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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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If you’re renovating a heritage building, having the right insurance is a must
Leigh Ide, business development executive at Trinitas Church Insurance Services, shares some useful guidance on insurance and contract works for heritage buildings.
Providing advice and guidance on the insurance aspects of building works to existing Trinitas clients is a regular part of my role. Those works can be very wide ranging. Most of the buildings we insure are listed as they are Church of England parish churches, and there is often an extra dimension to the advice and guidance required.
Ensuring rights of access to heritage sites
In 2010 the Equality Act came into force requiring all buildings to have disabled access. The access requirements go further than just the obvious as they also cover people who are visiting and/or working in the building. Heritage sites must ensure equal access for every user or visitor into all parts, including the historical part of the building. Richard Williams, divisional director of the Assent Group and Oculus Building Consultancy, explains.
Part M of the Building Regulations provides designers with guidance on access to and use of buildings but there are so many intricacies involved with historical sites that to meet every requirement can often be challenging or difficult. This may be due to the building’s layout or the strict planning controls that affect any alterations or works to these types of building.
Co-operation and collaboration – working for the future
The amalgamation of two churches in Harwood, near Bolton, paved the way for a major redevelopment project, involving demolition of the church hall and former manse to make way for the new building. Opened in July, the facilities at the new Harwood Methodist Church comprise a worship area, activity hall, meeting rooms, kitchen and café. All-in-all, it is a busy social hub with a variety of activities catering for all age groups.
During the redevelopment the church engaged Fullers Finer Furniture to design and build furniture for their beautiful new state-of-the-art building. Fullers Finer Furniture are a multi award-winning bespoke furniture manufacturer, with over 30 years’ experience in crafting furniture for places of worship. Equally happy in a new building, an ancient building or anything in between, they were delighted to work with the church on the project.
Repairs secure St Mary's Church, Aylesbury for the next century
Two contracts at St Mary’s, Aylesbury, were undertaken together as a single project. The works included stonework repairs, repointing, leadwork repairs, window restoration and introduction of isothermal glazing, furniture and flooring repairs as well as renewal of the boiler flue and various other sundry works. The architect for the project was Daniel Benson of Ablett Architects.
The works were coordinated with great care, using experienced craftsmen and specialist firms to undertake the technically challenging and highly artisan-based works. They demonstrate the care and commitment brought to this project which has secured the building into the next century.
The Grade 1 listed church of St Mary’s, Aylesbury, is a nationally important church. The ancient edifice has Saxon origins and has undergone many visible periods of growth, alterations and restoration resulting in the characterful and imposing church we see today. This large church dominates the town centre of Aylesbury and is situated in a walled churchyard ringed by historic buildings which, in effect, creates a setting akin to a Cathedral close.
Decorative panels are brought back into use
Dorothea Restorations have shared the story of their restoration of decorative hand-made panels, which are ‘simple in design but showcase the skills of the blacksmith’ who made them.
According to the firm’s blog: “The origins of the panels are unknown but we believe they were commissioned for the property and removed for storage during renovation works. The panels were stored on the premises but not in use or maintained.
UK's first 10m LGMG diesel scissor lifts go underground
Rental specialist PG Platforms has taken delivery of the first LGMG SR818D diesel scissor lifts to be sold in the UK and has sent them straight out on a highway tunnel maintenance project.
Company Managing Director Steve Cutting said he was impressed with the build quality, easy operation and specification of the Chinese-made self-propelled scissor lifts, which made them ideal for working at height in tunnels.
Belton visitors help Martin-Brooks repair boathouse
Heritage roofing specialists, Martin-Brooks, have played an integral role in the preservation of a key architectural feature in the grounds of Lincolnshire’s grade I listed Belton House.
The Sheffield-based firm has reroofed the Grantham estate’s boathouse, one of only two surviving structures of its type in the UK, helping return it to its former glory.
Mastic asphalt used to restore historic Glasgow landmark to its former glory
Camphill Gate is a five-storey tenement building, designed in an art nouveau style and located on the edge of Queens Park, in the Southside of Glasgow. The category B listed building houses 24 residential apartments and is home to 12 businesses.
Built in 1906 by the prolific architect John Nisbet and builder John McTaggart, Camphill Gate has a unique communal roof garden. It featured in a special edition of the Builder’s Journal in 1906 entitled ‘New Buildings in Glasgow’, in which it was asserted that the building was ‘the first of its kind to be erected in Glasgow’.
