About Historic Norfolk
Historic Norfolk was founded in 1977 (as Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust) with the aim of rescuing historic buildings at risk. It was set up by Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk Society and is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee.
Since it was established, Historic Norfolk has saved at least twenty buildings across Norfolk.
The charity does not receive any regular or core funding and in order to carry out restoration projects we must seek grant funding.
Income generated from properties operated as businesses - wedding hire and cafe rent at Waxham Barn, occasional hire of Oulton Chapel and the new Oulton Burial Ground, as well as hire of Becket's Chapel contributes towards the upkeep of the sites.
Trustees
Judith Harwood, Chair
Judith has 20 years’ experience in financial services, specialising in property and investment. Since moving to Norfolk she has worked as a consultant advising on complex change management projects in the education sector. Judith lives near Wymondham in an award-winning Grade 1-listed building which she restored. She has an MBA from Warwick University Business School.
Michael Launchbury, Vice Chair
Michael is a former Chief Executive of The Globe, Southwark and Director of South Hill Park & The Wilde Theatre, Bracknell, where he presented the first WOMAD Festivals in Berkshire. Between 1990 and 2000 he was Director of Public Services and Estates for the Museum of London, where he was responsible for capital planning and development, visitor services, exhibitions, education, security and building management. In that role he project managed the creation of the London Archaeological Archive & Research Centre. Michael is also Acting Chair of The Garage, Norwich.
Ben Johnsen, Treasurer
Ben qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC and has more than 20 years' experience working in the public and private sectors. He has a BA in American and English History from the University of East Anglia and has a keen interest in history and the sense of place this can give.
We are now looking for a new treasurer to replace Ben who is leaving us.
Bryan Gillerey
Bryan is a solicitor with over 40 years’ experience. He was a partner at the national firm Eversheds, where he led the commercial property, house building and affordable housing teams in the east of England. He is now a partner in the Norwich-based firm Hansells. Bryan has been a property lawyer all his working life and has a keen interest in heritage and conservation. He has lived in Norwich since 1974 and is a former chairman of Norwich Volunteer Bureau and a long-serving council member of the Norwich Forum for the Construction Industry.
Richard Halsey
Richard is an architectural historian who worked for English Heritage and its predecessor for 30 years in both professional and managerial roles, leading the organisation’s work with places of worship. He has since served on a number of conservation committees and lectured at postgraduate level.
Terry Hickman Smith
Terry has an architecture degree from Liverpool University and worked for 10 years in a large Edinburgh practice, becoming an Associate Partner. He then set up his own private practice in Norfolk in 1977, working mainly in conservation, education and private housing. His conservation projects in the county include major works to Dragon Hall, The Pennoyer Centre and John Soane’s Music Room in Earsham.
Helen Leith
Helen has had a long career in the arts, environmental protection and property. She was Director of CPRE Norfolk for several years. She has a History of Art degree from University of London and has worked at Christie’s auction house, the National Trust and Friends of the Earth. Helen has run her own award-winning antiques businesses, is an experienced property restorer and has also campaigned for the rescue of several important buildings. She is currently restoring a long-neglected Victorian cottage in Colegate, Norwich-over-the-Water.
Chris Maw
Chris is a chartered accountant and a former partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. After starting his career in London he moved to Norfolk in 2003 and latterly became the senior partner of PwC's Norwich office before taking up another office leadership role in West London. He lives in Swanton Abbott and has a keen interest in architecture and conservation. He is also a Trustee of The Forum Trust in Norwich.
James Parry
James worked at English Heritage before joining the British Council, for which he ran conservation and development projects in East Africa and the Middle East. After an MA in Architecture he was appointed academic editor at the National Trust; he is now a writer on art, heritage and the environment.
Adam Power
Adam is a chartered Civil/Structural Engineer. After working in both consultancy and contracting he set up his own consultancy in Norfolk in 1982 while renovating a listed 17c farmhouse for the family home. Maintaining a strong interest in historic buildings he has worked on numerous renovation, repair and conversion projects as well as new builds, alterations and extensions using traditional materials and techniques.
Gerard Stamp
Gerard went to school under the shadow of Norwich Cathedral, where he developed a passion for drawing and painting architecture. After Art College he enjoyed a highly successful career in London’s design and advertising industry before focusing full time on painting in 2002.
He has since held many solo exhibitions nationwide, with work in public collections including Norwich Castle Art Gallery and East Contemporary Art (UCS), private collections around the World, and the Royal Collection.
Gerard lives and works in Gunton Park, Norfolk. His studio, completed in 2004, received a RIBA Heritage Award for a new building in a historic context.
Stephanie Potts
Secretary
Stephanie has worked in the arts and heritage sector in various capacities for many years. She was manager of Norwich’s Grade 1 listed Dragon Hall from 2004 to 2012 and has held marketing and development roles for several organisations including Heritage Network Norfolk and Museums Sheffield. She is also a trustee of Anteros Arts Foundation.