Directory
Pages for Companies and Organizations
Crenellated Arts specializes in illustration and digital interpretation services for the arts and heritage sectors in the UK, offering tailored solutions for building conservation professionals, homeowners, and enthusiasts. Their mission is to preserve, celebrate, and reimagine the rich architectural and cultural heritage of the UK through innovative visual storytelling. By blending artistry with historical accuracy, the company supports projects that require engaging, detailed visuals to bring historic structures, sites, and narratives to life.
At the core of Crenellated Arts’ offerings are bespoke illustrations and reconstructions of historic buildings and environments. These creations range from detailed technical drawings and watercolour renderings to immersive digital reconstructions. With a deep understanding of architectural heritage and conservation principles, the company ensures that each illustration is both visually compelling and meticulously accurate. Their work often serves as a key resource for conservation reports, restoration projects, and public education campaigns.
In addition to static illustrations, Crenellated Arts provides digital interpretation services designed to enhance engagement with historic sites and narratives. Using cutting-edge tools such as 3D modeling, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), they create interactive experiences that allow users to explore reconstructed spaces or visualize changes over time. These tools are invaluable for museums, heritage sites, and educational programs, offering audiences a dynamic way to connect with history.
Crenellated Arts also supports private homeowners and enthusiasts by delivering customized illustrations and interpretive materials for historic homes and gardens. Whether documenting the restoration of a Georgian townhouse or illustrating the original layout of a medieval estate, the company helps clients understand and showcase the historical significance of their properties. These services include creating house histories, interpretive signage, and artistic renderings suitable for personal collections or public display.
Ultimately, Crenellated Arts serves as a bridge between the past and present, making history accessible and engaging for a wide range of audiences. Their work celebrates the UK’s architectural heritage while providing practical tools and resources for its preservation. With a commitment to artistry, authenticity, and innovation, Crenellated Arts stands out as a trusted partner for anyone passionate about understanding and preserving historic spaces.
The Centre for Building Conservation Studies (CBCS) is a UK-based institution dedicated to advancing the field of building conservation through comprehensive education and hands-on training. Established in 2019, CBCS aims to become a central hub for learning and discovery in building surveying and conservation. Their mission is to make conservation accessible to everyone by offering specialised courses and training sessions led by established experts, emphasizing practical experience and the application of the latest conservation philosophies and technologies.
CBCS offers a diverse range of courses tailored to various experience levels, from undergraduates and homeowners to industry professionals. Their programs include informative Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions and Level 6 Diplomas in Building Surveying and Building Conservation. These diplomas are designed to provide participants with the skills necessary to conduct surveys of residential, commercial, ecclesiastical, and industrial buildings, as well as to work in property development, heritage sectors, and construction projects. The curriculum covers a wide range of building ages, types, uses, and conditions, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the field.
A distinctive feature of CBCS's programs is the inclusion of practical experience through site visits and hands-on tasks. Participants attend the Building Conservation Summer School and engage in international study trips to explore historic sites and contemporary conservation challenges. For instance, in 2025, the Building Surveying Diploma includes a trip to Copenhagen, while the Building Conservation Diploma offers a visit to Bucharest. These experiences are designed to provide real-world insights into the complexities of building conservation on a global scale.
CBCS is also developing a dedicated learning center in a Grade II Listed Building in Gosport, Hampshire. This former Royal Navy property is being transformed into a vibrant community space for heritage skills training, arts, and culture. The facility will offer training in various traditional building skills, including roofing, lime work, carpentry, oak framing, stone masonry, and straw bale construction. This initiative underscores CBCS's commitment to preserving traditional craftsmanship and promoting sustainable conservation practices.
For building conservation professionals, homeowners, and enthusiasts, CBCS provides an invaluable resource for gaining practical skills, professional qualifications, and a deeper understanding of historic building conservation. Their flexible approach, combining online learning, classroom instruction, and practical site visits, ensures accessibility and affordability. By fostering a passion for conservation and offering hands-on experience, CBCS equips individuals with the knowledge and confidence to care for and preserve historic buildings effectively.
