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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
After the Midlands, onward to Milton Keynes
"CRE Midlands reminded me of the giddy days when it first began – the venue was packed with exhibitors and visitors and there was a busy atmosphere. The whole thing looked great."
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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Get organised for 2017! Easy steps to organising your hall this year
A new year is a fantastic time to think about reorganising your church hall in preparation for any upcoming events you may be hosting in 2017. At Mogo Direct, supplying halls with practical folding chairs and tables along with other key furnishings is one of our primary specialities, so we have a great range of products that may be suitable for what you need.
Of course, the first step you’ll need to take is to thoroughly clear out and tidy your hall space. It’s very common for miscellaneous bits and pieces to accumulate in church halls, as there simply may not be a place for everything to be tidied away immediately. If you want to maximise your space and put it to good use, though, you need to tackle this. Get your clutter organised and packed into storage if necessary.
Established firm provides winter warmers for Cheshire church and Bedfordshire mansion
The past few months have been a busy time for specialist heating contractors Mellor and Mottram. The Stoke-on-Trent firm paused only for the Christmas celebrations before pushing on to complete jobs in both the South and North West of England.
February saw the final touches put to a new system at St Oswald’s Parish Church in Brereton, Cheshire. An Anglican church in the diocese of Chester, St Oswald’s is Grade Two* listed and has been described as ‘an unusually complete late perpendicular church’.
CRE goes ‘Back to the Future’ at Sandown
In October we revealed that Christian Resources Exhibitions (CRE) had been sold by Bible Society to a new owner headed up by its former media consultant Stephen Goddard.
In December Stephen introduced the new team, stating: “Last May the Bible Society decided to focus on its core mission of offering The Bible to the world and purposed to find a new home for CRE or close it down.
Northcot Project is the ‘Supreme Winner’ of the Brick Awards
Northcot Brick’s flagship project, the Newport Street Gallery, has been declared the outright winner of the‘Supreme Award’ - the highest accolade given by the Brick Development Association (BDA) in its annual ‘Brick Awards’.
As one of the longest established and most widely respected building awards in the UK, the annual BDA Brick Awards recognise excellence in design and construction using brick.
BJ Waller helps to restore historic Norman Castle
Oakham Castle, one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the UK, has undergone a major renovation, thanks to a £2.1 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. As part of the project, BJ Waller sourced and supplied architectural ironmongery to complement the history and grandeur of the historical castle, within a tight timescale.
Working closely with John Wright of Weston Allison Wright, BJ Waller produced an ironmongery schedule for high-end Frank Allart door furniture. The door furniture supplied was in unlacquered polished brass that slotted perfectly in with the aesthetics of the historical castle.
Finchley’s rose window blossoms once more
In the Summer of last year Essex-based stained glass restorers AuraVisions were engaged to repair a large rose window at Christ Church in North Finchley. The window was made by Clayton and Bell in around 1870 and sits high in the west gable of the church. It consists of eight large cinquefoils (five-leaved designs), eight spokes and eight outer triangles, plus a central quatrefoil (four-leaved) light.
The geometric vine pattern, with varied multi-coloured floral motifs, swirls around the window with handmade glasses, giving a sparkly and intense kaleidoscopic feel. The window was restored as part of a major project to repair the whole of the west wall of the church, which involved extensive repairs to the stonework and tracery.
Cathedral's new window reflects theme of hope for Manchester's youth
The installation of the new Hope Window at Manchester Cathedral is now complete. In December 2016, the new Hope Window was dedicated at the east end of the Cathedral, where the Humphrey Chetham statue sits.
It is a modern design, by Alan Davis, in-keeping with the existing Antony Hollaway, Margaret Traherne and Linda Walton windows. The concept for the new east window revolves around the themes of hope and new life.
Top 10 mistakes that roofing contractors make
Mr Dan O’Sullivan, NFRC Heritage Roof Master explains:
Roofing is a specialist industry, though unfortunately its all too common among non-professionals and some roofing contractors that mistakes are made and this can lead to costly problems. With over 19 years of experience we know that small errors can cause leaks, structural damage, and serious repairs and therefore particularly with conservation and heritage projects, you just can’t afford for such mistakes to be made.
