Paul R.
About me
| Paul R. | |
| Archaeology | |
| Historic Building Conservation | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Historic Building Consultant (retired) | |
| United Kingdom |
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A day in the life of a Historic Building Consultant (retired) in the United Kingdom
Conservation and repair of medieval buildings
My career goals when I graduated
To have my own practice
What has helped my career to progress
To keep up to date with publications and seminars related to your work, become a member of a professional body.
Courses taken since graduation
I hold my own courses to introduce craftsman and home owners on how to use traditional materials and to learn traditional craft skills
How my studies have helped my career
My studies at Kings Manor York have been very valuable in establishing my professional career, I often referred to my lecture notes if I had a problem to sort out or I had a report to write.
What surprised me about my career so far
I have not stopped studying and doing research, you are always learning something new.
Where I hope to be in 5 years
I am now retired and have a bit of spare time, I would like to do a PhD on the history of early carpentry.
My advice to students considering work
Gain site experience, hands on work with conservators, get as much background knowledge as possible and aim to be a very good professional, take pride in you work and achievements, have a wish to pass on your knowledge to others, do give talks and lectures
My advice about working in my industry
Be prepared to start at the bottom and become good at what you do, you will not be at the bottom for long, employers want keen and dedicated students especially to be able to think and plan ahead your work, give your employer confidence that you can work unsupervised, become an important member of the working team. Always give praise to colleagues and trainees working with you, especially if you felt they have done their job well.
Other advice
Always look for opportunities and a better job so to gain more experience. If one door closes another one will open
Contacting me
I would like to help students who are interested in traditional crafts skills and using traditional materials for example: stone work, brickwork, lime hair plastering, wattle and daub clay work, Architectural drawing and land surveying. My main interest is in early medieval carpentry oak frame construction, study of joints and the use of medieval tools such as log converting tools: the side hewing axe, adze and saws, joint making tools augers chisels etc
How I started my business
I started my career when I was 15 years old as a Carpenter and Joiner apprentice. Later I worked for a surveying co. and became a surveyor, moved on and worked for architects and qualified as an architectural technician. Employed by English Heritage as superintendent of works caring for schedule sites in the west of England. Completed the MA conservation course at Kings Manor York IAAS. I set up my own practice as an Historic Building Consultant and set up Paul Reed Conservation Ltd. (now not trading) Set up Chalk Down Lime Ltd which is still trading and is run by my son Declan Reed, I am now retired
What inspired me
My passion to conserve historic buildings
Skills I use and how I developed them
Working and training in different work places and disciplines provided me with an expanse of knowledge and technical skills to have an interesting professional career
What I like most
Saving our heritage.
What I like least
The most difficult problems for me to carry out my work was having to deal with government and local government personnel who had no knowledge or very little or experience about conserving historic buildings and schedule sites
What surprised me most
To have the opportunity to pass on my knowledge to others.
Next steps...
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