The winners of the IHBC Gus Astley Student Awards for 2024 have been selected by guest judge Nathan Baker, former CEO of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), with winners offered free places at the Annual School in Shrewsbury – #IHBCShrewsbury2025 – and cash prizes.
Nathan Baker writes of his judging experience: ‘Exploring the papers gives me great hope that the sector has some superb talent coming through who will be able to make sure heritage thrives.’
Ailsa Bailey, of University of York Cultural Heritage Management, has taken the top award with a prize of £500 for her dissertation Undesignated historic barns in Bilsdale: what heritage significance has survived and how do we protect it?
Nathan Baker summarised his thoughts on the submission as follows: ‘This was a well-constructed paper on a subject matter that is often the most direct experience individuals, outside of the heritage sector have, of balancing the use of today with heritage value. The toolkit is well thought through and has application way beyond Bilsdale – it is a useful guide to ensure that sensible, early thinking is taken by those wishing to develop historic farm and rural buildings. Running through the paper was the need to effectively manage alternate uses, sympathy with the local environment and sustainability within rural communities.’
Her tutor, Professor John Schofield, said ‘We are delighted to see our outstanding teaching and students at the University of York continuing to be successful with the IHBC award.’
Ailsa said: ‘During this project, I faced a transition from academia into the world of planning due to my newly-adopted role as a Graduate Heritage Consultant. Days staring at buildings through textbooks turned into real-world site visits where threats to our collective agricultural heritage suddenly became a very harsh reality. Historic barns stood out to me as too-often misunderstood structures, rapidly affected by change and decay due to the collapse of traditional farming methods in the wake of mechanisation and modernisation. My work ultimately aimed to bridge the gap between nationally-listed barns and non-designated agricultural buildings which clearly contribute to local distinctiveness – specifically, those present within National Parks – yet may not always be automatically recognised as significant in their own right. Whether the studied farmsteads were ruinous, unused, converted, or even preserved as museums, I looked to explore what historic fabric has survived, and how we can carry what is left of this legacy into the future for many generations to come within the overarching context of sustainable development. Through this award, I feel honoured to have given these heritage assets a voice. This project marked a pivotal stage in my personal development, and provided strong foundations for the next exciting steps in my professional journey. Thank you to everyone who helped along the way!’
Orla Mc Carthy, of University of Edinburgh Masters in Architectural Conservation, received a Highly Commended award of £250 for her dissertation Inaugurating the Catholic Church; Reclaiming a Forsaken Typology in an Evolving Society.
Nathan Baker has written as follows: ‘An excellent insight into how the Church in Ireland has and will have to manage its estate. Detailed, clearly presented and useful to explore an issue before it becomes a problem.
Her tutor, Professor Miles Glendinning, said ‘Orla was an outstanding student on our programme and this award is an appropriate and timely recognition of her excellent coursework.’
Orla said: ‘I am honoured to receive the IHBC Gus Astley Student Award: High Commendation for my dissertation, ‘Inaugurating the Catholic Church; Reclaiming a Forsaken Typology in an Evolving Society’.
‘I am delighted by this recognition and look forward to attending the annual school in June.’
Atarah Adams and Laura Fildes, both of Birmingham City University Conservation of the Historic Environment under Katriona Byrne, have jointly been awarded the Booth-Bird Prize for a Conservation Management Plan or Conservation Options Appraisal and will receive £150 each.
Atarah’s CMP was titled The Sustainable Re-Use of a Place of Worship [St James’s Church, Shardlow, Derbyshire].
Katriona said ‘Atarah Adams looked at St James’ Church in Shardlow, Derbyshire where she explored the revitalisation of this 19th-century church by proposing to combine worship with a flexible, community space. Atarah is an architect who was supported through her course by a scholarship from the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain; she studied the energy efficiency of almshouses in her MA thesis and gained a job as a Historic Churches Support Officer for the Diocese of Leicester, where she puts her studies into practice.’
Atarah said ‘I am thrilled and honoured to receive a joint Booth-Bird Prize in this year’s Gus Astley Student Awards, for my report that assessed options for the future of St James Church in Shardlow. This project highlights the pertinent challenges and opportunities currently being faced by Anglican churches across England. It offers a viable way forward, that balances the needs of the worshipping community and wider parish of Shardlow, with the significance of this listed building. The assignment was also instrumental in me securing my current role at the Diocese of Leicester where I am able to help parishes with the repair, maintenance and longevity of their church buildings as both places of worship and thriving community assets. ‘
‘I am very grateful to the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) who generously supported me with my studies. I would also like to thank the tutors at Birmingham City University for their unwavering support and continued encouragement throughout.’
Laura’s CMP was titled The Sustainable Reuse of a Place of Worship – All Saints Church, Broseley.
Katriona said ‘Laura Fildes looked at All Saints Church in Broseley, Shropshire, which is at the centre of an area which already has a lot of community activity held in other buildings. Her recommended use was two-fold: to create a training facility for the active group of bell ringers following the repair of the bell tower and the creation of a multi-functional space, from the reinstatement of original balconies to house a small museum area for the currently displaced local history society and their collection, whilst also providing additional seating to host classical music concerts on a stage already donated by a congregation member.’
‘The museum section of the proposal has since become even more relevant as the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust are looking at closing the Broseley Pipe Museum which will reduce the town’s connection with the rest of the Ironbridge Gorge’s attractions and heritage. Laura works as an Assistant Heritage Consultant with Berry’s.’
Laura said: ‘This award means a great deal to me, as I currently work in heritage consultancy and have been studying around my full-time job. Everyone puts in so much hard work on the course, so I am very grateful that my work has been thought of so highly. The late nights and weekends must have paid off! I am currently working on further church projects in my role as Assistant Heritage Consultant at Berrys, so to be recognised for my work on a similar church project is very gratifying.’
See more on the Gus Astley Student Award, with the next round of submissions closing 31 August 2024
See more background to the previous Awards
See more on submitting online
For more on the IHBC’s Annual Schools HERE and on the 2025 Shrewsbury School HERE
