We are sad to hear of the closure of R J Durtnell & Sons, the oldest building firm in England. Founded in the 16th century, it started with timber-framed buildings and expanded to become a general building firm in the 1800s. It was the contractor for the Turner Contemporary in Margate in 2008. The firm undertook refurbishment projects as well as new build, and was working on the Royal Pavilion Estate including the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange when it ceased trading. We hope that the skills and knowledge amassed in over 425 years will not be lost.

A report of our conference is now on our Conference page.

We are sorry to hear of the death of Ashley Barker OBE FSA. An Honorary Member of ASCHB, he fostered the growth and development of the Association and served as the founder Chairman until 1989, when he handed over to Dr Ian Bristow.

He was the last Surveyor of Historic Buildings to the former Greater London Council (GLC), and those ASCHB members who undertook the AA Building Conservation course will recall his clear guidance through the legislation relating to historic buildings and areas.

Practitioners and professionals who would like preview of the presentation on Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings at our ASCHB 2019 Conference could join the National Heritage Ironwork Group Free Event: Conservation of Architectural Ironwork 2-day CPD at Shrewsbury Flaxmill. Further details here

Later in the year on June 19th 2019, NHIG are holding Pigs, Puddlers & Patterns: An Introduction to the History, Manufacture & Repair of Cast Iron at Coalbroookdale Museum of Iron. Further details here
ASCHB Members will have seen the article in Transactions Volume 39 by Jackie Heath on the Conservation of the Iron Bridge, Shropshire 1779-2018

Details of our 2019 conference have been published on our Conference page. This year, our theme is Mills & Booms: The Conservation of Industrial Archaeology, Buildings & Sites in Industrial Use. We have lined up an array of speakers which promise a conference that will interest all our members as well as the wider conservation community:
Sir Neil Cossons, Shane Gould, Paul MacMahon, Michael Nevell, Henrietta Billings, David Went, John Tanner, Malcolm Tucker, Nick Hill, and Stephen Clarke.