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Historic Buildings & Places (HBAP) is the working name of the Ancient Monuments Society (AMS), founded in 1924 and thus celebrating its centenary this year. Giles Quarme, Chair of HBAP, explains in the spring edition of Heritage Now, the society’s quarterly magazine, that the original name was chosen to reflect the title of the Ancient Monuments Act of 1913.
The aim of the fledgling society was to make sure that the legislative framework of this pioneering Act was effective in protecting heritage against what Professor Thomas Tout, in his inaugural address, described as ‘the Demon of Restoration and Demolition’, arguing that ancient monuments and historic buildings ‘tend to diversify the monotony of modern life and ought at all cost to be saved’.
Today, we would argue that heritage should be valued for its contribution to the economy, sustainability, health, and wellbeing – not just as an antidote to monotony – but HBAP remains faithful to the founders’ philosophy in its engagement with the planning system. Along with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), the Georgian Group, the Victorian Society, the Twentieth Century Society, and the Gardens Trust, it is one of the ‘statutory amenity societies’ that play a key role in scrutinising listed building and faculty applications, as well as in putting reasoned objections to unsuitable proposals – such as the post-war plans to drive a new road through the heart of historic Conwy, or to build a power station alongside Durham Cathedral.
Just as importantly, the society is increasingly involved in influencing planning policy and in pre-planning consultations, providing advice on the options for adaptive reuse before the application stage.
Threats to listed buildings have not gone away, as we are seeing with the current proposal to envelop London’s Liverpool Street station (Grade II) and the adjacent Great Eastern (now Andaz) Hotel (Grade II*) within a massive tower block. On the other hand, the message of constructive conversation does seem to be getting across to more and more developers. HBAP is seeing far fewer applications involving the total demolition of listed buildings, and many more for well-thought-out schemes that show an understanding of the building’s significance.
All this is done with a handful of dedicated staff, supplemented by expert volunteers who deserve our gratitude and support for their tireless campaigning, and for serving as guardians of heritage for the nation.
Top, above & below: HBAP’s Heritage Now magazine recently highlighted the distinctive architectural heritage of the UK’s seaside resorts, from the Grade II*-listed Grand Hotel by Cuthbert Brodrick (a Scarborough landmark since 1867) to these humble holiday chalets at Brighstone, on the Isle of Wight – built in 1932 and turned down for listing despite being the oldest surviving examples in the country. In 1997, HBAP opposed the insertion of the glazed-brick screen and suspended ceiling in the noble Methodist church at Holt, in Norfolk, but 2023 saw an application to remove it and re-reveal the original clerestory and ceiling, built in 1862 by Thomas Jeckyll.
Further information: http://www.hbap.org.uk
Is there a society that you would like to see profiled? Write to theeditor@archaeology.co.uk Images: Kathryn Ferry and Historic Buildings & Places
