Conservation School Returns to Canterbury Cathedral
The 2023 Conservation School returned to Canterbury Cathedral for the second year in a row.
Combining practical sessions with tours and classroom lectures, the school offers participants a bespoke programme of training on assessing and conserving historic sites and buildings.
Purcell’s Conservation School is our annual introduction to building conservation, open to all members of staff eager to develop their skills and deepen their understanding of historic buildings and conservation practices.
Employee Owners in both architectural and non-technical roles are encouraged to apply to the training programme, maintaining our standing as both a conservation and people-focused practice.
Held on site at a Purcell project every year, the schedule at Canterbury included a trip up the scaffolding currently enveloping the cathedral, as well as a tour of the city itself; lectures on conservation approaches, philosophies, and conservation management planning; sustainability in historic buildings; and hands-on workshops on glass, lime, and stone.
As a recently qualified architect, attending the Conservation School at Canterbury Cathedral was an inspiring experience, especially meeting with the conservation specialists. I was in awe of their level of knowledge within their fields, and the way they approached their work with a tangible sense of pride and passion.
It was also a fantastic opportunity to meet with and learn from my colleagues in the other studios, many of whom I’d not normally have the chance to work with. Discussing our different approaches to projects gave some interesting insights into the working methods and ways of thinking of other architects!
