No_4_1955 — Page 74

The York Institute of Architectural Study

advanced

in

rectan-

roughly

cut into three

Tooms.

The church is The York Institute of Architectural which the schools of architecture do not

and plan Study is unique in being the only body cover. Dr. Singleton and his staff decided gular whose sole function is the holding of that much of the existing knowledge and bays by somewhat irregular arcades of The windows are glazed regular vacation courses in architectural experience was in some danger of being pointed arches. subjects. It aims at supplementing the lost because the architects, builders and with clear glass and admit sufficient light Most of the pav curricula of full time schools of architec. craftsmen who possess them are for the for most daytime uses.

SO that there was every ture by providing courses and facilities most part no longer young. It is true that ing had gone, for study. It also provides the profession the Society for the Protection of Ancient excuse for providing a variety of floor

the different with specialised or

on this sub- surfaces suited to courses of Buildings have held courses various types.

ject in London, but it was felt that the The scheme of adaptation, which has been Institute could well add to the existing designed by Dr. Singleton, provides for The Institute may be said to have body of knowledge, especially in the the erection of screen walls to create these started life when the Academic Develop north of England, and that the more rooms. The centre nave portion becomes ment Committee of the York Civic Trust persons who were trained in this special a lecture room of which the single (east) decided in 1948 to hold a summer school skill the better. It involves a thorough window can be darkened. One aisle con- for architectural students to engage in understanding of the construction of his- tains a library and tutor's room and the measured drawing work and the study of toric buildings and of the materials used other, rooms for the director and secretary. architectural history. The Trust is a body in them, an appreciation of their design The entrance door admits to an open hail which exists to promote interest in the so that they may be sympathetically to be used for enquiries and small exhibi- City of York and the conservation of its handled and а technical knowledge of tions; this extends under the turret to the ancient buildings. It enjoys very con- methods of overcoming the

The official opening is to ravages of opposite aisle. siderable local support, the Chairman of damp, decay and neglect without loss of take place in March 1956, the Development Committee being the original character. Dean of York. The Committee has the

Since the courses began, more than 200 medieval St. Anthony's Hall as its head- It is therefore highly appropriate that architectural students have attended the quarters and it also has certain facilities from 1956 onwards the courses will be summer schools, some of them more than at St. Mary's Hotel.

held in a repaired ancient building which once, Today annual prizes amounting to is both an efficient centre of the Institute's forty guineas in value are offered by So successful was this first summer activities and ап exhibition of various societies and individuals. The first course school that it has been repeated every methods of repair. Before the building- for laymen on 'A History of English year since 1948 and it is always fully the disused church of St. John's Ouse Architecture' was full to overflowing booked up long before the date of start- bridge in York was obtained, the York within a few weeks of its announcement, ing. For this purpose the City of York Civic Trust decided that the time was ripe and the courses on the protection and provides an abundance of excellent build for the various courses, which had hither repair of historic buildings have even at- ings of all periods and, being centrally to been directly under the aegis of the tracted architects from the United States placed in Great Britain, can easily be Academic Development Committee, to be and Scandinavia. More than TOO archi- reached from all parts of the country. welded together as the York Institute of tects, surveyors. builders and clerks of The students live at St. John's College on Architectural Study. This was established works have attended the Institute's courses very moderate terms. The existence of a at the end of 1953 and is now flourishing on the care of churches and other subjects ready-made audience justifies the inviting in the second year of its life. It was at related to the repair of historic buildings. once apparent that the Institute needed its own building because the activities had The Institute also publishes а six- After the second year Dr. W. A. Single- outgrown St. Anthony's Hall (which the monthly BULLETIN, concerned mainly ton (F) became Director of Studies. York Civic Trust uses for other purposes), with protection and repair work, which is Under his direction the number of courses and St. Mary's Hotel.

issued free on application; it contains was expanded, in the Easter and autumn

among other things specially written

of eminent lecturers.

as well as the summer, to include subjects The church of St. John's Ousebridge papers on new or unusual aspects of this of interest not only to architects and had been empty and redundant for twenty type of work.. The first of what is hoped builders and other technically trained years.

It had been used for storage at will be a long series of 'Studies in Ar-

persons but also laymen. These include various times. notably during the last chitectural History' was published last courses on such subjects as: the Protec- war; but the structure, though dilapidat- November. It consists of a series of tion and Repair of Ancient Buildings, ed, was sound in essentials. The eccle- selected essays based on lectures given at the Care of Churches, Timber as a Struc- siastical authorities had reluctantly decid- the summer schools.

tural Material in Building, Public Park ed to demolish it and sell the site. They

It can

and Garden Design, the Modernisation of accepted gladly the offer of the York The establishment of the Institute and Obsolescent Dwellings and the History of Civic Trust to take it over and use it for the provision of a building have come just English Architecture. This year the In- the York Institute of Architectural Study. in time to deal with the rapid growth in stitute is co-operating with the National An appeal for £12,000 to purchase the activities.

be said that its re- Trust in an additional summer school en building and to do the necessary repair sources are stretched to the limit on a The English Country House for American and conversion work was launched last part-time basis. The Institute is now visitors to Great Britain. In connection February. It says much for the standing working towards the establishment of the with the modernisation of obsolescent of the Institute that practically all the country's first full time post-graduate dwellings an excellent public exhibition money was given by various generous school of architectural study. The in- was held in the York Public Library; it donors within two months.

mediate response to each course so far held reveals the existence of a demand.

showed in photographs and drawings a

large number of examples of such work The building is of late medieval date The fact that the courses are short (one drawn from several towns. The exhibition and interesting, but not outstanding, as a or two weeks), compact, efficiently staff- was intended primarily for laymen, both work of architecture. The chancel was ed, fully residential and inexpensive has owners of small properties and members removed during the last century to allow undoubtedly added to their attraction. of local authorities, and gave full explana- for a street widening. Its most notable The York Institute of Architectural Study tions of the work done and the costs in- features are a tomb and a bell turret. is a new force in architectural education volved; explanatory leaflets were available The tomb is that of Sir Richard Yorks, and one of unipue character, and government publications on sale. a former Lord Mayor of York and a mem- ber of Parliament who was knighted by

Apart from the summer schools for Henry VI when he visited York in 1487.

Reprinted, By Permission, From The architectural students, perhaps the most The bell turret contains three bells, one JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE popular courses have been those on the of which is among the oldest known in repair of ancient buildings. This has now England. These become a highly specialised

specialised technique rehung.

are being repaired and OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS,

1955.

AUGUST

72