Our Built Heritage

In this episode I am joined by Cait Whitson from Whitson’s and Carte Blanche. The aim of Whitson’s is to manufacture, source and supply exceptional products for the decorationindustry. Carte Blanche which was Cait’s first business offered high-end decorative painting and restoration services.

We talk about Cait got into the industry and the trainingshe undertook and the kind of properties she worked on which ignited her passion to learn more about paint, how it is made and how it is applied and developing her specialist paint skills in graining and marbling. How life in a male dominated environment was and how she circumnavigated it.

We discuss the impact of products on the environment,challenges, common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Helen Whittaker, Director atBarley Studios where they have an international reputation for excellence in stained glass creation and conservation for cathedrals, stately homes, parish churches and prestigious secular buildings across the UK and beyond. Helen is an award-winning designer and maker of stained-glass windows and metal sculpture, directing restoration painting alongside her new design work. In 2024 Helen was awarded an MBE for services to stained glass creation and conservation in the Kings Birthday Honours. She has also recently published a book titled “Illuminating Stained Glass – Creativity, Conservation and Craft at Barley Studio.”

We talk about how she got into stained glass and theimportance of work experience to hone her skills and her love of working with glass which goes beyond painting. She talks about the need to combine the skill with the artistry and how it has been on the skills at risk register and the demand for conservation and restoration work alongside new commissions. Helen describes how she works, and the processes involved when making a window.

We discuss conservation vs restoration, the challenges,common themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Sara Robertson, Chair ofHistoric Buildings & Places, Chair of Europa Nostra UK, and SPAB Guardian. Sara has been active in the cultural heritage sector for 25 years starting off as a conservation architect and then working for Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings where she led the award-winning Faith in Maintenance project. Sara has also worked for the Heritage Lottery Fund as Head of Historic Environment, where she championed the value of the UK's built heritage and developed policy and guidance materials to support grant applicants. Prior to her current role as Chief Executive of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, Sara was Chief Executive of Icon (the Institute of Conservation).

We discuss how Sara got into the industry and how studyingin Edinburgh helped shaped her view on the architectural landscape. The different roles she has undertaken and experiences working on projects and interacting with different service providers.

We talk about the importance of maintenance and curateddecay, what motivates someone to buy a listed building plus the usual challenges, themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Antoinette Vandy, CEO &Co-founder of Agreka Build. A UK-based material innovation company that specialises in net-zero construction and regenerative building solutions. Their unique approach involves collaborating with farmers to transform agriculturalwaste into innovative, green construction materials. By repurposing waste into valuable resources, they aim to reduce environmental impact, support rural economies, and lead the transition towards a net-zero, circular economy inagriculture and construction.

We talk a about Antoinette’s initial training as an architect and how she then went on to co-found a company focused on sustainable building products. We discuss how it can be used in buildings and some of the common myths that are around using natural products.

We also discuss the usual challenges, themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Rebecca Thompson, Director of Property at St Paul’s Cathedral where responsibilities include leading the strategic development to ensure compliance, maintenance and restoration of this magnificent iconic building and its associated estate.

Rebecca shares what has been happening since we last spoke in series 1, episode 3.

We delve deeper into the world of working in the heritage sector. What is important about old buildings and why they are still relevant today and thoughts on their place in the future.

We discuss the amazing work St Paul’s Cathedral are doing to care for the buildings within their estate and how they are developing in-house skills through the introduction of a stone mason apprenticeship and a joinery apprenticeship and how this is only just the beginning of their vision to help people get into the heritage industry.

We also talk about the impact of climate change on buildings, particularly older ones and what we should lookout for to see signs of our historical landscape when we are out an about.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone wanting to learnmore about traditional buildings.

In this episode I am joined by Sarah Roller, Director ofPolicy & Public Affairs at Historic Houses, working on behalf of around 1,450 independent historic houses and gardens across the UK, to represent their interests to government and the wider heritage sector, as well as to support their learning, outreach and community programmes. Prior to joining Historic Houses in early 2022, she worked for History Hit, Trent Park House and Godinton House, in roles spanning communications, digital media and collections/curation work.

