Technical Conservation

Guidance and Research

Online Advice and Downloadable Guidance

June 2018

Summary

Historic England publishes an extensive range of expert advice and guidance to

help you care for, repair, and conserve buildings and designed landscapes.
This brochure lists our technical conservation guidance and research reports on
all aspects of the repair and maintenance of the historic built environment.

All our advice and reports are free to download from the relevant sections of our
website www.HistoricEngland.org.uk. If you are online, each publication can be
opened by clicking on the thumbnail image, or follow the weblink at the foot of
the page.

For more information about our technical advice and research publications
please contact conservation@HistoricEngland.org.uk

This document has been prepared by the

Conservation Department, Historic England,

June 2018 (v1).

All images © Historic England unless otherwise stated.

HistoricEngland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/

Front cover:
In-situ U-value measurements of a double glazing
system. Carried out during a study of the thermal
performance of energy efficiency improvements to
timber windows at the Engine House, Swindon.
Contents

Looking After Historic Buildings ...........1

Improving Accessibility ......................16

Technical Guidance .................................................1

Technical Guidance ...............................................16

Conservation Research Reports .............................3

Conservation Research: Strategic Stone Study .....4

Flooding and Historic Buildings ..........17

Looking After Parks, Gardens and

Technical Guidance ...............................................17

Landscapes ..........................................5
Conservation Research Reports ...........................17

Technical Guidance .................................................5

Conservation Research Reports .............................5

Emergency Planning and Fire Advice ..18

Online Advice .........................................................18

Looking After War Memorials ................7

Technical Guidance ...............................................18

Technical Guidance .................................................7

Case Studies.............................................................8
Practical Building

Videos ......................................................................9
Conservation Books ...........................19

Energy Efficiency ................................10

Technical Guidance ...............................................10

Conservation Research Reports ...........................14

Looking After Historic Buildings
Technical Guidance
Advice on how to maintain and repair historic buildings, including the types of
materials and treatment methods to use.
Vacant Historic Buildings
Guidelines on Managing Risks
Guidance for owners about how
to reduce risks of damage and
decay (2018)
Repointing Brick and
Stone Walls
Guidelines for Best Practice
A brief guide on mortar joints,
their appearance in a building
and what to do when repointing
is necessary (2017)
historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/buildings/
Sourcing Stone for Nanolime
Historic Building Repair A Practical Guide to its Use for Consolidating
Weathered Limestone
Step-by-step guidance on how Research-based guidelines
to match stone in building on using nanolimes to repair
repairs (2016) decayed stone (2017)
Bats in Traditional
Buildings
Traditional Windows
Their Care, Repair and Upgrading
Is your building project blessed with bats?
The holes, crevices and neglected spaces of
traditional buildings offer an attractive shelter
to bats, which are themselves ‘traditionalists’,
returning to the same roosts all their lives.
Building professionals and owners or
managers of traditional buildings are very
likely to encounter bats, which enjoy a
high level of protection in law.This manual
provides advice on:
• the statutory legislation which protects
buildings and bats
• the characteristic habits of bats
• the building works that typically affect bats
and their roosts
• the techniques of managing such work and
avoiding infringements
• who to turn to for advice and sources of
further information
The manual takes in all stages including a
summary of the legislation which currently
applies to bats, their roosts, and listed
buildings and scheduled monuments. It
covers planning the work, bat indications
and surveys, building work and sharing
space with bats.
Guidance on timber and metal Guidance on how to protect
windows including Historic bats and their roosts in building
England’s position on altering maintenance, adaptation or
or replacing windows (2017) repair works (2009)

Looking After Historic Buildings

Technical Guidance
Advice on how to maintain and repair historic buildings, including the types of
materials and treatment methods to use.

Wall Paintings
About this image

Home > Advice > Technical Guidance > Looking After Historic Buildings > Inspection and Maintenance of Fibrous Plaster Ceilings

