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Donald Insall was a pioneering conservationist, architect, planning consultant, author and teacher; he founded Donald Insall Associates in 1958.

Insall was keen to stress the difference between preservation and conservation. Preservation he said is “what you do for marmalade”. In the case of buildings, this means keeping them in their original state for posterity. Conservation means working with old buildings, streets and towns in ways that allow them to live on usefully and delightfully for new uses when and where appropriate and for future generations. Insall summarised his philosophy, principles and practice in Living Buildings (2008; reprinted with a foreword by the Prince of Wales in 2018), a comprehensive testament to all that’s best in the work of conservation architects. 

He got to know and understand historic buildings of all periods. “I love them all”, he said. “When society is changing, the buildings that society puts up will be changing; it’s all parts of a lively continuity.” What mattered most, though, is the quality and the care not just of individual buildings but also of their relationship to the streets, towns and cities of which they were a part. The work of conservation architects was, Insall believed, to help make “every place to be truly more itself.” 

Insall was a driving force in the workings of the Ancient Monuments Board and the Historic Buildings Council for England where he befriended, among others, the architectural historian John Summerson and historians and conservation activists Nikolaus Pevsner and John Betjeman. These bodies led to the creation of English Heritage in 1984. Donald Insall was a founding commissioner.  

Before this, Insall’s study of Chester, published in 1968, proved to be an international landmark for urban conservation. Donald Insall Associates visited more than four hundred buildings and in doing so showed that what is best from the past should be conserved for positive change to the city. This led to Insall’s appointment - a first - as Conservation Consultant for the City of Chester and, ultimately, to the creation of conservation officers by local councils across the country. 

Donald Insall was knighted in 2010. CBE in 1995. OBE in 1981.  

Survived by his wife, Libby Insall, and his three children, Robert, Christopher and Hilary.

Appointments include:

• Member of the UK Council, the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
• Member of Advisory/Fabric Committees, Westminster Abbey, and now Southwark and Canterbury Cathedrals. Member of Architectural Advisory Committee, the World Monuments Fund (UK).
• Vice President (1994–), The Building Crafts and Conservation Trust (previously Trustee from 1990 to 1993).
• Council Member, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (1979–2005).
• The European Commission: Expert Committee on the European Architectural Heritage, Brussels.
• President (1994): the Association for the Study of the Conservation of Historic Buildings (ASCHB).
• Architect Member of HM Government Inquiry: Fire Safety in the Royal Palaces (1993).
• Founder-Commissioner, The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage); and Member of the Commission’s Historic Buildings Advisory Committee and Historic Areas Committee (1984 to 1989).
• Patron: the Bedford Park Society; the Kew Society, the Environmental Trust for Richmond-upon-Thames.

Author:

• “The Care of Old Buildings Today” (1972)
• “Living Buildings. Architectural Conservation: Philosophy, Principles and Practice” (2008; reprinted 2018)

Awards:

• D.Arch (University of Chester) 2012
• LL.D. (Bristol) 2004
• The Royal Warrant Holders: Plowden Medal 2001
• APT International: Harley McKee Award 2000
• Europa Nostra Medal of Honour 2000
• RICS People in Conservation Medal 2000
• Honorary Freedom: The City of Chester 1999
• RIBA Neale Bursar 1955
• Banister Fletcher Medallist 1949

Honours:

• Knighthood 2010
• CBE 1995
• OBE 1981
• The Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal 1977

Dorian is an accredited conservation architect and, since 2025, the Chief Executive of Donald Insall Associates. Having joined the practice in 2011, he established the practice’s York studio in 2021 and rapidly grew the team there while overseeing a range of large-scale heritage projects for local authorities, charitable trusts and private owners. He is a communicative, hands-on leader with a track record of successfully guiding clients through complex procurement, contractual and on-site challenges; he is also a valuable partner to large charitable organisations where funding conditions dictate programme and project parameters.

Helen joined Donald Insall Associates in 2013 from English Heritage (now Historic England), wherein she worked as an Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas; prior to this she was a Senior Conservation Officer at Westminster City Council. At DIA, Helen initially worked in London, advising on major schemes for clients as diverse as CapCo and the Grosvenor Estate. In 2017 she set up a new branch of the practice in Oxford, and can now count the Colleges of St Anne’s, Nuffield, Lincoln, Hertford, St. Hugh’s and Wycliffe Hall amongst her clients, as well as many private individuals and developers.

Helen is a highly respected conservationist, with over 20 years’ experience in the planning and development sector, and has an outstanding track record of negotiating consent in respect of sensitive and complex sites. She has lectured extensively at universities and conferences on conservation planning and architectural history and is a member of the Oxford Diocesan Advisory Committee and a Director of the Historic Towns and Villages Forum.

Simon is a Chartered Architect and an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC). He serves on the AABC’s Board of Trustees. His passion for the historic environment is reflected in the projects that he has successfully delivered for clients since he joined the practice in 2000. He has helped to bring several important sites back to life through restoration and reuse, and finding the most sustainable, most financially viable solution.

