A stunning eighteenth century National Trust mansion proved an inspiring setting as CITB-ConstructionSkills joined the Painting & Decorating Association (PDA) on 25th and 26th May to pilot an innovative training (Level 3) course on traditional maintenance and repair for conservation.
The pilot course will support the PDA’s work to develop a new Level 3 stand-alone unit on the Understanding of Repair and Maintenance of Traditional (pre-1919) Buildings. ?Windsor Powell, chair of the PDA’s Education and Training Committee, explains: ‘It was a fantastically successful course, and the delegates gained an enormous amount from the chance to examine this amazing property. We aim to build on this and offer similar courses in the future.’
The two day introductory course at Attingham Park near Shrewsbury focused on the restoration and preservation of painted decorations and wall coverings in pre-1919 buildings. ?Experts from CITB-ConstructionSkills’ National Specialist Team, the PDA, the National Trust, English Heritage and the private sector explained the principles and legislation involved in caring for historic buildings. The course also covered the use of traditional paints, wallcovering methods and materials.
Craftspeople taking the new unit will gain the time-honoured knowledge needed to preserve national treasures like Attingham Park. Rory Cullen, Head of Building at the National Trust, added: ‘This type of training is vital to help the traditional building sector by passing on our knowledge and expertise.’
Delegates toured the venue to examine the approach taken to preserve its impressive decorative schemes, from in-situ cleaning and conservation of existing painted decoration to the recreation of replacement schemes. The elegant mansion with its Regency interiors gave a fascinating insight into historic research, paint analysis and investigations, and complex decision-making: all vital skills to carry out traditional maintenance and repairs.
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