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The survival of the mausoleum at Castle Howard was threatened by the potential collapse of the supporting columns. Almost 30 years after the repairs were completed this paper reflects on the engineering problems faced and the work undertaken to reconstruct the columns. The paper asks if a different approach would have been taken if the work were done today. Architectural backgroundThe mausoleum at Castle Howard was built between 1729 and 1742 to Nicholas Hawksmoor's design. It is thought that Hawksmoor (1661-1736) last saw the mausoleum in 1731, the clerestory and dome not being built until some time after 1736. Hawksmoor was an associate of Sir Christopher Wren and also of Sir John Vanbrugh, with whom he collaborated on the design of the main house at Castle Howard between 1699 and 1726. Hawksmoor was also responsible for the design of other structures at Castle Howard, namely the Pyramid in 1728, the Carrmire Gate in about 1730 and the now demolished Temple of Venus in 1731-35.Hawksmoor was not responsible for the design of the walls that surround the mausoleum, nor of the steps which lead up to the chapel; these were designed by Daniel Garrett apparently in a manner that contravened Hawksmoor's intentions.The mausoleum, a Grade I-listed building, sits on a bare hilltop and is visible from a considerable distance. On the upper level is the domed chapel surrounded by a peristyle of twenty Doric columns, each 10 m high and about 1 m in diameter, surmounted by an entablature, which in turn supports a vaulted roof between the columns and the chapel walls. The catacombs below contain 63 burial chambers. Horace Walpole was so

(eds), Routledge, Oxford, UK, 2015, ISBN 978-1-873394-80-9, £35·00 (hardback), 220 pp.As might reasonably be expected from a book produced by National Trust staff with a wealth of practical work behind them and with input from their highly experienced consultants, this is a very useful and, perhaps surprisingly, readable book.Part 1 of the book takes the form of a useful dissertation of conservation philosophy, which even those with a long background in conservation will find an interesting read. It serves to set the context for the rest of the book, as it also briefly discusses historical building legislation, procurement of building services and notes on specification writing.The major part of this book (part 2) is a series of case studies of a wide range of National Trust buildings, each of which begins by setting down a brief outline of the building in question and its problems and how the conservation philosophy impacted on the decisions made about the repair methods adopted, and then follows this with the specification for the work. While readers will probably not read through the specifications in great detail unless they have similar problems to deal with, the case study outlines all make interesting and instructive reading. Each case study ends with a short paragraph commenting on how successful the work was.Topics covered in part 2 are building recording, masonry (brickwork and stonework), timber repairs, stone roof coverings and thatch. Each case study is complemented by photographs and, in some cases, drawings.The specifications seem, to this reviewer, to be both comprehensive and well written such that the experienced contractor will find them helpful without having their intelligence insulted, while less experienced contractors will find quite detailed information and guidance contained within the book.Towards the end of the book are appendices, again very helpfully written. Appendix 1 covers conservation management plans and conservation statements, and appendix 2 is a generic brief on historical building survey. This is certainly a book which will prove a very useful addition to many a conservation practitioner's bookshelf; its main drawback to this reviewer is that it was not written 30 years ago!