The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris
in 1877 to counteract the highly destructive 'restoration' of medieval buildings
being practised by many Victorian architects. Today it is the largest, oldest
and most technically expert national pressure group fighting to save old buildings
from decay, demolition and damage.
We advise.
We educate.
We campaign. We offer help when it's wanted and informed resistance when we are alarmed.
We encourage excellence in new design to enrich and complement the historic environment.
We represent the practical and positive side of conservation. We have a firm
set of principles about how old buildings should be repaired and the practical
knowledge to show how these can be put into effect.
We are training the next generation to do the job with discernment and care and
we are helping many others, who own or live in old buildings, to understand them
better.
Our
membership includes many of the leading conservation practitioners as well as home owners,
living in houses spanning all historical periods, and those who simply care about
old buildings.
Our successes are visible across the country. Thousands of historic buildings
survive which would have been lost, mutilated or badly repaired without our intervention.
Today, the Society has a statutory role as adviser to local planning authorities.
We must be notified of listed building applications that involve total or partial
demolition. We are also informed by those religious bodies, that have an exemption
from the secular system, of certain types of proposal for listed places of worship.
In addition, our
Casework includes campaigning to protect historic buildings at risk.
A charitable company limited by gurantee registered in England and Wales
Company No. 5743962. Charity No. 111 3753. Scottish Charity No. SC 039244. VAT
No. 577 4276 02.