Judges in the 11th year of the IHBC Marsh Charitable Trust Awards have agreed winners for 2026, as ‘Community Contribution…’ goes to, Marion Barter IHBC (RET NW), for her ‘commitment to… connecting heritage with community life’, and ‘Successful Learning…’ to Harry Richards of Paye Stone Ltd for his ‘detailed and thoughtful approach to stonemasonry.
Each award winner is to receive £500, a certificate, and a free place at the Annual School in the Southwest in 2027.
NOTE: IHBC’s 2026 Newcastle School has closed to in-person delegates, but the Virtual Day School is still open for booking HERE
RTPI members seeking IHBC member-rates for our 2026 Virtual School will find the booking code in your monthly bulletin
Online Day School Package
- Online access to the Friday Day School
- Recording of the Day School following the event
From £35 (Excl. VAT, for IHBC Members and School networks)
Community Contribution (Retired Member) Award – Marion Barter
Marion is a highly respected buildings historian and heritage adviser whose career spans over four decades in the historic environment sector.
Her eminent professional career encompassed working as a Listed Buildings Inspector for the Listed Buildings Resurvey of Wiltshire in the 1980’s, work as a conservation officer for Sheffield, and then working for English Heritage as an Historic Buildings Inspector in the Northwest.
After leaving English Heritage she worked in private practice and has been involved in the Education Sector. In respect of the latter, she co-authored the RIBA Conservation Guide (2024), a key professional text structured around ICOMOS training principles, and a reference source widely used to support the education and accreditation of conservation practitioners.
The judging panel were impressed by Marion’s longstanding and dedicated contribution to the conservation of the historic environment, which has continued after her formal retirement. She has demonstrated a deep commitment to ensuring that historic buildings are understood and valued but also maintained in community use – connecting heritage with community life.
Marion continues to involve herself with local conservation issues through volunteering and community outreach. She contributes to community-led initiatives, including work to support the future of the Grade II listed Victoria Hall. The judges also commended her on the fruitful combination of her creative and professional interests to help bring positive uses to historic buildings and ensure their continued connection to communities. One example is her work as a trustee of the Glossop Music Festival, which brings high-quality cultural programming to the High Peak and makes use of historic venues, reinforcing their role as living community assets.
Marion said she was ‘thrilled to have been awarded the Marsh Prize this year. It is a huge honour to have been nominated by my amazing colleagues at the North West Branch and to have been selected for this national award’.
Successful Learning in Heritage Skills – Harry Richards
Judges admired the submission on Harry Richards especially for his detailed and thoughtful approach to stonemasonry and high level of skill demonstrated. Harry was an apprentice in stonemasonry at Paye Stone Ltd from September 2022-November 2024, whilst attending the Building Crafts College (BCC) in Stratford, London. He achieved a distinction in the level 2 Apprenticeship Scheme End Point Assessment and has been developing his on-site skills in heritage stonemasonry with Paye Stone.
image: Examples of Harry Richards’ college work. Architectural mouldings for apprenticeship training: engaged column base with complex internal mitre (right); Detail of egg and dart moulding (left).
His tutor, Nigel Gilkison, noted in his nomination statement, that ‘… Harry has been a very adaptable and enthusiastic apprentice, keen to learn about all aspects of his craft. At work and college, he has been communicative and enjoys sharing his learning with others new to the trade, he is an excellent ambassador for the craft of stonemasonry.’
Harry’s application provided detailed information, which was praised by the judges, whilst his skill development was also demonstrated in other Heritage Skill areas, such as tuck pointing of brickwork. The judges were also impressed by his supporting statement which contained some mature observations on sympathetic repair and the uncertain nature of working on historic buildings.
Harry said: ‘I am extremely grateful to have been nominated for the IHBC Marsh award and receiving it has been both encouraging and affirming in building my confidence. I appreciate all that stone masonry encompasses, from the creativity and craftsmanship to the conservation of heritage structures and traditional skills.’
‘A huge thank you to my tutors Nigel and Nancy for their unwavering support and enthusiasm, and for creating the perfect learning environment.’
The IHBC and Marsh Charity encourages IHBC members to nominate people who they consider worthy recipients, the recognition of their contribution, often the culmination of a lifetime’s dedication and knowledge, as with Marion, or mastery of specialist heritage skills, as with Harry, clearly means so much to the awardees.
An ‘in-person’ Award presentation is planned for the Annual Dinner of the on the evening of the IHBC Annual School of our Bristol 2027 School, details to be confirmed
For more information on the 2026 Annual School see HERE
For the Virtual School on 19 June see HERE and BOOK HERE
For more on the IHBC Marsh Awards for Community Contribution (Retired Member) and Successful Learning in Heritage Skills see HERE.
