Ian Abrams and Alan Hills recently attended an inspiring study day hosted by the Essex Historical Buildings Group Day School at Anglia Ruskin University.
The day brought together a series of lectures and discussions exploring the relationship between different historic building types and the ways in which their features, construction methods and detailing have evolved over time. It was a valuable opportunity to consider regional variations in architecture, with particular focus on timber detailing and framing.
Buildings across Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Norfolk reveal the influence of skilled local carpenters and craftsmen, whose work can often be obscured by later alterations or facades. The availability and use of local materials — from flint and timber to brick and stone — also played a significant role in shaping the character of historic buildings across the region.