Inspection and Maintenance of

Anticipating and Responding to their Discovery
Looking After Historic Buildings
Building Materials for
Historic Buildings
Maintenance and Repair of
Older Buildings
Maintenance Plans for Older
Buildings
Practical Building
Conservation Series
Principles of Repair for
Historic Buildings
Managing Vacant Historic
Buildings
Inspection and Maintenance
of Fibrous Plaster Ceilings
Decorative Features
Looking After Parks, Gardens and
Landscapes
Looking After War Memorials
Energy Efficiency and Historic
Buildings
Improving Access to Historic
Buildings and Landscapes
Flooding and Historic Buildings
Recording Heritage
Archaeological Science
Information Management
Project Management for Heritage
Emergency Planning and Fire
Advice
Fibrous Plaster Ceilings
All historic ceilings are at risk if not adequately
maintained. Fibrous plaster ceilings can be complex
in construction and require specialist skills for their
inspection and maintenance. There is guidance
available to help you determine the competency of
specialist inspectors and contractors, and to define
the required standard of inspection.
All theatres and places of entertainment with suspended fibrous
plaster ceilings must have been inspected by a competent person by
1 September 2016 to ensure that they are safe.
The inspection must have complied with new survey standards
devised by the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) and
details of the survey requirements can be found in ABTT Guidance
Note 20 on their website.
Many former places of entertainment with fibrous plaster ceilings
are now in alternative use. However, fibrous plaster is not limited to
theatres or places of entertainment. Therefore, the risk of failure is
possible in any building with fibrous plaster ceilings with unstable
hangers, ties and fixings, especially hessian wadding and fixings.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has informed all UK Local
Authorities that this inspection scheme is in place in the theatre
industry and that it can be applied to any building with a suspended
fibrous plaster ceiling, as good practice.
The HSE states that: “If you have not managed
to get your ceiling inspected within this period
you are advised to contact your licensing
authority (normally the appropriate Local
Authority) to discuss how you can demonstrate
that the ceiling is safe for an audience to sit
beneath….Those responsible for premises with
suspended plaster ceilings are strongly advised
to read the ABTT guidance....”

Guidance on assessing whether Online advice on the inspection

wall paintings have survived and and maintenance of fibrous plaster
what to do (2018) ceilings (2017)

Farm buildings

The Maintenance and Adapting Traditional

Repair of Traditional Farm Buildings
Farm Buildings Best Practice Guidelines for Adaptive Reuse

A Guide to Good Practice

Practical advice on the Guidance on how to successfully

maintenance and repair of and sympathetically convert
traditional farm buildings (2017) traditional farm buildings (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/caring-for-heritage/rural-heritage/farm-buildings/

Looking After Historic Buildings

Conservation Research Reports
Historic England carries out and commissions research on a range of topics relating to
the conservation of historic buildings and structures.

Building and Landscape Conservation Building and Landscape Conservation

Ventilation and Conservation Measuring Moisture Content in

Historic Building Materials
Prepared for Historic England by Prepared by Fires in Thatched Properties
Dr Brian Ridout and Iain McCaig
Dr Brian Ridout, Ridout Associates Ltd
with Wood-Burning Stoves
Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment

A report sponsored by
Historic England and NFU Mutual

Dr James LD Glockling

December 2017

Research Report Series no. 12-2017 Research Report Series no. 43-2016

Report on the role of natural Findings from ongoing Interim research findings on fire
ventilation in preventing research looking at measuring risk from wood-burning stoves
timber decay (2017) moisture (2016) in thatched buildings (2017)

Building and Landscape Conservation

Ivy on Walls
Prepared for Historic England by Dr Martin Coombes and
Prof Heather Viles, Oxford Rock Breakdown Lab (OxRBL), IVY ON WALLS SOFT CAPPING HISTORIC WALLS
University of Oxford; and Alan Cathersides, Historic England
Interim Seminar Report A BETTER WAY OF
Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment
CONSERVING RUINS?

Prepared for Historic England by

Alan Cathersides, Jeremy Ashbee, Amanda White, Heather Viles,
Zoe Lee, Heather Viles & Chris Wood
Troy Stronberg, Rachel Thomas and Chris Turner
�

Edited by Troy Sternberg

�

2009

2010
�

Research Report Series no. 30–2017

Final report from a 10-year Interim research findings on Interim research report on the
project on whether ivy on walls ivy growth on historic walls role of soft wall cappings to
is harmful or beneficial to (2010) conserve ruins (2009)
building fabric (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/research/research-results/research-reports/

Looking After Historic Buildings

Conservation Research: Strategic Stone Study
The Strategic Stone Study addresses the problem of finding suitable replacement stone
for conservation repairs by identifying the most important building stones in England and
their sources.

The Strategic Stone Study is available through the British Geological Survey website and includes a
searchable map, data spreadsheets, and county guides or ‘atlases’ showing representative buildings for
each building stone type.

