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Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Cathedral Care
Restoration and upkeep of cathedrals
There are some 42 Anglican cathedrals in the UK, not to mention 20 or so Catholic cathedrals. Cathedrals form the most important collection of historic buildings in England. The largest and most ancient are internationally famous, the smallest are usually among the most significant buildings in their region and even the most recent are architectural masterpieces.
Master Craftsmen
Championing our heritage with modern craftsmanship
Twenty years ago, English Heritage (now Historic England) published its first-ever Register of Buildings at Risk across England, which featured nearly 2,000 buildings and monuments that were ‘neglected, broken and unloved’. Recently Historic England was delighted to announce that over two-thirds of those buildings were now safe, in both urban and rural areas right across the country.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
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CRE Events
Exhibitors enthuse over the CRE experience
By 4pm on the first day of CRE 24 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, exhibitors Chris and Kim Dunphy had already had so many helpful and detailed conversations with visitors that they were “completely talked out”.
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Church Maintenance
Church maintenance and repair: Calendar of Care
Just as prevention is always better than cure, maintenance is preferable to major repairs. But, such repairs may not always be avoidable. Church Care offers a monthly guide in our coming issues Starting in Spring
We can help you understand the common problems and areas that need your special attention, and give you tips for regular maintenance schemes.
Pest Control
Michael Palin warns of pest threat to churches
Michael Palin is supporting the future of the UK’s historic churches and chapels with a voiceover for a new animated film. The 80 second animation, produced for the National Churches Trust, highlights why churches are some of the nation’s best loved buildings.
Town Halls
The history of the great Victorian Town Halls of Northern England
From industrial squalor to civic pride, the story behind some of the most impressive buildings of the North involve a unique mix of economics, grand designs and noble sentiments within communities.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
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Wudu ablution washing station joins specialist portfolio
Wudu literally means cleaning oneself in preparation for prayer. The communal act of washing before prayer is directed by the holy Quran.
NE experts start year on a high
County Durham high level and general maintenance firm, Stone Technical Services, has started 2013 with further growth in the London and south region.
The Darlington-based company, which experienced better than predicted expansion throughout 2012, has secured new contracts working for prominent organisations.
Ventrolla safeguards history in the heart of Cheltenham
A grandiose Georgian property boasting 8 bedrooms has been given a bright new outlook, thanks to the experts at Ventrolla Wessex.
Glebe House, in the idyllic village of Bourton-on-the-Water, was suffering from rotten sash windows that had allowed damp to seep in while others were painted shut.
Listed Property Show returns to Olympia, London
Olympia London – 16th and 17th February 2013
The FREE ADMISSION Listed Property Show returns to Olympia, London and it looks set to be the biggest and best yet!
The exhibition, which is organised by the Listed Property Owners’ Club (LPOC), provides practical advice, tips and information for homeowners looking to maintain or refurbish their properties.
Rugby School lights up its chapel
A stunning lighting scheme has been completed by dpa lighting consultants for Rugby School chapel. The lighting scheme followed on from a £500,000 project to repair the ornate ceiling of this Grade 1 listed Victorian Gothic building.
The Clive Engine House, North Wales
The Clive Engine House is one of the few remaining such buildings in Wales. It was built to Cornish standards in 1862 but stands on ground that is thought to have been mined since Roman times. The Talargoch Mine produced copper, silver and calamine, but was best known for the extraction of lead ore.
Natural stone awards for Buckingham Palace and York Minster
Natural stone projects at Buckingham Palace and York Minister are among those to win top honours in the 2012 Natural Stone Awards organised by Stone Federation Great Britain.
The awards are held every two years and are “a celebration of the use of natural stone as a traditional, yet vitally modern building material.”
Ancient North East monuments get the Stone treatment
Darlington company Stone Technical Services has secured a range of contracts to complete conservation work on historic and ancient structures around the North East and North Yorkshire.
High rise experts top of their game with new North East contracts
Darlington-based Stone Technical Services has secured a number of major industrial and heritage contracts across the North East thanks to its reputation as one of the leading high-level maintenance and repair companies in the UK.
Winter weather warning following surge in demand for Darlington company’s services
North East specialist maintenance experts, Stone Technical Services, are advising organisations to take action now to prevent costly repair bills over the winter months, after a surge in enquiries following the recent spate of severe weather across the North East.
Restoration company sees solid growth in Scotland
Stone Technical Services has seen a huge leap in demand since opening its new office in Scotland just three months ago.
Stone, which specialises in a range of high level repair, maintenance and conservation services, opened an office in Edinburgh in August thanks to an increase in demand for its services in the region.
Warmworld for your cold parishioners
by Rev’d S H Carter, Vicar
It is getting on for four years since the church councils at both St. Andrew’s and St. Peter’s churches were looking for a more efficient way of controlling their respective heating systems.
A craftsman at work
Producing a special project judged by your peers as good enough to win an award needs focus and careful attention to detail as well as exceptional hands-on skills, so needless to say requires a very good leadworker.
St Hugh’s Church, Lincoln
By John Halton, of John Halton Design Ltd.
In December 2008 John Halton Design Ltd were approached by Father John Kyne to consider designs for the internal alterations and redecoration of the church. No refurbishment had taken place since 1985 and there had been little in the way of investment into the building other than a re-roofing project in the 1990’s.
Our Lady of Lincoln Church, Lincoln
By John Halton, of John Halton Design Ltd.
Having had the privilege of serving on the altar as a young boy at the church of Our Lady of Lincoln I was delighted to be approached by Father Chipchase to consider design proposals for extending and re-ordering the church. Father Paul was aware that the existing narthex and circulation route into the church needed rethinking and the lighting to the nave was also a concern.
Warming your congregation this winter
Specialist in church heating, Heating Global offer a couple of ideas to make your church invitingly warm and cosy.
Patricroft Methodist Church, Eccles
Patricroft church contacted HeatinGlobal with the task of cutting running cost and zoning off areas of the church.
Studio MB help The Black Watch Castle and Museum receive its funding
The Heritage Lottery Fund has announced that it has awarded the Black Watch Museum Trust the sum of £778,000, and as such, the Trustees formally committed to proceeding with the project to improve the Castle and Museum with a forecast completion date of April next year.
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