Simon’s experience and enthusiasm, coupled with detailed technical knowledge, help clients to obtain consent for sensitive sites and deliver projects through to completion. Simon enjoys working in multidisciplinary teams on challenging projects and has a practical approach which adds real value.

A passion for the historic environment led Simon to specialise in conservation early in his architectural training at the University of Liverpool, and steered his coursework and reading so as to equip him for a career in the field. His dissertation explored the creative reuse of buildings, beginning with the work of 19th century restorers such as Gilbert Scott, followed by the emergence of the conservation movement and subsequent legislation. It finished with an analysis of today’s best practice and was awarded the annual dissertation prize.

Jenny joined the Practice in 2018, as Legal Counsel.  Jenny is a solicitor, and has experience in large City of London legal practice, advising in relation to projects, development, and funding.  She also has experience working for and with grant funding bodies and charities.  As a Director and Company Secretary, Jenny works across the practice advising colleagues in relation to risk, regulatory and strategic matters.

Robin joined the Practice in September 2019 to lead the finance team. CIMA qualified, Robin has extensive experience in leading the finance function to partner with the business to deliver better project and financial outcomes. Working in both listed and privately owned companies, Robin has spent most of his career working the construction sector with both professional service companies and contractors. This includes operating across Europe, establishing new entities as well as joint ventures.

Andrew is an historic buildings architect with over 40 years in the industry. His team from Ferrey & Mennim, a practice with a 100 year history in York, merged with Donald Insall Associates in 2024 and he now directs the York office. He has been Cathedral Architect for St Magnus in Kirkwall for over 20 years and along with Hull Minster is architect to over 150 churches in the York, Leeds and Sheffield dioceses. He is also an Architect Advisor to York and Sheffield DAC's and sits on the Fabric Advisory Committee of Durham Cathedral.

Caroline joined the practice in 2001 and specialises in new-build and modern interventions in historic fabric. She is an RIBA-accredited Specialist Conservation Architect, and consistently delivers projects on time and within budget. Caroline is particularly skilled in the design and delivery of modern contextual buildings and at managing complex, fast-tracked construction projects. Clients enjoy Caroline’s effective leadership approach, which enthuses project teams so as to achieve their objectives.

Cordula joined the practice in 2008. She is now Practice Director and leads our Heritage Consultancy in London. She has twenty years of experience as a heritage and design advisor, and has led heritage and townscape strategy, design development and planning negotiations for many complex sites in London and nationally. Among her clients are London’s Great Estates, including The Crown Estate and Grosvenor, private developers, and charitable and cultural organisations. Cordula is a Chair of the London Borough of Islington’s Design Review Panel, and she sits on the Design Review Panel for the London Borough of Lambeth. She was educated at the Bartlett School, the Sorbonne in Paris and Berlin’s Humboldt University. Cordula has a special interest in the architecture of the twentieth century.

Cordula has been a member of the IHBC for most of her career. She was previously a project director for Publica, a conservation officer at Islington Council and an advisor for the Twentieth Century Society. Cordula has written on new architecture and on building conservation for a range of British and European magazines and publications.

Edward is an AABC & RIBA-accredited conservation architect and the London architecture studio lead at DIA, where he is also a member of the Senior Leadership Team. A respected and technically accomplished architect, his expertise lies in successfully delivering complex projects at in-use Grade I-listed Buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments, often within World Heritage Sites. He is leading DIA's work at Blenheim Palace, including the major re-roofing initiative; he also directs Parliamentary frameworks and key projects such as the Victoria Tower, alongside projects at Kensington Palace Orangery, Barrington Court, and Brighton Museum. Edward has a proven track record of over a decade of continuous work at the Palace of Westminster, overseeing notable programmes including the Europa Nostra award-winning Westminster Hall, the Courtyards Conservation Programme, and the Encaustic Tiles programme.

Francis is an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC); he joined Donald Insall Associates in 1991, qualifying as an architect in the following year. He became a Director in 2014 and is based in our London office, focusing on specialist conservation repair and Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) to guide the whole process of historic buildings management. He has a particular interest in traditional building materials, their repair and conservation, and writes regularly for specialist publications.

His technical understanding of historic buildings construction permits an authoritative approach to conservation work for buildings throughout all sectors. As well as those listed above, his clients include the National Trust, English Heritage, the Church of England dioceses of Canterbury, London, Chelmsford and Durham, various London-based Local Authorities, as well as private owners of listed buildings.

Francis is regularly appointed as a specialist conservation consultant to heritage projects abroad, particularly the Caribbean.

Kate leads Donald Insall Associates’ Manchester office and Northern Heritage Consultancy team, providing detailed advice and guidance in respect of development proposals in a range of different contexts and assessing their impact on heritage assets in accordance with the NPPF and local policy and guidance.

Kate is a full member of the IHBC, a trustee of the Greater Manchester Building Presentation Trust, is chair of the Victorian Society (Manchester Region) Committee and sits on the Places Matter Northwest Design Review Panel and the Manchester Heritage Panel.