Avon Bedrock Geology Map

FORMAL COLOUR
INFORMAL/LOCAL
FORMATION/ AND LITHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF LIMESTONES
NAME
SUBGROUP NAME FOSSILS
Oxwich Head Hotwells Limestone AA AA Massive, grey crinoidal and oolitic bioclastic limestones, sometimes also
Limestone Formation AA flaggy, black splintery limestones with chert nodules and seams. Abundant
AA AA fossil fauna of corals and thick-shelled brachiopods.
Clifton Down Clifton Down Limestone s Grey, well-bedded calcareous and dolomitic mudstones with poorly-
Limestone Formation A A sorted bioclastic limestones, algal limestones (‘Seminula Pisolite’) and
Upper Carboniferous
cross-bedded ooids (‘Seminula Oolite’) topped by thick calcareous algal Warwickshire Group
s mudstones (‘Concretionary Beds’). Sparsely fossiliferous, except some bands
Pennant Sandstone and

Strategic Stone Study

locally crowded with corals and brachiopods; algal limestones distinctive.
Burrington Oolite Burrington Oolite s Marros Group
Light grey, massive oolitic and crinoidal limestones, the upper parts with Grovesend Formations
Subgroup
s calcite-mudstone pellets.
Quartzitic Sandstone Formation
occasional pale grey calcite-mudstone bands, or oolitic limestone pebbles or
‘Pennant Sandstone’
Goblin Combe Goblin Combe Oolite s Pale grey to grey, thick-bedded to massive, medium- to coarse-grained ‘Millstone
oolite Grit’, Brandon Hill Stone, Brandon Grit,
Limestone Formation s Long
and ooidal limestone with lenses of crinoidal limestone; individual beds varyAshton Stone
s from oolites with scattered crinoid debris, to pure crinoidal limestones.
The general name ‘Pennant Sandstone’ is given to a succession

A Building Stone Atlas of Avon High Tor Limestone

Formation
Birnbeck Limestone A A Pale to dark grey, predominantly thick-bedded in the lower part, fine-IntoBristol the Quartzitic Sandstone Formation (often referred to
coarse-grained, bioclastic and oolitic limestones (skeletal packstonesinformally
and as the ‘Millstone Grit’) occurs in scattered, small
of grey, green-grey and blue-grey sandstone beds totalling
more than 2 km in thickness, which are commonly feldspathic,
grainstones), with thin beds and partings of shaly dolomite mudstone and
s siltstone. Poorly fossiliferous in lower parts, occasional corals; upper outcrops
parts near Long Ashton, south of the River Avon, and on micaceous or lithic in composition. In outcrop they often occur
with more fossil corals and chonetid brachiopods.
high ground (Brandon Hill) in the Clifton - Tyndall’s Park area. In with thinner mudstone or siltstone interbeds, and occasional
Gully Oolite Gully Oolite, Caninia s Massively bedded, pale pinkish grey or pinkish, oolitic grainstone with
Formation Oolite subordinate beds of fine-grained skeletal packstones. Locally dolomitizedSGlos the strata occupy a semi-circular, narrow outcrop, seatearths and coals. The various lithologies are often arranged
or traversed by strong joints. Sparsely fossiliferous, but in north Bristol to
stretching from Tytherington, via Cromhall Common and Hall in fining-upwards, channel-fill sequences, although the strata
Tytherington area,the base is characterised by a 5 m thick, pale grey, well-
First published by English Heritage August 2011 AA AA End towards Yate.
sorted, crinoidal limestone (the ‘Sub-Oolite Bed’) which contains abundant may range from massive, relatively structureless units to beds
Rebranded by Historic England December 2017 brachiopods.
exhibiting low angle cross-bedding and cross lamination.
Black Rock Black Rock Limestone or Predominantly dark grey to black, well-bedded, fine-grained limestones
Limestone Subgroup Dolomite, Abbots Leigh AA AA The lithology comprises hard, pale grey quartzitic sandstones
with abundant crinoidal debris (packstones and wackestones) and coarser-
Stone, Clevedon Stone AA grained crinoidal limestones. Distinct chert horizons occur; some limestones
AA AA (pebbly in places) with grey mudstones, seatearths and thin Pennant sandstones occur extensively in Avon: in NSom they
also commonly dolomitized and hard, standing out as strong features. Shaly
partings common. Fossils abundant, especially corals, brachiopods. carbonaceous or coaly beds. At outcrop sandstones have a linear outcrop stretching from Clevedon eastwards

