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Why did William Morris found the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings?

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William Morris founded the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 1877 to oppose the destructive architectural practices of his time.1

During the 19th century, it became fashionable to "restore" old buildings to a specific, idealized historical style, often resulting in the indiscriminate refacing of stonework and the use of "conjectural restorations" that erased the authentic history of the structures. Morris and his fellow pioneers vehemently rejected these methods, which they nicknamed "Anti-Scrape," because they believed such interventions damaged the integrity and historical value of ancient architecture.1

Guided by the belief that the greatest glory of a building is its age, the society sought to preserve the genuine craftsmanship and historical character of old buildings rather than rebuilding them to suit modern aesthetic preferences.1