News

Our founder William Morris’ designs arguably helped to shape our enduring taste for wallpapers. But how did British wallpaper develop, and how was it made?

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.

If you take a country walk along the public footpath south-west of the historic town of Coggeshall in Essex, you’ll find an elegant iron footbridge

Our Norfolk regional group volunteers report on a successful working party to carry out soft capping trials at a ruin

In October we received our first application relating to a listed building to be demolished for HS2. This was a Grade II listed farm near Banbury. Unfortunately, under the High Speed Rail Act 2017, which modified the controls related to listed buildings, we have little or no scope for objection. We deeply regret the demolitions necessitated by the construction of HS2.

A former chapel, a 20^th century post office, a Victorian home, the site of a ginger-beer making business and the home of a relic.

Now a peaceful wooded gorge, Lumsdale near Matlock in Derbyshire was once a hive of industry, harnessing the power of the falling water. Since the 1930s the site has become a romantic ruin, and is now cared for by local volunteers like Alan and Christine, who have published a history of this unique place.

Renting and unsure how and if you can carry out building maintenance? We’ve put together some tips for renters who’d like to do more maintenance to look after their home.

The SPAB is run with the help of a great many passionate and committed volunteers. With our annual Guardians elections looming in mid-November, we thought it a good time to explain how the SPAB is structured and celebrate the role of our volunteers who serve on our committees.

Despite the pandemic, progress has been made this summer with roof repairs at the SPAB's Old House Project at St Andrew's, Boxley in Kent. The roof is an especially important and characterful feature of our Grade II* listed building.