Why use hard metal roofing in traditional church and heritage buildings?
The problem of lead theft can be a huge source of distress and damage but there are alternatives. Over the long-term, metal roofing is the most cost effective - a typical metal roof can last over 100 years whereas other roofing materials need to be replaced, sometimes more than once, during that time.
Minimum maintenance
A properly installed copper, stainless steel or zinc roof is a once-and-once-only job, with little or no maintenance required. Copper and zinc gradually develop a durable patina, which reforms if damaged, while stainless steel is inherently resistant to corrosion. No chemicals are needed – the roof is resistant to decay and naturally fire proof.
Michelmersh releases 2021 Sustainability Report - Shaping Genuine Sustainability
The Michelmersh Group is proud to release its 2021 Sustainability Report. The Report offers an insightful and detailed account of Michelmersh’s established sustainable practices and its plans for achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Michelmersh is determined to continue being the sustainable face of clay brick manufacturing and with the support of its Chief Executives, its dedicated Sustainability Group and Net Zero Steering Group, it has already undertaken numerous projects to minimise its environmental impact and increase its already efficient production methods with state-of-the-art technology, reporting systems and quality standards.
ISCVE publish and launch new Guide for Training Microphone Users
The Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers (ISCVE) is delighted to announce the launch of its new publication, ‘A Guide for Training Microphone Users of Sound Systems and other Communication Systems’.
The new guide is designed to help users learn how to best use their microphone to promote clear communication, which is especially important when used for emergency situations. Important messages, such as safety announcements, evacuation messages or even train departure announcements are often difficult to understand in public spaces. Representing best practice covering topics, such as choosing the right microphone, adjusting microphone settings and effective speaking techniques, the new guide is perfect for first-time microphone users or experienced users looking to improve their skills.
D-Tech supply Eltek wireless telemetry and remote monitoring to RAF Museum
On April 1st 2018 the RAF celebrated its 100th birthday. To mark the occasion a wide range of events were organised across the country. Additionally, the RAF museum in London and Cosford created four new exhibits which reflect the changing roles and capability of the RAF.
Grade II listed miners' institute gets state-of-the-art AV facilities
Llay Miners' Welfare Institute, a grade II listed building, in Wrexham North Wales, has been at the centre of recreation for the local area for over eighty years since the official opening in the summer of 1931. Originally miners covered the running costs of the institute by contributing a penny a week from their own wages.
Eighty years later in 2011, following major structural works, the opportunity to refurbish and improve the facilities of the first-floor function room was realised.
York Handmade comes to the rescue of 'devastated' village church
The generosity of an award-winning North Yorkshire brickmaker has helped a little village church rebuild its historic wall after it was demolished by a reckless driver.
The York Handmade Brick Company, one of the largest independent brickmakers in the country, donated the bricks free of charge to St John’s Church in Minskip, near Boroughbridge.
This gift has enabled the church wall to be completely rebuilt and, accordingly to church warden Robert Beaumont, it looks exactly as it did before the accident.
Treatment redresses condensation damage
St Mary’s College in Oscott, Birmingham – often called Oscott College – is the Roman Catholic seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham in England and one of the three seminaries of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Its origins date back as far as 1794.
In 1838, the college moved to a new site, which came to be known as New Oscott. The new building was designed by Augustus Welby Pugin and Joseph Potter. Edward Welby Pugin, Augustus Pugin’s son, added the Weedall Chantry in 1861.
Cathedral leads the way in streaming Mass in Norfolk
Many in the church have turned to live streaming services to maintain their communication with their congregations and others seeking worship during recent difficult times. There are many ways to achieve that; however, audio and visual specialist Darren Butler from Norfolk-based Audio Electronic Design (AED) saw, very early on in 2020, a future problem when it came to providing a permanent solution, with many lacking the technical and practical knowledge associated with operating the technology, coupled with a need to be very considerate to the building while carrying out a fixed installation.
Ruling in favour of GRP rainwater goods on 600 year old church
The theft of lead roofing materials from churches, community halls and the like has become an increasing problem within the ecclesiastical fraternity, amounting to money being wasted in continual replacement of goods.
One church which experienced such theft after having installed replacement lead, under the guidance of the Diocesan Advisory Commission (DAC), was Knowle Parish Church situated in the village of Knowle, Solihull. It was after the latest theft that the church decided to fight back and press for the acceptance of a system that had the look of lead so to be in keeping with the heritage of the church but ultimately wasn’t and so of no interest to thieves.
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