The Marsh Award for Traditional Building Skills, a new annual prize set up on the initiative of English Heritage, has been awarded to Professor John Ashurst (Dip Arch, RIBA) for outstanding achievements in promoting standards and skills of conservation and repair of historic buildings.

Bill Martin, conservation director at English Heritage and a member of the judging panel, said: "John Ashurst has made a lasting and vital contribution to the understanding, care and conservation of the built heritage."

The £1,000 award is open to all age groups and celebrates the practical skills of an individual in passing on or developing other peoples\' traditional building craft skills.