We talk about how Sarah got into the industry and herthoughts on the sense of place and her love of learning how people connected with spaces and buildings, especially in a heritage context.

Sarah shares her thoughts on interpreting a building andwhat information you may use to shape the story and how this informs our work. We also discuss the work she is carrying out to help shape policies to support people who work and own traditional properties, those working in the heritage sector plus those wanting to get into the industry. We discuss the challenges, themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tipswhen working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on a project and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

In this episode I am joined by Melanie Lytle, Director atthe Goucher College where she overseas the MA in Historic Preservation. Melanie is also the owner of Glaze Craft Windows which offers a range of services to help care and maintain historic windows which are typically pre-1945 wood windows.

We talk about how Melanie got into the industry and how living in different countries helped ignite her passion. The different ways the US supports homeowners and the variations in approach between the UK and the US.

Melanie shares her experiences both academically and as awindow restorer and how crafts are seen and the programme she set up to encourage more people to get into the industry.

We discuss the challenges, themes and misconceptions working in the heritage sector along with the usual top tips when working with an older property.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

Link is in the comments… enjoy!

In this episode I am joined by Matt Glasgow, Senior Building Surveyor at National Trust where he specialises in conservation and is accredited in building conservation as a member of RICS Building Conservation Accreditation Scheme and is a full member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation. Matt is experienced in asset and facilities management, making the built environment work and finding solutions to help clients realise their business plans. Matt is also advisor to the Coventry Dioseason advisory committee where he advices on alternations to church buildings in the Coventry dioses.

We talk about the types of projects Matt is involved in andhow surveyors work and when and how they can help a building to ensure it is not only maintained but how it is perceived and how it could function which goes beyond its fabric, it is also about what makes the building significant.

We discuss how a building performs and identifying what work may be required but equally what work that isn’t required which helps to identify when and where money should be spent.  

Matt shares some examples of how a building may not perform along with common themes and misconceptions he encounters and the importance of engaging the right people.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

Link is in the comments… enjoy!

In this episode I am joined by Kate and Ben Kerslake fromCarrington Lime. Ben is a conservation builder working on new builds, conservation and restoration projects. Since 2017 he started teaching heritage skills to support architects, conservation officers, builders and also property owners to maintain their traditional buildings and is supported by Kate who brings a wealth of experience in marketing and a passion for heritage.

We talk about how they both got into the industry. For Kateit started with her plans to save the world when she was a kid and how that then lead her to working within such an incredible industry and how Ben and Kate are working to save lime plastering as a skill now.  

Ben’s route started with building a strawbale house whichfeatured on Grand Designs giving him hands on experience in traditional methods and exposing him to the benefits of living in such an ecofriendly home. This then led to his passion for understanding traditional building techniques, high body energy materials and the movement of moisture and how a misunderstanding of materials led to myths and confusion when it comes to traditional and modern materials.

We talk about the cost and benefits of using traditionalproducts with the usual advice on working with older properties.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

Link is in the comments… enjoy!

In this episode I am joined by Krissie Kalteis from PreciousWall Finishes. Krisse is a master craftsperson specialising in historical painting techniques which include stucco and venetian plaster, gold and glass gilding, marbling and sign writing. Based in Australia, Krissie works in Australia and internationally.

We talk about how Krissie started working in the industry,where her work ethic came from and her passion for churches and caring for them.

Krisse describes how she works with her clients and how sheis often the catalyst for them embracing colour and finding joy in their buildings. She is fascinated by painting techniques and the meaning of colour. She is constantly learning and Krisse shares some of her findings and the projects she has worked on in Germany and Australia and other parts of the world.

It will be an interesting listen for anyone embarking on aproject and is looking for some guidance and anyone generally interested in older properties.

Link is in the comments… enjoy!