Historic imported softwood in eastern England: past knowledge, current perceptions and conservation

By the 18th century the demand for timber for building in the East of England could not satisfied with home grown resources. Demand for timber was met by expanding the existing softwood trade, importing Scandinavian and Baltic, Pine, and Fir. From the Georgian period, the adoption of softwood as the primary timber for building construction raises interesting perceptions regarding the contemporary use of softwood in the construction of historic buildings. The choice of fabric in the conservation of any historic building often relies heavily on the perceived value and high profile rating given by conservation professionals. Also, the specifying of softwood for conservation projects requires an understanding of the historical usage of softwood; this research aims to understand the current awareness and knowledge of professionals of softwood in the conservation of historic buildings.