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Earthen architecture had structural qualities too: it had equilibrium and cohesion. It ranged
from simple single storey buildings to multi-storey construction, in Yemen for example.
Yioutani-Iacovides explained the ancient and new construction techniques: cob (a structural
component) and wattle and daub (infill); rammed earth, i.e. pisé de terre (monolithic
construction); and adobe, i.e. mudbricks. She explained each technique by highlight the basic
traditional method and identifying examples of contemporary construction from the UK,
France, the US and Australia). She was able to highlight some conservation issues and repair
and restoration principles, before concluding with the question: down to Earth…is there a
future? Since earthen architecture provides relief from the heat of the day and comfort
during the cold night and it was sustainable: so Yioutani-Iacovides believed it did have a
future.
The final presentation was by Clara Willett, from the Conservation & Research Team at
Historic England. Her presentation focussed on
the Strategic Stone Study
. In her biography
Willets had explained that she had been involved in this study for some time and that she had
been involved in writing the revised Practical Building Conservation Handbook on Stone.
The Strategic Stone Study was aimed at improving our understanding of the indigenous stones
in England, their occurrence and availability and their use in historic building. The problem
was how to match stones, for sensitive repairs, extensions to listed buildings and new
buildings in environmentally sensitive areas.
With repairs it was important to match the aesthetics, the mineral content and the durability
of the stone. Consequently, the study sought to address the problems of identifying the stone
type. Often the historic source was unknown and/or the historic source had gone since many
original quarries had closed down. Often nothing similar was commercially available.
The Symonds Report (2004)
Planning for the Supply of Natural Building and Roofing Stone in
England and Wales
recognised that there was no single source of information. As a result it
had recommended: that Mineral Planning Authorities should identify and protect ‘heritage
quarries’; and a National database of building and roofing stones should be established.
The solution lay in using a combination of historic maps and records. Field work has to date
identified: 12,759 building stone sources; 3,374 building stones; and 15,867 representative
buildings and villages in 36 counties. The British Geological Society (BGS) had hosted GIS
studies and data for each county was now available in Excel spreadsheets format: for each
county, a ‘Building Stone Atlas’ pdf had been produced.
Links had been established with Mineral Planning Authorities with a view to reopening
quarries. By linking the county spreadsheets to the National Heritage List the Building Stone
Atlases could be used to ensure the correct stone was used when working on a listed building.
This information was available from Historic England.
The Day Conference ended with a final question and answer session, chaired by Marion
Barter. The discussion started by referring back to the opening presentation by Dr Marcel
Vellinga and what we meant by vernacular.