HPA at the Building Limes Forum 2025
Earlier this month, HPA Director Zoë Hooton and Associate Emma Brown attended the Building Limes Forum Annual Conference, held at Bangor University from the 5th to the 7th of September. The event brought together professionals and enthusiasts from across the UK to share knowledge and celebrate the use of lime in building conservation.
The conference offered a varied programme of talks, practical demonstrations, and site visits. These were all focused on the sustainable and traditional use of lime in architecture. Zoë and Emma joined fellow delegates in exploring the material’s versatility and its role in preserving historic buildings.
On Friday, both attended a site visit to Caernarfon Castle. Discussions there centred around ongoing conservation works and the challenges of working with historic masonry. Zoë and Emma were particularly interested in the modern interventions that have been introduced to improve access to the site—an area of growing importance in heritage architecture.
Saturday’s programme was split into two strands; Emma took part in the practical skills workshops, learning about grouting of walls and the use of hempcrete—a bio-based material gaining traction in sustainable construction. Meanwhile, Zoë joined a site visit to Beaumaris Castle, where the group explored the castle’s architectural features and conservation strategy.
On Sunday, Zoë presented a case study on HPA’s work with Lancaster Grand Theatre, delivered as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone. Her talk focused on the repair works to the theatre’s façade, highlighting the challenges and solutions involved in conserving a prominent historic building and the collaborative approach required.
Key Takeaways
Zoë’s key takeaway from the conference was the importance of the microporous structure of limewash and the role of surface finishes—particularly limewash—in building conservation. This was reinforced by several sessions, including the Baker Memorial Lecture delivered by Roger Curtis, Abigail Lloyd’s talk on the red boxes of Cumbria, and Dr David Wiggins’ technical research from Clach Conservation.
Emma’s reflections focused on the importance of specifying the correct lime mortar mix for each project, and how lime should be used as part of a holistic approach to water management. This includes ensuring appropriate detailing, a theme explored in talks by Alex Holton of English Heritage, Alison Henry from Historic England, and Naomi Watts-Kitto from Chester Cathedral.
The event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with others in the field, share experiences, and deepen understanding of lime’s role in both traditional and modern contexts. HPA remains committed to engaging with industry events like the Building Limes Forum to support best practice and innovation in conservation architecture.
