Historic buildings and structures in Britain are renowned throughout the world, with their local and regional diversity and architecture creating national character of global interest and admiration. Yet these buildings are at constant risk of decay caused by the elements and ageing, and being equally endangered through a lack of understanding by many who claim to be able to maintain, repair and conserve them.
The Historic Building Advisory Service (HBAS), a web based professional consultancy to be found at: www.historicbuilding.co.uk, are establishing a database that can take much of the guesswork out of the process and assist potential users find the right ‘somebody’ to help conserve, maintain and repair their parts of the historic environment.
This database will include those with the appropriate skills and experience working within the historic environment ranging from archaeologists, architects, and brick and tile makers, through marble suppliers, non-destructive investigation and plasterers, to window restorers, and VAT consultants.
For users, accessing the database is easy by going to the website and then clicking onto Database. There you will find an enquiry form and the more information that can be provided then the closer the match HBAS will be able to make towards the subject of the enquiry.
Those firms who wish to put themselves forward for database entry must first complete an application form that is obtainable from the database enquiry section on the HBAS site. This can be emailed or posted back to HBAS along with the non-returnable processing fee. To ensure that the entrants on the database keep their details up to date there is a biennial renewal process as well as random reference sampling.