Heritage of London Trust: Preserving London's Architectural Heritage

Mission: Safeguarding London's Historic Sites
The Heritage of London Trust (HOLT) is London's independent heritage charity, established in 1980 by the Greater London Council to rescue historic buildings and monuments. Their mission is to preserve the city's architectural legacy by identifying at-risk heritage sites and guiding their restoration from inception to completion. By focusing on structures that embody London's rich history, HOLT ensures that these landmarks continue to enrich the urban landscape for future generations.

Comprehensive Restoration Services
HOLT offers a range of services tailored to the needs of building conservation professionals, homeowners, and enthusiasts. They commission condition surveys, provide grants, and oversee the restoration process, collaborating with specialist conservators to maintain the authenticity and integrity of each site. Their projects span all 33 London boroughs, addressing a diverse array of structures, from fountains and statues to historic buildings and monuments.

Engaging Communities Through Proud Places
A key component of HOLT's work is community engagement, exemplified by their Proud Places programme. This initiative involves young people in heritage projects, fostering a sense of ownership and appreciation for local history. By integrating educational activities and hands-on experiences, HOLT empowers the next generation to value and protect London's architectural heritage.

Notable Restoration Projects
HOLT has successfully completed over 850 projects, including the restoration of St Leonard’s Church in Shoreditch. Known as the 'Actors’ Church' due to its historical association with the theatre community, the church underwent significant restoration, including the repair of its clock faces. Such projects highlight HOLT's commitment to preserving sites of cultural and historical significance, ensuring they remain integral parts of their communities.

Support and Funding
As a 100% independently funded charity, HOLT relies on donations and partnerships to continue its vital work. They offer various ways for individuals and organizations to contribute, including becoming patrons, establishing corporate partnerships, or leaving a legacy gift. Support from the public enables HOLT to rescue and restore more heritage sites, maintaining London's unique historical character.

Through dedicated efforts in restoration, community engagement, and education, the Heritage of London Trust plays a crucial role in preserving the city's architectural heritage for present and future generations.

The Door Restorer: Reviving Period Doors in the UK

Mission: Preserving Historical Integrity
The Door Restorer, established in 1982 and based in Dover, UK, is dedicated to the repair and restoration of original internal period doors. With a focus on preserving the historical integrity of properties, the company emphasizes the importance of repairing, restoring, re-using, and recycling existing doors.

Comprehensive Restoration Services
Specializing in period and heritage door restoration, The Door Restorer addresses common issues such as malfunctioning hinges, locks, latches, and handles. By resolving these problems, the company ensures that doors not only look aesthetically pleasing but also function seamlessly, enhancing both the beauty and utility of period homes.

Supply and Fit of Salvaged Period Doors
In addition to restoration, The Door Restorer maintains an extensive and ever-changing stock of over a hundred reclaimed, original antique doors. This collection allows homeowners to replace missing or damaged doors with authentic period pieces that match the character of their homes. The company offers a supply and fit service, ensuring that each door is installed to the highest standards.

Personalized Craftsmanship
As a sole proprietor, Tony Bones personally oversees every project, providing clients with consistent communication and tailored solutions throughout the restoration process. His hands-on approach ensures that each door is treated with the utmost care and expertise, resulting in restorations that seamlessly integrate with the existing architecture of the home.

Commitment to Sustainability
By focusing on the restoration and reuse of original doors and antique door furniture, The Door Restorer promotes sustainable practices within the building conservation community. This approach not only preserves the historical essence of properties but also reduces waste, aligning with environmentally conscious values.

The Door Restorer stands as a valuable resource for building conservation professionals, homeowners, and enthusiasts seeking to maintain the authenticity and functionality of period properties in the UK.

Company Statement:

Hello, I’m Tony Bones, a lifelong resident (so far!) of the most historic town of Dover. I have spent my entire career working with wood, mainly on period homes in the county of Kent. After more than 30 years of general carpentry, I decided to focus on the one aspect I got most enjoyment from ... Reviving internal period doors. If the doors inside your period home can't manage the basics of opening and closing easily enough, or the door knobs come off in your hand, don't despair! I can fix problems with hinges, locks, latches and handles, along with making the doors look and function great again. With an ever-changing stock of more than a hundred reclaimed, original antique doors, I can supply & fit doors too! So if you have 1 or 2 missing, or an entire period home that has 'lost' all of it's characterful original doors, I'm confident I can help. As a one man band, I will be there at every step of the process, communicating with information and options along the way. ​Please don’t ditch your old doors and get in touch

Mining Landscapes is a UK-based initiative dedicated to uncovering and celebrating the rich heritage of former coal mining regions. By developing walking and cycling routes, the organization enables communities to engage with and commemorate their industrial past. These routes are designed in collaboration with local residents, fostering a deep connection to the landscape and its history. 

