60 seconds with... new Barts Heritage chief executive Will Palin
We caught up with Will Palin, the new chief executive of Barts Heritage, about his past, his reasons for joining the charity and their plans to preserve the North Wing at St Bartholomew's Hospital for future generations.
Where does your passion for architecture and restoring historic buildings come from?
Ever since I can remember I have been interested in the buildings, places and their history.
I grew up in Kentish Town where an architect uncle used to take me on walks, exploring Victorian streets and churches and showing me some his conservation work.
I began to develop a keen sense of the importance of the built environment to a sense of identity and wellbeing.
After a brief spell in journalism, I went ‘back to school’ taking a master's in architectural history at the Courtauld Institute. This led to my first ‘heritage’ job working for a small charity called the Mausolea and Monuments Trust.
I would spend my days touring the country researching and photographing tombs - much to the amusement and bewilderment of my friends and family.
I then joined Sir John Soane’s Museum in London as an assistant curator.
The Soane is an extraordinary institution, with an astonishing collection of art and sculpture, including a huge number of architectural drawings and models. I was like a child in a sweet shop.
In 2009 I became director of SAVE Britain’s Heritage, actively campaigning to save historic buildings (including the General Market at Smithfield) from destruction.
SAVE also championed the creative reuse of historic buildings and this chimed with my passion for restoring ‘unloved’ houses.
In the 1990s I bought and repaired a 1717 silk weaver’s house in Spitalfields and then I became involved at the former royal naval dockyard at Sheerness in north Kent where, together with other enthusiasts I began rescuing and repairing neglected properties.
The naval connection strengthened when I joined the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich as Conservation Director - taking on (amongst other things) the epic £8.5m project to conserve and renovate the magnificent Painted Hall, which was completed earlier this year.
What drew you to Barts Heritage?
Having completed the Painted Hall project at Greenwich, I was looking for a new challenge.
I had already hosted a visit from some of the Barts Heritage trustees and so was aware there was an ambitious and exciting project in the offing at the Hospital involving another great dining hall.
I also sensed there was enormous enthusiasm, energy and passion both within the Barts Heritage team and the wider hospital community for the history and heritage of this unique site.
When the offer to join came it was too good to refuse.
What will your role at the Heritage entail?
As the first chief executive I will be overseeing the workings of the Heritage Trust and spearheading the project to conserve and renovate the North Wing and Gate House.
What’s your vision for the future of the North Wing?
The aim of the project is to repair and renovate this beautiful and internationally important Grade I listed building in time for the 900th anniversary of St Bartholomew’s Hospital in 2023 - implementing a mixed-use scheme operating as a venue for performance, conferences and celebrations.
The project will increase public accessibility, diversify the audience and sustain the future of the building.
What challenges are presented in restoring a building such as the North Wing?
The North Wing is a substantial building of the highest architectural importance.
It has suffered from lack of maintenance for many years and now requires a complete overhaul.
This will be a complex project involving a range of conservation challenges to ensure the long term preservation of both the building fabric and the works of art inside - the Hogarth paintings being the most significant of these.
Then there is the work needed to make the building fit for purpose as a home for the museum, archives and offices serving Barts Heritage and its partners.
The project has been costed at around £20m so there is a lot of fundraising to do too!
How can St Bartholomew’s Hospital staff support the work of Barts Heritage?
We would like everyone to continue to talk about why the heritage of the hospital is important to them.
Many people working in the hospital have said that being part at a 900 year old institution connects them to something deeper and bigger.
So, the more advocacy of the importance of reviving and preserving the rich and beautiful heritage of Barts, the better.