Liveryman Wins Best Dissertation Award

The Worshipful Company of Founders offers huge congratulations to Liveryman Simon Linford on receiving the Best Dissertation Award from the Manchester School of Architecture for 2024–25.

Simon recently completed his Master’s in Architecture and Adaptive Reuse, focusing on the restoration and repurposing of church buildings. His award-winning dissertation, The Battle to Save England’s 19th Century Anglican Churches, explores the challenges and opportunities of conserving historic places of worship.

Simon’s work draws on his long-standing interest in church architecture and bellringing. Notably, he was involved in rescuing the bells from St John’s, Hanley — a celebrated Gillett & Johnston ring of ten — which now form the basis of the new ring of twelve at Stafford.

He is currently undertaking the purchase and restoration of a chapel in Warwickshire that was once the family seat of Robert Muntz, the inventor of Muntz Metal, a durable brass alloy still admired for its distinctive use in fittings and fixtures.

Warmest congratulations to Simon on this academic achievement and his continued contribution to the preservation of architectural and metallurgical heritage.