Triskele Heritage is a UK-based organization dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and celebration of historic buildings and landscapes. With a mission to bridge the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern conservation practices, Triskele Heritage provides tailored services that empower building conservation professionals, homeowners, and heritage enthusiasts. The company’s work reflects a profound respect for cultural heritage, emphasizing sustainable approaches that honor the authenticity and integrity of historic sites.
At the heart of Triskele Heritage’s mission is the belief that historic buildings are not just structures but living legacies that tell the story of communities, craftsmanship, and culture. The company offers a diverse range of services, including specialist consultancy, condition assessments, and bespoke conservation training. These services are designed to equip professionals and enthusiasts with the knowledge and tools needed to preserve historic structures while maintaining compliance with national heritage standards.
For building conservation professionals, Triskele Heritage provides expert guidance on project planning, materials selection, and traditional techniques. The company’s hands-on training workshops are particularly valued, offering opportunities to learn time-honored methods such as lime plastering, stone masonry, and timber conservation. These sessions not only enhance technical expertise but also foster a deeper appreciation of the skills required to maintain historic buildings.
Homeowners with historic properties benefit from Triskele Heritage’s personalized approach to conservation and restoration. Whether addressing specific issues such as damp management or guiding long-term maintenance planning, the team offers practical, sustainable solutions that respect the character and history of the home. Their advice is grounded in a thorough understanding of traditional building materials and methods, ensuring that interventions are both effective and sympathetic to the property’s heritage.
Triskele Heritage also serves as an invaluable resource for heritage enthusiasts, hosting lectures, community engagement programs, and curated site visits that bring the stories of historic buildings to life. Through these initiatives, the company aims to inspire a wider audience to value and engage with the UK’s rich architectural legacy. In everything they do, Triskele Heritage combines technical expertise with a genuine passion for heritage, making them a trusted partner for anyone invested in preserving the past.
The Victorian Society in the UK is a leading authority dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of Victorian and Edwardian architecture and design. Founded in 1958, its mission is to protect the rich architectural and cultural heritage from the 1837–1914 period, which saw some of the most innovative and iconic building styles in British history. By raising awareness of the historical and aesthetic significance of these structures, the Society plays a pivotal role in ensuring their survival for future generations.
For building conservation professionals, the Victorian Society offers an invaluable resource, providing expert advice and access to comprehensive research and case studies. Through its work with local authorities, heritage bodies, and property developers, the Society influences planning decisions, ensuring that listed buildings and conservation areas are safeguarded. Its publications, such as The Victorian magazine, and detailed reports on architectural conservation issues, are essential tools for professionals in the field.
Homeowners of Victorian and Edwardian properties benefit significantly from the Society's expertise. The organization provides guidance on sympathetic restoration and maintenance practices, ensuring that the architectural integrity and original features of these homes are preserved. Through workshops, seminars, and a network of specialist contacts, the Society empowers owners to make informed decisions about their properties while enhancing their understanding of their historical value.
Enthusiasts of Victorian and Edwardian design can engage with the Society’s vibrant program of events and activities. These include guided tours, lectures by leading historians, and exclusive access to buildings of interest. The Society’s advocacy campaigns also provide opportunities for individuals to actively contribute to the preservation of endangered sites. Membership offers enthusiasts a deeper connection to the rich history of this period, fostering a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for architectural heritage.
The Victorian Society is more than just a conservation body; it is a movement that celebrates the beauty and significance of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. By combining advocacy, education, and expert advice, it provides a comprehensive platform for conservation professionals, homeowners, and enthusiasts alike. Through its tireless efforts, the Society ensures that the architectural treasures of the 19th and early 20th centuries remain a source of inspiration and pride for all.
We’re a non-departmental public body with charitable status. We're governed by a Board of Trustees, who were appointed by Scottish Ministers.
