Benefact Trust has been lucky enough to support many apprentices and scholars through our heritage grants to Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) – a charity investing in British craftsmanship. Through these grants, we’re helping to promote traditional heritage skills that are vital for conserving our historic buildings. In this blog, Louis Curtis, a Benefact Trust funded QEST scholar, shares his experience mastering historic timber conservation and why skills like this are so important to pass on to future generations.
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How did you first get into carpentry and joinery?
I’ve always had an interest in all things practical, so following school, I went to college in St Albans to study bench joinery. With the skills I learned, I worked with a builder for several years carrying out general carpentry and joinery works. This was a great base to develop my experience, but I found myself drawn to buildings and projects that had a history – a story, if you like.
What interested you in developing your skills in historic building conservation?
In 2010, I decided I needed a change and wanted to explore more specialist work. I started studying a degree in Historic Building Conservation at the Building Craft College in partnership with Kingston University. I had no previous experience of the heritage sector, but I always had an interest in old buildings and traditional techniques, so I thought it would be a good fit.
It was such a fantastic learning environment and truly opened my eyes to the wonderful world of building conservation. I wasn’t the most ‘successful’ student at school but finding a subject I was passionate about unlocked something in me and I thrived on the course, achieving a first-class degree as well as an award for the best performing student. From that moment, I was hooked.
In 2014 you set up Breakspear Conservation, can you tell us more about this and the buildings you’ve worked on?
Following my degree, I transitioned my work from general carpentry into the heritage sector. Within a year I was incredibly busy with various carpentry projects and I was gaining valuable experience all the time. I have since focused on structural timber repairs, mostly timber-framed buildings. These building (such as houses, barns and churches) were constructed from as far back as the 12th century up to the 19th century and are plentiful in the areas I work in most – Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. There is so much variety in the nation’s historic buildings and so the unique repair works and problem solving required always keeps me on my toes.
Over the last 10 years, I’ve worked on various projects including the famous 1390s hammer-beam roof of Westminster Hall; a number of grade I listed churches, manor houses and farm buildings; and recently completed large scale structural repairs to the world’s oldest mechanised papermill. No project is ever the same and it keeps things exciting!
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Can you tell us more about the Master’s Degree (MSc) you’re currently undertaking and how key the funding has been for this?
I have wanted to join the Timber Building Conservation MSc since 2014 so it was a case of when, not if, and I was thrilled to finally get started in September 2023. The course takes place at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in conjunction with the University of York. The course content, setting, teaching and classmates are all fantastic and I can’t recommend it enough.
The generous support through QEST and Benefact Trust has enabled me to undertake this training, without which it simply would not be possible. For both organisations to invest in my skills is incredible and opportunities like this mean people can really flourish in their career.
What is your vision for your future?
I will continue to repair and conserve the nation’s historic timber structures and seek out those interesting projects which push me as I strive for excellence.
In the past, I’ve carried out repairs to wind and watermills and this is an avenue I would like to explore further. I’m also keen to work on more ecclesiastical buildings and feel we’re incredibly lucky to have such a range of historic churches and cathedrals in the UK.
I would also like to help train future generations to conserve and repair historic structures, although that will have to wait until I have completed the MSc. One thing at a time!
Why do you think learning and passing on heritage skills like yours is so important?
Passing on these skills is essential if these buildings are to continue to be enjoyed by future generations. Unfortunately, a huge amount of damage has been done to our traditionally constructed buildings in the last 50 years or so, through well intended but inappropriate works, particularly the use of modern materials which trap moisture and accelerate decay. Awareness of these issues is growing, with homeowners and contractors alike, but there is still a long way to go.
What advice would you give to someone else looking to develop their heritage craft skills?
My advice would be to go for it as there is a huge skills shortage across all traditional building crafts, in all parts of the country. Do your research and approach local companies carrying out conservation works. Most people working in this sector are incredibly passionate about it and will offer advice, guidance and where possible training and work opportunities.
If you’re an organisation looking to train and support people in traditional heritage skills, find out if you’re eligible for our Heritage Skills for Christian Buildings grants.
Images - Header image credit Julian Calder (QEST). Middle image and bio image credit Stuart Milne
