Rook Lane Blog

November 6, 2019

Join architectural historian Elain Harwood for a fascinating look at twentieth century churches.

October 4, 2019

What is the civic impact of a major project on a city or town?
Should architects involve themselves in the political and civic life of where they live and work?
Join architect and former town councilor Colin Cobb for an exploration of the way that civic and public projects come about and how architects engage themselves with that process.

September 5, 2019

The LILAC housing scheme in Leeds is a co-housing community of 20 eco-build households. The homes and land are managed by residents through a Mutual Home Ownership Society, a pioneering financial model that ensures permanent affordability.
Join Architect Craig White for an exploration into alternative affordable housing.

May 28, 2019

Writer, Phyllida Shaw will share her research into the work of Alice Meredith Williams, which includes the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle and Casting The World Curator, Sue Bucklow, will shed some light on the little acknowledged life and work of Amy Singer , daughter of John Webb Singer, who shared a studio with Camille Claudel and was mentored by Rodin.

May 20, 2019

In collaboration with Casting the World project, Frome Society for Local Study welcomes Dr Madge Dresser, a visiting research fellow UWE and retired Associate Professor of Social and Cultural British History, University of Bristol. an illustrated talk revisiting our monumental heritage, which will include a focus on work produced in Frome by J W Singer and Sons. Statuary which is found in many parts of a now changed world.

May 15, 2019

Join landscape architect and urban designer, Sarah Jones-Morris for an exploration of our relationship with the natural world and find how putting bio-diversity at the heart of our urban environments is essential for our future survival. Sarah Jones-Morris is the director of Landsmith Associates based in Bristol. 

April 24, 2019

Join us for two acoustic sets, including singer-songwriter Phil Cooper, recently featured on BBC Radio 6 BBC Music Introducing show with Tom Robinson.
Sara Vian will be performing a 30-40min set at the exquisite Rook Lane

We’re also delighted to announce that local legend and the mind behind Glastonbury Festival, Michael Eavis, will be giving a talk and taking questions at WHYacoustic.
WHY receives no central government funding so relies on community fundraising and the generosity of individuals and grant-making trusts to survive.

April 18, 2019

A talk by Chris Romer Lee on his practice’s collaborate work with artists and water. Linking with the Rook Lane Exhibition ” Casting The World, The story of JW Singer & Sons’ via his relative Hamo Thornycroft. Thornycroft not only had multiple sculptures cast by the Singer Foundry in Frome, but also came from a family of world famous naval engineers.

April 8, 2019

Fergus will present a range of projects from the practice’s own self-build studio on a city farm next to Westminster Bridge through to Charlie Bigham’s factory, a new 6000m2 kitchen in a quarry near Wells and winner of the RIBA 2018 Building of the year south west. Along the way he will talk about the practices cultural work including The Weston, a new gallery embedded into the hillside on the eastern boundary of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and how craft, materials and a deep reading of sense of place shape their work.

April 2, 2019

Graham Bizley is an architect and writer based in rural Somerset. He established Prewett Bizley Architects with Robert Prewett in 2005 and moved out of London in 2011 to set up a Somerset office.