Stone & Wallpainting Group News & Past Events

Icon Conference 2013: Positive Futures in an Uncertain World
In partnership with the University of Glasgow

Icon’s second triennial conference will inspire conservation professionals and all those working in the increasingly challenging and uncertain circumstances of today’s heritage sector.

In addition to plenary sessions the Stone and Wall Painting section (along with other specialist groups) will be hosting a half day meeting at the conference. We need contributions from both Stone and Wall painting professionals. We are keen to hear about recent projects and would particularly welcome contributions from conservators who have recently qualified or are fairly new to the profession.

If you would like to make a presentation please contact Caroline Babington (Wall Paintings) and Lynne Humphries (Stone). The deadline for abstracts is the 10 Sept 2012 so we need to hear from you as soon as possible.

The Stone and Wall Paintings Group are holding a one day conference regarding the conservation of some more troublesome building stones.

Following the success of Problem Stones 1 conference in 2007, we will be looking at several more stones and revisiting a couple that have been subject to further investigation.

Topics include: blue lias, sandstone, clunch, purbeck marble and an overview of Englah Heritage's Strategic Stone Study pilot.

The conference is being held at the Tower of London. Delegates will also have an opportunity of a guided tour by one of Historic Royal Palaces' building surveyors.

Places are limited, so please book early. The draft programme is available for download and registration can be found here

17th International Course on Stone Conservation SC11
Dates: 13 April 1 July 2011
Place: ICCROM, Rome, Italy

In many regions of the world stone was historically the predominant material used for building and artistic purposes. Accordingly, the conservation and maintenance of architectural and decorative stone is a core activity in such regions. Factors such as climate change, pollution, use demands, lack of maintenance, and inappropriate past treatments present challenges for the conservation of stone buildings, structures and objects. In addition to these factors, the decline in traditional building techniques, craft practices and repair methods is also threatening our ability to sustain stone structures and objects into the future. These conservation issues require a multidisciplinary approach that involves professionals, craftspeople, policy makers and owners.

The International Course on Stone Conservation was created in 1976, and 16 courses have successfully been conducted between then and 2009 in Venice, Italy. The recently relaunched course, which will take place in Rome in 2011, reflects advances in practice, science, and technology, including the integration of practical methodologies for stone conservation on sites, buildings and structures.

Course objectives and programme
The course adopts a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach and is designed for professionals involved in the conservation of historic stone structures and artifacts. The primary goal of the course is to improve the practice of stone conservation internationally by providing participants with a holistic understanding of the decay and deterioration of stone, disseminating effective conservation methodologies, and ensuring a practical understanding of appropriate repair methods and long-term management strategies. Through lectures, discussions, laboratory sessions, demonstrations, site visits and field exercises, participants will discuss both the fundamental theories of conservation as well as consider how advances in technology and research have influenced practical approaches as they pertain to all phases of stone conservation. Group fieldwork exercises at a worksite will provide participants with the opportunity to address actual work scenarios where multidisciplinary solutions and collaboration are required. Throughout the course, participants will be encouraged to draw upon their collective expertise from various specialisations to help them arrive at more effective conservation solutions.

The course will be divided into six modules over eleven weeks. These modules will include topics such as: Conservation principles and theories; Material sciences as a tool for identification, analysis, and design of conservation treatments; Mechanisms of deterioration; Diagnostic techniques for identifying causes and effects of observed conditions; Condition assessment methodology; Developing a conservation strategy for immediate and long-term actions including prevention, maintenance, repair and treatment; and Managing stone conservation projects and the value of working within multidisciplinary teams The course may include a preparatory phase prior to arrival in Rome. This preparatory phase will include assigned readings to provide participants with a common knowledge base and familiarity with key literature that will be used during the course. The preparatory phase will be conducted in participants home countries. During the course, participants will be expected to play an active role through contributing to discussions, exercises, and presentations reflecting their own professional experience.

Participants
The course is designed for a maximum of 20 participants. The course is open to archaeologists, architects, conservator-restorers, conservation scientists, engineers and other professionals involved in stone conservation, preferably with at least five years of practical working experience in the field. Preference will be given to heritage conservation professionals in the public sector, teachers involved in the practical training of conservation professionals, and those in a position to disseminate and leverage the knowledge gained during the course to a wider audience. The participants will be selected from international conservation professionals.

