Ellen Wise

Background

Ellen began her career by gaining a place on the Princes Foundation’s Young Heritage Apprenticeship in Traditional Building Crafts Programme where she trained as a carpenter and lime plasterer. she then went on to work as a self-employed carpenter and lime plasterer for a variety of conservation companies including cliveden conservation, croft conservation and dolmen conservation, as well as working for her own private clients. Her work on site saw her involved in many projects including the Houses of Parliament (Westminster Hall), Christchurch Cathedral (Oxford), Reading Abbey and Worcester Cathedral.

Alongside starting her apprenticeship, Ellen also began a BA in History with the Open University. She continued to study part-time whilst working on site, graduating in 2021 with first-class honours. She then took a year out to complete an MSc in Historic Conservation at Oxford Brookes University. Her dissertation (entitled: ‘Patina or Damage: Should graffiti be conserved as part of the historic built environment’) investigated how graffiti is currently dealt with by conservation professionals and whether current attitudes and practices are appropriate.

Areas of Practice

Ellen joined H+R in 2022 as a surveyor. She investigates damp and decay issues affecting both timber and masonry structures. Her previous work as a carpenter and lime plasterer has given her practical experience of the sympathetic repair of historic buildings and structures. In addition to her work for H+R, Ellen remains involved in her family’s lutherie workshop where she works repairing bowed string instruments.