For building conservation professionals, Mining Landscapes offers valuable insights into the historical significance of mining-related structures and sites. The project emphasizes the preservation of surviving features within mining landscapes, providing detailed information on their historical context and current state. This resource aids professionals in making informed decisions regarding conservation efforts. 

Homeowners residing in former mining areas can benefit from the project's comprehensive documentation of local history. By exploring the walking and cycling routes, residents gain a deeper appreciation of their surroundings and the historical events that shaped them. This connection to the past can enhance community pride and inform property stewardship. 

Enthusiasts of industrial heritage will find Mining Landscapes to be a treasure trove of information and experiences. The project's virtual museum offers a wealth of resources, including historic maps, plans, images, sound and video clips, songs, and poetry, all accessible through an interactive app. This multimedia approach brings history to life, allowing users to immerse themselves in the stories of coal mining communities. 

Mining Landscapes actively encourages public participation. Users are invited to contribute their own stories and memories to existing routes or suggest and create new journeys. This collaborative approach ensures that the project remains dynamic and reflective of the communities it represents, continually enriching the collective understanding of the UK's mining heritage.  

Organisation Statement:

"It is not so long ago that coal had a place in everyday life in Central Scotland. At its peak in the post-war period, the industry employed around 140,000 workers and met roughly 90% of the Nation’s demand for fuel. Woodmuir Colliery, Breich, West Lothian The local landscape of the colliery towns and villages were dominated by the bing, the headstock, colliery buildings, the railway sidings and the associated housing, clubs and bowling greens. Rapid decline from the 1960s brought closure, demolition and subsequent repurposing and/or redevelopment of the colliery sites that erased much of the industrial archaeology of one of Scotland’s foremost industries.

Although often hard to discern, visible traces of coal mining remain in the landscape today, ranging from sunken hollows, patches of colliery waste and piles of building rubble through to communication networks, reclaimed bings and repurposed buildings. Many sites simply remain as semi-derelict landscapes, lingering on the edge of settlements and largely unmanaged, but they are still spaces people engage with daily, where memories of past industry may linger, and powerful legacies can still be imagined and brought to mind such as profound sense of loss and social trauma, particuarly in relation to loss of life or where pit closure was brutal. Yet they also provide a sense of historical and community continuity, an anchor point for identity, and links to the past that helps to understand the present.

Project Aims:

• To provide a sustainable and dynamic record of the disappearing landscape features and industrial archaeology of former colliery sites as seen through the eyes of the local communities.
• To record and interpret local mining landscapes and link former colliery sites more strongly to local memory and knowledge. - To tell the story of deindustrialisation and coal in a much more nuanced and affirmative manner that challenges and reshapes the often-negative perceptions of the ‘pit village’.
• To provide ‘visibility and voice’ by highlighting the cultural, environmental and ecological values of the former mining landscapes and the subsequent role these sites have in green energy transitions and carbon capture.

The initiative offers a sustainable method of community co-production that provides a new medium for individuals and community groups to express issues around their heritage, a novel method of heritage recording and preservation, and the creation of artistic artefacts."

Bespoke Plaster Mouldings: Masters of Plaster Heritage Conservation

Mission: Preserving Craftsmanship Through Excellence
Bespoke Plaster Mouldings, a leading specialist in plaster heritage conservation in the UK, is dedicated to the restoration, reproduction, and creation of exquisite plasterwork. With a mission to combine traditional craftsmanship with innovative techniques, the company is committed to preserving the integrity of historic plaster mouldings while delivering outstanding results for conservation professionals, homeowners, and heritage enthusiasts.

Expertise in Historic Plasterwork
Bespoke Plaster Mouldings offers unparalleled expertise in the restoration and replication of historic plaster features. Their services include the repair of intricate cornices, ceiling roses, columns, and other decorative elements, as well as the creation of bespoke mouldings tailored to match original designs. Using traditional methods and materials, the company ensures that every project aligns with the historical authenticity and artistic precision required in heritage conservation.

