Fergus Connolly
B.Arch Prof Dip ARB

Fergus is from Lancashire and  studied architecture at Glasgow School of Art, and London Metropolitan University, where he was selected as a standout student by BD Magazine.  Fergus undertook the SPAB’s Lethaby Scholarship in 2008, and was awarded first prize in the Georgian Group's Architectural Drawing Competition (presented by HRH The Prince of Wales), later that year.

From 2003-2006, Fergus worked for Martin Stancliffe Architects.  In the role of Cathedral Surveyors, the practice undertook St. Paul’s Cathedral’s largest phase of repair and reordering since it's completion in 1711. 

At FCBStudios Fergus spent 8 years as church architect to Grade 1 listed Bath Abbey, and project architect for The Footprint Project.  The project secured £10.5m of HLF support ahead of works to repair and stabilise the collapsing Abbey floor, whilst delivering the facilities to improve the Abbey’s status as Bath’s foremost choral music and events venue.  At the heart of the project is a commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of the Abbey’s operation with a comprehensive services review and drawing renewable energy from the city’s hot spring water to heat the Abbey. 

During his time at FCBS he also worked on Shrewsbury Flax Mill, Windsor Castle’s Visitor Masterplan and new conservation studio for the Royal Collection, and authored The Burrell Collection’s Statement of Significance.

Fergus lectures and tutors across the country on vernacular architecture and new architecture in sensitive settings.

Charles Wellingham
B.A(Hons) B.Arch ARB AABC

Charlie grew up in Somerset and studied architecture at University of Plymouth and the University of the West of England, during which time his work was commended by the SPAB Philip Webb award and shortlisted for the RIBA President’s Silver Medal. Since graduating he has worked for several conservation practices in the UK and abroad, contributing to award winning Heritage Lottery funded schemes.

During 6 years at FCBStudios Charlie was the project architect responsible for delivering the heritage led regeneration of Middleport Pottery in Stoke on Trent for the Prince’s Regeneration Trust.  The site was built in 1888 and has been home to Burleigh for 150 years, and is the last Victorian ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent that is still occupied by its original tenant.  As well as securing the continuation of Burleigh’s craft, the brief sought to strengthen the economic sustainability of the grade II* listed site by introducing additional complementary uses, education spaces and visitor facilities, which opened the gates of the factory for the first time and allowed the people of Burslem to reconnect with their industrial heritage.  The factory’s evocative time-worn character was safe-guarded through a commitment to light touch conservation, and the restrained refurbishment was awarded a national RIBA award, a Civic Trust AABC Conservation Award and a Europa Nostra Prize for European Cultural Heritage Conservation Excellence.

Following his completion of the SPAB Lethaby Scholarship in 2014, he rejoined FCBS and was responsible for leading the design team overseeing the creative reuse of the former Guildhall court rooms in the heart of medieval Bristol.  This included securing Planning and Listed Building Consent for the extension and conversion of the Grade I and II* listed buildings into a hotel complex. 

Charlie is an associate lecturer at the UWE Architecture School and guest critic in the Part 2 Conservation Studio. Charlie was elected to join the AABC Conservation Register in 2016.

Joe Hyett
BSc M.Arch ACIAT

Joe is from the Forest of Dean and studied BSc Architectural Technology and Design at the University of the West of England, where he was awarded the CIAT 'Outstanding Graduating Student in Architectural Technology'. Joe completed his Masters of Architecture in 2021, during which time his thesis project was awarded the RIBA Wessex Prize and shortlisted for the RIBA President's Silver Medal. Joe has a varied professional experience across the south west of England, including a placement year in Vancouver.

During his time at CWa, Joe has worked on several projects including the technical development and delivery of a new admissions building for English Heritage at Old Wardour Castle, the ongoing refurbishment and upgrade of Grade II listed Stanley Arts centre in South Norwood, and the refurbishment and extension to Northly Farm, a historic farmstead in South Gloucestershire.

Joe continues to be involved at UWE Architecture School as an Associate Lecturer tutoring on the BSc Architectural Technology + Design course.

Beth Kippin
BSc Hons

Beth Kippin joined CWa in 2023 following completion of her undergraduate degree at the University of Bath – where she was awarded the 2023 University of Bath Chancellor’s Prize for the best undergraduate student. Beth’s final year project was for a social enterprise forum investigating the architectural/ecological context of Oxford’s ‘rural-urban fringe’ – prioritising the adaptive reuse of the surviving fabric from the site’s historic Priory. Beth is developing this line of enquiry by assisting on our work at a series of barn conversions in Wiltshire. Beth brings experience from previous placements with Grimshaw and Alec French.

Callum Purdue
BA Hons

Callum joined CWa in 2023 having completed his undergraduate degree at the University of the West of England, where his work was nominated for the RIBA Dissertation Medal. Callum's Dissertation 'Altered Body' is a phenomenological narrative describing a sensory interaction with the Saxon Church of St Lawrence in Bradford on Avon. Callum switched to studying architecture after a degree in Philosophy and Sociology, which included a year abroad in Stockholm. Callum brings experience from previous placements, including with O’Donnell & Tuomey in Dublin. Callum is currently assisting CWa with the phased refurbishment of Bridgwater Town Hall.

info@connollywellingham.com