2016 Conference

Liverpool Medical Institution, 2-4 September

The 2016 Conference and Gathering of the Building Limes Forum was held in Liverpool from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 September.  The venue was the Liverpool Medical Institution, an unusual and interesting venue with an intimate lecture theatre. The theme for the conference was Lime and Aggregates and there was an emphasis on hands-on demonstrations.  Click here for the programme.

On Friday there were lectures and visits to some of the major historical buildings in Liverpool to view conservation projects. Saturday included practical demonstrations, further lectures with a practical bias and the option of further visits. Sunday morning was devoted to members’ and delegates’ short presentations with further visits in the afternoon.

The Baker Memorial Lecture was delivered on the Friday evening by Cliff Blundell. Cliff is a leader of the lime revival in Wales, specialising in the ‘re-liming’ of vernacular housing, and he is the author of Precious Inheritance and Sustainable Legacy.

The Liverpool Medical Institution is close to the striking Catholic Cathedral (Frederick Gibberd, 1962-7 using foundations by Lutyens, 1933) and a short stroll from the monumental Anglican Cathedral (designed 1902 by Giles Gilbert Scott and built 1904-78).

The accommodation was at the nearby University of Liverpool and the university also provided the venue for the Baker Memorial Lecture and gala dinner which will be held in the Victoria Gallery.

The Building Limes Forum is grateful to Wienerberger, manufacturer of Keymer handmade roof tiles, for support of the conference and to St Astier, North West Lime Supplies, Mike Wye, and the Institute of Historic Building Conservation for support of receptions and dinners. The Forum is also grateful to The Rathbone Foundation for support of the 2016 bursaries.