Links to Related Societies and Groups

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Construction History Societies in Other Countries

Sociedad Española de Historia de la Construcción (Spain)

Founded in  1996, the second oldest Construction History society in the world (CHS is the oldest). Holds regular National Congresses and was responsible for holding the first International Congress on Construction History in Madrid in 2003. Website contains links to many sources for construction history, especially in Spanish.

The Construction History Society of America(USA)
Our affiliated society in the USA. With interest in construction history growing in the United States an organizing committee was formed in May 2007. Hold regular conferences and events in the United States.

L’association francophone des historiens de la construction(France)

Founded in 2013, after two successful conferences on Francophone Construction History. The Society has a site providing a good set of bibliographical links and news on the latest events.

Associazione Edoardo Benvenuto (Italy)

Founded in 1999, the Association of Edoardo Benvenuto studies history of science encompassing the history of building. Good set of publications available online.

Gesellschaft für Bautechnikgeschichte (Germany)

Created in June  2013, the German Society of construction history with a strong engineering and conservation interest.

SOCIEDADE PORTUGUESA DE HISTÓRIA DA CONSTRUÇÃO (Portugal)

Created in 2015, the youngest Society of Construction History,


Related organisations on the history of Engineering

Associazione italiana di storia dell’ingegneria (Italy)

Italian history of engineering society founded in  en 2004. It has organised five conferences in Naples  (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014) , the proceeding of four of which are available online.

Newcomen Society (UK)

Founded in 1920, the Newcomen Society studies the History of Engineer and Technology, including building technology. Produces peer-reviewed journal The International Journal for the History of Engineering and Technology (formerly the Transactions of the Newcomen Society).

Institution of Structural Engineers History Study Group (UK)

Study group that is open to non-engineers, and provides regular lectures on the history of structural engineering in London.

Institution of Civil Engineers, Panel for Historical Engineering Works (PHEW)

Produces a newsletter and does visits to historical structures but restricted in membership to ICE. Library of ICE has a good collection of works on the history of engineering.


UK Organisations Studying Individual Building Trades

British Brick Society

Society entirely devoted to the study of the history of bricks and brickwork. Publishes journal entitled Information

The Carpenters Fellowship
Society for those carrying out traditional  timber-framing. Publishes Mortice and Tenon, periodical on framing and its development with occasional historical articles. See also the French site Carpenters from Europe and Beyond

National Ironwork Heritage Group

Focused on historic ironwork, holds regular events and training courses.

Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society (TACS)  

Devoted as the name suggests to terracotta and tiles. Produces and academic journal ( Journal of the Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society) and a magazine.

Tools and Trades Society

Society for the study of tools  including tools used in the woodworking trades. Produces regular journal entitled Tools and Trades. 

Wallpaper History Society

As the names suggests, society for the study of wallpaper, producing a WHS Newsletter. 


UK Organisations for Building Conservation and Repair

Building Conservation Masterclasses
The programme of English Heritage Recognised Building Conservation Masterclasses (BCMs) at West Dean provides training in technical and practical skills in the repair and maintenance of historic structures. These intensive short courses have been designed by, and are delivered by, leading practitioners in the field of building conservation.

The Institute of Historic Building Conservation is a multi-disciplinary organisation and the principal professional body for building conservation practitioners and historic environment specialists working in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, with connections to the Republic of Ireland.

Association for Building Conservation Management

ASCHB The Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings.

The Listed Property Owners Club

Information source for the owners of listed buildings in the UK.
English Heritage

National Trust

Cathedral Communications’ Building Conservation site


UK Amenity Societies Campaigning for particular Periods

SPAB (The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings)

A statutory amenity society (meaning that it has to be consulted on all works to listed buildings), this society looks after and campaigns for UK buildings built before 1720. Its magazine, Cornerstone, carries articles on building history and restoration which includes some articles on the history of construction.

The Georgian Group

A statutory amenity society (meaning that it has to be consulted on all works to listed buildings), this society looks after and campaigns for UK buildings built between 1720 and 1837. It has a magazine and a learned journal. The Georgian Group  Journal published occasional articles on 17th and 18th century building construction.

The Victorian Society

A statutory amenity society (meaning that it has to be consulted on all works to listed buildings), this society looks after and campaigns for UK buildings built between 1837 and 1914. It has a journal entitled the Victorian which occasionally covers subjects of construction history.

The Twentieth Century Society

A statutory amenity society (meaning that it has to be consulted on all works to listed buildings), this society looks after and campaigns for UK buildings built after 1914 . It has a journal entitled the C20th magazine which occasionally covers subjects of construction history.

DoCoMoMo

Founded in 1988, Docomomo is an organisation whose full title is the International Working Party for Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighbourhoods of the Modern Movement. It campaigns actively for the preservation of Modern Movement buildings. It has branches in 60 countries. Its journal carries some articles on construction and preservation,but is chiefly concerned with 20th century architectural history, entirely devoted to the Modern Movement.

http://www.docomomo.com

http://www.docomomo-uk.co.uk/


 UK Open Air Museums

Avoncroft [Open Air] Museum

In 1967 Avoncroft Museum was opened to the public following the rescue and reconstruction of a Medieval Town House from Bromsgrove town centre.   Avoncroft’s priority is to retain historic buildings in their original location. The Museum now displays and cares for over 25 historic buildings and structures.

Beamish

Victorian colliery village.

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum

Good displays and runs courses in Historic Building Conservation, has 50 buildings in a 50 acre site.


UK Museums with Construction History Displays

The Building of Bath Museum

The Building Exploratory

Britannia Panopticon Music Hall
113-117 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HD
Contact: Judith Bowers. T+44 (0)141 553 0840
email: britannia@glasgowmerchantcity.net

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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15/04/23

The Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Conference are available  to buy on the books page of this site

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Construction History Society
c/o Department of Architecture
Cambridge University, Scroope Terrace
Cambridge, CB1 1PX

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