Interview with Liz Mayle

Gunby Hall, built in 1700: meticulous account books tell how William Massingberd imported facing bricks from the Netherlands.

Interview with Liz Mayle, a historic buildings consultant with Liz Mayle Heritage.

Who has been your greatest inspiration?

Many brilliant people have inspired me, in both fashion (my former career) and conservation. But my greatest inspiration was the late Jim Johnston, a brilliant lecturer from Bishop Grosseteste University College in Lincoln. We had lectures three or four times a week covering architectural history of just about every building type, methods of construction, how buildings were used and who used them. He was a constant throughout my three years of learning. I remember vividly the many site visits, including an extensive tour of Lincoln Cathedral to see the real bones of its construction and, with equal enthusiasm, a visit to a small, well-preserved Quaker meeting house, or looking at a wonderful font cover or his favourite misericord. Dr Jim gave me a very sound and extensive knowledge base that I have used every day since graduation. My mentor and constant in the world of conservation after graduation was Rob Walker, retired now, but formerly of East Lindsey District Council.

What has been your best idea?

My best idea after that of changing career from fashion design to historic building conservation has been to design a fireproof beach hut, following an arson attack three years ago (one of six burned to ashes over a period of three nights). One of the best photos I have of the original hut was in Context 130, July 2013, ‘Icons of the British seaside’. It has been a challenge and taken ages with Covid, but the fireproof shell is up and it looks traditional. My knowledge of fireproofing historic buildings has been very useful. My family and I have built our new beach hut ourselves and hope to complete it this summer.

What would you like to have been if you had not become a conservationist?

I have been lucky enough to have enjoyed two fulfilling careers. I was a fashion designer, but always loved old buildings. As a teenager I used to plead with my grandparents to take me to look at thatched cottages and churches if we were out driving, or to look at the big church in Louth (which is now what I see from my office every day). I made Lego copies of all the buildings I visited too, modifying the pieces by drawing glazing bars on them and making thatched roofs from painted straws. Had I not become a conservationist I think my early love of architecture would have led me to being an architect.

How do you reply when at a party someone asks what you do?

I have always told people quite proudly that I was a local authority conservation officer and, in recent years, a historic building consultant.

What is the biggest frustration in your job?

I am not at all frustrated working for myself. But I did get frustrated by the lack of planning enforcement at several of the local authorities I worked for. Leaving unauthorised works without regularisation, and especially where something of such value is lost that can not be replaced, and then not taking legal action, gives out all the wrong messages. There should be specialist conservation enforcement officers in every local authority.

What would you like to be doing in five years’ time?

To be semi-retired, hoping to have someone else working with me who will eventually take on my small practice. I shall then enjoy travelling with my husband in our vintage touring caravan, gardening and making jewellery.

What is your favourite building?

I always think this a particularly cruel question for anyone who works with historic buildings. I have a favourite building (and building type, for that matter) in every country, county and even district, that I have visited. But a real favourite is Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, a fine red brick house of 1700 with stone dressings. I have an attachment to the house, inside and out, its landscape gardens and its history after studying it as a student. William Massingberd was responsible for building the house. Meticulous account books tell how he imported facing bricks from the Netherlands, and how much he paid for stone to be brought to site and for his sash windows. Gunby Hall was frequented by Tennyson and was his ‘haunt of ancient peace’. It was nearly demolished for a runway during the second world war, but thankfully the owners gave it to the National Trust to ensure its survival. My favourite place to sit is in a sweet little gazebo in a sunny spot in the garden, designed by Elizabeth Massingberd in the 19th century.

Your favourite place?

Apart from my lovely home town of Louth, noted in a report by the Georgian Group as one of the best-preserved Georgian market towns in England, it is Venice. I fell in love with the place after visiting in 2018. I visited every Palladio building in Venice between palazzo watching from a good seat on the vaporetto, cruising a loop around the Grand Canal and the Canal de Giudecca every day to look at them.

Your favourite book?

An original 1925 edition of ‘A History of English Brickwork: with examples and notes of the architectural use and manipulation of brick from medieval times to the end of the Georgian period’, to give its full name, by Nathanial Lloyd. It is a marvellous study of brick buildings in England, richly illustrated with black-and-white photographs, and pull-out pages with scaled drawings of buildings and all manner of architectural details drawn brick by brick.