Wells Cathedral Stonemasons

UK ARCHITECTS TO LEARN ABOUT STONE-CONSERVATION

Wells Cathedral Stonemasons mounts a nationwide lecture tour for RIBA members

Wells Cathedral Stonemasons, one of the UK‘s few remaining companies dedicated to sustaining the practice and training of traditional stone skills, is mounting a nationwide lecture-tour for architects.

Arranged as CPD (Continuous Professional Training) events for members of RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), the presentations will be led by Simon Armstrong, a Director of Wells Cathedral Stonemasons. He heads the company‘s determination to provide national leadership in providing apprenticeships and training in the traditional skills of working with stone.

The RIBA training days will focus on how architects should approach the repair and restoration of stone structures, from medieval churches to more recent buildings.

Having trained as a bio-chemist, Simon Armstrong decided on a career-change to stone masonry, and underwent the full training programme at Wells Cathedral Stonemasons. He has since worked on major restoration and new-build projects throughout the UK and France.

According to Simon Armstrong: “We welcome this opportunity to talk to architects about the technical issues surrounding successful management of the repair and restoration of historic stone buildings, and the increasing use of stone in new buildings, from homes to civic and commercial properties.

“The sourcing of stone for repair or replacement, and the management of a new-build stone project, require very different skills to working in brick or other conventional materials. Architects are crucial to ensuring that those differences are fully understood”, said Mr Armstrong.

“For example, there is a need to understand the importance and benefits of using traditional lime mortar, which is vastly more eco-friendly than modern cement, and can extend the life of a stone building by decades”, he added.

The training tour includes events in Manchester (8th February), Maidenhead (8th March), and London (18th April), with dates to be finalised for various other venues.

Architects wanting to enquire about these training events should consult their regional branch or contact Simon Armstrong (telephone: 01934-743544) or email: simon@stone-mason.co.uk

END 5th February 2007

For further information please contact David Sturgess, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email david@sturgessvandamme.co.uk