Sophie Nixon is an architectural conservationist at 2020 Liverpool. She is project- managing a condition survey of buildings on the Croxteth Park Estate as well as other projects. This was her day.

6.20am: I get up early and have a quick shower before travelling into work with my boyfriend, Neil, who also works in the city centre.

7.45am: The first thing I do when I get to the office is make a cup of tea and check my emails.

I’ve worked at 2020 Liverpool for more than six years now and I enjoy the opportunity of viewing some of the city’s best buildings, and having access to areas the public don’t generally get to see.

We recently completed the refurbishment of the Epstein Theatre (Neptune) on behalf of Liverpool City Council.

This enabled me to work closely with local specialist craftsmen and it’s a building nearly everyone has a fond memory of.

9.30am: I leave the office, with a colleague, to go to the Croxteth Park Estate where we are carrying out condition surveys.

10am: We arrive and check in with the security staff. It’s been a privilege to get to survey a building like Croxteth Hall which is a real asset to the city of Liverpool.

However, the estate includes a wide range of buildings, from the Hall itself right down to the potting sheds.

Today, I’m surveying a number of brick-built storage sheds and a mushroom house, all of which form part of the walled garden complex which can be seen by visitors to the hall.

The mushroom house is, exactly as the name suggests, a building which was used for growing mushrooms.

It’s dark, damp and quite enclosed, with raised beds for the mushrooms.

In carrying out the survey I take measurements and photographs, and use a meter to test for damp.

I make notes which I will refer to later, when I write my report.

12.30pm: We head back to the office for lunch. I like to read a magazine, such as “Homes & Garden” while eating my sandwich.

I also take a look at some websites such as English Heritage or Building Conservation to keep up to date on conservation issues.

1.30pm: I receive a phone call from the contractor working on the St James Church wall, asking me to come to the site.

This time it’s about the stone capping, which has split whilst being dismantled.

I find that the stone can’t be repaired, so we will have to replace it with new stone to match the existing one.

2.45pm: Returning to the office, I download my photographs and write up my report from this morning’s survey.

I record the condition of each building and make recommendations for any repairs that are needed.

In each case I assign a “condition code” which is entered on a spread sheet to enable the client to identify any urgent works required.

4.30pm: I finish work for the day and head for home.

I enjoy gardening, and spend an hour in the garden before tea.

8pm: After tea, Neil and I watch TV – we enjoy crime dramas such as “Luther” and “CSI” – I’ll also spend some time browsing the internet, to plan our wedding.

We’re getting married at Christmas, and are planning a country house wedding with close family and friends.

I’m really looking forward to it, and I love Christmas anyway, so it will be extra special to get married then.