SPAB Edinburgh, Scottish Events, Architecture, Barony Street Building, Glasite Meeting House
SPAB : Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in Scotland
19 January 2022
post updated 8 June 2021
Archives of UK’s oldest building conservation charity now catalogued
The records of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings are now available to search online
9th of June 2021 – The Society for the Protection of Ancient Building’s (SPAB) online archive catalogue launched on 9 June to coincide with International Archives Day.
The SPAB Archive contains records dating to 1877, when the SPAB was founded. It illustrates the evolution of building conservation policy and practice in this country from the late-19th century – which was strongly influenced by the SPAB – and the role of key figures such as SPAB founder William Morris and others closely associated with SPAB. The collection is especially relevant to those with a local or professional interest in historic buildings or places and how these have changed during the Society’s lifetime.
Correspondence from Thomas Hardy, he was a SPAB member and an architect as well as a writer. He is writing to alert the SPAB about Puddletown Church in Dorset, most likely there were some damaging repair works taking place:
image courtesy of SPAB Archive
The catalogue currently contains over 20,000 descriptions of historic casework files and photographs. New listing will be added each month and will include historic SPAB membership files (such as correspondences from famous members such as Thomas Hardy and Beatrix Potter), exhibitions, research, education, and technical advice.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the SPAB’s holdings had to rely on hard copy lists but for the first time there is one online catalogue which brings all elements of the collection together.
Dunblane Cathedral, Scotland, prior to restoration of the building in 1890 (included in the photo albums):
image courtesy of SPAB Archive
Maggie Goodall, SPAB education and training manager, says: “I’m particularly fond of the photo albums, which seem really special – images from early casework and evidence that SPAB was commissioning photography. What is quite poignant is that we have images of buildings that have since changed, been repaired or been lost. We’d love to find out more about the albums and their history, to have them conserved and digitised as part of the next stage of our cataloguing project.”
Explore the SPAB collection here: https://catalogue.spab.org.uk/
The SPAB is the country’s oldest building conservation charity, set up by William Morris in 1877. Today the SPAB encourages excellence in new design to enrich and complement the built historic environment. We train new generations of architectural professionals and building craftspeople to shape this landscape with sensitivity and skill, and we play a statutory role as adviser to local planning authorities. In our casework we campaign actively to protect old buildings at risk.
www.spab.org.uk
Society for Protection of Ancient Buildings, 37 Spital Square, London, E16DY, United Kingdom
Previously on e-architect:
11 Jul 2002
SPAB Scotland
Information re The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in Scotland
Address: The Glasite Meeting House, 33 Barony Street, Edinburgh
Contact: [email protected]
This amenity society founded by William Morris, Philip Webb and others, in 1877; to oppose what they saw as destructive ‘restoration’ of ancient buildings then occurring in Victorian England; ‘ancient’ being used in the wider sense of ‘very old’ rather than the more usual modern one of ‘pre-medieval’.
The society states on their website: “We believe old buildings have a future. From cottages to castles and from churches to cathedrals we are here to help buildings and the people who care for them. Based on years of experience and research we understand how old buildings work.”
Programme of SPAB Events
Discover the city
Walking Tours in the historic towns of Edinburgh and Glasgow to explore their culture and feel their past
Edinburgh 13 Jul 2002
A walking Tour in the historic town of Edinburgh. The tour will cover conservation issues of the past and the present with a focus on several commercial and private buildings in the Old and the New Town.
Delegate: Mr Simon Green, RCAHMS
Starts at 11am, from the Glasite Meeting House,
33 Barony St, Edinburgh
Glasgow 27 Jul 2002
A walking Tour in Glasgow. The tour will focus on different conservation projects of the past and the present. Several commercial, industrial and private houses will be visited, unravelling the history of the city.
Delegate: Mr David Martin
Starts at 11am, from George Square, Glasgow
For further info contact SPAB on 0131 557 1551
Location: Scotland
Architecture in Scotland
Scottish Architecture Designs – chronological list
Traquair, Scottish Borders
Traquair House
HALO Masterplan in Kilmarnock, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Southwest Scotland
Architects: Keppie Design
image courtesy of architects
HALO Masterplan Kilmarnock
Hawkhead Centre, Paisley, Southwest Scotland
Design: Page \ Park Architects
photo : Keith Hunter
Hawkhead Centre in Paisley
Comments / photos for the SPAB – The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in Scotland page welcome