Midland Lead to announce new 25-year sandcast lead guarantee at Ecobuild
Leading British lead sheet manufacturer Midland Lead is set to announce a newly awarded 25-year guarantee on its sandcast lead from the Lead Contractors Association (LCA), at this year’s Ecobuild.
The company will be on stand C129 to discuss the new guarantee throughout the event, running from 7-9 March at Excel London.
Thanks to the new guarantee, Midland Lead – the UK’s only lead manufacturer to offer a complete range of lead sheet options, including sandcast, machine cast and rolled lead – is now able to offer a guarantee across all three of its lead sheet types.
A window of both function and style
Sash windows can really make a home stand out from the exterior but if you don’t take the proper steps to maintain them they can cause big problems. Over time, just like everything else, they can degrade and start to suffer in terms of functionality, performance, and style. If left for long enough, restoration shall no longer be possible and a replacement will be necessary.
As soon as you notice any problems developing, it's recommended you call someone to rectify the issue. David Humble excel at sash window restoration in Northumberland and understand exactly what is needed to preserve the windows and retain the property.
Over £50m available for church repair and restoration
Every year and sometimes bi-annually, grants are made available for churches and listed buildings. The funding is available for restoration and repair.
Your church may require funding for repair and restoration of such things as:
Rainclear listened and added to their Galvanised Steel Rainwater Range
Rainclear pride themselves on offering the very best customer service and a wider choice of sizes, profiles and colours with Next Day delivery - so they have not only increased their stock ranges considerably over the past 12 months but have also, in response to requests, added a few useful accessories to the stylish and affordable Galvanised Steel Rainwater range, for example: -
St Wilfrid's in Scrooby gets 100 year old clock back on time
Yorkshire-based Bygone Times, who specialise in antique clock restoration and repairs, recently undertook a repair project at the Grade II listed St Wilfrid's Church in Scrooby, Northamptonshire.
Grants for the conservation of books and manuscripts
The next closing date for ChurchCare Grants for the conservation of books and manuscripts is Monday 22 May 2017 and applications will be considered from anglican churches in England.
Historical books and manuscripts, when in the care of the parish, are eligible for grant aid. Modern printed books cannot be considered.
Crompton & Shaw War Memorial, Oldham
The Crompton & Shaw Memorial was commissioned by the Crompton War Memorial Committee in 1919 and the bronze statue was made to a design by Richard Reginald Goulden. It sits on a granite plinth and depicts a male figure protecting children from marauding creatures. Today the Memorial is Grade II Listed.
Heritage Project Contracts was appointed by Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council to undertake conservation work to the Memorial. It had been previously restored in the 1970’s when the original dark patina had been removed by abrasive means during treatment. The previous work was beginning to fail with corrosion occurring to the bronze beneath.
Rainclear Rainwater Systems January Sale
Rainclear Systems, the UK’s leading online retailer and stockist of metal rainwater systems would like to wish everyone a happy new year in 2017 with an extra 10% off all its rainwater systems.
Rainclear already offer to help with a take-off service from your architect drawings, ensuring you purchase all the right components at the right capacity for your home and the level of rainfall in your location.
The Leadworker Register - putting skills at the heart of the industry
The Lead Sheet Association has been developing and running successful training and qualification initiatives for many years to help ensure that standards of leadwork are high across the construction industry.
As well as delivering courses at its Training Centre in East Peckham, Kent, the LSA has also been working in collaboration with the Lead Contractors’ Association to set up the Leadworker Register.
Why create a Register?
One of the reasons the LSA felt the creation of the Leadworker Register was important was for many years it has been asked by a range of people to provide details of competent leadworkers. It felt the fairest way to do this was through a Register which is transparent and allows contractors, specifiers, architects and others in the construction industry to find the level of skills needed for the job in hand.
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