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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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Moss treatment can now be a gentle process
Moss on roofs is a common problem for older and cherished buildings. Such roofs are likely to be well into their predicted life span and aggressively cleaning ageing roof surfaces is not advisable. One treatment, developed and adapted to suit the weather conditions prevailing in the British Isles and Ireland, is AlgoClear Pro Softwash. Formerly known as MossGo, it is non-aggressive in nature.
According to suppliers Thames Valley Specialist Products Ltd, AlgoClear Pro Softwash gently cleans and restores old roofs to their former beauty without causing the physical damage that results from pressure washing. Its active ingredient is a quaternary ammonium, which has a rapid breakdown rate after use, leaving residues absorbed by bacteria.
Dreadnought Tiles wins major roofing industry award
Dreadnought Roof Tiles, one of the UK’s oldest and well-established manufacturers of traditional clay roof tiles, has won the heritage category in the first ever ‘Pitched Roofing Awards’.
Organised by RCI magazine, these national awards showcase excellence in the roofing sector, highlighting successful partnerships between manufacturers and contractors and recognising commitment to quality.
Lightning strike causes structural damage to lighthouse
Over one weekend in August last year it was reported that a staggering 90,000 lightning strikes hit the UK. The Old Hunstanton Lighthouse in Norfolk was a victim of one those strikes and the photograph shows the severity of structural damage that can occur as a result of direct lightning strike.
The structural damage caused to the lighthouse, and the subsequent risk the falling brickwork and masonry posed to the residents and members of the public, emphasises the importance of having an up to date and certified lightning protection system fitted to your building to prevent costly structural damage, or worse, loss of human life.
Historic restoration of 19th century organ
Recent work carried out by the Ipswich branch of Bishop & Son Organ Builders has included a historic restoration of the 1876 Bishop organ in the Church of the Holy Angels, Hoar Cross, Staffordshire.
The organ was returned to as near as possible the original specification dispensing with later additions and alterations by the firm of Conacher Sheffield in 1934. The organ contains pipes from the Samuel Green organ made for Bangor Cathedral in 1799.
Tudor Roof Tiles scoops a win in the Pitched Roofing Awards
Tudor Roof Tiles Co Ltd, Britain's foremost independent handmade clay roof tile manufacturer, has scooped a win in the first ever national Pitched Roofing Awards.
King’s College Music School, Wimbledon, was proclaimed outright winner in the best ‘Commercial Property Application using Roof Tiles’ category using Tudor Roof Tiles working with Avonside Roofing Group.
SLPTG announces winners of Apprentice Awards 2019
The Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group (SLPTG) recently celebrated National Apprenticeship Week (4 - 8 March 2019) by hosting its annual Apprentice Awards ceremony.
Members of SLPTG gathered on 7 March 2019 at the Park Plaza Nottingham to celebrate the success and outstanding achievements of apprentices within both the steeplejack and lightning protection industries. SLPTG are proud to announce the winners of the Apprentice Awards 2019.
In-spiring roofing for Sheffield church
What it lacks in height, the spire at St Augustine’s Church in the Endcliffe area of Sheffield certainly makes up for in distinction.
Clad in an unusual red tile, the octagonal 35 metre spire – or spirelette as it is officially called – makes a curious landmark on the city skyline, drawing the eye to what lies beneath and announcing its presence among the plethora of grey roofs and chimney pots nearby.
Apprentices restore historic clock for the new Museum of Making
Apprentices at Smith of Derby have been busy restoring Derby’s historic Harrison clock for installation in the new Museum of Making when it re-opens to the public in 2020.
First installed at Derby Guildhall in 1842, the Harrison turret clock dates back to the same period. Its movement was designed by clockmaker, James Harrison of Hull (1792-1875), the great-grand nephew of John (Longitude) Harrison (1693-1776) who famously invented the marine chronometer to calculate longitude at sea.
