The Architecture Group meets at Bayston Hill Methodist Centre Hall for its monthly meetings. These are usually on the first Tuesday afternoon of each month. In the winter meetings are 13.30 to 15.30. In the summer meetings are 14.00 to 16.00. To pay for the hire of the hall group members at present contribute £5 each every six months. With a significant number of new members in recent months the group is full, but prospective members are welcome to contact the Coordinator and arrange to come along to a Bayston Hill meeting as a (free) guest to try us out. The group studies buildings and gardens, architects and architectural styles through different periods of history. This includes building techniques, methods and materials. We also look at developments such as energy efficiency and Passivhaus designs. The works of individual architects and movements are explored, and in the warmer months we may undertake local field trips organised by group members. Participation is the key and, if possible, group members are expected to contribute presentations (which might be joint presentations by two or more members) or to help arrange and support meetings, events and activities in our programme.

There is time for refreshments and discussion after presentations. Our 2024 programme started with Weird and Wonderful Buildings at our January 9th meeting. In February we looked at 50 years of Telford. In March we had a presentation about Harewood House and Palladian Architecture and on April 9th we had a presentation about Renaissance Architecture of the Low Countries. Our meeting in May looked at Edwardian Shrewsbury. In June we had a presentation about the home remodelling, improvements and modifications made over about 25 years and 5 houses by one couple who are in the group (and whose home members of the group had the opportunity to visit).

The July meeting looked at Edwardian Architecture including garden design. In the Spring we also had the opportunity to join the Shropshire Society of Architects monthly evening meetings at the Hive in Belmont. A number of us attended the February 14th meeting when Jamie Fobert of Jamie Fobert Architects gave a presentation entitled Working in Art: From Exhibitions to the National Portrait Gallery. The work done at Tate St. Ives, Kettles Yard, Cambridge and particularly the transformation of the National Portrait Gallery was both fascinating and impressive.

Some of the group joined the March meeting when Ceri Edmunds of Alison Brooks Architects gave a presentation and the April meeting when Alex Ely of Mae Architects (winners of the 2023 Stirling Prize) gave the presentation. At the final meeting of this series Magnus Strom of Strom Architects gave a presentation about High-End Residential Homes. Our September meeting was a presentation by Marches Energy Agency, our October 1st meeting (2.00pm start) will include a presentation about Milton Keynes and the November 5th meeting (1.30pm start) will be about Canal Architecture. In addition members are encouraged to attend the Autumn Series of the Shropshire Society of Architects Lectures at The Hive in Belmont. The first of these is on Wednesday 25th September at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start (entry cost £5). The topic is Designing with Timber and the presenter is Fergus Fielden of Fielden Fowles. As from October 1st 2024 the new Coordinator of the Shrewsbury u3a Architecture Group will be Pauline Hallworth.