News - Archive

SPAB archive volunteer, Gillian Goodridge remembers a summertime visit to St Enodoc’s Church in Cornwall, beloved of poet and campaigner John Betjeman.

Writer Gillian Darley visits our archive to explore the history of this coastal Saxon church

In anticipation of a talk in March on their collaboration, we looked to our archives to explore John Piper’s involvement in the establishment of our Betjeman Award over 30 years ago, to honour his friend’s love of ancient churches.

We look back on the work of Scottish architect William Weir (1865-1950), one of our most respected caseworkers, and was part of a group of dedicated experts active in the first 50 years of the SPAB.

Now a major heritage destination as a picturesque ruin, Rievaulx was founded in the 12th century as the first Cistercian monastery in the north of England. We look in our records to review our work in 1908-9 which stabilised the building and prevented collapse in several areas of the structure. 

Frederick Duleep Singh (1868-1926), is one the most interesting personalities from the SPAB archives. The younger son of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, Prince ‘Freddie' was a dedicated SPAB member and saved a 15th-century townhouse.

Despite a campaign to save it, this splendid building was demolished in 1890 and its oak frontage hangs in the V&A museum; an early example of facadism in this area of London.

Our archive documents the work of the Society since its foundation in 1877 and is an invaluable source of information and inspiration.

Our archive contains a file on building known as Willy Lott’s House in Flatford, Suffolk. which was was made famous by its depiction in John Constable’s paintings, most notably ‘The Hay Wain’.

Many people don’t know that before Hardy became famous for his novels and poems, he had an earlier career as an architect. He was also a committed SPAB member and volunteer.