We’re responsible for more than 300 properties of national importance. Buildings and monuments in our care include Edinburgh Castle, Skara Brae, Fort George and numerous smaller sites, which together draw more than 5 million visitors per year.
We’re also responsible for internationally significant collections including more than 5 million drawings, photographs, negatives and manuscripts, along with 20 million aerial images of locations across the world.
We invest about £14 million a year in national and local organisations, supporting building repairs, ancient monuments, archaeological work, the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme and the voluntary sector.
Our conservation experts provide guidance, training and technical research into Scotland’s built environment. Through our outreach programme, we promote community and individual learning engagement with Scotland’s heritage. We contribute to the Scottish Government’s strategy to tackle climate change and reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint.
Our experience in architecture and building surveying
Since 1963, we have established a reputation for high class architectural and building surveying services. Find out more about our company history here. Our team has a combined 252 years’ experience, encompassing a range of expertise and interests, from church re-ordering, to sustainable practices, to barn conversions. Our work involves cottages to castles and from mediaeval to modern. Although we will tackle any building type, much of our work has centred on historic building conservation and heritage consultancy, with staff accredited in Building Conservation with either the RICS, RIBA, or AABC.
Our services
We provide a bespoke and comprehensive service from inception through to completion, offering flexibility over our involvement to align with our clients’ needs. The practice undertakes a wide range of professional work, including: condition surveys; defect analysis; design of alterations, extensions and new build; contract administration; planning applications; feasibility studies; etc.
Andrew Wiles, Director - Andrew is a fully qualified architect and is on the Historic England approved register of ‘Architects Accredited in Building Conservation’ (AABC). The specialist research carried out for his MA was in the ‘timber construction of the early medieval period’ this remains a passion to this day. He sits as an architect member of the Sheffield Diocesan Advisory Committee and the Catholic Diocese of Hallam as their Historic England liaison. He is registered as a Church inspecting Architect (suitable for Grade 1 listed churches) with the Diocese of York, Sheffield, Ripon, Durham and Lincoln.
Andrew has worked exclusively with the repair and regeneration of historic buildings since 1988. His expertise and confidence in tackling any conservation challenge arises in part from these many years of experience actually seeing traditional skills being carried out by experts. For the first 10 years he worked with Martin Stancliffe who was at that time the Cathedral Architect for St Paul’s in London. A life encountering these special buildings is an invaluable resource but he also regularly attends, and contributes to, specialist courses and workshops to keep abreast of the ever evolving modern conservation technology and trends.
We are skilled at providing cost effective, practical and elegant solutions. We thrive on Problem Solving…..providing robust solutions to challenging briefs. Whether in City Centre gap sites, Buildings at Risk, poor ground conditions or marginal plots of land…
Whether we are making a component for a Grade I Listed building or for a new build project, our well equipped workshop brings state of the art technology together with age old crafts and techniques.
We are based in North Wales, close to the Cheshire boarder where the A494 meets the A55, just to the West of Chester. This makes us easily accessible from Wales, the Midlands and throughout the entire North West.
The majority of our projects are commissioned on a commercial basis, to provide information in support of planning applications, or as measures to mitigate the impact of development upon the archaeological resource. We comply with all published guidelines and standards for archaeological work and our reports are accepted by specialist advisers to all of the planning authorities in our core areas of Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Peterborough and Northamptonshire.
We carry out desk-based assessments, heritage statements, environmental impact assessments, trial trench evaluations, surveys, excavations and historic buildings recording.
For a free written quotation for your project please use the contact details opposite. To establish the scope of work we usually require details of the precise requirements of the planning authority (often set out in a brief issued by their archaeological adviser) and the nature of the project, preferably including plans showing the main areas of potential ground disturbance.
The Wood Awards’ elite independent judging panel not only judges all submitted entries but also visits the shortlisted projects in person, making the Wood Awards a uniquely rigorous competition. The Awards are split into two main categories: Buildings and Furniture & Product. The Gold Award is given to the project that the judges deem to be the winner of winners.