Table 1. Main types of Lower Carboniferous limestones (Pembroke Limestone Group) in the Avon area which may be used predominate in the middle of the sequence, with cherty beds
for building purposes. (Key: AA = abundant fossils throughout beds; A = fossils locally common in some beds; s = sparsely
developed at the base. The pebbly sandstones contain clasts of
fossilliferous).
Avon Bedrock Geology white quartz, quartzite, chert, siderite ironstone and mudstone.
The sandstones are rarely fossiliferous, but may contain very
occasional goniatites.
The Quartzitic Sandstone is very hard and resistant, and locally
produced durable building stones. Within the Bristol area, the
sandstones were formerly quarried at Long Ashton (Long Ashton
Stone) and Brandon Hill (Brandon Hill Stone, Brandon Grit).
north of Gordano Valley and along the M5 corridor, via Norton
Wood, Clapton Wick and widening out at Clapton-in-Gordano.
A large outcrop/subcrop area also extends from West End
through much of Nailsea; in Bristol the strata underlie the
Fishponds, St George City - Drew’s Hole, Stapleton – Broomhill,
Brislington - Hicks Gate and St Anne Park areas; in BaNES there
are exposures northwest of Keynsham near Hicks Gate, around
Clutton to High Littleton, near Stanton Wick and Chelwood,
between Pensford and Compton Common, with important
quarry areas at Temple Cloud and east of Corsham; in SGlos the
outcrop is mainly around Kingswood and Oldland, Hangham
Green and Longham Green, and Winterbourne to Mangotsfield
areas, extending through Frampton Cotterell to Nibley and Yate
and stretching to Pucklechurch, Henfield and Westerleigh.

The combination of their widespread occurrence, thickness

Derived from BGS digital geological mapping at 1:625,000 scale, British Geological Survey ©NERC. All rights reserved and hardness (the quartzitic sandstones in particular being
resistant), has meant that Pennant sandstones are widely used
as building stones throughout the outcrop.

The United When encountered ex situ, distinguishing between the various

Avon Strategic Stone StudyR2eformed Church, Woodhill Road, Portishead is constructed of locally sourced Clevedon Stone, a ferrugenous
variety of Lower Carboniferous limestone which typically weathers to a yellowish-brown colour. lithologies and assigning individual stones to particular
Avon Strategic Stone Study 6 members of the group is often extremely difficult, and
sometimes impossible. In these cases it is useful to be able to
refer to these building stones under the general name of
‘Pennant Sandstone’.

An example of the use of roughly dressed and squared blocks

of Brandon Grit (with Pennant Sandstone blocks) is provided
by the 19C warehouses in Host Street, Bristol.
Avon Strategic Stone Study 8

39 stone guides are currently available:

Avon Gloucestershire Nottinghamshire

Bedfordshire Greater Manchester Oxfordshire
Berkshire Hampshire Rutland
Cheshire Herefordshire Shropshire
Cleveland Isle of Wight Somerset
Cornwall Kent South Yorkshire
Cumbria Lancashire Staffordshire
Derbyshire Leicestershire Tyne and Wear
Devon Lincolnshire Warwickshire
Dorset Merseyside West Sussex
Durham North Yorkshire West Yorkshire
East Sussex Northamptonshire Wiltshire
E Yorkshire & N/NE Lincolnshire Northumberland Worcestershire

historicengland.org.uk/research/current/conservation-research/sourcing-traditional-materials/

Looking After Parks, Gardens and Landscapes

Technical Guidance
Historic England carries out and commissions research on a range of topics relating to
the conservation of historic landscapes.

Home > Advice > Technical Guidance > Looking After Parks, Gardens and Landscapes

Looking After Parks, Gardens and

Landscapes

Our technical guidance on how to care for and

manage historic parks, gardens and landscapes.

Parks, Cemeteries, Urban Spaces Garden Features

Guidance on the conservation of our public How to care for and maintain historic garden
parks and green space heritage. features such as lakes, water features, rockwork,
grottoes and moats.

Opening for Visitors and Schools Maintenance and Repair

Sources of advice on opening up a historic Guidance on maintenance, repair, restoration
park or garden for schools and visitors. and conservation management plans.

