Institute was not based in a Collegiate setting and residential accommodation was provided within the historic core zone ofShrewsbwy in a number of hotels all within easy reach of each other. The day School was held on the campus of Shrewsbury School using a variety of buildings on the site. The hosts for this year's School were the West Midlands Branch of the Institute, chaired By Dave Baxter. Branch member Noel Knight not only provided the secretariat and booking service for the school but also undertook construction work, providing the oak frames for the wattle and daub demonstration at Acton Scott working farm on Saturday 4 April! The enthusiastic Midlands Team also included Kathy Baird, Lisa Turner,Jane Jackson, Colin Richards and Micky King. Colin was largely responsible for organising the construction of the beehive brick kiln at Acton Scott, whilst many other members of the West Midlands Branch gave a hand in the muddy brick making session reported elsewhere in this issue! The main sponsors were the heritage division of W S Atkins, and thanks are clue to Jason Wood who now heads the W S Atkins Team. The other main sponsor was Alfred McAlpine Slate (Penrhyn, Cwt-y-Bugail, Ffestiniog). Hall-Mcartney organised trade exhibitors and the West Midlands Branch was able to find considerable local sponsorship largely clue to the efforts of Noel Knight and Micky King. Frank Galliers Contractors and Pooks Swveyors in Shrewsbury provided the wine for both the annual dinner and the dinner at the Lion Hotel. The Mayor of Shrewsbury and Context59 September1998 St Julian's Church with St Alkmund's behind. Atcham Borough Council provided the reception at St Mary's Church. The Annual School began on Thursday, following registration at the Music Hall, in the Market Square in Shrewsbury. After a short introduction to the Town and region by Dave Baxter and Micky King, delegates cliviclecl into groups for a number of tours around Shrewsbury. One group took a coach trip to Combermere Abbey in North Shropshire. Here Andrew Arroll, former Conservation Officer for Shrewsbury, and now in practice as an historic buildings architect, showed delegates over the stucco repairs to the gothic revival features of the building as well as the repairs currently taking place to its primary timber-framed core. Dr. Nigel Baker, building archaeologist, consultant for the Shrewsbury Archaeological Database, and Richard Morriss, historic building consultant, showed delegates around the interiors of some of the most interesting timber Material matters in conservation frames in the Town demonstrating a considerable professional skill in the art of timber frame interpretation. Les Rogers and Micky King from Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council showed delegates the work carried out under the Conservation Area Partnership Scheme and former Town Scheme. Rob Suri, Senior Transportation Planner with Shropshire County Council, took delegates around the Historic Core Zone Project which has removed highway signs and double yellow lines as well as repaving the town centre in natural materials where traffic has been reduced to 14 mph. An historic buildings architect's perspective of Shrewsbmy was provided by local architect and ICOMOS representative Graham Moss, who took delegates around selected buildings in the Town Centre. In the evening , the Mayor of Shrewsbmy and Atcham Borough Council, Councillor Peter Dunham provided a reception in the Gracie I redundant church of St Ma1y, now beautifully repaired by the Churches Conservation Trust. The Mayor made a notable and spirited speech from the pulpit including quotes from Pevsner! The reception was followed by dinner in the Adam Ballroom of the Grade II* Lion Hotel at which Dr Baker gave a most interesting talk on the Archaeology of Shropshire. After the dinner a number of delegates left for a late night session of African Carribean Music in the Grade II Butter Market! SHREWSBURYDAYSCHOOL Brian Ridout - Ridout Associates Many IHBC members will be familiar with Brian Ridout's work and theories. His lecture on timber source and selection outlined a specific base for investigations into the causes of decay. The main focus was the difference between modern and traditional methods of growing and felling the trees. Experience has shown that 18th and 19th century softwood is much 9
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