The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

24 - 25 March 2012

Time: 09.30 – 17.00
Venue: SPAB, 37 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY
Fee: £160

Lunch and refreshments will be provided. 
Please note: the course fee does not include accommodation.


This long established weekend course is led by experts in the field of historic building conservation.  It is aimed at anyone who lives in a pre-1914 house and will be extremely helpful for those considering buying a period property for the first time, or who have recently done so and now need guidance on the best ways to repair it. 

Course delegates will have the opportunity to meet like-minded enthusiasts and owners of historic buildings.  It is also the opportunity to obtain advice and guidance from building professionals and craftspeople. Attending this course will equip homeowners to start asking the right questions when they or their builders tackle a building project.        


Examples of topics covered on this course include:

• the SPAB approach to the care of old buildings;
• how to deal sensitively with damp, timber decay and repair;
• roofing materials and their repair;
• paints and other surface finishes;
• when to use lime plasters and renders;
• energy efficiency for your home;
• the role of architects and building surveyors;
• how to work successfully with your builder.

Book a place online, or download a booking form and return with payment to the SPAB.
If booking online: please let us know the names of all delegates (if different from the person making the booking) and detail any special dietary or access requirements.

“An excellent course – especially good at emphasising the fundamentals.”  2011 delegate

“I liked the fact it was for homeowners, so I didn’t feel like I had to be an expert.”  2011 delegate

“Good value for money; has paid for itself in avoiding the wrong sort of repairs or unnecessary work.”  2010 delegate

Listen to our Homeowners Course podcast for more feedback from past delegates.

14 - 19 May 2012

Venue: SPAB, 37 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY
Fee: £710

Includes transport, meals, accommodation and insurance during the two day tour.
Please note: the course fee does not include accommodation in London.


The Society’s Repair Course has been run since 1950, and welcomes architects, surveyors, planners, buildings archaeologists, structural engineers, conservation officers, builders, craftspeople and other building conservation professionals.

The course illustrates by lectures and practical examples the manner in which the conservative repair of old buildings can be achieved. The methods demonstrated include those evolved and proved by the Society for almost 130 years.  The lecturers are all practicing architects or other experts with long experience in this field of work.

Central to the course are the visits to buildings under repair in London, and to a different region of the country as part of a two day tour (Wednesday and Thursday). 

Please note: there may be scaffolding to climb on some of these sites.  Hard hats will be provided, but delegates will need to be prepared with steel toe-capped footwear and suitable clothing.


Examples of topics covered on this course include:

• principles of repair and conservation;
• damp;
• lime – the material and its use in repair;
• timber frame construction & repair;
• conservation and repair of stone and brickwork;
• energy efficiency;
• costing historic building work.


Recognised by the IHBC for CPD.


Book a place online, or download a booking form and return with payment to the SPAB.
If booking online: please let us know the names and job titles of all delegates (if different from the person making the booking) and detail any special dietary or access requirements.



“Very enjoyable and hugely beneficial course.”  2011 delegate

“The lectures were fantastic and gave a very good general overview of conservation… the site visits were great as they linked the lectures to real life situations.”  2011 delegate

Listen to our Repair Course podcast for more feedback from past delegates.

13 March 2012

Time: 09.30 - 17.00
Venue: SPAB, 37 Spital Square, London, E1 6DY
Fee: £100


This technical day event is likely to meet CPD requirements for those professionally involved in historic buildings; including architects, surveyors, engineers, planners, builders and contractors. We also welcome building conservation and engineering students to this event.

Often when dealing with historic buildings, engineers find themselves trying to apply modern standards and analysis methods that have little relevance or practical application to older building forms. The aim of this seminar is to understand a conservation engineering approach to the appraisal and subsequent repair of historic buildings. 

A group of specialist building conservation engineers will present lectures to describe their approach to the appraisal and subsequent repair of historic buildings that have got into difficulty.  These specialists will also demonstrate through case studies how, in the majority of cases, doing less is actually to do more.

Examples of topics covered during this event include:
• philosophy of repair;
• historical building development;
• common problems and their solutions;
• useful sources of information;
• useful repair details;
• understanding the building;
• knowing the mind of the builder;
• compatibility of materials;
• reversibility.

Download the provisional programme for this event - please note this schedule is subject to change.

Recognised by the IHBC for CPD.


Book a place online, or download a booking form and return with payment to the SPAB.
If booking online: please let us know the names and job titles of all delegates (if different from the person making the booking) and detail any special dietary or access requirements.

29 May 2012

Time: 13.15 - 17.15
Venue: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, London, E1 6LS
Fee: £50

This technical afternoon is likely to meet CPD requirements for those professionally involved in historic buildings; including architects, surveyors, engineers, planners, builders and contractors.

Understanding consent regimes is vital for all who work with historic buildings.   However, the range of consent types involved - listed building, conservation area, scheduled monument consent, as well as faculty jurisdiction - can seem complex and confusing. 

Over the past year, change has complicated this picture further with the introduction of Planning Policy Statement 5, the Localism Act, publication of a draft National Planning Policy Framework and the announcement of other intended reforms by central government.

Examples of topics covered during this event include:
•  designation and consent process;
•  concept of ‘significance’ underlying listed building and conservation area consent regimes;
•  changes that may be anticipated in the coming period.


Recognised by the IHBC for CPD. 


Book a place online, or download a booking form and return with payment to the SPAB.
If booking online: please let us know the names and job titles of all delegates (if different from the person making the booking) and detail any special dietary or access requirements.