Tree Management Managing Wildlife and Habitats

The care and conservation of trees within
a wide range of historic environments is an
important responsibility.
Online advice on how to care
for and manage historic parks,
Most wildlife causes no damage to historic sites
and it can be an added attraction for visitors.

gardens and landscapes (2017)

© Historic England 2018

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/parks-gardens-and-landscapes/

Conservation Research Reports

Building and Landscape Conservation

Golf Courses as Designed Landscapes

List of Registered of Historic Interest

Cemeteries European Institute of Golf Course Architects (EIGCA)

Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment

Research Report Series no. 42-2017

Dates, architects and designers Thematic study on golf course

to help assess the significance designs (2017)

of cemeteries (2018)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/parks-gardens-and-landscapes/public-parks­
cemeteries-and-urban-green-spaces/
5

Looking After Parks, Gardens and Landscapes

Conservation Research Reports
Historic England carries out and commissions research on a range of topics relating to
the conservation of historic landscapes.

RESEARCH REPORT SERIES no. 50-2013

Building and Landscape Conservation
LANCELOT ‘CAPABILITY’ BROWN:
A RESEARCH IMPACT REVIEW PREPARED FOR
ENGLISH HERITAGE BY THE LANDSCAPE GROUP,
Hardy Plants and Plantings for Repton
UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
Devon Cobbled Churchyard Paths and Late Georgian Gardens (1780–1820) Jon Gregory, Sarah Spooner, Tom Williamson

Dr Sarah Rutherford, consultant

Evaluating their Significance,

Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment

Survival and Adaptation
�

A project undertaken by

Keystone Historic Buildings Consultants

for Historic England and SPAB

�
Research Report Series no. 20-2018
March 2016
�

A report looking at the history A plant list for researchers and A review carried out ahead
of cobbled churchyard paths, those restoring late Georgian of the 2016 Festival to map
accessibility and maintenance gardens (2018) research knowledge (2013)
issues (2016)

Building and Landscape

RESEARCH REPORT SERIES no. 4-2014 RESEARCH REPORT SERIES no. 50-2014
Conservation
NATIONAL REVIEW OF RESEARCH PRIORITIES COmmOnS, HEATHS And GREEnS In
FOR URBAN PARKS, DESIGNED LANDSCAPES, GREATER lOndOn REPORT (2005)
AND OPEN SPACES
History of Public Park Funding and Management FINAL REPORT
david lambert and Sally Williams, The Parks Agency

(1820–2010) Katy Layton-Jones

Katy Layton-Jones, consultant

Research Report Series no. 20/2016

1

Overview of past public park Review of research needs and A study identifying conservation
funding models to inform priorities for academia and issues and priorities for future
current debate (2016) the public park sector (2014) study and funding (2014)

historicengland.org.uk/research/research-results/research-reports/

Looking After War Memorials

Technical Guidance
Historic England provides advice on conserving, protecting and maintaining these
unique monuments that stand at the heart of almost every community.

The Conservation, Conservation and

Repair and Management Management of
of War Memorials War Memorial Landscapes

One of a pair of publications One of a pair of publications looking

looking at planning work and at the settings of memorials and
protection of war memorials other dedicated parks, avenues and
(2015) sites (2016)

Conserving War Memorials Conserving War Memorials

Structural Problems and Repairs Conserving WarMemorials
Conserving War
Cleaning
Memorials
Cleaning
Cleaning

Guidance on diagnosing Step-by-step guidance on

problems, monitoring, making decisions about cleaning
emergency works and repair memorials (2017)
options (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/war-memorials/

Looking After War Memorials

Case Studies
Historic England’s case studies look at specific conservation challenges of memorials.

Conserving War Memorials Conserving War Memorials

Case Study: Surface Treatment Case Study: Differential Movement
of Bronze of Foundations
First and Second World Wars Memorial, Civilian Second World War Memorial,
Tottenham, Haringey, London Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington, London

A case study looking at A case study looking at repairing

assessing condition, cleaning unstable foundations (2017)

and repatination of bronzes

(2017)

Conserving War Memorials Conserving War Memorials

Case Study: Deterioration of Metal Fixings Case Study: The Surface Treatment of
Waterloo War Memorial, Bispham Hall, Wigan, Bronze Statuary
Greater Manchester First and Second World Wars Memorial,
Bootle, Merseyside

A case study looking at damage A case study looking at the

caused by corroded iron cramps, failure of original protective
and repair options (2017) wax coatings (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/war-memorials/

Looking After War Memorials

Case Studies
Historic England’s case studies look at specific conservation challenges of memorials.

