🎙️ You can also access the full Audio version of this Podcast by searching for 'Heritage Buildings Podcast' on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, PocketCasts, and your favourite podcast apps.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to another episode of the Heritage Buildings Podcast.

In this special first on-site episode, Vincent Reed visits Scotney Castle to sit down with James Kenton, a National Trust senior building surveyor and conservation architect.

James shares his journey from a farming background to discovering his passion for architecture through school work experience, university at Portsmouth, and trips to historic sites like Rome. He explains the path to becoming a conservation architect, including accreditation (AABC and RIBA) and professional qualifications.

Discover the day-to-day work of a National Trust surveyor, from compliance and condition reporting to long-term planning and climate impact management. James also highlights church inspections, quinquennial surveys, and major projects at Chartwell, including stabilising Churchill’s kitchen garden walls and refurbishing the uniform room.

Other topics covered include:

• Early career challenges during the 2008 credit crunch
• Trades skills, apprenticeships, and the future of craftsmanship in an AI-driven world
• Balancing duty of care, project budgets, and return on investment
• Work culture and learning opportunities during COVID and furlough
• Publications, BBC filming at Sissinghurst, and sharing expertise with the public

Whether you’re a heritage professional, architecture student, or simply curious about historic buildings and conservation, this episode offers invaluable insights into preserving historic places for future generations.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Below is a more detailed breakdown of the video with relevant timestamps

Click the time on the left to jump straight to that section

00:00 Meet James Kenton

00:30 From Farming to Design

00:55 Work Experience Spark

04:54 University and Conservation

09:09 Becoming a Conservation Architect

09:49 Accreditation Case Studies

14:45 Qualifying and Part Three

19:38 Starting Out in the Credit Crunch

21:44 Church Work and Inspections

24:45 Climate Change Building Impacts

25:46 Chartwell Projects Deep Dive

31:58 National Trust Teams and Crafts

35:02 Trades Skills and AI Future

41:35 Work Culture After COVID

44:04 Back to Scotney Castle

44:13 Becoming Church Inspector

45:39 Juggling Dozens of Churches

47:22 From Farm Conversions to Ambition

49:50 National Trust Interview Gauntlet

52:04 Taking the Leap to NT

53:39 Starting Then COVID Hits

56:49 Furlough Era Extra Portfolios

01:00:18 Portfolio Reshuffle After COVID

01:01:49 Senior Surveyor Role Explained

01:05:31 Day to Day Surveyor Work

01:10:09 Reports, Budgets and Planning

01:14:06 Balancing Duty and ROI

01:16:43 Stress, Responsibility and Pride

01:20:00 Where to Find More

01:21:18 Publications and BBC Filming

01:25:20 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connect with James Kentorn and learn more:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-kenton-nt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james_kenton/

Email: jamesphkenton@gmail.com

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Learn more about the Heritage Buildings Association:

https://heritagebuildingsassociation.com

Join the conversation:

https://heritagebuildings.forum/share/dDYOnkLWJAkaA5xE?utm_source=manual

#NationalTrust #ConservationArchitect #HistoricBuildings