The owners of the historic houses that abound in the Essex countryside are to get the chance to find out how to care for them properly - thanks to the conservation experts of the county council.

The council's heritage conservation group is staging a number of events designed to reveal to 21st Century eyes the secrets of the craftsmen who built these structures and so allow modern residents to find out more about their homes and how to maintain them properly.

A craft day centring on historic building materials at Cressing Temple Barns near Witham between 9am and 4.30pm on June 27 will help solve the unique repair problems of such old buildings.

Throughout the day, the group's experts will be identifying, selecting and finding the appropriate building materials, using the historic temple and practical demonstrations to illustrate their comments.

And between 9am and 4.30pm on July 4 at the same location, the heritage conservation group stages Reading the Timbers - Becoming your own House Detective, a day aimed at owners of old timber-framed buildings.

Designed to give an insight into timber framing, the day will cover topics such as woodland management and timber conversion, tree-ring dating, medieval carpentry, and the recording of these distinctive old buildings. Admission is £35 each, including lunch.

Details and booking forms for both events are available from Pauline Hudspith, education support officer at Essex County Council, at County Hall, Chelmsford CM1 1QH.

Or you can call 01245 437672, fax 01245 258353 or e-mail pauline.hudspith@essexcc.gov.uk

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