Conserving War Memorials Conserving War Memorials Conserving War Memorials

Case Study: The Replacement of
Missing Bronze Elements
First and Second World Wars Memorial,
Bootle, Merseyside
Case Study: Cleaning Case Study: The Conservation of
First World War Memorial, Cheltenham, Mortar-Filled Inscriptions
Gloucestershire
First World War Memorial, Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire

A case study looking at how bronze A case study looking at A case study looking at
parts are fixed and problems cleaning damaged inscriptions conserving mortar-filled
when these fail (2017) and long-term care (2017) inscriptions (2017)

Videos
Watch our videos about the treatment and repair of stone war memorials:

Conserving inscriptions Cleaning

▷ Condition and legibility of inscriptions ▷ Reasons for cleaning

▷ Gilding ▷ Water washing
▷ Inpainting ▷ Chemical cleaning
▷ Recutting inscriptions ▷ Biocides
▷ Replacing stonework
Search for ‘Historic England War Memorials’ on www.youtube.com

Energy Efficiency
Technical Guidance
Historic England has produced a wide range of practical guidance to help owners
and managers with saving energy in older and listed buildings.

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency

Historic Buildings and Historic Buildings
How to Improve Energy Efficiency Application of Part L of the Building Regulations
to Historic and Traditionally Constructed Buildings

Guidance on balancing energy efficiency Guidance on applying Part L

improvements and conservation in of the Building Regulations in
historic buildings (2018) historic buildings (2017)

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and

Historic Buildings Historic Buildings Historic Buildings
Energy Performance Certificates Advice for Domestic Energy Assessors Heat Pumps
and Green Deal Advisors

Guidance for owners and Guidance for advisors on Guidance on installing heat
managers of historic buildings assessing energy in historic pumps in historic buildings
on Energy Performance buildings (2015) (2017)
Certificates (EPCs) (2015)

historicengland.org.uk/energyefficiency
historicengland.org.uk/advice/your-home/saving-energy/generating-energy/

10

Energy Efficiency
Technical Guidance
Advice on changes that can improve the comfort of the occupants and provide
savings on fuel bills.

Insulating roofs

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and

Historic Buildings Historic Buildings
Insulating Pitched Roofs at Rafter Level Insulating Pitched Roofs at Ceiling Level

Advice on insulating pitched Advice on insulating pitched

roofs at rafter level (known as roofs at ceiling level (known
‘warm roofs’) (2015) as ‘cold roofs’) (2016)

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and

Historic Buildings Historic Buildings
Insulating Flat Roofs Insulating Thatched Roofs

Advice on adding or upgrading Advice on insulating thatched

flat roof insulation (2016) buildings: the risks, materials
and methods (2016)

historicengland.org.uk/energyefficiency

11

Energy Efficiency
Technical Guidance
Advice on changes that can improve the comfort of the occupants and provide
savings on fuel bills.

Insulating chimneys and walls

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and

Historic Buildings Historic Buildings
Open Fires, Chimneys and Flues Insulating Timber-Framed Walls

Advice on preventing draughts Advice on insulating timber-

from unused or intermittently framed walls (2015)
used chimneys (2016)

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and

Historic Buildings Historic Buildings
Insulating Solid Walls Insulating Early Cavity Walls

Advice on insulating traditional Advice on insulating pre-

solid walls (2016) Second World War masonry
cavity walls (2016)

historicengland.org.uk/energyefficiency

12

Energy Efficiency
Technical Guidance
Advice on changes that can improve the comfort of the occupants and provide
savings on fuel bills.

Insulating windows, doors and floors

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and

Historic Buildings Historic Buildings Historic Buildings
Draught-proofing Windows and Doors Secondary Glazing for Windows Insulating Dormer windows

Advice on draughtproofing Advice on upgrading the thermal Advice on insulating

windows and doors to reduce performance of windows using dormer windows (2016)
energy use (2016) secondary glazing (2016)

Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency and

Historic Buildings Historic Buildings
Insulating Suspended Timber Floors Insulating Solid Ground Floors

Advice on insulating suspended Advice on insulating solid

timber ground floors and timber ground floors (2016)
upper floors (2016)

historicengland.org.uk/energyefficiency

13

Energy Efficiency
Conservation Research Reports
Historic England carries out and commissions research on a range of topics relating
to energy efficiency.