The buildings judging panel is led by Jim Greaves of Hopkins Architects. The furniture and product panel is led by design critic, curator and journalist Corinne Julius. The full 2021 judging panels will be announced in due course.
The Wood Awards shortlist and winners all receive exposure through the competition’s PR and marketing. The Wood Awards shortlist will be announced in September and everyone involved in a shortlisted project will be invited to attend the Wood Awards ceremony held in London in November. The shortlisted projects will be on display at the ceremony as well as at an exhibition held earlier in the year. All Wood Award winners receive certificates.
The variety of Morris’s ideas and activities bring together those who are interested in him as a designer, craftsman, poet, and socialist, who admire his robust and generous personality, his creative energy and his courage. His ideas on how we live and how we might live, on creative work, leisure and machinery, on ecology and conservation, on politics and the place of arts in our lives remain as stimulating now as they were over a century ago.
The Society, established in 1955, publishes a Journal, Newsletter and commentaries on all aspects of Morris’s work and runs a varied series of talks and visits throughout the year. It encourages the re-publication of Morris’s works and the continued manufacture of his textile and wallpaper designs.
The Society’s office and museum are in the basement and Coach House of Kelmscott House, Hammersmith, Morris’s London home for the last eighteen years of his life. During this time he ran his manufacturing company, Morris and Company, at Merton Abbey, he founded the Kelmscott Press and he held Socialist League (later the Hammersmith Socialist Society) meetings in the Coach House. Today the Society’s talks and other events are held in the Coach House; it also hosts exhibitions of works by Morris and his wider circle. See our Events and Our Museum pages for details.
Members are involved in all aspects of the recording and study of vernacular buildings including:
- Detailed local or regional surveys
- Studies of particular types of buildings including houses, farms, industrial and urban buildings
- Building materials
- Techniques of building, including carpentry and masonry
- Documentary evidence
The Group encourages communication between members in a number of ways:
- A four day conference held each spring in a different region
- A two-day winter conference with papers on one topic
- An occasional joint weekend school with Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education
- Publication of a journal
- A twice-yearly newsletter with notices of events and new publications
- A library of offprints for circulation to members (index available on Members' Area)
The Group produces a refereed journal of national standing - Vernacular Architecture - the authoritative voice on the subject. All members automatically receive a copy of Vernacular Architecture and are eligible for free online access to current and back issues. See the Publications page for full details.
Originally founded in 1871 by Thomas Verity the practice designed numerous iconic landmark buildings throughout the United Kingdom including The Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus, the Pavilion at Lord’s Cricket Ground, Scarborough Spa and many of the Art Deco theatres and cinemas for the Paramount company.
Based in Tetbury in Gloucestershire since 1981 we have built up a strong reputation throughout the Cotswolds and surrounding Counties for our pragmatic yet creative design approach with both traditional Cotswold vernacular and also contemporary new buildings and alterations to meet modern living requirements.
A company with history - Valley Builders is a family run business based in East Grinstead, West Sussex. Founded by Richard Kenneth Slatter in 1972, we have built an enviable reputation for both the quality of our work and the service to our clients.
Our team
Our in-house teams have extensive skills and experience in carrying out high quality, sensitive works. We employ our workforce directly and train everybody to the highest standards.
We are always happy to arrange for prospective clients to meet with former clients on site to see our work with their own eyes.
If your particular requirements are not covered or you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be pleased to discuss how we can help.
Full references can be provided on request, including financial accounts.
We are Chartered Town Planners specialising in …
- Planning mediation
- town centres and high streets
- heritage-led regeneration and conservation
- urban design, including design review
- community engagement and consultation
- housing needs and sites assessment
- feasibility and viability studies
- project business plans
- community-led development and projects
- training, continuing professional development (CPD) and education
- authoring of guidance and briefings
- third sector (not-for-profit) organisational development.
Our clients
Clients include government and funding bodies, UK and national professional bodies and membership organisations, local authorities, parish councils, neighbourhood forums, third sector bodies and local community groups. These include the Heritage Lottery Fund, Locality and the National Trust. Urban VisionEnterprise directors have extensive experience of dealing with urban and rural areas, including city and town centres and villages all around the country.
