People

We are an RIBA Chartered Practice led by principal, John C Goom and an associate John Middleton supported by technical and administration staff. We can also offer services as CDM Co-ordinators and have close relationships with Quantity Surveyors and Structural Engineers.
 

John C Goom

BA, Dip.Arch, AABC, RIBA, Lethaby Scholar

John has specialised in the care and conservation of historic buildings since his student days in Bristol. A dissertation on conservation projects in Venice was followed by the Lethaby (SPAB) Scholarship in 1975, at the time the only practical training in conservation.

Since completing the Scholarship he has worked in private practices in Bedfordshire, Derbyshire and Warwickshire and established this practice in 1994, all specialising in conservation work. He is a chartered member of the RIBA and an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation.

His intention in setting up the practice was to establish a firm that would provide a personalised service to all those who look after historic buildings of all periods.

He was a member of the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) Main Committee (1986-2004) and represented the SPAB in its opposition to the draft British Standard for the Repair of Historic Buildings resulting in a much more sympathetic final document. He was a member of the Derby Diocesan Advisory Committee 1986-88 and now serves on the Gloucester Diocesan Advisory Committee.

John is registered on the list of architects undertaking Quinquennial Inspections in Hereford, Gloucester, Coventry and Lichfield Diocese. He is also appointed to look after National Trust properties in the Wessex, West Midlands and Thames and Solent regions. He is also a commissioned architect for English Heritage West Midlands region through their Joint Scheme for Churches.

John is keen to promote the practical conservation of both buildings and landscapes through the voluntary sector and is currently Honorary Technical Advisor to the Wychavon Building Preservation Trust and is commissioned architect to the Woodchester Mansion Trust and the Spon End Building Preservation Trust in Coventry. He has also acted as a consultant to various national amenity societies.

He is very concerned about maintaining traditional skills and techniques. Several projects, notably Woodchester Mansion and Spon End, have been used for training craftsmen. He has lectured on conservation at various masonry colleges as well as at the Architectural Association and other conservation courses. As chairman of the Herefordshire Stone Tile Project he helped rekindle a dwindling local industry.

He lives in the Cotswolds and his interests (apart from ancient buildings) include music (playing cello), fell walking and theatre.
 

John Middleton

Associate

BA (Hons), Dip Arch, MaPs

John joined the practice in 1997 initially as an Architectural Technician. He graduated from Birmingham School of Architecture in 2004 and has since completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Architecture. He has been an Associate since 2004.

Since joining the practice he has been involved in the design and construction of many of the practice’s projects including the West Range at Woodchester Mansion and the repair and adaptation of Perrycroft, a CFA Voysey house in Herefordshire as well as several smaller domestic projects.

He has recently helped to prepare a feasibility report and proposals for the repair and conservation of the outer eyecatchers for the National Trust at Croome Park in Worcestershire and is running a project to repair Umberslade Baptist Chapel near Hockley Heath.

John’s prime interest is in the adaptation and reuse of old buildings and the new design in historic contexts particularly the symbiotic the relationship between new and old and the multi layered complexity only possible with old buildings.

He is developing proposals for a new parish building adjacent to Studley Parish Church and is part way through an MA in Intervention Architecture.

John has been a member of the Association For Project Safety since 1996 and has also undertaken The Society For the Protection of Ancient Buildings Repair Course.
 

Elliot Goodall

Architectural Assistant

BArch (Hons)

Elliot graduated from Plymouth University School of Architecture in 2005 and joined the practice the following summer as an Architectural Assistant.

He has been involved in the development of drawings for many of the practice’s projects including Spon Street Coventry and the Wain House at Hellens. He has also been involved in a series of small design projects, including the design of a garden of remembrance at St Lawrence Church in Gloucester and minor adaptations to the Village Hall in Badgeworth, Gloucester.

Elliot has a keen interest in the re-use and adaptation of redundant buildings, and has recently assisted in the design work for the conversion of former RAF hospital to a visitor centre at Croome Park in Worcestershire.

He is currently assisting in the preparation of design proposals for the conversion of a series of traditional farm buildings to domestic use at Sheephouse Farm Maidenhead and the internal re-planning and rear extension to a Cotswold stone and timber framed house in Broadway. He has also completed design proposals for a second garden of remembrance for St Mary’s Church in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham.

Elliot shares his spare time between creative and exhilarating pursuits, which include painting, illustrating & downhill mountain biking.