Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings’ working party comes to the South Downs

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings’ working party comes to the South Downs

July 8, 2016

We are very pleased to welcome the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) to the South Downs National Park where they are running their annual working party.

Following their successful week at Sullington in 2015, SPAB have returned to the South Downs for a second year, this time to Greatham Old Church, East Hampshire.

Built in 1262, the Old Church in Greatham fell into disuse after the dedication of the new church in 1875. SPAB staff, skilled craftspeople and enthusiastic volunteers will be returning to the site to consolidate stonework, carry out repointing and limewash the chancel over the course of the Working Party week (3-9 July).

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris in 1877 to counteract the highly destructive ‘restoration’ of medieval buildings being practised by many Victorian architects. Today it is the largest, oldest and most technically expert national pressure group fighting to save old buildings from decay, demolition and damage.

More information about SPAB can be found on their website.