TRAINING & LECTURING

Tutor & Lecturer

As a peripatetic tutor & lecturer, I have taught and lectured to and trained a wide spectrum of audiences at all levels from apprentices to architects. My audiences have included, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Canals & Rivers Trust (CRT), National Trust, Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), Post Graduate students at University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University as well as THI courses at Pontefract and Prescot among others. Qualified with City & Guilds Advanced Craft Certificate in Brickwork, a history degree and Masters in Historic Environment Conservation, I am a strong believer in Continued Professional Development. Passing on knowledge to others is also extremely important. The training & lecturing I deliver is underpinned by year-round experience of practical brickwork conservation on site. I regularly attend Craft and theoretical CPD sessions.

Download our brochure for further information on all of our unaccredited CPD brickwork courses

Traditional skills and materials familiarisation training for CRT supervisors

Examples of courses available

Two-day Practical Brickwork Conservation course

This course takes place in a beautiful setting near the historic town of Shrewsbury. It is aimed at bricklayers and building professionals who wish to gain practical hands on experience and or familiarisation in key skills in traditional brickwork conservation.  It will include a presentation on the assessment of traditional brickwork, followed by a physical examination of a traditional brick structure.
Delegates will then carry out various tasks associated with brick conservation including making a lime mortar, brick removal and replacement, stitching of cracks, removal of cementitious mortar, conservation pointing and plastic (mortar) repairs and protection of work in  different climatic conditions.

For more details, including dates and prices, please contact us.

Traditional pointing & Jointing Course

This four day, one to one,  practical course is aimed at  bricklayers & masons who wish to further their craft skills &  education of this area of traditional skill.

The course will open with an overview of the historical context of pointing styles from the  Medieval to Edwardian periods. The course will then focus on jointing and pointing finishes  with an emphasis on the Georgian & Victorian eras as well as modern conservation pointing.

Indicative content
Tools, equipment, materials including natures, advantages, disadvantages, limitations, surface preparation, preparing lime mortar using examples of putty, hydraulic & hot mixed limes, joint finishes including historical context and application methods and techniques, cleanliness of work, protection, and aftercare.

For more details, including dates and prices, please contact us.

Tuck Pointing Course

This four day, one to one practical course is aimed at experienced bricklayers and masons who wish to further their craft  knowledge & education in this highly skilled traditional  finish.  The course will open with an overview of the historical context of tuck pointing. The course will then examine each step in the process of this art including, surface preparation, colour washing, stopping up the joints, applying the housing and the tuck ribbon.  Tools, equipment & materials will be covered in detail. Student will have an opportunity to practice.

Indicative Content
Tools, equipment, materials including natures, advantages, disadvantages, and limitations, surface preparation, preparing glue size solution, stopping and putty, application of all stages including methods and techniques, cleanliness of work, protection, vulnerability, and aftercare.

For more details, including dates and prices, please contact us.

I have no hesitation in recommending Terrence Lee as an experienced tutor and trainer in traditional brickwork.  Terrence has taught courses on the history and practice of traditional brickwork for post graduate students at the Ironbridge Institute and Birmingham City University.  He is able to communicate with great clarity at all levels from the experienced contractor to the inexperienced homeowner"

Harriet Devlin MBE

MA (Cantab), AMA, PGCE, Dip Cons (RSUA), IHBC

Gauged brickwork course

This 5-day one to one, practical course is aimed at experienced bricklayers only who are in possession of high brick craft skills, patience and artistic intent and who wish to undertake learning and study in the fascinating art of gauged brickwork.

Gauged brickwork is highest form of artistic expression in the brickwork craft. Using presentation and viewing examples in Shrewsbury, you will be taught about the  historical context of gauged brickwork and the damage done by unwitting vandalism and inappropriate materials.  You will then go on to learn about drawing an arch including drawing equipment, geometry relating to the arch, accurate marking, measuring, drawing a camber and recording of information in a legend before going on to make templets.

You will be familiarized with a gauged brick workshop and the equipment and the numerous tools and accessories required to carry out the work in addition to identifying and using the materials used including limes, aggregates, rubber bricks, putty, knotting and whiting.

You will learn how to square a rubber brick and before marking it according to the templet placing it in a cutting box and cutting it with the bow saw & a clipper saw.  Finally, you will set out, prepare the opening and construct, a small gauged flat arch, rub up and point.  You will be appraised of typical problems encountered on site when carrying out this work as well as logistical and administrative considerations.

For more details, including dates and prices, please contact us.

Assessing Traditional brickwork: History, construction & vulnerability

Understanding the mindset and materials and methods used in different historical eras of brickwork is vital for the execution of accurate and authentic brickwork repairs.

This two day theoretical course is aimed at bricklayers, building professionals and enthusiasts and introduces the student  to the history and use of brickwork, how to identify brickwork finishes, features and styles, methods of dating brick as well as the factors that affect its survival both inherant in the brick and external factors.

In order to provide context, on day one, you will receive by means of presentation an overview of the architectural use of brick in England including the history of the spread, manufacture, development and treatment of English brickwork from the 15th  to the 19th Century.

Then, by observing local buildings in Shrewsbury, you will study brickwork construction, bonds, features, anomolies of the bricks and joint finishes and learn how to apply your knowledge to differentitate between brickwork of different historical  eras with an emphasis on the Restoration, Georgian and Victorian eras.

On day two, by means of presentation and observing local traditional buildings, you will gain an understanding  of the decay mechanisms associated with traditional brickwork and look in depth at both inherant problems with traditional brick and those associated with the use of modern cementitious mortars.

This course is available for one to four people.

For more details, including dates and prices, please contact us.

Lime on site

This one-day purely practical course is aimed at bricklayers who intend to work in the built heritage sector and who wish to learn about the use of lime as used on site as used by a practising traditional bricklayer.

Limes currently available on the market will be discussed and mixed – hydraulic, premixed putty, mature putty and hot lime mixes.  Their historical context, natures, packaging, availability, suitability, advantages disadvantages and limitations of each will be discussed in detail.

Aggregates, ratios and mixes will also be discussed in depth and you will mix a small amount of mortar incorporating each type of lime including a hot mix and carry out a small panel of pointing to experience the differences in adhesion, suction, water retention, workability and application and finish.

Health and safety precautions, testing, storing, protection and after care will also be covered in detail.

This course is available as a one to one course.

For more details, including dates and prices, please contact us.

Accommodation

We can offer competitively priced purpose built en-suite accommodation for single occupancy (or an attending couple) with facility to prepare your own breakfast and cook your own evening meal.  Alternatively, there are numerous places to eat and drink in nearby Shrewsbury.

Please contact us for prices and other details.

Projects

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