28 CONTEXT 184 : JUNE 2025 DUNCAN McCALLUM Nineteenth-century conservation thinking from Ruskin onwards John Ruskin’s and William Morris’ approach to repairing old buildings emphasised original fabric and authenticity, rather than more physically destructive approaches. ‘We wish to express our sorrow at the proposal to rebuild a portion of the west front of Peterborough Cathedral, the beauty and value of which it is impossible to overestimate. We earnestly hope that the Dean and Chapter will see their way to reconsidering their decision. John Ruskin’ These polite and restrained words in a signed letter from the 1890s may not be the great man’s most memorable sentences, but the document has long been cherished by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). The original hangs framed and mounted in its headquarters building. It was part of a campaign spearheaded by SPAB which lasted several years to save the integrity of the cathedral from a heavy-handed restoration. William Morris had died in 1896, in the middle of the campaign, but Peterborough Cathedral was one of his last conservation fights. Morris wrote: ‘It may seem too obvious to remark that the structure should be made stable before ornamental details are replaced (restored they should never be), but I cannot William Morris: ‘restored they should never be’ (Drawing by Rob Cowan) The west front of Peterborough Cathedral in 1899 (Photo: Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) The west front of Peterborough Cathedral in 2021 (Photo: Peterborough Cathedral, Tom Küpper)
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