Charles Brooking

 

Trying my hand at

being an Architect

charles brooking

Charles Brooking is a fascinating and knowledgeable collector of architectural detail, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail, and as a Chartered Surveyor we find his lifelong quest to collect British building details unique, informative and valuable and a collection that must be kept intact for years to come. If you need help and advice with regard to building surveys, structural surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects report, dilapidations or any other property matters please free phone 0800 298 5424.

The following is one of a series of interviews with Charles Brooking, Historic and Listed Buildings Detail Expert, The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail and a Chartered Surveyor where we have recorded his comments and various aspects that have affected windows and doors and other collectibles. The interviews outline how his collection started and built over the years and gives an insight into the amazing architectural features housed in his fine collection.

Chartered Surveyor: What did you do after you left Sotheby's?

Charles Brooking : In 1974 my father thought I should become an architect so I went to work with a building construction firm however maths was the problem there. I left there after a year and went to the Guildford Tech to learn building construction and I was the laughing stock of the class because even a scale rule was beyond me! I was really heartbroken, because I didn't know what was wrong – I didn't know about dyslexia. What I did know was the fact that we often went across to a fantastic 1760's mansion opposite and saw the glories of mid-Georgian detailing which brightened my days.

charles brooking

Then my father managed to get, through his contacts (he was now working for the British Rail property board) and the old boy network me a job at British Rail Architects, Western Region, Paddington, London . W2. I was supposed to be drawing but was often chatting as I couldn't draw to save my life! I spent most of my time chatting to the tea lady, when she came through, about everything under the sun which I didn't realise the office were listening to half the time! I also met the Chief Architect 's ex-girlfriend so I spent a lot of time talking to her too!

charles brooking

Then I was put on to plan sorting, sorting out historic Great Western plans for shredding, which was outrageous, there were wonderful drawings of detailed fireplaces and things, which were fascinating.

I went out on site in London at lunchtimes, rescuing architectural details then hurried back to the office.

charles brooking

Rescue defined

Charles Brooking defines a rescue as saving a window or door or staircase that would be doomed.

Charles Brooking was a pioneer in the rescue of architectural detailing as many years ago it was very much considered a strange and an unusual past time to want to rescue old parts of buildings with everything new and shiny being so important.

Surveying articles

If you found this article on The Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail interesting you may also be interested in the following articles on our website

 

Building surveys or structural surveys

Builders, building problems and roofs and how an Independent Building Surveyor can help

Can you trust a Surveyor's Valuation?

Common pitched roofs

Condensation problems

References:

TheBrookingCollection.com DartfordArchive.org.uk IHBC.org.uk ProjectBook.co.uk

Independent Surveyors

If you truly do want an independent expert opinion from a Surveyor with regard to building surveys, structural surveys, structural reports, engineers reports, specific defects report, dilapidations or any other property matters please contact 0800 298 5424 for a Surveyor to give you a call back.

Commercial Property Surveyors

If you have a commercial property, be it leasehold or freehold, then you may wish to look at our Dilapidations Website at www.DilapsHelp.com and for Disputes go to our Disputes Help site www.DisputesHelp.com . We hope you found the article of use and if you have any experiences that you feel should be added to this article that would benefit others, or you feel that some of the information that we have put is wrong then please do not hesitate to contact us (we are only human). The contents of the website are for general information only and is not intended to be relied upon for specific or general decisions. Appropriate independent professional advice should be paid for before making such a decision.

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