Charterhouse Memorial Chapel gets major upgrade to sound system
Scanaudio have carried out a major upgrade to the sound reinforcement and induction systems in the Memorial Chapel at Charterhouse during the Easter Holiday. The chapel was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and consecrated in June 1927. It is the largest war memorial in England and dedicated to the Carthusians who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
New bells for Cheshire church
An order has been placed by the PCC of St Wilfrid's Parish Church in Grappenhall, Cheshire for their ring of eight bells (tenor 11 cwts) to be removed from the tower, together with its bell frame and all fittings. A new ring of ten bells, with a similar weight tenor bell, will be cast, tuned and hung in a newly constructed bell frame with all new fittings by Loughborough-based James Taylor & Co - some of the existing Taylor 'H' side frames will be re-used.
Four of their existing bells (3, 4, 6 & 7) were cast by Henry II Bagley in 1700 and are listed for preservation. These bells will be conserved, and rehung for chiming above the new ring of ten.
Metal theft is costing the UK £770m a year
An estimated 18.7% of all listed buildings were physically affected by crime in 2017 - that is over 70,000 listed buildings. The biggest single threat is metal theft and the most threatened type of building is a church. Around 3 in 8 churches or other religious buildings were damaged by crime last year. Panthera Security is the UK’s first ever NACOSS Gold Accredited installer of NCP115 Compliant scaffold alarms and they are specialists in the installation of alarm and CCTV systems to listed and religious buildings whilst repair works are being carried out.
Part of Panthera Group, the company has been a leader and innovator of the scaffold alarm industry since 2003, when managing director Neal James recognised that there was a need for regulations and standards within this niche sector of the security market. In 2012 Panthera collaborated with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) to develop the industry’s first ever code of practice.
The beauty of glass - work by Ann Sotheran FMGP
Having designed and made stained glass for many different situations including private houses, churches, public houses, exhibitions and galleries, Ann Sotheran derives the most pleasure from working in close consultation with the client or donor in the initial stages of the design.
She explains:
I like to explore, with them, their reasons for commissioning a piece of work in order that I can develop images which will most closely reflect their feelings and aspirations and evoke a positive response to the finished piece.
Collaboration brings stunning results
Nestling in the heart of the historic Norfolk market town of Swaffham, the beautiful Grade Two-listed Methodist Church has recently been renovated to offer state-of-the-art resources to people of all ages and interests in a bright and welcoming building.
The transformation has been accomplished in no small part through the collaboration of two specialist church suppliers – Cunnings Recording Associates and Fullers Finer Furniture – in conjunction with the building contractor H Smith and Sons of Honingham.
Walk into Swaffham Methodist Church today and you enter a contemporary and flexible space, exquisitely modernised to blend the best of old and new, through bespoke furniture and restoration work provided by Fullers and a quality audio-visual system installed by Cunnings.
Lighting specialist looks forward to a welcome return
One of the companies that had reason to be glad they exhibited at the last CRE in Manchester five years ago is Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd. They have a long history of designing and installing bespoke lighting systems within churches and since that last show they have been fortunate to have been involved in a number of church projects in the North West – including at Standish, Ecclestone, Preston and Oldham. They also have a small number of other projects in the region at the planning stage.
That being the case, the company felt that, when CRE decided to return to the North West in March, they should do the same, and they are looking forward to discussing potential new projects with visitors to the show who may be looking either for lighting improvements or for a full design, rewire and installation service.
Church heating specialist spans the Midlands
The Parish Church of St John the Baptist in the village of Somersham, near Huntingdon, stands on a site which is thought to have been used for Christian worship since the second half of the 7th century.
The current building itself dates from the latter part of the 13th century and was probably built by one of the bishops who lived in the Bishops Palace, which was sited only a few hundred yards from where the church now stands but has sadly disappeared.
The benefits of 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.
Walthamstow Wetlands wins Best Refurbishment in the 2018 Brick Awards
Walthamstow Wetlands is a series of 10 reservoirs, located in the Lea Valley Special Protection Area, providing drinking water to 3.5 million Londoners. The 211-hectare site is an area of Special Scientific Interest, which has been transformed into one of Europe’s largest urban Wetland nature reserves.
A collaboration between Thames Water, the London Borough of Waltham Forest and London Wildlife Trust, the aim was to conserve the heritage and identity of the site, whilst allowing free public access to this unique landscape of water, woods and marshland.
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