Building Conservation Masterclasses
The programme of Building Conservation Masterclasses (BCMs) at West Dean provides training in technical and practical skills in the repair and maintenance of historic structures. These intensive short courses have been designed by, and are delivered by, leading practitioners in the field of building conservation.
The unique ruinette at West Dean – on which students can practise conservation and repair techniques – is a purpose-built structure exhibiting many of the problems found on historic buildings.
Aimed at those who need to develop practical skills and those who need to understand, specify and supervise these skills; the BCMs are relevant for craftsmen, conservators, conservation officers, architects, surveyors, planners, construction managers, specifiers, specialist contractors and archaeologists. The Professional Development Diploma can be achieved through the successful completion of 10 BCMs and the submission of a final essay. West Dean’s building conservation programme has its origins in the work of English Heritage. The organisation’s training base at Fort Brockhurst in Hampshire was transferred to West Dean in 1997.
2012 Courses
16-18 January: Practice and theory: Managing change in historic buildings
Course code: BC2D25
Course leader: Helen Hughes
30 January -2 February: Conservation and repair of architectural and structural metalwork
Course code: BC3D157
Course Leader: Geoffrey Wallis
3 February: Conservation and repair of architectural and structural metalwork
Course code: BC3D157 (Extra optional day)
Course Leader: Geoffrey Wallis
13-16 February:Mortars for repair and conservation
Course code BC3D156a
Course leader: Catherine Woolfitt
5-8 March: Conservation of stone surfaces and detail
Course code: BC3D158
Course leader: David Odgers
19-22 March: Specifying conservation works
Course code: BC3D159
Course Leader: Ian Constantinides
2-5 April: Conservation and repair of plasters and renders
Course code: BC3D160
Course leader: Graham Abrey
8-11 May: Conservation and repair of masonry ruins
Course code: BC3D161
Course leader: Graham Abrey
14-17 May: Conservation and repair of brick, terracotta and flint masonry
Course code: BC3D162
Course leader: Peter Minter
11-14 June: Managing wildlife on historic monuments
Course code: BC3D163
Course leader: Alan Cathersides
Principal tutor: Vince Giavarini
18-21 June: Masonry cleaning
Course code: BC3D164
Course leader: David Odgers
Principal tutor: Brian Klelund
3-6 September: Conservation and repair of stone masonry
Course code: BC3D165
Course leader: Graham Abrey
10-13 September: Conservation of concrete
Course code: BC3D166
Course leader: Catherine Croft
24-27 September: The structural repair of historic buildings
Course code: BC3D167
Course leader: Ian Hume
Principal tutor: Terry Girdler
8-11 October: Conservation and repair of timber
Course code: BC3D168
Course Leader: Richard Harris
Principal tutor: Peter McCurdy
5-8 November: Mortars for repair and conservation
Course code: BC3D169
Principal tutor: Catherine Woolfitt