Building analysis
Building and Landscape Conservation Building and Landscape Conservation

Reducing Energy Use in Traditional Dwellings The Sustainable Use of Energy in Traditional
Dwellings: Using legislation and policy to guide
decision-making
Prepared for Historic England by Chris Newman,
Parity Projects Ltd Prepared for Historic England by the Centre for Sustainable Energy

Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment

Research Report Series no. 9-2017 Research Report Series 46-2017

Report on the analysis of energy Advice on the convergence and

use in four houses (2017) conflict of housing legislation, policy,
standards, fuel poverty, and carbon
reduction (2017)

A RETROFIT OF A VICTORIAN TERRACE HOUSE IN

NEW BOLSOVER:
A WHOLE HOUSE THERMAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

Correlating Maintenance, Energy SPAB Building Performance Survey

Efficiency and Fuel Poverty for 2017
Traditional Buildings in the UK
Interim Report
A scoping study funded by December 2017
Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland
and Historic England

Christopher Whitman, Dr Oriel Prizeman, Max Lacey Barnacle

Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University

May 2016

Dr Caroline Rye and Cameron Scott

Research conducted on behalf of the SPAB by ArchiMetrics Ltd
Supported by Historic England
RESEARCH REPORT
December 2017

Thermal performance analysis Scoping study on increasing A series of interm reports

of a Victorian brick terrace energy efficiency through better looking at building
house before and after maintenance (2016) performance before and after
retrofitting (2015) refurbishment (2011–2017)

historicengland.org.uk/research/research-results/research-reports/

14

Energy Efficiency
Conservation Research Reports
Historic England carries out and commissions research on a range of topics relating to
energy efficiency.

Thermal performance of walls

Building and Landscape
Conservation EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION IN TRADITIONAL BUILDINGS: RESEARCH INTO THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE
Case studies of three large-scale projects in the North of England: OF TRADITIONAL BRICK WALLS

Hygrothermal Modelling of Shrewsbury Flaxmill

Maltings

Dr Paul Baker, Glasgow Caledonian University

Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment

Research Report Series no. 88-2015

RESEARCH REPORT RESEARCH REPORT

Hygrothermal modelling An overview of three large- Report on U-value measures of

to predict impacts of wall scale retrofit projects (2014) 18 solid-wall brick properties
insulation systems (2015). and laboratory tests (2013)

Thermal performance of windows

Building and Landscape Conservation

Building and Landscape Conservation

The Engine House Swindon

Thermal performance of energy efficiency Improving the Thermal Performance of

improvements to timber windows Traditional Windows: Metal-framed Windows
Prepared for Historic England by
Soki Rhee-Duverne and Iain McCaig
Dr Paul Baker, Glasgow Caledonian University
Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment
Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment

Research Report Series no. 2/2017 Research Report Series no. 15-2017

Research results on heat loss Tests comparing proprietary Research results on the thermal
through timber sash windows retrofit systems for traditional performance of metal windows
and methods of improving timber windows (2017) and methods of reducing heat
thermal performance (2009) loss (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/research/research-results/research-reports/

15

Improving Accessibility
Technical Guidance
Historic England’s advice on improving access, and engaging people in conservation.

Easy access

Easy Access to Easy Access to

Historic Buildings Historic Landscapes

Guidance on improving physical Guidance on an inclusive approach

access within the challenges and to improving access in gardens
constraints of historic buildings (2015) and other sites (2015)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/easy-access-to-historic-buildings-and-landscapes/

Engagement

Delivering Public
Engagement, Skills
and Training
Harmondsworth Barn Case Study

A case study looking at how to include

public engagement, skills and training
activities in building projects (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/training-skills/heritageskills-cpd/building-skills-and-training­
into-conservation-projects/

16

Flooding and Historic Buildings

Technical Guidance
Historic England’s advice on managing buildings that are threatened by flooding, and
research on flood impacts.

