About Us
Liz Pickup is the founder of Ashdown Heritage, bringing together academic expertise, practical experience and a genuine passion for the historic built environment.
She holds a Master of Studies (MSt) in Building History from the University of Cambridge and is a member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). Liz has worked on a wide range of projects for private homeowners, architects, developers, commercial organisations and institutional clients, helping to secure planning permission and listed building consent for works to listed buildings, development within conservation areas, and proposals affecting the setting of heritage assets.
Liz has a particular interest in the sustainable adaptation of historic buildings. She holds the Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency for Older and Traditional Buildings, enabling her to support the growing number of projects aiming to improve the thermal efficiency of historic buildings, while respecting the special architectural and historic interest of heritage assets.
Before specialising in building conservation, Liz studied Biochemistry to PhD level and enjoyed a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry. More than a decade ago, her long-standing interest in historic buildings, combined with the experience of restoring her own listed property, inspired a change in career.
Since then, Liz has project managed a series of listed building restoration projects and new build projects, giving her first-hand insight into the practical and commercial challenges faced by property owners. This experience enables her to provide pragmatic, heritage-led advice that balances conservation principles with the realities of delivering successful projects.
Alongside her consultancy work, Liz serves on the Fabric Advisory Committee at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, contributing her expertise to the care and conservation of one of the region's most significant historic buildings.
