The Terraced House, a course by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), has been rescheduled for April 17. It will take place at Tyntesfield, near Bristol in Somerset.

SPAB’s Terraced House course (first offered in London in January 2009) has been specially designed to offer property owners essential advice and guidance on the key issues affecting these unique buildings.

Led by SPAB’s roving education officer Marianne Suhr – one of the expert ruin detectives from BBC’s popular Restoration series – the one-day event is designed for anyone who has taken on (or who is contemplating moving into) a terraced property.

Rows of terraced houses are a common sight in our towns and cities. Mostly dating from the early 19th century through to the Edwardian era these were the first mass-produced dwellings, built to house the expanding urban population as Britain moved from a rural to an industrial economy.

The terraced house has actually made a mark on the English language as well as the landscape, with the colloquial terms ‘first rate’, ‘second rate’, ‘third rate’ and ‘fourth rate’ finding their roots in The Building Act of 1774, which classified the earliest London terraced houses by size.  Today, millions live very happily in a ‘fourth rate’ (compact) terraced house.  

The day begins at 10am and ends at 5.30pm. The cost (including lunch and refreshments) is £100 per delegate and £175 per couple – each package includes one copy of Old House Handbook. To book online go to SPAB’s website or call 020 7456 0915.