Meet the heritage building consultancy team behind Cura Heritage
Cura Heritage is led by Owen Griffith, a specialist renewable energy project manager with 15 years' experience helping custodians of historic buildings decarbonise sensitively without compromising the character that makes them worth preserving
Owen Griffith MSc Arch: AEES
Director & Founder
Owen is a specialist renewable energy project manager for heritage buildings, with 15 years' experience and an MSc in Advanced Architecture and Energy Systems.
Owen led the National Trust's Renewable Heating Programme and delivered the ground source heat pump project at Kingston Lacy. One of a number of transformational, whole-estate decarbonisation projects he's overseen from concept through to completion.
Clients come to Owen when decarbonisation feels daunting - often the biggest investment a custodian will make in their historic property. He provides independent advice from concept to completion: what technology works, how to integrate it sensitively, and how to avoid the pitfalls.
Owen grew up on the National Trust's Lanhydrock Estate in Cornwall, which sparked a lifelong passion for heritage and the environment. Outside work, he's usually surfing, at the gym, or walking Bear the black lab.
Bill Gilmour-White MCIBSE
Renewable Energy Consultant
Bill brings 18 years' experience in renewable energy technologies, including a decade focused on old and historic buildings, and is a key part of our heritage building consultancy. He's a Chartered Engineer (MCIBSE) with a BEng and an MSc in Renewable Energy in the Built Environment. His standout projects include the National Trust's Stourhead House biomass boiler scheme, replacing oil heating with two wood chip boilers fuelled from the estate's own woodland, and a pair of Enercon E33 wind turbines in Nottinghamshire, which he project-managed end to end and which have been running faultlessly for 12 years. Bill founded renewable energy consultancy Redcotec in 2010, having retrained via an MSc after growing concerned about the scale of industrial damage to the environment, with work for the National Trust following shortly after. Clients usually come to Bill with one deceptively simple question: how do we reduce our carbon emissions? He helps them work through what follows – cost, payback and reliability, with practical, grounded advice.
Outside work, Bill renovates old houses (currently on his third), dabbles in electronics, and plays cricket "badly."
Mike Huxford NVQ L3
Mechanical Heating Engineer
Mike specialises in the creative design, installation, and commissioning of mechanical solutions across domestic and commercial properties, with over 20 years in the industry and 17 years installing renewable technologies. He holds City & Guilds Level 3 NVQs in advanced mechanical engineering plumbing and heat pumps, alongside Gas Safe certification and manufacturer training across leading heat pump and boiler brands including Vaillant, Daikin, Mitsubishi, and Worcester Bosch.
Mike and Leo Bentley delivered the electrical supply and boiler upgrade at Avebury Manor, and Mike has worked extensively with the National Trust across the South West on properties including Stourhead House and Kingston Lacy.
Standout projects include an air source heat pump installation on Lundy Island, the logistics included helicopters out and late-night fishing boats back over the Christmas period and a large heritage property on Jersey, navigating a different regulatory framework for heritage buildings.
Mike is drawn to the creative, bespoke solutions heritage properties demand, and enjoys proving that modern technology has a place in historic buildings, not just new builds.
Clients typically come to Mike for practical, cost-conscious solutions - bringing new technology into all types of properties without losing sight of budget and buildability.
Outside work, Mike is a lifelong Arsenal fan who played for England's under-10s on a trip to France during the 1998 World Cup. These days it's golf and fishing when time allows.
Leo Bentley City & Guilds L3, 2391
Electrical Engineer
Leo is a highly qualified electrical engineer specialising in the complex requirements of heritage and period properties, with over 15 years of industry experience. He holds City & Guilds Level 3 qualifications and the 2391 Inspection and Testing certification, ensuring all installations meet the highest standards of safety and compliance within sensitive historic fabrics.
Working alongside Mike Huxford, Leo played a critical role in delivering the comprehensive electrical supply and heating system upgrades at Avebury Manor. His expertise has been instrumental in numerous National Trust projects across the South West, including major works at Stourhead and Kingston Lacy, where he specialises in integrating modern electrical infrastructure with minimal impact on original building character.
Leo is particularly adept at solving the logistical puzzles presented by historic sites, from upgrading century-old wiring to installing cutting-edge control systems for renewable energy technologies. He shares Owen and Bill's commitment to decarbonisation, focusing on how robust, future-proofed electrical systems can support a building's transition away from fossil fuels without compromising its architectural integrity.
Clients value Leo for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to explain technical complexities clearly, ensuring they feel confident in the long-term performance and safety of their property's electrical systems.