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.
2010 Courses
6-9 September: Conservation and repair of stone masonry
Course code: BC3D139
Course leader: Graham Abrey
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
20-23 September: Conservation and repair of timber
Course code: BC3D140
Course leader: Richard Harris
Principal tutor: Peter McCurdy
4-7 October: The structural repair of historic buildings
Course code: BC3D141
Course leader: Ian Hume
Principal tutor: Terry Girdler
18-21 October: Conservation of concrete
Course code: BC3D142
Course leader: Catherine Croft
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
1-4 November: Mortars for repair and conservation
Course code: BC3D143
Course leader: Colin Burns
Principal tutor: Catherine Woolfitt
2011 Courses
17-20 January: Conservation and repair of architectural and structural metalwork
Course code: BC3D144
Course leader: Geoff Wallis
7-10 February: Specifying conservation works
Course code: BC3D145
Course leader: Ian Constantinides
7-9 March: The historic interior: an introduction to commissioning and managing conservation research
Course code: BC2D24
Course leader: Helen Hughes
Tutors: Ian Crick-Smith and Michael Crick-Smith
21-24 March: Conservation of stone surfaces and detail
Course code: BC3D146
Course leader: David Odgers
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
11-14 April: Conservation and repair of brick, terracotta and flint masonry
Course code: BC3D147
Course leader: Peter Minter
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
9-12 May: Conservation and repair of masonry ruins
Course code: BC3D148
Course leader: Graham Abrey
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
31 May-3 June: Conservation and repair of plasters and renders
Course code: BC3D149
Course leader: Graham Abrey
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
6-9 June: Managing wildlife on historic monuments
Course code: BC3D150
Course leader: Alan Cathersides
Principal tutor: Vince Giavarini
20-23 June: Cleaning masonry buildings
Course code:BC3D151
Course leader:David Odgers
Principal tutor: Brian Klelund
12-15 September: Conservation and repair of stone masonry
Course code: BC3D152
Course leader: Graham Abrey
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
3-6 October: The structural repair of historic buildings
Course code: BC3D153
Course leader:I an Hume
Principal tutor: Terry Girdler
17-20 October: Conservation and repair of timber
Course code: BC3D154
Course leader: Richard Harris
Principal tutor: Peter McCurdy
7-10 November: Conservation of concrete
Course code: BC3D155
Course leader: Catherine Croft
Principal tutor: Colin Burns
21-24 November: Mortars for repair and conservation
Course code: BC3D156
Course leader: Colin Burns
Principal tutor: Catherine Woolfitt
