New Fellowship to meet conservation skills shortage
Posted on 12 January 2007
A new fellowship at the University of York will tackle the drastic shortage of skilled workers for the conservation of Britain’s historic buildings.
The Hamlyn-Feilden Fellowship, being created with a grant of £128,000 from the Helen Hamlyn Trust, also recognises the contribution of Sir Bernard Feilden, both to architectural conservation and the University.
The Fellowship involves a new post in the Department of Archaeology to enhance student numbers and quality of teaching on its internationally influential MA in Conservation Studies.
The Hamlyn-Feilden Fellowship will be important and influential in addressing some of the difficulties facing the conservation sector
Professor Brian Cantor
The Hamlyn-Feilden Fellow will also to help to tackle the drastic shortage of skilled conservation workers with a range of initiatives including encouraging people involved in crafts and trades to access qualifications offered by the Higher York group of education institutions.
There will be a database of people involved in conservation crafts and trades in northern England, and demonstrations and longer placements for students of the York MA, and training days.
Sir Bernard, a conservation architect of international standing, has a long association with York - he was Surveyor to the Fabric of York Minster from 1965 to 1977, as well as overseeing the conversion of Heslington Hall for use by the University in 1962. He carried out a similar conversion project at the King's Manor, where a reception to launch the fellowship will be held on Friday 12 January.
For many years he lectured on and acted as External Examiner for the York MA in Conservation Studies, devised over three decades ago and still retaining its distinctive flavour as a programme for mid-career professionals from around the world. His book The Conservation of Historic Buildings is the standard text in the field and he is a former director of ICCROM, the International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Rome.
The Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor said: "The Hamlyn-Feilden Fellowship will be important and influential in addressing some of the difficulties facing the conservation sector. It will also celebrate Sir Bernard’s distinguished career in architectural conservation and his very significant contribution over more than 40 years to the University of York - both to its fabric and to its academic development.
"In deciding to locate this project at York, the Helen Hamlyn Trust has shown considerable intellectual foresight and we thank the Trust for its generous support."
The Trust’s founder, Lady Hamlyn, said: "The Trust is honoured to recognise Sir Bernard’s great contribution in the field of international conservation. Many projects have benefited from his wisdom and experience and personally I am pleased to be able to support this fellowship in the Department of Archaeology within this distinguished University."
Sir Bernard said: "This Fellowship is a great honour, and I am extremely grateful to Lady Hamlyn, and glad that her name is linked with mine.
"Since the 1950s, [working from St John's Ousegate] the York Institute for Conservation Studies has had a special place, and its teaching helped me greatly. I was honoured to help build the University of York in 1962, and ever since have had close links. This Fellowship is a wonderful end to a long connection."
The Department of Archaeology is contributing £15,000 and the University Alumni Fund £9,000 towards the costs of the project.
Notes to editors:
- The Helen Hamlyn Trust was established in 2001. Lady Hamlyn, is the widow of publisher and philanthropist Lord Hamlyn. The Trust gives grants of £2 million pounds per year and is funded by a grant from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and by donations from Lady Hamlyn herself. The aims of the trust are to initiate and support projects in the fields of medical research, the Arts and Culture, Conservation and Heritage in India, Education and Welfare, International Humanitarian Affairs and Healthy Ageing.
- More information on the University of York's Department of Archaeology at www.york.ac.uk/depts/arch/