New partnership aims to enhance historic buildings conservation
Posted on 23 April 2012
The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum delivers two well-established MSc programmes in building conservation and historic building techniques and the new agreement means that they will now lead to degrees awarded by the University of York.
This new partnership marks the beginning of a new phase in the University’s commitment to conservation teaching and research
Dr John Schofield
Building on collaborations between the Department of Archaeology at York and the Museum, the new partnership coincides with the 40th anniversary of University of York’s Masters programme in Conservation Studies, the longest-established course of its kind in the UK and internationally.
The Museum’s two programmes will continue to be taught in-house, delivery being in six long weekend blocks over two academic years – a convenient mode of delivery for mid-career professionals who constitute the majority of students. The museum is now accepting applications for the next programmes starting this autumn.
The Museum and the Department of Archaeology at York share common building conservation ethics and philosophy. Gill Chitty, the Department ‘s new Director of Conservation Studies, says: “The partnership also brings together University’s multi-disciplinary research environment, international perspective and PhD in Conservation Studies with the Museum’s unique conservation ethos and approach. The Museum’s programmes are supported by an exceptional community of specialist practitioners and its unrivalled collection of buildings as a learning environment."
The MSc programmes deal with themes arising from the Museum’s collection of historic buildings, and they make use of the exhibits as a learning resource, together with other case studies and site visits. Former students have commented on the valuable learning process, with lectures from external subject specialists, and opportunities for discussion with knowledgeable fellow students. Students carry out research into buildings and topics of their choice. Discussion of history, science and ethics is woven through the modules.
Museum Director, Richard Pailthorpe, says “The Museum is justly proud of our MSc programmes and is delighted with this new academic collaboration.”
Dr John Schofield, who takes over as Head of Department of Archaeology at York in October, explains: “This new partnership marks the beginning of a new phase in the University’s commitment to conservation teaching and research. As well as re-establishing our current MA programme in Conservation Studies, the partnership with Weald & Downland takes us in a significant new direction, with practical skills and conservation principles and philosophies at its core.”
Richard Harris, Course Leader for the unique MSc in Timber Building Conservation has been involved with Museum since 1975 when he was appointed Research Director and was subsequently Director until his recent retirement from that post. He is now undertaking research and lectures alongside his MSc commitments.
Eddie Booth, currently Secretary of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, follows Jim Strike as the Course Leader of the MSc Building Conservation. Eddie is Director of the Conservation Studio in Petersfield.
For further information about the MSc programmes or the Museum’s wider adult learning programmes please contact Diana Rowsell, Head of Learning at the Museum on 01243 811464 or by email on courses@wealddown.co.uk.
Notes to editors:
- Located in the heart of the South Downs National Park, the award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has 50 historic building exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm livestock and a working Tudor kitchen. The Museum runs a well-established schools programme, and an adult learning programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts. There is a café which uses the Museum’s own flour and a shop with gifts and books on countryside and buildings themes. The modern Downland Gridshell houses the Museum’s building conservation centre and artefact collection; there is a daily tour at 1.30pm when the Museum is open, and an appointments system for visits to the collections for research purposes.
- Reporters and photographers welcome. For further information and photographs contact Diana Rowsell on 01243 811464, fax 01243 811475, email courses@wealddown.co.uk. Further details about the Museum and its activities are also available on the Museum information line on 01243 811348, or at www.wealddown.co.uk.
- The University of York is a world top 100 institution with a global reputation its excellence in both research and teaching. York was Times Higher Education University of the Year in 2010-11. In 2012, the Department of Archaeology at York won a Queen's Anniversary Prize for its leading-edge work in archaeology from pre-history to the modern age. York is joining the prestigious Russell Group of universities in August 2012.
- More information about the Department of Archaeology at York at www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/
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