About us
“Russ” David Russell Craig Arch, RIBA, Dip TP, Dip Bdg Sc, MRTPI, (2nd July 1935 to 16th December 2019) was instrumental in setting up BEAMS.
A well-known figure in Hertfordshire conservation with an encyclopaedic knowledge of historic buildings in the county. He worked in the Department of Architecture and Civic Design of the LCC and GLC before joining Hertfordshire County Council, where he was Head of the Design, Landscape, Archaeology and Conservation Unit. He was the sole Conservation Officer for Hertfordshire.
In 1989 Hertfordshire County Council seconded its services to the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust and closed down that department. This led to the Hertfordshire Building Preservation Trust drawing up a Business Plan to meet the changing economic and conservation needs to pave the way for establishing a trading arm. Agreements were reached to fully absorb the unit to ensure the most effective support for Local Authorities.
Thus it was in 1993 BEAMS was incorporated as a Company. Russ Craig came too, as Head of Conservation.
BEAMS was set up specifically to assist Councils, architects, building contractors and private individuals on a whole range of issues relating to Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and design of new development. Local Authorities were facing increasing demands for cuts in expenditure and for greater efficiency.
We believe BEAMS remains the sole trading company in the country attached to a building preservation trust.
The BEAMS Team in 2005 from left to right: Christian Brady, Sallianne Wilcox, Dorothy Abel Smith, Anna Cudnowska, Polish student, Anne Haworth and Russ Craig