Course: Care and conservation of historic floors
11 to 14 October 2010. At West Dean College. This course will give a rare opportunity to hear from experts about some of the problems created by the steady erosion of all types of historic floor and to consider some of the solutions available for their protection and conservation.
Although this is a subject of prime importance, one which affects us all, very little information exists about how to tackle the repairs and the loss of historical evidence.
We are all aware of the steady damage inflicted by daily use on decorative pavements. We know the contribution made by mosaics, tiles, parquetry, marble, stone, ledger stones and engraved slabs to a historic interior whether ecclesiastical or secular. We are all concerned about the options of partial repair, cleaning and conservation in situ, or of total replacement.
The extent of the loss of historical evidence, particularly in ecclesiastical buildings is, however, little understood. The methods of recording it are often inadequate. In many cases it is now too late, and the destruction has been total.
On this course, leading authorities will attempt to answer some of these questions, to weigh the demands of tourism against those of conservation,
and to provide examples of what has been done, and how, where and when.
Course Leader
Jane Fawcett, MBE, Hon FRIBA, FSA, architectural historian and formerly Building Conservation tutor at the Architectural Association. She is the author of
Historic Floors, their History and Conservation (Butterworth Heinemann 1998)
Principal Tutor
Francesca Scoones, formerly Curator for Chattels and Archives, the National Trust
Course Tutors
Richard Harris, Director, Weald and Downland Open Air Museum
Michael Drury, St Ann's Architects, Salisbury
John Hart, freelance furniture and woodwork conservator, formerly external adviser to the National Trust
Colin Kerr, Surveyor to the Fabric, Chichester Cathedral
Helen Lloyd, Preventive Conservation Adviser (Housekeeping) and Deputy Head Conservator at the National Trust
Trevor Proudfoot, Managing Director, Cliveden Conservation Workshops and advisor to The National Trust on stone and plaster conservation
Christopher Rowell, Furniture Curator, National Trust Southern Region
David Rudkin, formerly Director of Fishbourne Roman Palace
Vanessa Simeoni, Conservator, Westminster Abbey
Tim Tatton-Brown, Consultant archaeologist to Salisbury Cathedral and St George's Chapel Windsor, formerly to Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey
Participants
Participants will be drawn from relevant professions, including architects, historians, archaeologists, conservators and archivists.
OUTLINE PROGRAMME
Day 1 Monday
16.00-18.31 Register at Reception Desk
18.46 Welcome Talk
19.00 Dinner followed by
Evening Introductory Talk: Recognition, recording and protection of ecclesiastical floors
Day 2 Tuesday
Morning The Great Pavement at Westminster Abbey
The archaeology of ecclesiastical floors including St George's Chapel, Windsor
Afternoon Maintenance of cathedral floors
Maintenance of historic house floors
Evening Recording and repair of secular floors
Day 3 Wednesday
Morning European 17th-century parquetry and marquetry floors and their 18th-century legacy
Visit to Uppark
CAD recording of fire-damaged floors
The repair of fire-damaged floors at Uppark
Visit to Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral floors - conservation issues
Afternoon Visit to Fishbourne Roman Palace
Conservation of mosaic floors and the management of visitors
Evening Conservation of historic house pavements - stone and plaster
Day 4 Thursday
Morning Visit to Weald and Downland Open Air Museum
Vernacular floors - case studies and site visit
Participants' case studies
Afternoon Problems and solutions
Summing up. Issue of certificates
16.00 Course closes
Non-residential course fee: £345
Fully inclusive residential course fee:
Shared bathroom facilities £459
Standard room with private bathroom facilities £504
Superior room with private bathroom facilities £537
HOW TO BOOK
Please complete one booking form, or copy of form, per person per course and enclose a deposit for each course booked. On receipt of your booking, we will send all the further details you will need for your visit, including the course details, full details of cancellation conditions and your final payment slip. Travel instructions will be sent to all students.
For further information on the course, please contact Liz Campbell: liz.campbell@westdean.org.uk or +44 (0) 1243 818219.
For further information about booking please telephone the Admissions Office on +44 (0)1243 811301.
Website: www.westdean.org.uk
