championing excellence in built heritage across the UK and Ireland
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SPAB Heritage Awards -
Online learningdiscover our learning from home programme
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OLD HOUSE PROJECTRepairing a 'sleeping beauty' building in Kent
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Support the SPABHelp us to keep going through challenging times. Become a Member.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
We believe old buildings have a future. From cottages to castles and from churches to cathedrals we are here to help buildings and the people who care for them. Based on years of experience and research we understand how old buildings work.
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News
New awards will join our exisiting ones in a celebration of old buildings and the people who champion them.
We are proud to announce that the St Andrews, Maidstone project as won the Museums + Heritage Award for Best Restoration or Conservation Project of the Year.
Our famous Repair of Old Buildings Course, an intensive introduction to conservation, returns this autumn.
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Become a member
Join today to support our positive, practical approach to building conservation. As a member you become part of a network of like-minded people who care for historic buildings. Other benefits include The SPAB Magazine, access to the Property List and the opportunity to join your local Regional Group.
Scholarship & Fellowship
Education programmes for architects, surveyors, engineers and craftspeople to further their 'hands-on' understanding of historic building conservation.
Shop
Visit our online shop to browse our range of helpful books and guides to caring for old buildings. We also offer a selection of gifts.
Upcoming Events
Course
01/11/2021
This popular short course, presented by leading building conservation professionals, has been run by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings since the 1950s. For autumn 2021, we're delighted to offer the course in an online format, specially designed to run entirely virtually.
Course
22/09/2021
An appreciation of textures, details, space and light. This three-step workshop (June - September 2021) is an opportunity to receive professional guidance on photographic techniques and composition using your digital SLR camera.
THIS WORKSHOP IS FULLY BOOKED.
Lecture
22/09/2021
Presented by SPAB Ireland
The sixth lecture in the 10-part online series, 'Conserving Irish Vernacular Houses'
The series is part of SPAB Ireland's Vernacular Irish Buildings Campaign 2021 and is generously supported by the Heritage Council under the HSSF 2021
Campaigns
Campaign
The SPAB runs national campaigns raising awareness about important issues surrounding the protection of old buildings.
Your campaign
If you’re worried about a deteriorating building in your local area, want to contest a planning application, build your own local campaign or set up a building preservation trust then the The SPAB Campaign Toolkit can offer guidance.
Mills
Technical advice
All old buildings need regular care and maintenance in order to prevent serious disrepair. Windmills and watermills are by their nature exposed to wear from wind and water in addition to facing problems common to historic buildings.
The SPAB Mills Section has put together a suite of resources and guidance tailored to those caring for old windmills and watermills.
Visit a mill
Become a Mills Section member
The SPAB’s Mills Section is the only Society concerned solely with protecting and promoting traditional windmills and watermills in the UK. The Section provides advice and training to mill owners and heritage professionals, and campaigns for the protection of milling heritage. Join the Section now to support its work and receive a range of membership benefits.