We are thrilled to welcome the artisan plasterer Philip A. Gaches, who specialises in the repair of historic plasterwork. Philip will explain how and why ceilings began to be plastered in the 15th century, and how the process developed in technique and design. Wed 15 Apr, 7pm doors, 7.30pm start.
The exterior of Maenan Old Hall at Llanrwst, in the Conwy Valley of North Wales. Drawn from a vantage point in the grounds with the Eryri Mountains in the distance.
Maenan Old Hall, looking toward the entrance at the lower end. We were told 'no interior photography' so I had to have a go at some of the 1582 plasterwork covering the 1509 cruck. This is as far as I got after the owner had finished telling us about the hall and a painting on the wall. Then it was time to move on.
Maenan Old Hall, Llanrwst in the Conwy Valley, North Wales. The house looks mostly 18th or 19th century from outside but had parts dating from 1509. Sketched on the 2018 Vernacular Architecture Group conference.
#ArchitecturalIllustration
#pencil #drawing
#sketchbook
#ArtShare
Gorgeous Mulberry Court, Royston, Hertfordshire 🤩
Pencil drawing of Lafoty Farm, Anglesey, North Wales. The hall and nearer, lower end, wing are late medieval in date, the best preserved of Anglesey's medieval buildings. Another wing was added in the late 16th century. There are some later farm buildings alongside, including a two-storey barn.
Photograph of the author sketching a roof truss in the medieval hall house of Lafoty Farm on Anglesey. In the foreground a table has old photographs of the farm on it and a chair holds an open camera bag.
Lovely reminders (more FB Memories) of the Vernacular Architecture Group 2018 conference at Lafoty, Anglesey, a medieval hall house with later additions + me, illustrator at work, photographed by Linda Hall.
#pencil #drawing
#illustrator
Hidden in plain sight: the polite facade of Richborough House in Sandwich, Kent, hides a late C16th timber framed house with brick nogging.
Poster advertising conference on Exeter's buildings on 25 April 2026.
A one-day conference on Exeter's buildings coming up soon ...
What on earth is this then? A bundle of reeds suspended from the roof of an 18th century Lincolnshire house. An uncommon sight but we have testimony from a former landowner to explain it. To find out more, join me on 2 April for The Folklore of Ancient Buildings:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-folklo...
BBC News - 'We want to bring Baguley Hall in Wythenshawe back to life' - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kings Norton Green One-Place Study. Image: Photo of The Green at Kings Norton - a grassy area with several trees - and buildings and many parked cars beyond. The buildings include A church with a spire, at least one half-timbered building, and a variety of other commercial and residential properties, all hidden to varying degrees by trees. One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite
Karen Averby @karenaverby.bsky.social has registered her Kings Norton Green One-Place Study! Researching the Medieval & other buildings here—which reflect the social, economic and architectural history of The Green—will hopefully reveal stories of the people associated with them. #OnePlaceWednesday
Archaeology often challenges assumptions about listed buildings. This Leicestershire house was thought to be 17th century until a survey revealed evidence that it was mediaeval.
On 26 Feb I'll be speaking online about Reinterpreting Listed Buildings:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reinterpre...
Always pleased too see tree-ring dates published in @varchgroup.bsky.social journal. This year I'm amused to learn that Ye Olde Mitre Inne at Barnet is actually older (1538, 1546-78) than usually claimed (1633). That never happens with pubs! Its still not ye oldest in the country though!
Heart-shaped label stop.
Heart on voussoir, Clapham, North Yorkshire.
Heart in decorative brickwork, Northern France.
Heart embedded in stone wall, Cumbria.
Happy #ValentinesDay! It's time to bring out the annual 'hearts on buildings' again. If you know of more examples, do post them below.
The "Great Stable" at Tattershall Castle... or is it? This 15thC listed building was once presented as stables until survey revealed it was a lodging range for retainers. We'll be Reinterpreting Listed Buildings during an online talk on 26 Feb.
More info:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reinterpre...
Dendrochronology helped to push back the date of construction for many ancient buildings, sometimes by several centuries. I'll be looking at tree-ring dating on 26 Feb as part of the Reinterpreting Listed Buildings online talk:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reinterpre...
📸 Martin Bridge
The next Triskele Heritage online talk is Reinterpreting Listed Buildings. It looks at why buildings were listed, what conditions were like for listing investigators, why many listings were short & inaccurate, plus how new research is pushing back dating.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reinterpre...
Thornton Rust, Wensleydale.
'Vernacular Architecture of the Yorkshire Dales' - YVBSG day school held in conjunction with Upper Wharfedale Heritage Group on 28 Feb 2026 in Skipton Town Hall. Do join us for an excellent programme of talks exploring the wonderful traditional buildings of the Dales! www.yvbsg.org.uk/events.html
The next Triskele Heritage winter lecture is happening next week. Please do feel free to share far and wide if you can 🙂
More info and bookings can be found here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-mediae...
New to the @heritagewshc.bsky.social Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre blog: A new dating technique for historic buildings.
When dendrochronology failed and carbon-14 dating didn't match what was known about certain roof truss features, another technique was tried...
#OnePlaceWednesday
Wymondley Priory, Hertfordshire.
Much Hadham, Hertfordshire.
Ugford, Wiltshire.
Do you have a research project that would benefit from extra funding? The VAG offers grants for the study and presentation of vernacular architecture and there's still time to submit an application for the current round of Research Grants! Closing date: 28 February. See www.vag.org.uk/grants.htm.
Just 2 weeks to go until the next Triskele Heritage online talk: The Mediaeval Traveller - a journey into life on the road & the observations of mediaeval wayfarers.
Takes place at 7pmGMT on Wed 28 Jan. Booking & more info, here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-mediae...
📸: British Library
Advance notice on this #OnePlaceWednesday of a Northumberland Archives #HouseHistory Workshop, Researching the History of your House. This will take place on Wednesday March 18th from 9.30am to 11.30am GMT, at County Hall, Morpeth. Follow the link for more info and to book a free place.
50 Years of COAM
In 1976, we dismantled our first buildings: Hill Farm Barn and Rossway Granary. Today, they stand at the heart of our farm, forming the centre of our farming operations and capturing the spirit of a classic Chilterns farmstead that could have flourished anytime between 1800 & 1950
Very much enjoyed learning about the work of the Trust and it was fascinating to see how the historical maps are created - so impressive!
Really enjoyed presenting the work of the @historictownstrust.bsky.social and the @varchgroup.bsky.social winter conference. Great fun and lots of interest.
www.historictownstrust.uk
Really enjoyed your talk - it brought back memories of the VAG Spring Conference in Oxfordshire in 2011 and it was good to hear about some of the buildings we visited then!
Much enjoyed speaking about VCH Oxon's coverage of small towns and urban buildings at this weekend's Vernacular Architecture Group winter conference - part of a stimulating and wide-ranging programme, amidst some august company!
Copy of a slide showing buildings in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Another day of superb talks to conclude the VAG Winter Conference 2026, ranging from historical maps to medieval inns to 16th century fires in Stratford-upon-Avon. Grateful thanks to all our speakers and everyone who attended!
Copy of a slide showing Nottingham's caves.
A slightly unusual but fascinating subject for a talk at the VAG Winter Conference 2026 - the amazing caves hidden under Nottingham's buildings!
Copy of a slide showing Nottingham's vernacular buildings.
Excellent first day of the VAG Winter Conference 2026 on urban buildings with a good variety of talks covering Ruthin, Chipping Norton, Lincoln, Nottingham, Durham, Nantwich and Newcastle!
English Heritage are seeking a Building Conservation Manager
Do you have a passion for historic buildings and environments?
Do you have a strong understanding of the emerging threats and opportunities within the heritage sector?....
Find out more at ihbconline.co.uk/jobsetc/?p=1...