News Update from Charles & Trustees of The Brooking Collection

  
The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail is the only major national Collection of its kind in the U.K., physically charting the evolution of British building details over the last 500 years.  Its Founder, Charles Brooking, has rescued architectural features since 1966, retrieved from national Landmark buildings to the humble terrace house and country estates to vernacular cottages.  It has been used as a teaching resource by conservation professionals, schools, architectural students, designers, crafts apprentices and private individuals for the last 23 years.  

This valuable archive is considered legendary in the world of conservation.  It is unique, in that it offers a 'hands-on' experience - as nowhere else can one examine, for example, the inner workings of an 18th century sash window.

The last three months have seen a time of great change for The Brooking Trust.  The original Trustees who have managed The Collection for the last 25 years have now retired and, thanks to the efforts of a pro bono Solicitor, a Limited Liability company has been formed to manage the Trust.

The Collection is entering a potentially new and exciting phase. We envisage that it will become a fount of inspiration for all those who seek knowledge, including young designers and apprentice craftsmen/women of the future.  With the aid of a dynamic set of new Trustees and potential 'Friends of The Brooking Collection,' once established, our mission is to institute the Collection as a museum and national teaching centre of excellence aimed at those involved in the conservation, repair and study of historic buildings. 

Over the last 16 years students attending Charles's Continuing Professional Development courses (C.P.D.s) have stressed the burning need for such a centre, as nothing of its type presently exists.  We hope to make the Collection available online, after cataloguing and rationalisation.  However, to achieve this goal, we must overcome a major funding obstacle.

The University of Greenwich can no longer support Charles's senior lecturing post and storage of its 250,000 artefacts.  By mid-December, 2011, these will have been transported (at huge cost) from various stores to a single warehouse near our Surrey home for interim storage, and to enable the Collection to be rationalised and catalogued.  Had we failed to secure this accommodation, the Collection would have been subject to total loss - an almost inconceivable event.


This important Collection is under grave threat, owing to a shortfall in funding. Financial assistance is required to cover both existing running costs and overheads to be incurred throughout the year ahead.  We appeal to you to aid us, by Gift-Aid or as an interest-free loan, for one year.  The Brooking Collection is a Registered Charity, No. 294368. Should you wish to make a donation, it would be greatly appreciated if the cheque could be made payable to The Brooking Architectural Museum Trust.

We also need volunteers - students, professionals and crafts apprentices - to assist with maintenance of the Collection and to enthuse the next generation with their knowledge of  Britain's former, current, (and potential future) heritage, thus promoting the understanding of historic buildings into the 21st century.  In short, to help inspire the creation of an educational facility and museum for the public to learn from and enjoy.

Sponsored By Clement

 

Charles will once again be taking a selection of his collection to the Listed Property Show at Olympia, London on 18th-19th February.  If you'd like free tickets to come along and see Charles please email: info@lpoc.co.uk or call 01795 844939.


 

 


Forthcoming events in The Brooking Collection Calendar 2012 
- Make a Note in your Diary for these exciting one-day courses:


C.P.D. 'Master Classes' - covering a range of specialist subjects.

 

Venue:  Cranleigh - in small groups, by appointment.

 

These will be conducted by Charles in a fun and informative 'hands-on' manner, illustrated by relevant artefacts from The Brooking Collection. A guest expert will be on hand to give physical demonstrations of conservation techniques, with an initial focus on joinery - as the courses develop, it is hoped to introduce guest experts with other specialised skills - such as period plasterwork, ironwork, etc..  The presentation will be followed by an informal 'Questions and Answers' session.

The Brooking Standard Service

Charles can offer advice to conservation professionals and private individuals on a consultancy basis.  Upon request, detailed documentation can be raised for submission to Local Authority conservation departments as part of a planning submission document. 

For further details on all courses and services    
please email  charlesbrooking33@gmail.com
or Tel:  (01483) 274203

New for 2012:  Country House/Farm & Estate Building Maintenance Course/Consultancy Service - for landowners and their staff.  

Country House/Farm & Estate Building Maintenance Course

Choice of venue - either to be held on site or at Cranleigh, by appointment.


- Conducted by Charles, with a guest expert.


-  The course can be individually tailored to focus on specific

buildings and maintenance subjects or other areas of concern.


These will be aimed at landowners who wish to train their staff (including crafts apprentices) in the correct care, repair and maintenance of estate properties, using recycled or sustainable materials wherever possible.  Staff will be able to gain the necessary skills to confidently carry out maintenance or repair work to a 'gold standard', whilst benefiting from Charles's enthusiasm, unrivalled knowledge and understanding of the historic environment.  In these difficult times, careful repairs and maintenance can pay real dividends and save money in the long-term.

On request, Charles can provide a very interesting and informative tour of the main house and/or estate buildings, with detailed observation of the architectural features.  This would lead on to a fun and informal ‘Master Class’ presentation, conducted by Charles - held either in a suitable building or outdoors in fine weather.  Landowners and staff alike will enjoy a truly ‘hands-on’ experience, whereby they will be able to see and handle relevant items from The Brooking Collection, thus helping them to understand construction methods, evolution of historic period styles and designs, etc.  A guest expert will, again, be on hand to physically demonstrate joinery (or other) relevant conservation techniques, repair methods, etc., followed by an informal ‘Question and Answer’ session.  A presentation can be arranged on its own, or with an optional guided tour, according to preference.

    

Charles can (within reason) accurately date houses and farm-building(s), (especially where wings have been added or there are many alterations), whilst also providing advice on the care, repair and sympathetic restoration or replacement of most building features - and may be able to suggest possible repair/maintenance/problem-solving solutions for owners. He specialises in doors, staircases, fire-grates, all internal joinery, window shutters and early glass.  Sash, casement and flat-framed wrought-iron blacksmith-made windows are all covered, as is the history of the Crittall-type steel window - Charles is often able to accurately date a sash window by its pulley wheels alone!  He advocates the use of recycled or sustainable materials wherever possible for window repairs in the historic built environment,  and can recommend specialist craftspeople for specific tasks.

    Country House/Farm & Estate Consultancy Service

Charles can offer advice to country estate and landowners on a consultancy basis and is happy to arrange a site visit, by request.

Topics covered range from dating houses and farm-buildings (e.g., where many alterations have taken place) to providing advice on their care, repair and maintenance, as above.

In addition to both options, Neil England of England’s Ornamental, can assist with guidance on the restoration of building fabric - either in conjunction with Charles’s Country House/Farm & Estate course/consultancy - or alone.

Charles and Neil can raise detailed documentation for submission to Local Authority conservation departments as part of a planning submission document.  A comprehensive C.V. can be made available.  

You may have concerns with regard to a particular area requiring a possible repair and maintenance/methodology and materials document.  These can also be raised.

Finally, Charles is always pleased to hear of any windows, doors or other building features that are being replaced, either from residential properties, farm-buildings or others, even if damaged.  If you are in this position, or know of anyone who is about to dispose of such items, please let him know (via the email address or Tel. No.  given above), as they may fill a missing evolutionary link within The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail.