The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) are holding two, week-long courses for building professionals and trades on the repair of old buildings on 12-17 May and 29 September-4 October.

The courses cover the principles of repair and conservation, lime, timber, structural repair, stone and brickwork, plaster and render, ironwork and building regulations. The cost is £575.

There is an introduction to lime for building contractors on 29 May in Northamptonshire, 6 June in Somerset, 12 June Oxfordshire, 16 June South Wales and 11 September in Suffolk.

These are one-day courses for building contractors already proficient in the use of cement and gypsum who want to expand their repertoire. Places on the course cost £75 each.

On 27 June in Warwickshire there is a one-day practical course on the conservation of masonry and ironwork and the repair of timber.

On 5 September there is a one-day course at Cirencester on stone roofing, covering vernacular traditions and repair techniques.

The programme concludes on 24 and 25 October with a two-day practical course in Northamtonshire on lime plastering. The course will explain in depth about the preparation and techniques involved in lime plastering. It costs £150 per place.

For further information call: