distinction on Wednesday night -- The Silver Palmetto Award.

Mrs. Margaret Lloyd and Mrs. Rosemary clipper were presented with the trophy for their extreme dedication in surveying and making a record of Bermuda's old homes.

Through the past four years, the two scaled walls and fences, braved vicious pets and did whatever else was necessary to produce The Old House Survey.

As she accepted the award, Mrs. Clipper thanked the many volunteers that helped them accomplish such a dynamic feat.

"I'd like to thank all the splendid volunteers who worked with us and feel we are exceptional,'' she said. "I did what I could, but the strength, brains and stick-to-it-tiveness all came from Margie.'' Yesterday, National trust director Mr. Alwyn McKittrick praised th two for their dedication.

"the award is presented to an organisation or people who have, in our estimation, contributed greatly to the aims and objectives of the Trust,'' he said. "What these two did ... was an unbelievable task.'' Mrs. Lloyd was off the Island yesterday. However Mrs. Clipper said she became interested in our historic buildings in 1986 after she took a course at the Bermuda College taught by Government archivist Mr. John Adams.

She said she and Mrs. Lloyd, with the help of volunteers visited for a written and pictorial record all homes built before 1898 that had been recorded on the savage map.

More than 4,000 sites were listed and the record took four years to complete.

"We did a lot of groundwork in 1987 and began visiting houses in 1988,'' she said. "It's unusual to do a job of this magnitude with non-professional people -- in the States they use surveyors and trained help. We had probably more than 100 people working on it with us and they did an excellent job.

"I have gotten in poison ivy and been bitten by dogs a few times and had one or two experiences I could have down without,'' she added. "But people (whose home were visited on the whole were very good. they seemed very interested in what we're doing.'' Mrs. Clipper said although some for the homes on the 4,000 sites had been demolished, three-quarters were still standing.

"I've seen a tremendous number of very lovely houses many which I didn't know were there at all. Some were little and some were big although the little ones are usually the ones that get destroyed.

"In Hamilton, a great many of the houses have been demolished but throughout the Island, many are still there.

"I really became interested. It's been an absolutely fascinating job putting all the information together. Now we just have to transfer it onto computer.'' Mrs. Clipper said they are hoping to publish the information.

"We would like to have people become interested and so when they add onto their homes, the changed they make are in keeping with original Bermudian architecture. the main purpose is to have a record and try and interest people in Bermuda's architecture because it is unique to the Island.'' HISTORIC TROPHY -- The Bermuda National Trust presented Mrs.. Margaret Lloyd and Mrs. Rosemary clipper with The Silver Palmetto award in recognition of their four-year survey of old Island home. The award is the National Trust's highest distinction and was presented at its annual general meeting held on Wednesday night.