Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
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The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) (sometimes known as Anti-Scrape[1]) was founded by William Morris and Philip Webb in 1877, to oppose what they saw as the insensitive renovation of ancient buildings then occurring in Victorian England.
Morris was particularly concerned about the practice, which he described as "forgery", of attempting to restore buildings to an idealised state from the distant past. Instead, he proposed that ancient buildings should be protected, not restored, so that their entire history would be preserved as cultural heritage.
Today, SPAB still operates according to Morris's original manifesto. It publishes books, and runs courses and a telephone advice line. Under the Planning Acts the Society must be notified of all applications in England and Wales to demolish in whole or part any listed building. It currently has 8,700 members (2007).
The Society also has a branch in Scotland, and the Mills Section, which is the only British national body concerned with the preservation, repair and continued use of traditional windmills and watermills.
The society, which is a registered charity, is based at 37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY, England.
[edit] References
- ^ Thompson, E. P. (1976). William Morris: Romantic to Revolutionary. New York: Pantheon, 228. ISBN 0394733207. “The Society, which Morris dubbed "Anti-Scrape...”
