Encyclopedia > Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) was founded by William Morris in 1877, to oppose what he saw as the insensitive renovation of ancient buildings then occurring in VictorianEngland. He 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.
Today, SPAB still operates according to Morris's original manifesto. It publishes books, and runs courses and a telephone advice line.
The Ancient Monuments Society: founded in 1924 for the study and conservation of ancient monuments, historic buildings and fine old craftsmanship.
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland: records and interprets the sites, monuments and buildings of Scotland's past, promotes a greater appreciation of their value through the maintenance of the National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS) and presents them by means of publications and exhibitions.
The Victorian Society: The Victorian Society is the national society responsible for the study and protection of Victorian and Edwardian architecture and other arts.
Manifesto of the Society for the Protection of AncientBuildings on its foundation in 1877
A society coming before the public with such a name as that above written must needs explain how, and why, it proposes to protect those ancientbuildings which, to most people doubtless, seem to have so many and such excellent protectors.
The result of all this was often a building in which the many changes, though harsh and visible enough, were by their very contrast interesting and instructive, and could by no possibility mislead.
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