Tailored Solutions for Every Client
The company works closely with a diverse range of clients, including building conservation professionals, architects, and private property owners. For professionals, Bespoke Plaster Mouldings provides consultation, on-site surveys, and technical advice to ensure the success of complex restoration projects. For homeowners, the company offers a personalized approach, enabling them to preserve or replicate cherished architectural features while maintaining the character of their homes.

Supporting Heritage Enthusiasts
Bespoke Plaster Mouldings actively engages with heritage enthusiasts by showcasing the art of plaster restoration and offering insights into traditional techniques. Through workshops, demonstrations, and collaborations, the company helps foster a deeper appreciation for the skill and craftsmanship involved in preserving the UK’s architectural history. Their passion for education ensures that heritage knowledge is passed on to future generations.

Sustainability Through Traditional Craftsmanship
At the core of Bespoke Plaster Mouldings' philosophy is a commitment to sustainability. The company emphasizes the use of natural, eco-friendly materials such as lime plaster and gypsum, reducing environmental impact while ensuring durability and authenticity. Their focus on restoration over replacement contributes to resource conservation, aligning with the principles of sustainable heritage preservation.

Venables Oak -- Oak Specialists in Shropshire

Venables Oak is the trading name of Venables Brothers Ltd, a name synonymous with oak and hardwoods for over 150 years. Based in Shropshire, UK, as bespoke joiners and timber suppliers Venables Oak has a lifetime’s experience in working with wood, from cathedral roofs to dining tables.

Create Streets exists to help solve the housing crisis and to help neighbourhoods, communities, landowners, councils and developers create and manage beautiful, sustainable places of gentle density that will be popular, are likely to be correlated with good wellbeing and public health outcomes and which are likely to prove good long term investments based on the historical data of value appreciation and maintenance costs.

Our goal is to make it easier to co-create beautiful, sustainable, prosperous, economically and socially successful places with strong local support and which residents will love for generations. We also take an active part in the debate about the planning and design in the UK and beyond to help landowners, communities and governments support the creation of sufficient homes and places in which people can flourish.

Nicholas Boys Smith set up Create Streets in 2012 out of frustration with the low quality of too much recent development and of irrational decision-making. We research links between urban form and wellbeing, health, sustainability, prosperity, value and popularity. We advise communities, landowners, councils and developers. We lobby for necessary policy change. And we help communities and long-term investors develop exemplar schemes and better manage the streets and public spaces they already have.

Thanks to support from neighbourhood community groups up and down the country, Create Streets has managed to have a major impact on English planning policy and the wider debate as well as helping many communities and councils make the case for and start to achieve better and more popular development. We are now working with a rapidly growing number of neighbourhoods, councils and landowners. Do please get in touch!

As Stone Cleaning Experts we do what’s best for your investment and the lifespan of the building, helping period properties, historic and listed buildings live for longer. Every project and method is built, inspected and approved from pre-project testing to completion to help mitigate risks and uncertainty while ensuring we create alignment for our clients.

If you are a homeowner, surveyor, architect or property manager searching for sensitive and approved stone or brick cleaning solutions, the development of a specification or proof of concept of methods to restore your building, we can help you.

Stone Cleaning Experts is part of the Building Transformation Group, the leading façade and roof maintenance solution service provider in the UK. Together we are innovating the creation of building care programmes that help to increase the longevity of buildings.

Our grants are typically up to £100,000 per annum for a maximum of three years. We assess the size of grants relative to the applicants’ overall turnover and to our available resources. We welcome applications for one-off grants of £25,000-£100,000.

We are lean and focused, applying maximum resources to charitable purposes, and we expect the same of grant recipients. We want to see that funded organisations are well governed and managed, that they have good finance and risk management systems and that they have the necessary skills and expertise to deliver their objectives.

We consider applications for emergency funding only exceptionally and where we are satisfied that robust management structures are in place to ensure that our funding generates long-term value.

We fund specific initiatives and projects rather than providing unrestricted funding.

