When you’ve a long list of maintenance chores for your period property there is
always something on the list that is left to the bitter end. Put off countless times,
either because of the unthinkable horror of discovering the truth or just a simple
case of not knowing where to start, it’s something that nearly every owner of a
period home or historic building has been guilty of at some point. Whatever your
reason, SPAB’s (the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) Homeowner’s
Weekend maybe just the thing to help you move forward.
The two day course covers a whole host of issues from treating damp and timber decay
to dealing with listed building consent and choosing professionals. Led by experts
in their field, the Homeowner’s Weekend gives period property owners access to the
kind of advice and guidance that can often be difficult to obtain. What’s more it
doesn’t matter if you’ve a moated manor house or Victorian cottage, the information
provided is relevant to all types of buildings.
As Britain’s oldest building conservation body, SPAB set up by William Morris to
oppose the destructive restorations of the Victorian era and promote the alternative
of "conservative repair". Still following that mandate, this long established course
was originally started by SPAB Secretary, Philip Venning after finding it difficult
to get the right information when working on renovation projects of his own.
"It seems almost incredible to me that we have been running the Homeowners' Weekends
for more than 25 years now,” says Venning. “But I knew from personal experience
of working on several period properties before joining SPAB how difficult it was
to find helpful, non-alarmist advice. That's why I was passionate about setting
up this course - and why it still proves to be incredibly popular.”
The first Homeowners' Course in 2011 will be held in London (March 26 and 27) at
the Society's Georgian HQ in London's Spitalfields and early booking is essential
as places fill up fast. For more information visit www.spab.org.uk
Author: Elizabeth Hambelton. Posted on February 21, 2011
