Seven’s director, Lisa Mcfarlane organised the north west regional AGM for the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) on Thursday 15th November 18, hosted by the Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust.

Forty IHBC members attended the event which was held at the recently restored Long Street Methodist School buildings.  Designed by noted 20th Century architect Edgar Wood and completed in 1899, the Grade II* Listed Schools have been on the Heritage at Risk Register since 2013.  Following completion of the restoration works funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Viridor it is hoped that the schools buildings will be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2019.  Lisa has been involved in the restoration works from May 2017 through to completion in September 2019 in the Phase One works as Conservation Architect for the project.

The day started with a talk by David Morris, Chair of the Edgar Wood Society, on Edgar Wood followed by tour of the famous Middleton Golden Cluster of heritage buildings including the Middleton Library building, the Exedra steps designed by Edgar Wood and the Grade I Listed Middleton Parish Church of St. Leonard’s dating from 1412.

Following the AGM and presentation of the IHBC NW 2018 Conservation Award won by Canon Hindley of Blackburn Cathedral and architect John Sanderson for the works now completed at the Blackburn Cathedral Cloister development, dinner was enjoyed in the Main Hall of the former school and the day concluded with the showing of the recently completed film on Edgar Wood ‘A Painted Veil’.

 

Thank you to the Main Contractors for the works, Stone Edge, for kindly sponsoring this event. For more information please go to http://www.stone-edge.co.uk/