Martin was brought up in the shadow of great ecclesiastical buildings. Although he has become one of the country’s leading experts in the care of cathedrals, his lifelong passion for design firmly encompasses the contemporary. As a young architect, he worked with Powell & Moya, a practice responsible for some of the most innovative modern buildings of the post-war years.
It was contact with the then architect to Winchester Cathedral that prompted Martin to switch the focus of his career to work with historic buildings. Many assignments for the National Trust followed.
His sensitive, painstaking work on 18th Century Beningbrough Hall in Yorkshire over a four year period was to raise his profile in the conservation field and in the presentation of historic buildings to the public. He was soon able to set up his own practice, Martin Stancliffe Architects, of which he was director for 25 years, before merging with Purcell Miller Tritton in 2004. Martin has also worked extensively for English Heritage, the Churches Conservation Trust, the Landmark Trust and private owners on major country houses, as well as cultural and educational institutions.
In parallel with the work for national bodies, Martin became known for his work in caring for the fabric of many churches and cathedrals including Lichfield Cathedral, Southwell Minster, Christ Church, Oxford and St Paul’s in London. For many years he served on the Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England.
Martin places great emphasis on the value of strategic planning, one of his principal strengths. At Paul’s Cathedral, where he has been Surveyor to the Fabric since 1990, he has instituted a long term programme of repair, conservation and adaptation work in anticipation of the St Paul’s tercentenary in 2010.
‘Breathing life into an historic building to meet the needs of a new generation is the part of the job I find most satisfying.’