50 Years of HBPT!

Trustees Celia Clark and Bill Fergie gave a fascinating insight into 50 years of HBPT after the recent AGM.

“Saving the Past for the Future - Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust’s first 50 years - and counting…” explored the Trust’s achievements between 1975 and 2025.

To see their presentation click here.

Overview

Hampshire’s conservation movement emerged in response to nationwide post‑war redevelopment that saw historic centres cleared for roads, tower blocks, houses and shopping precincts.

The European Architectural Heritage Year 1975 provided the much-needed momentum for Hampshire County Council to formally establish the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) supported by £100,000 for acquiring and restoring threatened buildings supported by the Architectural Heritage Fund and other grant-making bodies. The county’s Historic Buildings bureau became an important leader in conservation practice.

The Trust quickly became an important partner and advocate working with local authorities, amenity societies and conservation teams identifying and conserving buildings at risk to ensure they had a sustainable future plus contributing to policy creation.

Major Achievements 1975–2000

Key projects during the first 25 years are a roll call of the conservation of the historic built environment across Hampshire. They include Romsey’s King John’s House & Tudor Cottage; Seahorse Street, Gosport; Marchwood cottages; Bursledon Windmill; The Square, Titchfield; The Dog and Duck, Fratton; Eyre Coote Memorial, Rockbourne and London Lodge, Stratton Park, Micheldever; Twyford Waterworks, Petersfield Physic Garden; Vine House Aldershot; defence heritage advocacy in Portsmouth, Winchester and Netley; Whitchurch Silk Mill; and Bursledon Brickworks which was transformed into a Museum of Brickworks.

HBPT supported school environmental projects, heritage education publications, conservation skills training, and early Heritage Open Days first pioneered in Gosport. The Trust’s Education Officer delivered county‑wide programmes on architecture, brickmaking, and historic craft skills.

The Trust also republished the authorative “Hampshire Houses 1250–1700” in 2016 and copies are still available via the contact form on www.hbpt.org

Challenges and Transformation (2000–2025)

From 2000 onward, HBPT faced the loss of county support, reduced funding, and operational independence. Ownership of Whitchurch Silk Mill, Bursledon Brickworks, and Bursledon Windmill created a heavy burden in terms of maintenance, improvement and financial viability on a voluntary trust. Bursledon Brickworks required reorganisation, volunteer mobilisation, and a phased Heritage Lottery Fund bid, ultimately securing its long-term viability.

Modern Work and Continued Impact

Despite challenges, HBPT led conservation projects in Basingstoke, Rockbourne, and Marchwood; republished Hampshire Houses 1250–1700; supported Brickworks accreditation; and maintained advocacy across Hampshire’s built heritage.

Its dual identity—early optimism followed by later struggle—reveals the vital importance of stable support and dedicated volunteers in safeguarding heritage and ensuring a sustainable future for historic buildings.

In his introduction to this year’s 2024-2025 Annual Report, Chairman Peter Goodship said:

“As the Trust commemorates its 50th anniversary championing the protection of Hampshire’s rich built heritage, there is today an even greater need to highlight the importance of preserving this legacy for the benefit of future generations and helping to create a sense of community pride and enjoyment.

Our 2024-25 annual report (LINK) demonstrates the vitally important and hugely impressive work being undertaken within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by so many passionate defenders of our shared heritage whether they be local amenity societies, industrial archaeologists, public bodies, conservation specialists, volunteers or responsible owners.

The sector still faces formidable challenges influenced by many factors including not least the state of the economy, climate change and the intransigence and weakness of Government when it comes to the care of historic buildings it owns. However, challenges and weakness often open up opportunities

The excellent advice published by Historic England last year for the benefit of local authorities, practitioners and owners of historic buildings has opened up innovative ways of adapting historic buildings to meet the Government’s net zero targets and reducing their carbon footprint. It has also highlighted the role historic estate can play in achieving sustainable development and reducing carbon - reusing existing buildings rather than demolishing them. There is still work to do in getting these messages across effectively to Government and developers so that the presumption is always retention and adaptation not demolition.

This year has seen the Trust complete its most recent capital project - the first phase repair and restoration of the drying sheds at the Brickworks Museum, financed by the sale of land for affordable housing on part of the site.”