Abstract

Context
The Lincolnshire Mud and Stud is one of several vernacular earth building techniques on the British Isles. For a long time it was probably the least known and the least praised one. Unlike more acknowledged English traditions, such as Cob or Wattle and Daub, this one was not treated as a separate important part of English heritage.

30 years ago something changed dramatically. A small group of enthusiasts - architects, historians and practitioners – who called themselves EMESS (East Midlands Earth Structure Society) rediscovered this technique and dedicated their work to learning about its uniqueness and disseminating their findings. They started collecting data, getting involved in renovation and new builds, and most of all spread the knowledge of this technique among local residents.

Research: main objectives,
Today, 3 decades on, research led by Universities of Lincoln and Sheffield involving interviews with inhabitants of those historic buildings brings insight into the long-lasting and transforming impact on the perception of Lincolnshire architecture resulting from EMESS activity. This gives a valuable and useful lesson on how a relatively small grass roots organisation can change the perception and effectively change the role of vernacular architecture.