Dr Gerard Lynch is an internationally acclaimed and highly respected historic brickwork consultant, master bricklayer, educator and author. He followed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer, and over the years through his natural ability within his craft he gained many awards, including the Silver and Gold Trowels from the Brick Development Association and is a Licentiate of the City and Guilds of London Institute (LCG). He is a former Head lecturer in Trowel Trades at Bedford College, where he pioneered a revival of interest in gauged brickwork, in which he is considered one of the world's leading authority, and other almost forgotten traditional craft skills. He set up a private consultancy practice in 1992.

He is the author of Gauged Brickwork A Technical Handbook (Gower 1990 1^st edition) (Donhead 2006 2^nd edition), Brickwork: History: Technology and Practice (volumes 1 and 2) (Donhead 1994), and various peer-reviewed papers and articles on aspects of his craft which have received wide praise for their content and have led in the revival of interest for traditional historic building practices and their re-interpretation. His expert opinion is now regularly sought for proposed repairs and restoration for many domestic and internationally important brick buildings.

He is a regular and highly regarded course leader at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Sussex, where he lectures and holds Master Classes on several aspects of Historical Brickwork and, with Douglas Johnston of Masons Mortar Ltd, runs specialist days on traditional lime mortars; which have become particularly celebrated. He also lectures for various heritage organisations, universities, and professional bodies. In his own workshop he runs bespoke courses for craftsmen and women for individual specialised tuition and has tutored William Morris Craft Fellowship Scholars (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings - SPAB) and Craft Scholars from 'The Prince of Wales Trust'.

Gerard Lynch was awarded a 'Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship' to study in the Netherlands and Belgium and the Viscount De L'Isle Award for 1997. In 1999 he was awarded an MA in 'Conservation of Historic Brickwork', (Distinction) by De Montfort University, Leicester, and was awarded a Doctorate in 'Historic Brickwork Technology'. His PhD thesis entitled 'English Gauged Brickwork: Historical Development and Future Practices', encompasses original research into this highly specialised branch of the craft, its skills, and with it the long lost use of historic tools, such as the brick axe, (last seen in use over 150 years ago), and their influence on the craft of gauged brickwork in its introduction into England. A proposal for publication of his thesis has recently been accepted by Elsevier, with a future publication date of July 2007.

Gerard has moved into a wider international arena, working with Duchas and the Board of Works in Eire on the conservation and restoration of Jigginstown House, Naas. In 2002 he was invited to act as consultant, by Mesick, Cohen, Wilson and Baker architects, New York, on the rebuilding of St Mary's Church, Historic St Mary's, Maryland, USA. Subsequently, he affectionately became known as 'The Red Mason'. He has since given lectures and presented demonstrations at the American Lime Conference, run by Mr Jimmy Price of the Virginia Lime Works. Gerard and Jimmy have continued developing their professional relationship, frequently liasing on the industry developments . In 2004 he was invited to be a Keynote Speaker at the 'International Preservation Trades Workshops' (IPTW) in Alabama 2004, and received much praise for his opening speech 'Putting Value back into Craft Education and Training'. In early 2005 Gerard was invited to act as consultant on the brickworks surface treatment on President Madison's home, Montpelier, Orange County, Virginia, for Mesick, Cohen, Wilson and Baker, and has since been involved in a number of their other initiatives. He also addressed, as a Keynote Speaker, the 'International Trades Education Initiative' (www.itei-ites.org) in Ohio. In 2006 he was invited to advise on historic brickwork properties for the Coastal Heritage Society, in Savannah, Georgia. Gerard was Keynote speaker at the Kentucky Heritage Council biennial Conservation Conference. He was subsequently honored with the State of Kentucky's highest award that of Kentucky Colonel, for hsi contribution to craft education and training. 

Miniature niche in gauged brickwork, cut, rubbed, and built by Gerard Lynch, as a masterpiece investigating historic craft materials, tools, and practices for his PhD.