Flooding and
Historic Buildings

Guidance on preventative
measures, and what to do
after flooding (2015)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/flooding-and-historic-buildings/

Conservation Research Reports

Building and Landscape Conservation

Building and Landscape Conservation Building and Landscape Conservation

A Preliminary Study of Flood Remediation The Health Risks from Contaminated An Analysis of Drying Data from
in Hebden Bridge and Appleby Flood Water in the UK a Medieval Hall after Flooding

Prepared for Historic England by Prepared for Historic England by

Dr Brian Ridout, Chris Wood and Iain McCaig Dr Brian Ridout, Ridout Associates Ltd Dr Brian Ridout and Iain McCaig

Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment Discovery, Innovation and Science in the Historic Environment

Research Report Series no. 39-2017 Research Report Series no. 14-2017
Research Report Series no. 11-2017

Initial findings from site visits A review of potential health Report on the accuracy of
to properties ten months after risks related to conserving moisture monitoring measures
severe flooding (2017) contaminated historic during the drying out of a flooded
building fabric (2017) building (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/research/research-results/research-reports/

17

Emergency Planning and Fire Advice

Online Advice
Historic England provides expertise and support in fire safety and emergency planning.

Home > Advice > Technical Guidance > Emergency Planning and Fire Advice

Emergency Planning and Fire

Advice

Our aim is to help the heritage sector by providing

expertise and support in fire safety and emergency
planning. We encourage knowledge transfer
and facilitate the development of partnerships
between sector partners.

Emergency Planning Advice Emergency Response Plans

Emergency planning is about assessing risks Find out how to write an amergency plan and
and finding ways of mitigating those risks download our templates.
or reducing their impact with an emergency
plan.

Online advice on emergency

planning, emergency response
Preparedness Training Fire Advice and Fire Research

Advice for anyone who is expected to Fire is probably the most devastating of
take charge of an emergency situation or disasters that can strike a building. We
participate in the salvage and protection publish advice and best practice for the
of artefacts. heritage sector.
plans, preparedness training and
© Historic England 2018

fire safety (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/emergency-and-fire/

Technical Guidance

Institution of Fire Engineers

Special Interest Group for Heritage Buildings

Fire Safety for Preserving Life and Heritage in the North West

Traditional Church Buildings

of Small and Medium Size

Guidance on identifying threats and taking

steps to reduce the risk of arson (2017)

Guidance for churches

on deciding if fire safety
improvements are needed, and
making improvements (2017)

historicengland.org.uk/advice/technical-advice/emergency-and-fire/fire-advice-and-fire-research/

18

Practical Building Conservation Books

The Practical Building Conservation series is a comprehensive and practical

reference for professionals involved in repairing historic buildings.

The series builds on the research and field experience of Historic England, and is aimed at
those who work on or look after historic buildings: primarily architects, surveyors, engineers,
conservators, contractors and conservation officers, but also owners, curators, students
and researchers.

Published by Routledge on our behalf, the books are available to purchase from their website.
The revised and expanded ten-volume series includes:

Conservation Basics Concrete (2013)

(2013)
Offers guidance on
Reviews the history and conserving the material
evolution of building and character of
conservation in England historic concrete
and current best practice

Building Environment Earth, Brick & Terracotta

(2014) (2015)

Looks at the interaction Guidance on the

between building conservation of fired and
materials and systems unfired clay materials
and their surroundings

historicengland.org.uk/pbc

19

 Practical Building Conservation Books

The Practical Building Conservation series is a comprehensive and practical reference

for professionals involved in repairing historic buildings.

Glass & Glazing (2012) Roofing (2013)

Looks at the Reviews traditional

conservation of glass roof coverings used
and its use in windows, on historic buildings
roofing and walling

Metals (2012) Stone (2012)

Describes the Considers simple

conservation of metal masonry walling
fixings, weatherproofing, through to elaborate
repairs and decoration carving and decoration

Mortars, Renders Timber (2012)

& Plasters (2012)
Deals with wide-ranging
Provides a broad use of timber in historic
perspective of buildings, from timber
contemporary frames through to
conservation theory joinery and fixings
and practice

historicengland.org.uk/pbc

20

We are the public body that looks after

England’s spectacular historic environment.

Stay up to date with our Latest Advice and

Guidance on the Historic England website:
historicengland.org.uk/advice/latest­
guidance/

Sign up to our digital magazine Historic

England Research for the latest news about
research discoveries, innovation and science
in the historic environment
historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/research/

You can search the Research Reports series

through our dedicated search page:
research.historicengland.org.uk/

If you would like this document in a different

format, please contact our customer services
department on:
Tel: 0370 333 0607
Email: customers@HistoricEngland.org.uk

All information and weblinks accurate at the

time of publication.

HistoricEngland.org.uk

Please consider the environment before printing

this document

Publication date: June 2018 © Historic England

Design: Historic England