The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Throughout 2012 SPAB offers a variety of technical days and afternoons specifically designed to provide information and first-hand practical experience for architects, surveyors, engineers builders and conservation officers.

Midwinter is traditionally the season for spine-tingling tales and the new edition of Cornerstone, our highly regarded members' magazine, features the spellbinding story of one man's work to decipher strange and peculiar signs, symbols, charms and patterns 'drawn' onto ancient ceilings with candle smoke...

Britain's oldest heritage body, SPAB, has announced the appointment a new director. Matthew Slocombe will succeed Philip Venning when he retires next summer. Although Philip's title and that of his predecessors in this key role was Secretary, Matthew will take the title 'Director' to better communicate the scope and nature of the position.

SPAB Secretary Philip Venning OBE has been awarded the Society's own prestigious Queen Mother Memorial Medal to recognise outstanding and conspicuous contribution to heritage crafts. The presentation was made at The Athenaeum by Viscount Linley, distinguished craftsman and grandson of the late Queen Mother, during SPAB's ceremony to honour its William Morris Craft Fellows.

Britons are battening down the hatches as the economic climate freezes and winter closes in. A survey carried out by Ipsos MORI to mark SPAB's 10th annual National Maintenance Week campaign (Friday November 18th - Friday 25th) suggests that homeowners today are making cautious and considered choices when it comes to spending and saving. SPAB was particularly interested to see that when it came to the value of their homes, people rated 'fun' household spending on desirable interior features like décor and sparkling new kitchens and bathrooms significantly lower than 'boring' (but essential) maintenance - 26% vs 58%!

SPAB's highly regarded Homeowners' Weekend is designed to give people who have taken on a period property the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their renovation project. Our London Homeowners' Course in 2012 will be held over the weekend march 24 and 25 at the Society's Georgian HQ in London's Spitalfields.

On November 25th we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of National Gutters Day. It might not be a glamorous diary date, but it's a simple reminder of some small but effective steps you can take to get a property ready for winter's worst!

During the making of fascinating TV series 'Climbing Great Buildings' Jonathan Foyle took a bird's eye view of some of the nation's most spectacular structures - including their roofs and gutters! After enjoying that unique vantage point, it's no surprise that he's a passionate and informed advocate of the importance of regular maintenance. We've roped him in to lead our 2011 National Maintenance Week Campaign.

Every autumn SPAB organises a series of lectures on quirky and inspiring subjects designed to appeal to a broad range of interests. It's an unusual, informative and friendly way to pass the long dark evenings and beat the winter blues.

Applications are invited now from committed young craftsmen and women interested in SPAB's 2012 William Morris Craft Fellowship.