The IHBC is delighted to welcome the new Chair of the IHBC’s Wales Branch, Sam Johnson as he takes up his role in succession to Peter Wood, who was elected to the Board formally as Wales Branch representative at the previous Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Sam Johnson said: ‘The Wales IHBC Committee is moving forward from a period of re-establishment after the pandemic.’
‘These are challenging times for historic and traditional buildings. Wales has the oldest housing stock in Europe and it is under pressure from carbon reduction targets and increased energy costs. Retrofit is at the fore, but must be guided correctly to be effective and sustainable.’
image: Circa 1500, a Welsh cruck framed
hall in collapse in 2022 by Sam Johnson
‘In the countryside we are also grappling with the long-term impact of post-war changes in agricultural methods, and the effect this has had on our rural and isolated farms and buildings. The historic pattern of building in Wales, the vernacular local and traditional materials and methods are iconic and an essential part of cultural identity, but these are being eroded and lost.’
‘Mindful of the geographical challenges, the committee is looking to plan the next event in Mid-Wales around Spring.’
‘We are extremely grateful to all our past committee members, with special mention to Trefor Thorpe, who was Acting Chair at the time of the Swansea School, and Kath Hilsden, Membership Secretary (who also helped at the School). All have done so much for the historic environment in Wales. We look forward to seeing more of our members at events over the coming months.’
See more on the Wales Branch and Committee HERE and the on Branch LinkedIn Group
See more on Sam on LinkedIn
