Why was the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings nicknamed Anti-Scrape?

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), founded by William Morris in 1877, was nicknamed "Anti-Scrape" because of its vehement opposition to the destructive restoration practices common at the time.1

During the 19th century, it was fashionable to "restore" old buildings by aggressively refacing stonework and performing "conjectural restorations" that often stripped structures of their historical integrity. The term "scrape" specifically referred to the practice of scraping away original surfaces and architectural details to make buildings appear new or to force them into a specific, preferred style. By adopting the name "Anti-Scrape," the society signaled its commitment to preserving the authentic age and craftsmanship of historic structures rather than allowing them to be ruined by these invasive and indiscriminate methods.12