Please note that we do not consider applications:

Outside our three areas of special interest
For retrospective funding
For capital appeals for construction projects
For campaigning and lobbying work
From statutory bodies or where there is a reasonable expectation of public funding
For endowments
For core running costs
From individuals
From organisations based outside the UK
From organisations which have applied and been rejected within the last twelve months

Conservation of the Historic Built Environment - Leslie Cornell Senior is an accomplished practitioner in all aspects of cob in construction. Dedicated from 1997, he continues to undertake and/or coordinate many successful projects, regularly attends relevant seminars/courses and is conversant with current legislation and good practice guidelines. Furnished with these accumulated achievements allows Leslie to not only provide a professional building restoration service, they also guarantee distinct cob surveys, informed investigations and/or free advice delivered with accuracy and understanding, reassuring all enquirers and Clients they need look no further.

Since 1973 the Norwich Historic Churches Trust has been responsible for managing 18 of the city’s medieval churches that are no longer used for religious worship.

A registered charity, NHCT’s charitable objectives are the preservation and maintenance of redundant churches in Norwich which are of historic or architectural value. The Trust has worked hard to find new uses for the churches in its care and now provides accommodation for several of Norwich’s vibrant charities, businesses and cultural activities. These include the Norwich Arts Centre, the Norwich Puppet Theatre, the Wharf Academy, and the Oak Circus Centre.

The Trust also works to ensure public access to these churches which are an important part of the cityscape and the history of Norwich. Some are accessible daily while others can be viewed by appointment with the tenant. All of them are open during the annual Norfolk Heritage Open Days.
The Trust’s office is based at St Martin at Palace Church on St Martin at Palace Plain. It is also a visitor centre for those wishing to learn about historic churches and the base for our volunteers, the Friends of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, the Centre for Parish Church Studies and the Heavenly Gardens Project.

Bringing buildings and communities together.

We work to find innovative and sustainable ways to bring new life to London’s historic buildings, supporting local regeneration and helping communities thrive.

Our Vision - Our vision is to deliver high quality, sustainable heritage-led projects. We will re-use historic buildings throughout Greater London to create innovative social solutions and cultural benefits.

Our Mission - We will ensure that our projects are informed, wherever possible, by the needs of a local community, and result in positive social change, sensitive regeneration, and training, learning and volunteering, and employment opportunities. We will also support local communities in their aspirations to safeguard local buildings, offering professional guidance through training and consultancy services.

Our Aims - We aim to:

- Sensitively repair and convert neglected historic buildings- those included on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register, and those that are not.
- Develop heritage led re-use schemes informed by the needs and aspirations of a local community.
- Act as a development partner for owners of heritage assets seeking a scheme that places the historic building, its local environment, and the needs of the local community at the forefront.
- Support, inform/educate and facilitate at a local level, working with local community groups and fledgling trusts.
- Act as a catalyst for sensitive regeneration in the most deprived areas of London.

Stockills have been operating from their base in Snainton for nearly 100 years, through four generations of the same family and work, locally around the Scarborough and Ryedale areas of North Yorkshire.

We pride ourselves on our specialist knowledge of joinery and masonry construction techniques and carry out a wide range of works, whether new build properties, renovating existing buildings or blending the traditional buildings with modern construction techniques to provide a modern enhanced living style.

We specialise in the the careful conservation and repair of historic and listed buildings and undertake projects of all sizes. We undertake stone masonry, carpentry, roofing and associated works. We are based in the East and West Midlands and travel up to around 100 miles from each.

C.Burgess, Lime Plasterers Lancashire Ltd: Masters of Traditional Plastering

Mission: Reviving Traditional Plastering Techniques
C.Burgess, Lime Plasterers Lancashire Ltd is dedicated to preserving and restoring the UK's architectural heritage through the use of traditional plastering methods. With over 30 years of experience, the company emphasizes the importance of using natural materials with a low carbon footprint, ensuring that historic buildings are both authentically restored and environmentally sustainable.

Comprehensive Restoration Services
Specializing in lime and ornamental plasterwork, C.Burgess offers a range of services including lime pointing, whitewashing, lime washing, distempers, and lath and plaster repairs. Their expertise extends to both residential and commercial sectors, where they oversee restoration and conservation projects with meticulous attention to detail. By employing traditional craftsmanship, they ensure that each project maintains the historical integrity of the structure.

Qualifications and Professionalism
The team at C.Burgess is fully qualified, holding CSCS Level 3 certification and CITB registration, reflecting their commitment to professional standards in the construction industry. Their extensive experience and qualifications make them a trusted choice for building conservation professionals seeking reliable and skilled artisans for heritage projects.

Client-Centric Approach
Understanding the unique needs of homeowners and heritage enthusiasts, C.Burgess provides personalized consultations and maintains open communication throughout the project. They pride themselves on excellent customer service, offering support and automatic updates to keep clients informed of progress. This approach ensures that clients are engaged and satisfied with the restoration process and outcomes.

Showcasing Expertise Through Past Projects
C.Burgess showcases their craftsmanship through a gallery of past projects, including the restoration of a former mill manager's house in Chipping, Lancashire, and lime plastering on a farm laborer's cottage in Winmarleigh. These examples highlight their ability to handle diverse restoration challenges, reinforcing their reputation as specialists in traditional plastering and building conservation.

Carpets, textiles, tapestries, flatweaves. Support services include conservation, cleaning, valuation, expert consultancy. Bespoke design new handknotted carpets made using sustainable materials & ethical practices. CROR operates from Stroud with Istanbul outreach and London premises by appointment.

The business moved to its present location in the centre of the former wool-cloth weaving mill town of Stroud in Gloucestershire within the valleys of the Cotswolds. The present studio now sits aside the Thames & Severn Canal... although not quite as illustrated here! Working today with outreaches in the London OCC - Oriental Carpet Centre (N4 1TJ) and Istanbul, where the business is also based.

Core Conservation is a team of specialist surveyors and engineers dedicated to diagnosing and resolving unique issues found in old and listed buildings.

We exclusively utilise non-invasive and lime-based solutions that adhere to all building conservation requirements.

Our range of services includes:
- Dampness surveys
- Long-term building monitoring
- Resolution of dampness issues
- Upgrading thermal insulation
- Addressing thermal bridges
- Waterproofing cellars
- Restoration following floods
- Installation of traditional lime floors
- Structural and seismic reinforcement
- Application of weatherproof lime renders
- Application of decorative lime plasters

Additionally, we offer our specialist Roman lime plaster range for sale, designed to address the aforementioned tasks in a manner sympathetic to conservation efforts.

At St.Ann's Gate Architects we see no distinction between creativity in design, and in the skills necessary for conservation projects. We seek to understand our clients - the things that make them and their places unique - and to respond in sensitive and creative ways.

We design through dialogue. We do not impose an architectural style or a dogma onto the buildings within our care. We collaborate with our clients, to try to work 'with the grain' of the building or site, identifying solutions which are inspirational, sustainable and appropriate.

As architects we will not only work in teamwork with our clients, but we will try to build consensus through the approvals process, liaising with other stakeholders such as co-funders, planning authorities and statutory consultees. We also enjoy working closely with other design and construction professionals, seeking to orchestrate a positive process through to a successful outcome.

Antony Gibb Historic Buildings Consultants help people understand, enjoy and use their architectural heritage. We work for public, private and professional clients, often as part of multi-disciplinary teams. We provide services covering heritage consultancy, building surveys, architecture, interior design and design review.

The London Alcove Company are quality craftsmen with more than 30 years’ experience in bespoke furniture design and cabinet making. We are London’s premier bespoke cabinet makers. Our Director Cameron Riddell, personally oversees every London Alcove project, using his long-developed design and project management skills to ensure every job is finished to the highest standard, maintaining our stellar reputation in the process.
Experts in …

Our team is dedicated to crafting high-quality interior woodwork efficiently and professionally for every client.

The team is specialised in several areas including, design, construction, painting, installation and onsite decoration.
Accreditations

As members of The Guild of Master Craftsmen we belong to an elite group of the most trusted carpenters and designers. Speaking of trust, we are Which? Trusted Traders, meaning our customers get peace of mind when we quote them for a project, and proof of quality work and service.

Established in 1987, Elite Spiral Stairs have been manufacturing Spiral Staircases in Cast Iron, Steel, Stainless Steel and hardwood timber to the highest quality. We are a family run engineering business based in rural Warwickshire and pride ourselves in manufacturing bespoke spiral staircases for the UK and Worldwide markets.

From our manufacturing base in rural Warwickshire, we produce Bespoke Handmade Spiral Staircases which we supply to the domestic and commercial markets Worldwide.

Our technical department can advise you on any spiral staircase required to meet Building regulations BS5395.