Date: 23/06/2009
Buxton played host to the nation's heritage profession last week as a record-breaking 250 experts gathered at the Palace Hotel for the annual summer school of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC).
The summer school moves around the country and, this year, it fell to East Midlands members to organise.
High Peak Borough Council's conservation team jumped at the opportunity to get involved, and was delighted when the institute accepted its invitation to come to Buxton.
Looking at the relevance of historic buildings to the present-day need for sustainable design, the three-day conference also offered a chance to see Buxton and hear about its nationally recognised achievements in heritage-led regeneration.
Delegates visited the famous Opera House and enjoyed presentations in the Devonshire Dome. They were also taken further afield to see projects at Chatsworth and Derby, and in the Peak District.
The best attended conference in the summer school's history started on Thursday 11 June with a civic reception hosted by Borough Mayor Tony Bingham, after which Cllr Tony Kemp, Executive Councillor for Regeneration, spoke about the benefits of investing in heritage, and the popularity of the recent Design and Place Making Strategy Workshops in Buxton.
Speaking after the event, IHBC chair Dave Chetwyn said he was delighted that the summer school had taken place at Buxton.
"We had a record attendance, and all the delegates I spoke to said they had found it an informative and enjoyable event", he enthused.