Celebrating Heritage & Conservation Skills

Ellie Jae Dobson, a bricklayer and stone mason employed at Ilkley-based Dobson Construction, has been awarded the William Morris Craft Fellowship by SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings).?

At 23 years of age, Bradford-born Eillie is one of the youngest people to have ever completed the Fellowship, which is designed to broaden the skills and experience of conservation professionals working with old buildings.?

With an interest in history and a desire to work with her hands, Ellie joined Dobson Construction as an apprentice in 2018, learning practical skills and gaining hands-on experience working on a variety of projects including Grade I and Grade II listed buildings.?

Ellie said: “My trade is in bricklaying, however living in Yorkshire I have completed more stonework jobs than anything else! I applied for the Fellowship to really indulge in my craft and better myself at it. It’s also been fascinating to try other crafts and meet other conservation enthusiasts who have been perfecting their skills for many years - for me, this is the best way to learn about heritage crafts. It’s been an incredible year and the opportunity of a lifetime.”?

Every year, SPAB selects four craftspeople with a passion for old buildings to take part in the Fellowship and sends them on a journey across the UK and Ireland, to deepen their knowledge of traditional building crafts.???

Through the Fellowship, Ellie has visited iconic buildings including Hampton Court Palace, Glasgow Cathedral and York Minster, learning about the historic crafts and traditional maintenance and repair techniques required to care for these heritage buildings.?

Along the way, Ellie has tried her hand at traditional skills including stained glass, lime mortar, lime harling, lime plastering and blacksmithing, as well as expanding her knowledge as a bricklayer by learning the craft of historic brickwork, including making and laying bricks at Hampton Court Palace.?

Bryan Atkinson, Director of Dobson Construction, commented: “Here at Dobson, we take pride in doing what's right for historic buildings, using good conservation practices and appropriate materials to ensure the very best outcomes for our clients. Ellie’s skills and passion for these principles is evident, and she is a fantastic ambassador for this important conservation work. The Fellowship is very prestigious, with only four craftspeople selected to take part each year. We are really proud of Ellie’s achievements, especially at this early stage in her career.”?

At the recent SPAB awards event, experts from organisations such as Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland and English Heritage came together with master craftsmen and the graduating Fellows to celebrate their achievements.?