MET Training Programme

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MIHAI EMINESCU TRUST CONSERVATION PHILOSOPHY

1. REPAIR NOT RESTORATION. It is the fabric, not the perceived scheme that is important, therefore patch and repair of existing will always take precedence over renewal, thus conserving as is, rather than restoring as was.
2. MINIMUM INTERVENTION. Any repair project will aim to conserve the maximum historic fabric, surface finish and patina. This may require alternative methods of strengthening the structure, in order to retain plasters etc. (e.g. the use of steel shoes to replace rotten joist ends, rather than renewing whole joists).
3. RESPECT FOR EVOLUTION. The last intact ‘significant’ scheme will always be conserved, rather than    stripping back layers and disregarding the later history of the building. In terms of overlayed decorative schemes, all the subsequent schemes will thus be preserved behind the latest scheme.
4. HIGH QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP. Only craftsmen with appropriate skills will be employed. They will have knowledge of the traditional techniques, as well as experience of repair methods. They will be vetted by submission of previous projects, and reference from past employers.
5. REVERSIBLE INTERVENTION. Where new additions or treatments are necessary, these should be designed in such a way as to allow them to be removed in the future.
6. HONEST AND APPROPRIATE REPAIR. Repairs should be exercised in a manner that reflects the quality of the existing work, in the spirit of the original craftsman, but in a way that is not overly self conscious. Repairs should cause neither ‘confusion to the scholar’, not distress the ordinary man’. E.g. plasters will not be matched exactly, thus allowing them to be analysed as a repair scheme in the future, with a lime wash finish to unify the façade.
7. ONGOING MAINTENANCE. Any new work will take account of future maintenance requirements, and maintenance schedules will be put in place.

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RECORDS AND ARCHIVE. All buildings will be adequately recorded before work proceeds and details of all works will be added to the record.

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SEPTEMBER 14th - 24th 2006

Seminar - Traditional Building Methods and Materials in the Saxon Villages
of Transylvania

From the 14th to the 24th of September, the villages of Malancrav, Viscri and Floresti hosted
an international workshop dedicated to traditional building methods and materials in the
Saxon villages of Transylvania. The event was organised by the MET, with the support of the Culture 2000 programme of the European Union. The workshop combined theoretical
presentations with practical demonstrations and hands-on experience, working with bricks,
lime mortar, carpentry, historic interiors and mural paintings.

Conservation and Training 2006

Two UK stone carvers will travel to Transylvania for two weeks in August, with the support of The Prince of Wales's Craft Scholarships, as part of the MET's Conservation Training Programme. Under the supervision of master stonemason Henry Rumbold, Tom Waugh and Payson Muller will work side by side with local craftsmen, exchange knowledge and experience and learn traditional building skills from the Saxon area of Transylvania. A special practical emphasis will be placed on dressing stone for the entrance steps of the Malancrav manor house.

Conservation and Restoration Training 2001-2005                          In 2001 we started conservation training with visits from  British experts to Transylvania. We trained seven men in lime mortar plasterwork,  both in the Saxon villages and in the towns of Sibiu and Sighisoara. The restoration of the facade of the House on the Rock in Sighisoara, completed by us at the end of the summer 2001, is much admired. In 2002 a German organization (GTZ) awarded us first, second and third prizes for our restoration work in Sibiu. During the summer, our trainers worked in Viscri, Crit, Cloasterf and Malancrav. In 2003 British conservation trainers taught a second wave of builders in lime mortar techniques as well as masonry, metalwork and joinery. The trainers came on monthly visits to the villages from April until October, working on facades, rooves, shoring up buildings and on churches. In 2004 our trainers taught yet another wave of builders in lime mortar techniques, masonry, metalwork and joinery, beginning in May and ending in November. In 2005 a new programme of training will start in the spring, under the guidance of master stonemason Henry Rumbold, aided by conservation specialist Steve Finney. This will take the form of an international British/Romanian Diploma and will result in the awarding of certified qualifications for plasterers, carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers and foremen under the aegis of the National Heritage Training Group, the Bucharest School of Architecture and the Romanian Government. Any enquiries regarding this scheme should be directed to our London office Tel. 044 (0)20 7229 7618 The first four years' training programme would not have been made possible without the invaluable help and assistance of Ian Pritchett (of IJP Building Conservation Ltd) -- on behalf of everyone in the Saxon villages we would like to thank him enormously.                 The MET workers and trainers working on the Pro Patrimonio-owned house in Viscri                                  ________________________________________________________________                        _________________________________________________________________________ BRITISH TRAINERS BIOGRAPHIES Anthony Goode trained as a bricklayer under the City and Guilds system, before establishing a small rural contracting firm. After gaining a diploma in Building Conservation, he has travelled nationwide to work on high profile conservation projects. In 2001, he trained students in Romania for the Mihai Eminescu Trust. This year he lectured at Trust's seminar in September  "Traditional Building Methods and Materials in the Saxon Villages in Transylvania". Colin Richards is chief conservation office with South Shropshire Council. He first worked for the Trust in Viscri in 2001. This year he has been responsible for building a brick and tile traditional kiln in Viscri. The first firing took place at the end of october 2006. Henry Rumbold learnt all the techniques involved in preservation of ancient monuments from lime  pointing consolidation to the treatment of medieval plaster consolidation when he was employed as a young man by the the Ministry of Works and Public buildings to work at Fountains Abbey. He later  became area foreman in charge of preservation in Yorkshire, Lancashire  and Cheshire while at the same time instructing apprentice stonemasons and joiners in preservation of buildings all over the country. In 1992 his area of responsibility stretched from the Scottish borders down to Derbyshire (and then to Cumbria and Suffolk) and included all monuments under the guardianship of English Heritage. Steve Finney is a master carpenter of long term experience. His work has ranged from restoring a medieval cruck framed building in Somerset (out of two curved trees), a chantry house in Henly to rebuilding an 18th century windmill in Sussex. He is also a judge for craft scholarships on the Prince's Foundation for Built Heritage. Kieron Bolster: carpenter / joiner. Knowledge of all aspects of carpentry and joinery both on site and based in a workshop. For the last six years has worked mainly on historic windmills - in particular the Stone Cross windmill in East Sussex. Harry Cursham: learned craft skills working for St Blaise. Now runs his own building company.  He has a deep knowledge of lime and is an accomplished plasterer/mason. Worked on the full restoration of the Palladian bridge at Prior Park, Bath. Phil Gaches: specialist plasterer with up to twenty years experience. His most important work has been in the restoration at Windsor Castle. Sean Wheatley: also has fifteen years experience in plaster work. His most high profile work has been at Althorp.