Richard Pocock

BA Hons MSc (Building Rehabilitation and Conservation) MRICS FRSPH – Heritage Division Lead

Tell us about your role and your main focus
As Director, my role is split between a number of areas which include managing the growth, development and administration of the Heritage Division of the company, promoting and representing the business as a whole, and carrying out some of the larger and more complex pre-purchase survey commissions.

What key skills or experience specifically make you shine?
My experience in understanding and interpretation of historic buildings is key to my role. I have a specialism in medieval and post-medieval timber framed vernacular buildings but have reported extensively on period architecture from other periods, especially Georgian and Victorian buildings. I am a professional member of a number of organisations in the field of historic buildings, including the Society of Architectural Historians, the Wealden Buildings Study Group, and The Domestic Buildings Research Group (Surrey), for which I have served as Vice Chair for some years.

What’s the best thing about your job?
The privilege of being able to explore many and varied historic buildings and to tell the owners and buyers about their history and development.

What’s the biggest challenge in your work?
Managing client expectations – and making sure I plan enough time to do everything!

What do you think makes Desbruslais a great company to be part of?
The very close professional bond and focus that we all share to provide quality reporting and a genuinely good service to our clients. With this comes growth, respect and reputation. Plus we get to see some stunning properties along the way.

What does your perfect weekend look like?
I do a 5K run every Saturday morning to get me started. Then visit an historic building to explore, or hosting one of the walking tours of ecclesiastical buildings that I also enjoy giving.