January 2016 marks a big milestone for me. 10 years ago this
month I was commissioned to research my first historic building. At the time I
was still studying for the Post Graduate Diploma in the Conservation of
Historic Buildings at the Architectural Association. Research techniques
learned on the course seemed to play to my strengths and so a fellow student
recommended me to try out with the firm of conservation architects she worked for.
The house I researched was an 1820s London townhouse by
James Burton (father of Decimus). This was an assignment that would now take me
just a few days but as a research rookie took over a month to
complete; I was learning on the job! Luckily, that assignment wasn’t urgent …
which is a rarity in this business. I wasn't going to be paid for this 'try out' but they were so pleased with the results that I was. Since then, I have carried on working on a
freelance basis for that firm as well as working with other architects, property professionals and private home owners.
In these last 10 years I have researched over 250 historic
buildings all over the country from mansions to terraced houses. I have uncovered the social and structural history of Georgian town houses and Victorian vicarages, 17th century farmhouses, 18th century manor houses, railway stations and
viaducts, fire stations, cinemas and theatres, an art deco synagogue, 15th century Wealden
hall houses, 18th century orangeries and even war memorials.
What I love about this work is you never stop learning. British
history and particularly its architecture is so vast and rich. With the advance
in technology access to sources has doubled; which means double the work but also
double the results!
It’s been an amazing decade and here’s to the next 10 years!
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| Some of the houses I have researched since 2006 |
