SPS AGM and garden party
Little Hall, Lavenham, CO10 9HZ at 6pm.
Our annual garden party will take place on Friday 16 June and will include the SPS AGM.
All Members are welcome to join us for an evening in the beautiful garden of our head office in Lavenham.
There is no charge for this event but donations on the evening will be welcome. It would be helpful for catering purposes if you could book a place.
A summer evening at Cockfield Hall, Yoxford
Thursday 13 July
6 pm – 8 pm
By kind invitation of Mr and Mrs Jon Hunt, we are delighted that our summer event will be held at
Cockfield Hall.
We will be joined by internationally renowned landscape architect, Kim Wilkie, who will explain the exciting story of the recent landscape restoration project at the Hall. We will also hear the fascinating story of the Yoxman, a 26 foot sculpture at Cockfield, from the artist Laurence Edwards.
Drinks and canapes will be served.
Cost: £30 per person
Energy Efficiency and Old Buildings – A one day training event
SPS has partnered with Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings and Historic England to provide a one-day event on energy efficiency and retrofitting old, traditional and listed buildings.
This workshop is made possible thanks to the Suffolk Climate Action Community Match Fund, which was provided by Suffolk’s public sector organisations, as part of the wider work to address the climate emergency. Find our more about the Community Match Fund and the Suffolk Climate Emergency Plan here: www.greensuffolk.org.
Wednesday 22 November
9.30am – 5pm
Haughley Park Barn, Haughley Park, Stowmarket IP14 3JY
Join us to learn how to make a home – whether it is medieval and timber-framed, Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian, detached or terrace – energy efficient and low carbon without devaluing the future sustainability or character of the building.
This popular course (led by Marianne Suhr and Roger Hunt – authors of Old House Eco Handbook) will cover:
• Insulating Solid Walls
• Windows and Doors – dealing with energy efficiency
• Insulating Roofs and Floors
• Energy, Air and Water
• Ready for the Future – sustainability, maintenance and dealing with climate change
It will explain how to avoid potential problems and will consider a holistic approach to retrofitting, while presenting a background to the latest building science with practical advice and examples of best practice.
The course is relevant to owners of period properties, professionals who advise on improving energy efficiency of historic buildings, and students who want to learn more about this growing area of interest.
With opportunities to hear from Historic England on the latest policy position and ask questions throughout the course, the event is also an excellent chance to meet and learn from other owners who may be facing similar challenges.
SPAB is an IHBC recognised CPD provider and attendance certificates will be available on request. Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of the Old House Eco Handbook can do so from the SPAB website here
Cost: £140 per person
SPS Members £95
Concessions available – contact SPS for details.
Recent events
An afternoon at Ickworth House and gardens with tea at the Ickworth Hotel
Monday 15 May. 3pm – 6pm
The afternoon kicked off with short walk and talk from the National Trust manager who explored the history of the house and some of the challenges facing the estate including how to plan and adapt for climate change. We then split into two groups. One accompanied the head ranger on a guided walk of the wider estate while the second group accompanied the curator on a tour of the artwork collection in the house. We also had the chance to view the exquisite and extensive silver collection which is thought by many to be the finest in Europe.
Finally we were treated to a fabulous array of sandwiches and cakes at the Ickworth Hotel – the perfect venue to relax and chat with others over afternoon tea.
Many thanks to all those who came along and supported the Society. Special thanks also Reeman Dansie, Fine Art Auctioneers for kindly sponsoring this event and to the National Trust and the Ickworth Hotel who generously opened their doors to us.
Cost: £30 per person
Heritage led regeneration in action
A vintage bus tour and exclusive access to completed projects
Thursday 20 April. 10am – 2pm
A mixture of SPS Members and new faces joined us for a fascinating day out in Lowestoft on 20 April.
We started the day at the East Anglian Transport Museum with a welcome from SPS Director, Fiona Cairns and an introduction to the projects and activities in the Lowestoft Heritage Action Zones from the East Suffolk HAZ project manager, Rebecca Styles.
Everyone then hopped onto a vintage bus for the trip into town entertained and informed by commentary from Ivan Bunn, well-known local historian. We were then treated to three owner-conducted tours of the interiors of fascinating historic houses on the east side of the High Street.
Safely transported back on the vintage bus, we all had the chance to stay on to have a look at the transport museum in the afternoon.
Cost: £10 per person.
‘SEA SAGAS OF THE NORTH – TRAVELS
AND TALES AT WARMING WATERS’
Saturday, 24 September 2022
BAWDSEY MANOR
Members gathered at the evocative Bawdsey Manor on the edge of the beautiful Suffolk coastline to hear Jules Pretty, Professor of Environment and Society at the University of Essex, and Director of the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement, talk about his latest book about refugees who fled Doggerland when the seas encroached.
The talk was followed by a guided tour of the gardens laid out by Sir William Cuthbert Quilter and a rare opportunity to view some of the principal rooms in the Manor, including the Billiard Room where Sir Winston Churchill played when he visited RAF Bawdsey during the Second World War.
Refreshments were enjoyed in the Manor to conclude an enjoyable afternoon.
TENDRING HALL ESTATE
– ITS HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT – A WALKING TOUR OF THE PARKLAND
11th July 2022
Our host, Emily Holden talked about the history of the now lost country house and surviving parkland, Soane’s first country house and a Repton landscape. Robert Townshend lead
us through the programme of restoration of the parkland and its buildings.
The walk also included an opportunity to view the hedgerow restoration scheme, as part of the Stour Valley Farmer Cluster Hedgerow Heroes Project – for which SPS is proud to have sourced the funding.
Net Zero – New build
Wednesday 6 July 2022. A Free Webinar
What the government’s carbon targets are for the UK and what we need to do in practical terms to achieve them with new ways for designing buildings. How we assess the carbon emissions in buildings and what practical steps can be taken to reduce them.
Speakers:
Simon Sturgis AADip RIBA: Co-Author of RICS and RIBA guidance on Whole Life Carbon, Co-Author of Greater London Authority Policy Guidance on WLC, and Special Advisor to the Environmental Audit Select Committee.
Dr Joe Jack Williams MEng MRes EngD: Associate at FCBStudios and lead developer of FCBSCarbon the carbon assessment tool.
Jess Hrivnak: RIBA’s Sustainable Development Advisor.
An evening with Sir Laurie Magnus CBE
“The power of heritage to transform places and improve lives”
Friday 6 May 2022
The evening was hosted by Mr and Mrs Jon Hunt in the beautiful Orangery at Sibton Park.
The SPS Suffolk Heritage Champion Awards were also presented on the evening.
Members enjoyed refreshments beforehand on the veranda in this truly stunning location.
SPS Garden Party and AGM
Our annual garden party was hosted by Mr and Mrs Thomas Seymour at Gothic Farm, Heveningham on Friday 10 June 2022
The party – which incorporated the SPS AGM – was on a beautiful summer evening in one of Suffolk’s loveliest locations.
We are delighted that our sponsor for this event was Reeman Dansie, Auctioneer.
Net Zero – Retrofit and Refurbishment
15 March 2022 . A free webinar
The challenges of retrofitting our traditional building stock.
Speakers:
Morwenna Slade, Historic England – Head of Historic Building Climate Change Adaptation
Alex Whitcroft, London Energy Transformation Initiative – Co-author of the LETI Retrofit Guide
Simon Sturgis – Targeting Zero and SPS Trustee