Urban Vision Enterprise is an IHBC recognised historic environment service provider (HESPR), and a corporate partner with Design Council. We are also ISO9001 registered.
The UDG website contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in urban design including details of urban design practices, university courses, publications and job vacancies, as well as future urban design events. Our regular email newsletter Urban Update is a one-stop-shop for urban design news, articles and blog posts.
USL has an impressive history built upon craftsmanship, integrity and responsibility; delivering specialised multi-disciplined construction and restoration expertise across diverse sectors in London and nationwide.
Since our inception in 1939, USL has been recognised as trusted, long established and technically capable restoration specialists, able to meet the high-end demands of virtually any assignment, however complex.
Our reputation stems from a wealth of experience built over many years in the conservation and heritage building industry and, above all, the talent of our people. We have a collective proficiency that few can match including; highly skilled craftspeople, artisans, engineers and professional construction professionals with widely divergent backgrounds, experience and expertise.
Our highly acclaimed portfolio speaks for itself; including landmark projects on listed buildings, castles, places of worship, commercial, new builds, academies, museums, monuments and structures of social significance.
We see ourselves as more than just construction experts – we are craftspeople and our clients’ partners. As a result, our projects are as far-reaching, unusual and diverse as our expertise.
We never provide an out-of-the-box answer to a challenge. Instead we’ll develop a bespoke solution, ensuring the right people are involved throughout the project, giving our clients’ visibility and confidence every step of the way.
The Council's 21st century objectives are to advance the education and training of all those involved in the protection and preservation of the historic environment that is of cultural, architectural or historical value, and to provide knowledge in support of training and education in the arts and skills required to protect and preserve it. To advance conservation education and training and support its knowledge base, COTAC will adopt an integrated lay, craft, specialist and professional approach, whilst engaging with a wide range of interested parties to achieve its aims.
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COTAC is a UK registered charity No 1162750. The charitable purposes of COTAC are as follows:
- Set, maintain and promote standards for conservation education and training;
- Develop, produce and promote education and training materials:
- Collaborate with other organisations, voluntary bodies and agencies with interests in conservation with a view to influencing and promoting relevant issues;
- Promote courses at all levels in conservation of the historic environment which are relevant and in accordance with recognised criteria;
- Publish relevant material;
- Arrange seminars, conferences and participate in exhibitions relating to relevant heritage issues;
- Provide bursaries and other support for relevant studies and course attendance.
UAH also run and maintain the Heritage at Risk NI register in partnership with the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities.
Promotion– highlighting the significance and value of the historic environment by encouraging people, communities and their elected representatives to engage with it.
Protection– promoting recognition of the fragility of the historic environment and ways in which it might be better protected.
Conservation– promoting the care, restoration and repair of the historic environment, and traditional building skills essential to assist with this.
Regeneration– promoting heritage-led regeneration, highlighting ways in which it can be achieved in order to contribute positively to social, cultural and economic wellbeing.
In February 2022 the Cast Stone Association celebrated its 31st anniversary as the guardian of quality for cast stone, and has grown to become the first point of reference for all matters regarding cast stone. UKCSA is an ethically, socially and environmentally responsible trade association.
The Association represents the leading UK manufacturers of cast stone, and associated trades. All cast stone manufacturing Full Members, and Associate Members, must comply with the criteria established by the Association as a condition of membership.
What is Cast Stone - Cast stone is finding a growing market. It can add distinction and value out of all proportion to its cost. The material has caught the imagination of architects, builders and their clients from the classical past in Britain to the present day. There’s a simple reason why. It can transform plain facades into something special. It offers class at an affordable price.
What is Cast Stone?
The UKCSA and British Standard definition for cast stone is “any material made with natural aggregates and cementitious binder that is intended to resemble and be used in a similar way to natural stone.”
