# Donald Insall

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{{Short description|British architect, conservationist and author (born 1926)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
'''Sir Donald William Insall''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born 7 February 1926)<ref name="Knighthood"/> is a British architect, conservationist and author, who has been described as "one of the leading conservation architects of his generation".<ref name="Cabinet Office">{{cite press release | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/queens-birthday-honours-list-2010 | title=Queen's Birthday Honours List 2010 | publisher=[Cabinet Office](/source/Cabinet_Office) | date=11 June 2010 | accessdate=23 February 2014}}</ref> He is the founder of the architectural, conservation and architectural consultancy practice, [Donald Insall Associates](/source/Donald_Insall_Associates).

==Early life==
Insall was born on 7 February 1926 in [Bristol](/source/Bristol),<ref name="Knighthood"/><ref name="Horton">{{cite web | url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pace/graduation/honorary-degrees/hondeg04/insall.html | title=Donald Insall: Doctor of Laws | publisher=[University of Bristol](/source/University_of_Bristol) | work=Public and Ceremonial Events Office | date=18 February 2004 | accessdate=23 February 2014 | author=Horton, Mark}}</ref> where he attended [Bristol Grammar School](/source/Bristol_Grammar_School).<ref name="Horton"/> He served in the [Coldstream Guards](/source/Coldstream_Guards) during the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War)<ref name="Horton"/> and qualified in architecture at the Royal West of England Academy School of Architecture, now part of the [University of Bristol](/source/University_of_Bristol).<ref name="Horton"/> He then studied at the [Royal Academy](/source/Royal_Academy) and the School of Planning.<ref name="Horton"/>

==Career==
Insall worked with the London architects, Phillimore and Jenkins.<ref name="Horton"/>
During 1957 Insall published his report ''The Care of Old Buildings'', marking the 80th anniversary of the founding by [William Morris](/source/William_Morris) of the [Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings](/source/Society_for_the_Protection_of_Ancient_Buildings). During 1958 he founded architectural conservation practice [Donald Insall Associates](/source/Donald_Insall_Associates),<ref name="Horton"/> and was joined shortly after by Peter Locke (1929–2013),<ref name="Locke">{{cite journal | url=http://www.ribajournal.com/pages/march13_obituary_205702.cfm | title=Peter Locke, FRIBA, FSA, 1929–2012 | author=Insall, Donald | journal=[RIBA Journal](/source/RIBA_Journal) | date=March 2013 | access-date=23 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226105040/http://www.ribajournal.com/pages/march13_obituary_205702.cfm | archive-date=26 February 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> both men having been Lethaby Scholars of the [Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings](/source/Society_for_the_Protection_of_Ancient_Buildings) in 1950.<ref name="Horton"/>

Insall was appointed the [City of Chester](/source/Chester)'s consultation consultant in 1960, a post he held until 1978.<ref name="Chester degree"/>

[Donald Insall Associates](/source/Donald_Insall_Associates) continues its specialist work in conservation, historic consultancy, adaptive re-use and new buildings in sensitive sites. Insall ran the practice until his retirement in 1998, and continues active as a Consultant.<ref name="History Man">{{cite web | url=http://marylebonejournal.com/space/history-man | title=History Man; Sir Donald Insall | work=Marylebone Journal | author=Richardson, Viel | accessdate=23 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110020205/http://marylebonejournal.com/space/history-man | archive-date=10 January 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Honours==
In the [1995 New Year Honours](/source/1995_New_Year_Honours), Insall was appointed a [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (CBE) for services to conservation.<ref name="Knighthood"/> Subsequently, he was appointed a [Knight Bachelor](/source/Knight_Bachelor) in the Queen's [2010 Birthday Honours](/source/2010_Birthday_Honours).<ref name="Knighthood">{{cite news | url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/chester-architect-donald-insall-knighted-5207571 | title=Chester architect Donald Insall knighted in Queen's Birthday Honours | work=[Chester Chronicle](/source/Chester_Chronicle) | date=16 June 2010 | access-date=23 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="Gazette">{{cite journal | url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/59881/notices/1421625/all=CBE | journal=[London Gazette](/source/London_Gazette) | date=16 August 2011 | number= 59881 |title=Honours and Awards: Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood|accessdate=23 February 2014 | pages=15670}}</ref>

In recognition of his conservation work in Chester, Insall received the honorary freedom of the City of Chester in 1999.<ref name="Horton"/><ref name="Chester degree"/> He has also received [Europa Nostra](/source/Europa_Nostra)'s Medal of Honour.<ref name="Horton"/>

Insall was awarded the honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws from the [University of Bristol](/source/University_of_Bristol) in 2004<ref name="Horton"/> and Doctor of Architecture from the [University of Chester](/source/University_of_Chester) in 2012.<ref name="Chester degree">{{cite web | url=http://www.chesteralumni.com/index.php?page_id=238 | title=Sir Donald Insall CBE FRTIBA – Doctor of Architecture ''honoris causa'', of the University of Chester | publisher=[University of Chester](/source/University_of_Chester) | work=Honorary Graduates 2012 | date=2012 | accessdate=23 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301060847/http://www.chesteralumni.com/index.php?page_id=238 | archive-date=1 March 2014 | url-status=usurped }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Insall lives on [Kew Green](/source/Kew_Green) in [Kew](/source/Kew), south west London.<ref name=Fleming>{{cite news|title=OBEs, CBEs, and knighthoods all round as Richmond residents make it on to Queen's Birthday Honours list|url=http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/8227529.Richmond_residents_on_Queen_s_Birthday_Honours_list/|work=[Richmond and Twickenham Times](/source/Richmond_and_Twickenham_Times)|author= Fleming, Christine|date=20 June 2010|accessdate=7 February 2014}}</ref> He and his wife Libby<ref name="Horton"/> have two sons and one daughter.<ref name=Fleming/> His elder son, [Robert Insall](/source/Robert_Insall), is the professor of computational cell biology at [University College London](/source/University_College_London) and a fellow of the [Royal Society of Edinburgh](/source/Royal_Society_of_Edinburgh).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Couple have become fellows|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/13278778.couple-have-become-fellows/|access-date=2021-05-24|work=[Glasgow Times](/source/Glasgow_Times)|language=en}}</ref> He is a life member of the [Royal Photographic Society](/source/Royal_Photographic_Society) which he joined in 1949.<ref>''The Photographic Journal'', June 1949, p. 148.</ref>

