Building Standen, Shaping Conservation: Philip Webb and SPAB

Building Standen, Shaping Conservation: Philip Webb and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

20 March - 30 September 2027

To mark the 150th anniversary of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the National Trust's Standen House and Garden is hosting a new exhibition Building Standen, Shaping Conservation: Philip Webb and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in 2027.

The exhibition will explore how architect Philip Webb helped shape both one of Britain's finest Arts & Crafts houses and the modern conservation movement.

Curated by Tessa Wild in collaboration with SPAB and the National Trust, the exhibition will examine the life and work of Philip Webb (1831-1915), co-founder of the Society alongside William Morris in 1877 and architect of Standen, widely regarded as one of his greatest surviving buildings.

Presented in the Servants' Hall, Butler's Pantry and adjoining rooms within Standen's Service Wing, the exhibition will tell the story of the events that led to the founding of the SPAB and the development of its influential conservation philosophy, now known as the SPAB Approach. Through original archival material, photographs, letters, architectural drawings and personal objects, visitors will discover how Webb, Morris and their circle challenged damaging restoration practices and championed a more thoughtful, sustainable way of caring for historic buildings.

The exhibition will also explore Webb's wider architectural career and his influence on generations of architects and craftspeople. Particular attention will be given to Standen itself, one of the architect's final major commissions and his only house open to the public. He worked closely with the Beale family to create a house that reflected his deep understanding of architecture, craftsmanship, materials and everyday living and it remains largely unchanged.

Drawing on significant collections held by Standen, the West Sussex Record Office, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the SPAB Archive, the exhibition will feature architectural drawings, specifications, notebooks, illustrated correspondence and a remarkable collection of personal artefacts associated with Webb's working life.

Alongside its historical focus, the exhibition will demonstrate the continuing relevance of Webb's ideas and the SPAB's work today. Visitors will learn how the organisation continues to champion traditional building skills, repair-led conservation and sustainable approaches to the historic environment. Recent SPAB Scholars' sketchbooks and projects will highlight the charity's ongoing role in training the next generation of conservation professionals and Webb's enduring influence on contemporary architectural practice.

A programme of public events will accompany the exhibition, including lectures, curator-led tours, family activities and live craft demonstrations by specialist tradespeople. Working demonstrations and hands-on activities will showcase the traditional skills that remain essential to the care of historic buildings, bringing the principles of the SPAB Approach to life for Standen’s visitors.

Through the story of Philip Webb and Standen, the exhibition will reveal how ideas developed nearly 150 years ago continue to shape the way historic buildings are understood, cared for and protected today.

SPAB and Standen House are grateful for the financial support from The Albert Dawson Educational Trust that has made the exhibition and associate programme possible. https://www.albertdawsontrust.org.uk/

Tessa Wild is an independent curator and writer and editor of SPAB Magazine. She wrote William Morris and his Palace of Art (2018) and co-authored the 2025 book Standen: Philip Webb, Morris & Co. and the Creation of an Arts and Crafts Home Standen: Philip Webb, Morris & Co. and the Creation of an Arts and Crafts Home with Anne Stutchbury, Stephen Ponder, and Alice Strickland, exploring the Beale family's collaboration with Webb.

Image credits: © National Trust, photos James Dobson and Andreas Von Einsiedel and SPAB Archive