Travel, accommodation and living expenses
Participants will be responsible for their round trip travel costs to and from Rome. In order to cover accommodation and living expenses in Rome during the course, participants should plan for a minimum allowance of 3,850 for the entire period. Candidates are strongly encouraged to seek financial support from sources such as governmental institutions, employers and funding agencies. Depending on the availability of funding, the course organizers may be able to offer a limited number of scholarships to selected candidates who have been unable to secure funding.

Application
Please fill the ICCROM application form (obtainable from ICCROM web site). Click here to visit the relevant ICCROM page.

***Applications must be received by ICCROM by 30 September 2010 to ensure inclusion in the selection process***

The Stone and Wall Paintings Section held the second day of a conference on the removal of unwanted deposits on decorative surfaces.

Focussing on case studies and the practical application of a variety of conservation methods including: -

Laser cleaning
Latex removal method
Removal of overpaint
Poulticing
Removal of mould growth
Removal of staining

Date: Friday 25th March 2011
Venue: The Council Chamber,Stratford Old Town Hall, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, London, E14 4BQ

Poultic Desalination of Porous Building Materials

New Orleans, Louisana
May 24-28, 2010

From Angkor to Zanzibar and Venice to New Orleans, soluble salts are responsible for significant damage to porous building materials. But how does salt weathering take place, and what level of salts are harmful? Are certain salts more damaging than others? Should they be removed, and if so, how?

"Poultice Desalination of Porous Building Materials" will present new applied research on the process of poultice desalination through practical applications and will provide participants with a solid foundation for the poultice treatment of salt-laden building materials. This hands-on workshop, designed for field-based conservation professionals, will be conducted through pre-workshop reading assignments and workshop lectures, demonstrations, and field trials.

The results from the recent questionnaire have been collated and discussed at the last committee meeting. Thank you to all of you who took the time to let us know what you think! The results have been posted in our new section 'Committee & Member Matters'. The information will inform choices for group visits, future conference subjects and venues amongst other things. All of your information helps to make the group easily accessible and promote interest.

Department of Earth Sciences and Sedgwick Museum, University of Cambridge, Cambridge

A one day conference covering most aspects of moisture in historic buildings including treatment, case studies, examination and assessment.

Filling the void- Grouting issues, from flakes to fractures, from spalls to walls

Following the success of the last conference you can now read the review by clicking here. If you did not manage to make it this time enjoy the read and remember to register earlier next time to guarantee a place.

Assembly Rooms, Oxford Town Hall, October 2008

A one day conference on issues affecting the care and conservation of cemetries, graveyards and their memorials and monuments.

Hampton Court Palace, February 2008

Second instalment of the conference on the care and conservation of polychrome and gilded wood including architectural panelling, structural timbers and wooden statuary both in-situ and in museums.

The 2008 Natural Stone Show was held at Excel, London from 11 -13 March. Apart from featuring displays and stands from all those involved in the quarrying, supply, working and fixing of stones from all over the world, there was also the Natural Stone and Building Conservation Conference (jointly sponsored by EH and RIBA amongst others).

Hampton Court Palace, October 2007

A conference in two instalments on the care and conservation of polychrome and gilded wood including architectural panelling, structural timbers and wooden statuary both in-situ and in museums.

Click to download a review of the day

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New Armouries, HM Tower of London, 1 February 2007

The Icon Stone & Wall Paintings group and English Heritage ran a one day conference to consider the issues regarding the conservation of Purbeck Marble, Clunch, Septara, Reigate and Magnesian Limestone.

Depsite the importance of the historic fabric, the means of access can often be unspecified, undesigned and can have a significant influence on tenders. This well attended meeting was directed towards sharing good advice and gathering information on current technology, good practice, commercial management and specification.

The day was aimed at anyone involved in the care of historic buildings and monuments and was reflected by the variety of speakers who represented all aspects of access issues.

Bradford University, June 2006

The European ROCEM project investigating Roman cement and the potential for modern manufacture of the cement held a dissemination day and workshop.

The first meeting of the Stone and Wall Paintings Group since the official launch of Icon was well attended, with 70 delegates, representing a broad cross-section of professionals architects, building and quantity surveyors, specifiers, as well as conservators from a variety of disciplines. The review can be found here.

Here also is the Code of Procedure for Competitive Tendering and Commercial Practice; prepared on behalf of the former Conservation Forum by D. Odgers and C. Schlapobersky, 1996

Competetive Tendering Code 152.06 Kb

The 2006 Natural Stone Show was held at Excel, London from 11 -13 March. Apart from featuring displays and stands from all those involved in the quarrying, supply, working and fixing of stones from all over the world, there was also the Natural Stone and Building Conservation Conference (jointly sponsored by EH and RIBA amongst others).