The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society (UAHS) has been aware for many years of the need for advice and guidance for owners of historic buildings. The Society receives frequent enquiries from members of the public who have purchased or inherited old buildings and do not know where to seek advice. They are directed to Environment and Heritage Service: Built Heritage, the statutory agency, and offered copies of the Directory of Traditional Building Skills or other relevant publications.

The UAHS was aware of a model of good practice, events organised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in Britain, and undertook a piece of market research in the 1990s, funded by DOENI and UAHS. This established that there was interest in similar events being held in Ulster. In 2001 the Society decided to test the theory! There was an overwhelming response to a day for owners held in Dyan Mill, county Tyrone.

The format of the event was a series of talks on planning and the care and management of old buildings with plenty of opportunity to learn from practitioners and other owners. During the day those attending had the opportunity to see recent work undertaken to houses at Dyan Mill and to question the owners and their architect. The same format was used the following year when a similar event was held at Ballywalter Park, County Down.

In 2003 UAHS approached the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and requested funding to hold further events and to prepare a website to disseminate information on good practice to a wider audience. The project was given the title of Home and Dry. The same year events were held in Clotworthy House, Antrim, and the Verbal Arts Centre in Derry.

Sourcing craftspeople was a cause for concern cited by many owners in response to the evaluation form question on difficulties encountered in the care of old buildings. So, in 2004, in partnership with the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum the event included practical demonstrations by, a stonemason, joiner, thatcher and practitioners in lime, lead and metal work. This event was such a success that it was repeated on 17 September 2005.

While all the days are of general interest to owners, one event was held in St Matthew’s Church, Belfast, for those who care for churches

In May 2005 the Home & Dry event was entitled Living in Small Houses and held in Enniskillen.

On Saturday 17 September there was Restoration Day in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. The speakers and their subjects were;

Marianne Suhr, chartered surveyor and co-presenter of the Restoration programme on 'Dealing with damp'
Alastair Coey, conservation architect, on 'A guide to inspecting your building'.
Chris Southgate, conservation engineer, on 'Ageing structures - understanding why buildings deteriorate'.
Christopher Moore, decorative artist, on 'Historic colours in their context'.

Marianne Suhr, whose face is familiar as one of the experts who appeared on the BBC Restoration programme, officially launched the Home & Dry website.

The day was action packed with speakers in the morning and an opportunity to see craftspeople at work after lunch. In addition the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum put on special events at different venues around the museum.

In May 2006 two Home & Dry days entitled Spotlight on Lime were held in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. There were lectures and practical demonstrations on the use of lime by the Scottish Lime Centre. Lecturers included the Chairman of the Building Limes Forum of Ireland (BLFI), Grainne Shaffrey, who discussed the practical use of lime in a case study of a vernacular dwelling. James Howley, conservation architect and member of BLFI, gave a lecture on the use of lime in traditional and new buildings.

'How to Restore Traditional Buildings', 29th September 2006

We were delighted to work with the Mourne Heritage Trust on this event, using four properties from their Mourne Homesteads scheme as case studies.

Download How to Restore Traditional Buildings Q&A

Students from Armagh College took part in traditional skills demonstrations at the Valley Road site, thanks to funding from the Construction Industry Training Board: Construction Skills programme. Environment and Heritage
Service also gave financial support.

'Quality Matters - Quality Pays', 1st June 2007

Over 100 professionals took part in this conference in the Ormeau Baths Gallery on 1st June 2007.  The event showcased developers who  are experiencing the benefits of conservation-led schemes and  architects who are exemplary in their approach to both restoration  and contemporary design.

Keynote speaker, Doug Elliott, urban regeneration developer, and  director of Twenty-Two Over Seven Architects, emphasized the need "to  recognise the qualities and potential of our historic buildings, and  the significant rewards which derive from innovative development  based upon conservation strategies, visionary conversions, and great  new
architecture”.

Please click here for a synopsis of the speakers' contributions.

'How to Restore Traditional Buildings', Donegal

The Home & Dry event in west Donegal was organised in partnership  with Donegal County Council and the Heritage Council.  A seminar in  Gweedore Golf Club was followed by a visit to Gola Island.  Such was  the demand for this event that the limit of 45 traditional building  owners was extended to accommodate 130 participants!

Joe Gallagher, Heritage Officer with Donegal County Council,  introduced owners to the built heritage of Gola and set out the  relevance of the day to the Donegal Heritage Plan and to Heritage  Week. The four speakers - Grainne Shaffrey, Paul McMahon, Colm Murray and Margaret Gallagher - imparted insightful expertise as both  practitioners and owners of historic buildings.

When the ferries and ribs! arrived on Gola local people provided  guided tours, outlining the history of the island and its people.   Edward Byrne and Henry O’D Thompson from the Building Limes Forum of  Ireland combined with Sean Brogan, a contractor from Ramelton, to  give the demonstrations while conservation architects, Nicholas Groves-Raines and Kristin Hannesdottir, generously opened the door to  their traditional cottage and explained the philosophy and techniques  used in its conservation.