Labours of Love Win Out at SPAB

Private Category Winner: Nunwick Barn (on left) Private Category Winner: Wentworth Woodhouse (on right) Photo Credits: Ralph Hodgson/the SPAB

Caring for old buildings well is invariably a labour of love. 

How fitting that the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings [the S.P.A.B.] should recognise this in its brand new Best Loved Award 2022. 

From humble 16th century farm barns, to creative re-use of nuclear bunkers to stately homes on a grand scale, and everything in between, the judging panel was delighted to see wide ranging submissions of all ages from across these islands. 

Shortlisting from 23 entries to a shortlist of 8 - 4 in each of the Private and Public categories - was no mean feat. What made the difference were those entries that clearly demonstrated their owners, custodians, craftsmen and women, professionals and, most of all, their communities had a deep love of and commitment to:

1️⃣ Caring repair using appropriate materials 🧱

2️⃣ The unsexy maintenance work that is vital to the SPAB mantra of ‘stave off decay by daily care’ as coined by co-founder, William Morris.  3️⃣ Improvement from an earlier state 🏰

𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀?

When 1️⃣ 2️⃣ and 3️⃣ combine with active involvement by owners with their local and wider communities in awareness raising and, where possible, the transfer of traditional building skills (completely understanding the challenges presented by pandemic lockdowns).

When you get all 4️⃣ then it’s a shoo-in.

Over 5,500 people took the time and trouble to cast their votes to choose the very first SPAB Best Loved winners.

Waiting to hear the announcements at the SPAB Heritage Awards 2022 in London’s Conway Hall was nail biting.

The esteemed winners?

Private:   16th century aisled farm barn at Nunwick, Ripon in Yorkshire

Public:    Wentworth Woodhouse, South Yorkshire.

Both loved the bones of their buildings.

Richly deserving winners! Bravo! Bravo! 👏👏👏