Cast Stone is often referred to by alternative names such as reconstructed stone, reconstituted stone, artificial stone, synthetic stone, manufactured stone, art stone etc, with reconstructed stone and reconstituted stone being the most common, but the preferred name is ‘cast stone’. The British Standards have further stated that “Specifiers, manufacturers and users of cast stone are advised to avoid terms such as ‘reconstructed’, ‘reconstituted’, ‘artificial’, ‘synthetic’ ” as “These adjectives could imply that the named stone (e.g. ‘reconstructed Portland stone’) is the sole aggregate”.
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Cast stone is made by using one of three main manufacturing methods, semi-dry, wet-cast or fibre reinforced. It must meet the requirements of BS1217: 2008 or, better still, the more stringent requirements of the UKCSA Standard.
Cast stone is ideal for architectural dressings that call for fine detail around entrances, openings and gables. All types of architectural dressings can be produced – large, small and structurally reinforced. Cast stone can take the form of garden ornamentation and also ashlar masonry where it is often referred to as reconstructed stone.
The Twentieth Century Society was founded in 1979, as a direct response to growing interest in C20th architecture and to complement the preservation work of the Victorian Society, which was founded in 1959.
From day one, our focus has been on preservation and education: campaigning to protect the buildings and design that characterise C20th Britain; helping as many people as possible to appreciate their importance and beauty.
Today, we are involved in a number of important campaigns, all of which involve our experts, members, volunteers and supporters. We undertake casework related to planning applications for listed buildings, as we have a statutory role in the planning system.
The C20 Society runs a busy schedule of events (including guided tours, conferences and lectures) and publishes books and a thrice-yearly magazine, C20. The income from these activities is used to fund our campaigns, casework and running costs.
You can explore our history interactively on the C20 timeline or read a more detailed history, written by Gavin Stamp and Alan Powers.
If you are interested in the myriad of issues involved in the use of traditional paint, in an architectural context, your membership of the Forum could support the ongoing debate and we would welcome your involvement.
The holistic nature of the organisation is perhaps best reflected in its Annual Workshop and Conference where the papers given on the architectural and historical significance of particular decorative schemes are given greater depth by contributions on paint-analysis; conservation techniques; cleaning and redecoration. This is usually supplemented by practical demonstrations of the original techniques and materials used and possible new alternative paint materials that might be worth considering.
The Annual Conference is reinforced by an annual journal containing articles on a disparate number of topics, but often including papers delivered at the conference, and a newsletter, ‘Smudge.’
The TPF have also organised some very successful Paint Days, which give an introductory overview to traditional paint technology and, through popular demand, have been repeated on a number of occasions in different United Kingdom locations.
The Traditional Paint Forum is interested in the influences, personalities and circumstances that gave rise to particular decorative schemes in an architectural context.
But, very importantly, we also believe the only way informed judgments can be made about the significance and future of existing or lost schemes is to also understand what materials were used to create them and how they were executed. The ‘why’ is not the whole story …’how’ can be just as vital!
Although we have 150 staff with traditional expertise including stonemasons, carpenters, joiners, plumbers, bricklayers and lime plasterers, this workforce is following the same worrying trend that the NHTG report highlighted.
Partnership to save skills - That’s why we’re involved in a partnership to make sure these valuable traditional skills don’t die out. We’re working with English Heritage, Cadw (the historic environment service of the Welsh Assembly Government), and Construction Skills on a bursary scheme that nurtures traditional building skills.
This bursary scheme is aimed at students part way through their training in a traditional building trade such as carpentry, joinery, stone masonry, painting and decorating, brickwork and plasterwork.
Vocational qualifications - We are able to set up valuable work placements for these students with the National Trust, one of the partner organisations, or with contractors that specialise in heritage work. The apprenticeship allows each learner to complete their vocational qualification whilst at the same time develop skills to be able to work on historic buildings.
Prior to this the National Trust Building Apprenticeship Scheme ran from 2010-2013 to help tackle the imminent skills shortage within our own teams of craftsmen.