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Traditional Building Skills and Building Conservation Courses

Cressing Temple

•  Cafe
•  Toilets
•  Picnic

Address: Witham Road, Cressing, Braintree, CM77 8PD

Telephone: 01376 584903

Website: www.cressingtemple.org.uk

Traditional Building Skills Courses and Seminars
Since 1997 the Historic Buildings and Conservation team at Essex County Council has run a series of one, two or three day hands-on courses in traditional building skills. The courses aim to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our historic buildings by using the appropriate methods and materials to repair and conserve them.

The programme responds to the ongoing shortage of traditional building skills, and aims to provide a greater access to craftspeople through re-training, as well as giving home owners the skills to repair their properties.

Most of the courses are held at the historic site of Cressing Temple however, some of the courses are held at sites around the county where students work on real projects giving them a unique opportunity to learn by repairing a historic structure or building.

Traditional building professionals provide tuition on techniques for the conservation and repair of historic fabric through the use of traditional materials such as lime plaster, wattle and daub, thatch and flint. Hands-on courses and associated lectures on specialist topics are suitable for those wanting to expand their skills or hone existing talents, either for home conservation projects or to expand business prospects.

Running alongside the hands-on courses are a series CPD lectures suitable for building professionals, architects, surveyors, historic building enthusiast and those with an interest in historic buildings.

 

An Introduction to Conservation Brickwork for Home Owners
2nd to 3rd September, Castle Hedingham 2010
This two-day course is aimed at home owners or beginners wanting to tackle repairs to their property. We will be using traditional lime mortar to repair the brickwork of a 19th century wall. No experience needed.

Cost
£190

 

Building a New Flint Wall
8th to 10th September 2010, Wendens Ambo
Students on this three-day course look at the construction of a new build flint wall and construct the flint panels of the churchyard wall using flints and lime mortar. There will be a demonstration of flint knapping and the opportunity to have a go. The course will be of interest to bricklayers, general builders and home owners. No experience needed.

Cost
£235

 

Conservation and repair of concrete
9.30am to 12.30pm, 23rd September 2010 at Cressing Temple
Concrete has been used in construction since the end of the 19th century. Old concrete which has lost its surface integrity or which is suffering structural problems presents difficult conservation problems. Modern concrete with chemical breakdown or corroded reinforcing is a familiar problem, but concrete in general often lies outside the experience of those working with historic buildings. This seminar will consider approaches to the conservation of concrete structures. Including lunch.

Cost
£50

 

Buildings at risk - Redundancy and reuse
9.30am to 12.30pm, 7th October 2010 venue to be confirmed
Buildings fall into disrepair for many reasons including changing patterns of agricultural, industrial and social activity. This seminar will illustrate the various legislative problems, fund raising and other strategies, together with repair approaches. Including lunch.

Cost
£50

 

Lime Plaster for Home Owners
15th October 2010, Cressing Temple Barns
A one-day course, aimed at owners of historic buildings who want to tackle small patch repairs to their homes. The day will show how to hand-mix small amounts of lime plaster, and to repair or replace patches. No experience needed.

Cost
£95

 

Lime and traditional buildings
9.30am to 12.30pm, 21st October 2010 at Cressing Temple
Because it is breathable, flexible and sustainable understanding lime as a material, and how to use it are crucial to all aspects of modern building conservation. The talks will cover the different types of lime available, and how and when to use them, including renders, brickwork and floor construction. Including lunch.

Cost
£50

 

Single and double glazing in traditional buildings
9.30am to 12.30pm, 4th November 2010 at Cressing Temple
Generally double glazing is not allowed for use with listed buildings. Pressure is growing to make all buildings energy efficient, and to relax the exemption which listed buildings enjoy from Part L, and so this issue has become more complex. This morning session will look at the different kinds of glazing suitable for use with listed buildings and when they might be used, and will consider the results of English Heritage’s recent research on the efficacy of single glazing. Including lunch.

Cost
£50

 

Lime Plaster for Home Owners
19th November 2010, Cressing Temple Barns
A one-day course, aimed at owners of historic buildings who want to tackle small patch repairs to their homes. The day will show how to hand-mix small amounts of lime plaster, and to repair or replace patches. No experience needed.

Cost
£95

 

Repairs to timber frame and historic joinery
9.30am to 12.30pm 25th November 2010 at Cressing Temple
Timber frames and joinery present differences of scale and technique, but both are aspects of valuable historic fabric which it is important to preserve and repair rather than replace. Joe Bispham will look at strategies for timber frame repair, including case studies, and historic joinery repair techniques, covering specification, design and selection of materials. Including lunch.

Cost
£50

 

New uses for farm buildings
9.30am to 12.30pm, 2nd December 2010 at Cressing Temple
The fate of old agricultural buildings, a much loved feature of the rural landscape but now lacking a beneficial use, presents a huge problem for their owners and those working in the planning system. Guidance will be provided on the legal and planning framework to finding new uses for barns and other buildings, as well as on design solutions likely to prove acceptable for listed buildings. Including lunch.

Cost
£50

 

Contact details

For more information contact Rebecca Carter on:

Telephone:
01245 437672

E-mail:
traditional.buildingskills@essexcc.gov.uk