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C O N T E X T 1 7 9 : M A R C H 2 0 2 4 11 eight pages by Stafford Holmes about ‘British Hydraulic Lime: a medieval inheritance and a call for its revival’. The author explores the historic use of British natural hydraulic lime and argues for its reintroduction as a local and sustainable material critical to good building conservation. Holmes points out that research and development of hydraulic limes and natural cements progressed rapidly in the 19th century, that building materials terminology was not consistent and changed over time and by locality. In that era, and indeed earlier, ‘cement’ referred to mixes with binders of hydraulic lime or hydraulic lime and pozzolan. The term was also used for various adhesives that today would be known as glues and gums. Early literature confirming the location and chemical analysis of limestone hydraulic lime can be found under the titles of ‘cement’ and/or ‘concrete’. Henry Reed’s Practical Treatise on Concrete (1869) identified some of the quarries and analysis of the limestone used for hydraulic lime. Holmes is also helpful on the question of specifications and the long-standing practice of British architects and engineers to specify hydraulic lime for mortars, renders and lime concrete, going back to Batty Langley’s Builder’s Complete Assistant (1738). Joseph Moxon’s Mechanick Exercises or the Doctrine of Handy-Works (1703) describes the choices to be made between limestone producing lime for internal work and that for exposed external finishes. Readers will need to be familiar with the complexity of how material was not only described but also used. Holmes provides an extensive list of further reading. He concludes by proposing four actions to address the present absence of British natural hydraulic lime production and use. First, develop low-cost, small-scale, regional hydraulic lime production in conjunction with the reuse of local materials for the appropriate conservation and repair of historic buildings. Second, amend or rewrite national standards for building limes to include all traditional British hydraulic limes. Third, UK limestone producers and Portland cement manufacturers should designate part of their quarries and reintroduce suitable plans to produce hydraulic line for mortars and renders in place of cement for conservation, repair and new build. Finally, develop technologies to manufacture British building limes from local limestone and, to an appropriate small scale, to meet specialist demand. The use of appropriate lime products sometimes seems to confuse the inexperienced. This accessible, well-illustrated and digestible introduction will be well worth reading. Georgian Group Newsletter Although this review does not focus on specific casework in publications by the national amenity societies, it is worth noting that the latest Georgian Group Newsletter (No 2, 2023) has experimented with an amended format, allowing each of the group’s conservation advisors to provide a short introduction to casework in their respective regions. The reporting on over 100 specific cases is a good demonstration of the geographical spread and range of heritage types evaluated where representations were made. This aspect is worth perusing simply to see the nature of proposals and the society’s expert response to them. The Georgian Group points out that 2023 was an exceptionally busy year in which it received an average of 470 notifications a month, with notable differentiation in the case types from region to region. The issue deals with the 2023 Georgian Group Architectural Awards. The variety of categories includes restoration of a Georgian building in an urban context, reuse of a Georgian building, restoration of a Georgian garden or landscape, restoration of a Georgian interior, restoration of a Georgian country house and new structures within a Georgian context. The work by the winners and commended schemes are all illustrated, demonstrating the exemplary standards of current renovation and craftsmanship. Also worth highlighting are Sebastian Deckker’s article ‘Almshouses in the courtyard manner’, one of the ten Georgian heritage assets considered most at risk in 2023 and the seventh in a series of excellent, fully illustrated articles on historic fixtures based on Charles Booking’s collection. This looks at the design and development of Georgian rainwater goods and is recommended as a guide to dating evidence. Association of Preservation Technology Bulletin More excellent advice comes from the Association of Preservation