BCD 2018

6 C AT H E D R A L COMMU N C I AT I O N S C E L E B R AT I N G T W E N T Y F I V E Y E A R S O F T H E B U I L D I N G CO N S E R VAT I O N D I R E C TO R Y 1 9 9 3 – 2 0 1 8 Foreword M any congratulations to The Building Conservation Directory on its 25th anniversary edition. This is a tremendous achievement. The Directory is a valuable and unique resource, signposting users to the extraordinary range and level of expertise available to all those involved in the care and repair of our historic environment. Over many years, it has provided technical articles written by the leading experts and practitioners in their field, raising awareness and stimulating dialogue among all of us involved in building conservation. Understanding, conserving, explaining and championing our heritage depends on having people with the right skills who can access the relevant knowledge and data. A skilled and qualified workforce of craftspeople and professionals is essential to ensure the appropriate conservation, repair and maintenance of heritage assets and to realise the full contribution of heritage to employment and growth. The historic environment contributes £22 billion to the economy and supports 278,000 jobs. If this contribution is to continue, we need to ensure that we work together to build capacity in the heritage sector and that we share our knowledge and technical expertise widely with all those who care for historic buildings and places, including owners, local authorities, communities and volunteers. Good building conservation draws on evidence from the past to help understand the building, its deterioration and potential remedies. Historic England’s technical advice and guidance is underpinned by sound evidence-based research and the field experience of our staff. We publish an extensive range of expert advice and guidance, which is available to download for free from our website www.HistoricEngland.org.uk . Our revised and expanded ten-volume Practical Building Conservation series is aimed at all those who work on or look after historic buildings: primarily architects, surveyors, engineers, conservators, contractors and conservation officers, but also owners, curators, students and researchers. The series is arguably the most comprehensive and practical reference work available for all those involved in repairing historic buildings. We need to ensure that we get the right information across to people in the most accessible and effective way. We are keen to explore opportunities for greater collaboration within the sector to improve the online accessibility of our specialist knowledge to ensure that up-to-date information is digitally available as widely as possible. The care of any historic building requires passion as well as hard work and expertise. The Building Conservation Directory provides a vital resource for all who are involved with the care of our historic environment. Its editors and contributors deserve a huge vote of thanks from us all. Sir Laurie Magnus Chairman Historic England Marsden Lime Kiln, Whitburn, Northumberland: stonemasons Brian Ellis and James Landless conserving Victorian lime kilns (All photos: Historic England)