We can’t protect historic buildings if we don’t protect the skills to care for them

By Eleanor Jolliffe 2025-07-16T06:00:00

We think we are doing enough to respect and preserve our heritage — but are we really? After a week learning from conservation specialists, Eleanor Jolliffe explores what we are getting right, and what we are missing

I recently attended the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) course on the repair of old buildings. I am slowly working my way towards RIBA conservation architect accreditation, and the week offered me an opportunity to learn about materials and techniques I am not working with in my day-to-day projects.

It was a week filled with that (for me) unparalleled luxury of learning something interesting from a passionate expert, without having to be actively responsible for immediately doing something with that information.

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