On 7 February 2026, he celebrated his [100th birthday](/source/Centenarian).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Donald Insall celebrates his 100th birthday |url=https://dia.co.uk/news/sir-donald-insall-celebrates-his-100th-birthday |access-date=19 February 2026 |date=7 February 2026 |publisher=Donald Insall Associates}}</ref>

== Publications ==
* ''The Care of Old Buildings'', report (1957)
*''Chester: A Study in Conservation'' (1968)<ref name="Chester degree"/> 
* ''The Care of Old Buildings Today: A Practical Guide'' (Architectural Press, 1972)
* ''Living Buildings: Architectural Conservation, Philosophy, Principles and Practice'' (Images Publishing Group Pty Ltd, 2008 and 2018)

== Selected projects ==
* [Windsor Castle](/source/Windsor_Castle) restoration following the [1992 Windsor Castle fire](/source/1992_Windsor_Castle_fire)<ref name="Knighthood"/><ref name="Chester degree"/>
* [Battle of Britain Monument in London](/source/Battle_of_Britain_Monument_in_London)<ref name="Wright">{{Cite web |url=https://c20society.org.uk/war-memorials/london-battle-of-britain-memorial|last=Wright |first=Jon |title=London: Battle of Britain Memorial |access-date=13 October 2022 |website=[Twentieth Century Society](/source/Twentieth_Century_Society)}}</ref>
* [Palace of Westminster](/source/Palace_of_Westminster)<ref name="Youde">{{Cite journal |last=Youde |first=Kate |date=8 July 2022 |title=ScottWhitbyStudio to revamp listed Church of England offices |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/scottwhitbystudio-to-revamp-listed-church-of-england-hq |journal=[Architects' Journal](/source/Architects'_Journal)}}</ref>
* [Cross Bath](/source/Cross_Bath), [Bath, Somerset](/source/Bath%2C_Somerset), refurbished in the 1990s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/crossbath/crossbath.htm|title=Reviving the Cross Bath|last=Carey|first=Peter|publisher=Building Conservation.com|accessdate=25 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/newhomes/3317425/Making-the-grade-The-Cross-Bath-Bath-Somerset.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112034950/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/newhomes/3317425/Making-the-grade-The-Cross-Bath-Bath-Somerset.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 November 2012|title=Making the grade: The Cross Bath, Bath, Somerset|last=Miller|first=Keith|date=20 September 2003|work=[The Daily Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph)|accessdate=26 July 2009}}</ref>
* [Somerset House](/source/Somerset_House)
* [Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare](/source/Garrick's_Temple_to_Shakespeare)
* [Plumpton Place](/source/Plumpton_Place)
* [Wotton House](/source/Wotton_House)
* [Chester](/source/Chester) Conservation Plan<ref name="Horton"/> 
* [Market Hall, Monmouth](/source/Market_Hall%2C_Monmouth) – a new flat roof for the single storey building, together with a [Modernist](/source/Modern_architecture) metal and glass facade at the rear, overlooking the [River Monnow](/source/River_Monnow), in 1968–69<ref name=newman>[Newman, John](/source/John_Newman_(architectural_historian)). ''The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire'', Penguin Books, 2000, {{ISBN|0-14-071053-1}}, pp.405–406</ref>
* [Kedleston Hall](/source/Kedleston_Hall)
* [Kelmscott Manor](/source/Kelmscott_Manor)
* [Chevening, Kent](/source/Chevening%2C_Kent)
* [Goldsmiths' Hall](/source/Goldsmiths'_Hall), London
* [Mansion House, London](/source/Mansion_House%2C_London)
* [Somerset House](/source/Somerset_House), London
* [The Holme](/source/The_Holme), [Regents Park](/source/Regents_Park), London
* [The Vyne](/source/The_Vyne), Hampshire
* [Croft Castle](/source/Croft_Castle), Herefordshire
* [Berrington Hall](/source/Berrington_Hall), Herefordshire
* [Speke Hall](/source/Speke_Hall), Liverpool
* [Trafalgar Square](/source/Trafalgar_Square) paving, London
* [Queen Mother Memorial](/source/Queen_Mother_Memorial), The Mall, London

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.donaldinsallassociates.co.uk/assets/newsletter-34.pdf Donald Insall Associates 50th Anniversary Newsletter]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150110020205/http://marylebonejournal.com/space/history-man Interview with Insall]
*[http://www.donaldinsallassociates.co.uk Donald Insall Associates website]
*[http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pace/graduation/honorary-degrees/hondeg04/insall.html Bristol University Honorary Degree and profile]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Insall, Donald}}
Category:1926 births
Category:Living people
Category:Architects from Bristol
Category:British men centenarians
Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Conservation architects
Category:Knights Bachelor
Category:People from Kew, London
Category:Writers from Bristol
Category:People associated with the University of Chester
Category:People educated at Bristol Grammar School
Category:People associated with the University of Bristol

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Donald Insall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Insall) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Insall?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.