Historic Buildings & Places

📣 Historic Buildings & Places is seeking two new trustees to join our Board.

These voluntary roles are an opportunity to support the governance and strategic direction of one of the National Amenity Societies, helping us sustain, defend, and promote historic buildings and places across England and Wales.

We are recruiting for:
• Trustee: Casework (Chair of the Casework Committee)
• Trustee: Finance

We are particularly interested in hearing from people with expertise in:
• Heritage management, planning, conservation, architecture, or related disciplines
• Accounting, audit, treasury, financial management, or charity finance

Previous trustee experience is welcome but not essential, and we encourage applications from individuals who can bring fresh perspectives and new insights to the Board.

📅 Application deadline: Monday 15 June 2026

Find out more and access the recruitment packs:
https://hbap.org.uk/about-us/job-opportunities/

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your networks.

Through sunshine, rain, and even a touch of hail, we gathered yesterday for a fascinating visit to the Grade I listed Shah Jahan Mosque and Brookwood Cemetery.

Built in 1889 by Dr Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner in the late-Mughal style, the Shah Jahan Mosque is the oldest purpose-built mosque in the United Kingdom and remains an extraordinary example of a place of worship and architectural heritage. Restored in 2017, the mosque and its gardens offered a remarkable setting for the day’s visit.

We then travelled on to Brookwood Cemetery, where we explored its historic landscape and monuments to many notable figures, uncovering layers of social, cultural, and architectural history along the way.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and embraced the unpredictable weather throughout the day, and special thanks to our wonderful guides at both sites for sharing their knowledge, insights, and enthusiasm with us throughout the visit.

The Brookwood Cemetery Society

We were saddened to hear of the devastating fire at the Grade II listed former Newall House School in Sherborne.

With origins dating back to the 17th century, the building contained layers of architectural and social history. Places like this embody the evolving story of our towns and communities.

Historic buildings are records of local heritage, craftsmanship, and memory. Once lost, the craftsmanship, stories, and character they hold cannot truly be recreated.

This incident is also a stark reminder of the vulnerability of long-term vacant historic buildings and the importance of ongoing care, maintenance, and sustainable futures for historic places before they reach a critical state.

📷 : Newell House Sherborne (2011) by Sarah Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0

From near dereliction to renewed glory.

Join Historic Buildings & Places for an online talk exploring the remarkable repair, conservation and restoration of St Augustine's Church — the personal masterpiece of Augustus Pugin.

On Tuesday 2nd June 2026 at 6pm, architects Karen Butti and Paul Sharrock of Thomas Ford & Partners
will share the extraordinary story of bringing this landmark Gothic Revival church back from the brink.

Discover:
• Pugin’s architectural and religious vision for St Augustine’s
• The challenges of repairing a building at risk
• The long-term conservation journey behind its revival
• Insights from specialists working across some of Britain’s most fascinating historic buildings

Karen and Paul have also worked on Pugin’s home, The Grange, and Crystal Palace Subway.

📅 Tuesday 2nd June 2026
🕕 6pm
💻 Online

Book your place now https://hbap.org.uk/online-talk-true-principles-the-repair-and-restoration-of-awn-pugins-church-of-st-augustine/

The Charterhouse in Clerkenwell is a Grade I listed site with centuries of London history within its walls. At its centre is the Tudor Great Chamber – the last surviving room of its kind in the capital.

It once hosted Elizabeth I ahead of her coronation in 1558, and later saw James I grant knighthoods to favoured courtiers.

From Black Death burial ground to Tudor mansion to charitable foundation since 1611, it remains a remarkable layered survival of London’s past.

Ifield Quaker Meeting House dates to 1676 and is one of the earliest purpose-built Quaker meeting houses in England. Listed at Grade I, it reflects the Quaker tradition of simplicity, with plain interiors, flexible seating, and spaces designed for quiet reflection.

In February, we hosted an online talk with guest speaker Chris Skidmore exploring the development of Quaker meeting houses across four centuries, from early vernacular forms to contemporary sustainable design.

The recording is now available to watch back https://hbap.org.uk/online-talk-quaker-meeting-houses/

📷: Basil Jradeh (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Casework update: St Edmund King and Martyr Catholic Church, Godalming (Surrey), is a striking example of the work of architect F.A. Walters, one of the most prolific Roman Catholic architects of the early 20th century. The building evolved over time, with its initial construction in 1906 followed by the addition of a high altar in 1924 and the remarkable Lady Chapel in 1930.

We recently attended a meeting to consider proposals concerning its future. While some local concerns have been raised about access and parking, we were not persuaded that closure or removal of the interior fittings is justified. In particular, the richly detailed Lady Chapel would be extremely difficult to relocate intact, and its careful dismantling would represent a significant loss.

Although some roof repairs are needed, the church remains in sound condition and is well cared for overall. We consider it to still have a viable future, with opportunities for sensitive adaptation and improved access explored on site. On the basis of what has been presented, we do not support proposals that would result in stripping out its historic interior.

⏳ One month to go until bookings close for the Valuing Seaside Heritage Symposium.

Have you secured your place? This one-day event will bring together heritage professionals for talks, panels, evidence sessions and networking, all focused on the future of seaside heritage.

Hosted in partnership with Historic Buildings & Places, Seaside Heritage Network, and Heritage Network, and kindly supported by VisitBrighton and Historic England.

Join us on 26 June 2026 at Saltdean Lido.

Book your place: https://hbap.org.uk/valuing-seaside-heritage-symposium/

An Arts and Crafts home like no other 🏡

Designed around 1890 by architect Frederick Wallen for his own use, this remarkable house turns its exterior into a storytelling canvas. Its timber-framed upper storey is filled with striking plaster panels depicting lively late 19th-century scenes — from sporting pursuits to moments of everyday leisure. The home is Grade II listed.

📷: Sludge G, CC BY-SA 2.0