Decarbonisation Case Studies
Historic buildings are a fantastic home for many cultural and heritage organisations. Their character tells interesting and important stories, and they provide welcoming spaces to bring the community together.
Decarbonisation plans help organisations understand their building’s current performance, set achievable targets for carbon reduction, and identify practical steps to make them more environmentally sustainable. For many custodians of historic buildings, these plans are the first step in balancing heritage conservation with the urgent need to respond to climate change.
The Case Studies
As part of the Cultural and Heritage Sector Decarbonisation Project, three listed cultural buildings were selected as case studies. They provide different scenarios in terms of use and building types.
This project has produced example Decarbonisation Plans for each of the three buildings. These Plans showcase various approaches to decarbonisation, taking into consideration factors such as heritage significance, logistical and spatial constraints, budget and funding opportunities.
These plans were developed by following the process set out in the Decarbonisation Plan Guidance and Historic England’s Whole Building Approach. This was led by the architects Haworth Tompkins, with support and advice from Historic England’s Technical Conservation Team. Various surveys were undertaken, including Condition Surveys of the fabric and services, Thermographic surveys, and Airt Tightness testing.
All three of the Decarbonisation Plans, along with their accompanying technical reports, will be published soon.
Shire Hall Museum, Dorchester
The Shire Hall was built in 1797 and was Dorset’s courthouse until 1955. Designed by architect Thomas Hardwick, Shire Hall is a Grade I listed grand Portland stone civic building with a strongly modelled neoclassical façade. Behind its imposing arched entrances and sash windows, the interior court retains its original dock, bench, jury boxes and galleries. It is most famous for the trial in 1834 of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and for the domestic abuse case in 1865 that inspired Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the D’Urbervilles’. It is now the Shire Hall Courthouse Museum and is home to exhibition and event spaces, a café, and residential flats.
The Lit & Phil Library, Newcastle
The Lit & Phil is a Grade II* listed, purpose-built library which opened in 1825. Designed by the architect John Green, the library is a fine example of Greek Revival architecture, with grand Ionic columns, classical stucco ornament on friezes, wrought-iron gallery balconies, and a later 1880s rear wing that reflects the building’s continued evolution. It is the largest independent library outside London and remains open to the public, offering reading rooms, collections of more than 170,000 items, and several spaces for hire.
Royal Theatre, Northampton
The Royal Theatre opened in 1884 and was designed by the celebrated Victorian theatre architect C J Phipps. It is a Grade II listed building and is famed for its beautiful safety curtain, created and painted by Henry Bird. Its auditorium preserves elaborate original decoration, including tall fluted columns framing the boxes and scroll acanthus leaf motifs on the dress circle parapet. It continues to be used for live theatrical performances and is now part of the larger Royal and Derngate theatre complex.
Also of interest
