Traditional Building Skills Courses - Essex County Council, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH

Tel: 01245 437672

E-mail: traditional.buildingskills@essex.gov.uk / Rebecca.carter@essex.gov.uk

Since 1997 the Historic Buildings and Conservation team at Essex County Council has run a series of one, two or three day hands-on courses in traditional building skills. The courses aim to raise awareness of the importance of protecting our historic buildings by using the appropriate methods and materials to repair and conserve them. The courses are run from our workshop at Cressing Temple and where possible we use live sites throughout the county allowing for some fabulous settings for the courses. Our tutors are all excellent craftsmen who run their own businesses using their skills everyday, and who have a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Those attending the courses include owners of historic buildings who empower themselves by obtaining the skills necessary to look after their own homes, practising craftsmen who want to specialise in traditional repairs, general builders and contractors as well as interested amateurs. Courses are open to all skill levels unless specified otherwise.

Running alongside the hands-on courses is a comprehensive range of short lecture sessions. Titles vary annually but their aim remains the same, to educate and inform professionals such as surveyors, architects, building contractors, self-employed tradesmen, plus the owners of historic buildings, in the technical and practical issues involved in the care and repair of our historic buildings. The lecture programme is CPD compliant for the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).

Publications      

We stock and sell a range of publications which can be viewed on the website on a variety of traditional building subjects from lime mortar to window repair and conservation. Alternatively you can request the publication list via e-mail

Events