Passionate Historic Buildings Researcher, with proven experience in undertaking archival and desktop research into historic buildings and places across the United Kingdom. PhD Graduate with a sound understanding of British art and architectural history. Proud recipient of research grants from the Royal Historical Society, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the British Council.
EMPLOYMENT
Heritage Consultancy Research Assistant – Donald Insall Associates (May 2024 – Present)
- Historic Buildings Researcher in the Northern Heritage Consultancy Team, undertaking archival and desktop research into the provenance, development and history of listed and non-designated heritage assets across the country.
- Assisted with site surveys, compiled descriptions of historic buildings and places, and articulated the significance of heritage assets.
- Supported the preparation of key heritage documents for a range of private and public sector clients, including:
- Heritage Impact Assessments
- Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans
- Historic Building Records
- Feasibility Studies
- Townscape and Visual Impact Assessments
- Statements of Significance
EDUCATION
PhD Art History (2018 – 2024)
- Coventry University and The University of Warwick.
- Produced a PhD thesis on the reception of Coventry’s medieval art and architecture during the Gothic Revival movement using art historical and archaeological approaches.
- Chaired a session on ‘Veiled Cities: Flanders and the Urban Imaginary around 1900’ at the University of Oxford and co-organised an AHRC-funded symposium on Space and the Built Environment with researchers from De Montfort University.
- Led heritage walks around Coventry’s historic buildings for the general public, members of the Classical Association and leading academics during a Pakistan-UK Education gateway.
MA Cultural Heritage Management, Merit (2017-2018)
- University of York
- Dissertation: The Adaptive Re-use of Nonconformist Methodist Chapels.
- Modules: Analysing Historic Buildings (Distinction) and Debates in Museum Theory.
BA History, Upper Second Class Honours (2014-2017)
- University of Chester
- Dissertation: The response towards Jewish women refugees in Manchester, 1939-1945.
- Modules: Healthy Spaces: Medicine, Geography and the Environment, The English Revolution.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, York, Volunteer Archivist Assistant (2017-2018)
- Assisted the Special Collections Manager with the cleaning, cataloguing and documenting key historical documents relating to the Bar Convent archives.
National Trust Calke Abbey, South Derbyshire, Volunteer Tour Guide (2014-2016)
- Explored Calke Abbey’s history and development with the general public, whilst also encouraging appreciation for the building’s care and management.
- Developed improvisational skills to deal with unpredictable questions and problems raised by the wider public.
South Derbyshire District Council, Conservation and Planning Department (2012)
- Gained experience working with key stakeholders at historic properties, including Grade II* listed Elvaston Castle, to assess the suitability of potential future adaptive re-use schemes.
- Developed communication skills to resolve local land use disputes.
- Advised and guided planning applications for Listed Building Consent, undertaking site survey visits to: Swarkeston, Ticknall and Shardlow.