Unlock Your Building's History

Where to start with an historic building? A collaborative design consultation service understands both your building and your needs, to build a sensitive yet imaginative evidence-led options appraisal. With guidance arrived at through discussion and visuals, you will be armed with a clear direction for your ambitions, a cost-effective brief for an architect, and strong justifications for the permissory process.

"Jonathan’s unique perspective as both a historian and designer, with a keen eye for modern living, has been invaluable for our Georgian house renovation. His expertise, guidance, and impeccable eye for detail transformed what could have been a daunting process into an inspired and fun collaboration."

Dave Buckley, Wells, Somerset

Statements of SIgnificance distil the historic and aesthetic value of properties within their context. Heritage Impact Assessments evaluate how proposed changes may affect the historical character of your property. Assessments provide crucial insights for responsible, justifiable changes, and challenge inappropriate development.

In-depth archaeological analysis of your property to uncover its historical significance and development. The findings will help you appreciate its unique origins, evolution and uses over time. Projects have spanned houses, castles, palaces, churches and ruined monasteries.

"He spotted minor but significant details that no one had noticed before and used his extensive knowledge to finally explain the successive remodelling that had largely obscured the origins of our home."

Helen and Steve Donald, Hampshire

Images are essential in communicating the form and history of complex buildings to a wide variety of audiences. Plans, elevations, cutaways, and historical reconstructions are available.

Churches face particular pressure as congregations dwindle, income diminishes while repair and energy bills inflate. How can communities prepare for the inevitable need to change? Bringing experience as a diocesan Church Buildings Advisor, this service starts with an understanding of both your building and community, and guides you through a range of options, discussing the strategies of successful comparators and their fit for your circumstances.

As an author of seven books, two hundred broadsheet articles and presenter of interpretation films at major historic sites, Jonathan offers a writing and interpretation service tailored to your audience.

Jonathan is an accredited Arts Society speaker and University lecturer. A range of talks on the historic environment is available, as well as tailored keynote addresses, study days and workshops. Experienced in hosting drawing classes in historic buildings and Heritage Open Day events.

Iconography is the study of meaning, and historic buildings and objects can be packed with codified visual information. Symbols from nature, heraldry, characters and other motifs require a firm historical context. A report that provides evidence for their origin and understanding can be transformative.

(Picture: Panel made for Anne of Cleves now at Hever Castle, identified in 2016)

Larger historic buildings create multifaceted projects. They typically involve many contributors providing services from documentary research, ground archaeology, archaeometric dating and forensic analyses, to architectural services, decorative specialisms, curatorial steering and interpretation. Ideally this is coordinated. With experience in directing major heritage projects, curatorial steering committees and cathedral FAC panels, it is natural to work as part of a team, or offer referrals to other specialists.