Public Places
In the latest in our series of articles on English Heritage sites, our editor visits Hailes Abbey to see the important work being undertaken to preserve one of the most
important Christian sites in the country
required to try and halt the ravages of time. A recent trip to Gloucester gave our editor an insight into the hard work the organisation carrys out to preserve these treasures.
T Alan Cathersides and Kristan Short
Alan Cathersides, Senior Landscapes Manager, belongs to the Gardens and Landscape Team at English Heritage. The team specialises in the management of historically important sites and the landscape and ecology around them. He is particularly interested in management methods which benefit both historic and natural heritage. Alan was keen for me to see the
restoration work being undertaken at one of their most important sites - both in terms of Christianity and the number
he natural weathering process plays havoc with many of the historically important sites under the stewardship of English Heritage and, often, innovative methods are
of visitors it attracts - Hailes Abbey in Gloucestershire.
He and his colleagues have been instrumental in evaluating and developing a strategy for protecting old ruins using a technique known as soft capping, and has been involved with the research since its inception, working closely Chris Wood, the head of Building Conservation and Research Team at English Heritage and Professor Heather Viles, who leads the research team at Oxford University. Their work has resulted in the publication of a valuable document detailing the benefits of soft capping historic walls - Soft capping historic walls: A better way of conserving ruins? This seventy page document, edited by Zoe Lee, outlines the research and projects undertaken at several English Heritage sites, including Byland Abbey, Kirkham Priory, Thornton Abbey, Rievaulx Abbey, Whitby Abbey and Hailes Abbey. Alan introduced me to the team of specialist monumental contractors (Nimbus Conservation Limited Somerset) who, for a
number
Soft capping our heritage...
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156