To encourage young or new architectural historians the Society's Essay Medal, featuring a relief portrait of Nicholas Hawksmoor based on the bust of the architect by John Cheere, is awarded annually to the author of the best essay submitted in competition and judged by a reading Sub-Committee. The Medal is accompanied by a cash prize of £200 and the winning essay is considered for publication in the Society's journal, Architectural History. See the information about eligibility and rules of competition.
The winner in 2004 was Tom Nickson, a PhD student at the Courtauld Institute of Art, for his essay 'Moral Edification at Gonville and Caius College Cambridge' .
The judges will be looking for evidence of originality of thought and high academic and literary quality.
As a permanent reminder of the winner's achievement, a bronze medal with a portrait of the architect Nicholas Hawksmoor is awarded and inscribed with the winner's name and date. There is also a cash prize of £200, and the winning essay will be considered for publication in the Society's journal, Architectural History.
The runner-up may be awarded the Society's commendation prize of £75, and an essay so commended may also be considered for publication in Architectural History.
Essays are submitted by 31 July each year, and are read by the Essay Medal Committee, normally comprising five architectural historians, appointed by the Society. The decision of the Committee shall be final. Applicants are informed of the decision in late October of that year and the presentation of the medal is usually made on the occasion of the Society's annual lecture. The result is announced in the Society's Newsletter.
1. There is no age limit for entrants, but the Essay Medal Committee reserves the right to give preference to entrants who have not previously published in the field of architectural history. Details of degrees or qualifications, as well as previous publications, must be submitted with the entrant's real name and address. See 5.
2. The essay must not have been previously published and must not have been awarded any national or international prize. A note of any departmental prizes awarded to it must accompany the entrant's real name and address.
3. Essays may be up to 10,000 words in length, including all notes and appendices. Entrants are encouraged to submit shorter pieces, however. Shorter submissions will not be penalised on grounds of length, but overlength essays will be refused. A word count and a summary of up to 250 words (additional to the work total) must be included.
4. The essay should demonstrate original thinking. It may be based on a dissertation, and may involve original research, although essays based on a survey of secondary material will also be considered if they are of suitable quality. However, the essay should be self-contained and especially prepared for this competition.
5. Essays must be anonymous. Entrants must select a pseudonym under which to submit their text, with a sealed envelope bearing the pseudonym and containing their real name, address and telephone number. Please note that because of the anonymity of the submissions, no acknowledgement of receipt will normally be sent. If a receipt is required, please send a stamped envelope addressed to your pseudonym or to a friend.
6. Entries must be written in English. They must be typed or printed, double-spaced, on one side of plain paper, and contained in a simple folder. Pages should not be stapled or bound together, and each page should be numbered. Diagrams or illustrations may be included and should be captioned. They may take the form of photocopies, provided they can be easily read. Sources of information must be acknowledged. Entrants are advised that their essays and illustrations will need to be photocopied.
7. The winning essay will be considered for publication in the Society's journal, Architectural History, subject to the usual process of refereeing, and to acceptance by the Honorary Editor, whose decision on this shall be final. In the event of the essay being accepted for publication, some reworking may be required. Essays may not be offered for publication elsewhere while they are sub judice.
8. In the case of any dispute about the award, the decision of the Society's Essay Medal Committee shall be final.
9. The Society reserves the right to make no award if none of the entries is considered worthy.
10. The closing date for entries is 31 July each year.
11. Essays should be sent to the Honorary Secretary, SAHGB, Simon Green, RCAHMS, 16 Barnard Terrace, Edinburgh, EH8 9NX.
| 1982: Gordon Higgott | 1994: Sean Sawyer |
| 1983: Neil Jackson | 1995: Jonathan Hughes |
| 1984: Joseph Sharples | 1996: Andrew Hopkins |
| 1985: No award was made | 1997: Peter Mayhew |
| 1986: Laura Jacobus | 1998: Andrew Foyle |
| 1987: Tim Mowl | 1999: Henry Dietrich Fernandez |
| 1988: Giles Worsley | 2000: Eleanor Tollfree |
| 1989: No award was made | 2001: Kathryn Ferry |
| 1990: No award was made | 2002: Alex Bremner |
| 1991: Michael Hall | 2003: James Weeks |
| 1992: Frank Salmon | 2004: Tom Nickson |
| 1993: Catherine Steeves | 2005: No award was made |