Current Issue
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.
Read More...
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.
SEARCH OUR DIRECTORY
The Stonehenge Enigma – An inconvenient truth
Robert Langdon’s new book, sheds new light on the evidence found in Stonehenge’s Visitors Car Park, which has subsequently been buried for over 40 years, that proves Stonehenge is really 5000 years older than we believe
The Stonehenge Enigma, has unearthed evidence that has been kept from public scrutiny for over 40 years. Current theories on the discovery of the four post holes in a line found during excavation work on the visitors car park in 1966 are simple and dismissive – they are ‘totem poles’ claim English Heritage in their book ‘Stonehenge in its landscape’ by Cleal et al. 1995.
That sinking feeling
Joe specialises in restoration works on old buildings. At present he is working on an old farm house located a few miles away from Goring, in South Oxfordshire. Here is a snapshot of how things are coming along.
One look at the top-centre of the picture is all it takes to recognise that the building has suffered problems of differential settlement. The whole centre section of the house, which was an extension to the original building, has sunk to an extent equivalent to at least a couple of courses of brickwork.
Shakespeare’s Globe Announces Architect for Indoor Jacobean Theatre
Shakespeare’s Globe has appointed Allies and Morrison to lead the design of the Globe’s new indoor Jacobean Theatre. Allies and Morrison have extensive experience in the care and conservation of historic and listed buildings and successfully led the design of the redevelopment of the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre. They have relevant experience to the Globe’s project in working on the Inigo Jones designed Queen’s House at Greenwich. The Globe’s plans to introduce an indoor Jacobean theatre to its already world-famous theatre site on London’s Bankside will be the most complete recreation of an English renaissance indoor theatre yet attempted.
Survey Solutions Scotland Joins Pointools Sales Partner Program in UK
Survey Solutions Scotland, a leading supplier of Trimble and FARO laser scanners, has joined the Pointools Partner Program in the UK. Pointools software streamlines scan-to-model workflows by enabling project teams to reference and reuse the largest point cloud models – the billions of measurement points taken by 3D laser scanners – inside the broadest range of applications.
Wensley Roofing Win NFRC Roofing Awards
Wensley Roofing is celebrating its win in the prestigious Roofing Awards 2011 Sustainability category, hosted by The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC).
The awards ceremony was held at the NFRC Annual Congress in Brighton on 20th May.
Purcell Miller Tritton architects to lead Story Museum development in Oxford
The Story Museum has appointed architects Purcell Miller Tritton to head the design team responsible for transforming its Oxford site into a world-class visitor attraction and learning centre. The first phase of the project, with construction costs estimated at £3.5m, is due for completion in 2014 - the year that Oxford is bidding to become Unesco World Book Capital.
Bradford Cathedral – first to install solar panels
Bradford Cathedral has received permission from the CFCE (Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England) and English Heritage to install solar photo voltaic cells. Following planning permission being granted by Bradford Council, work will start shortly and be completed by the end of the month (August) installing panels on the entire South Aisle roof – making it the first cathedral in the country, and possibly in the world, to generate its own power. Cathedral architect Ulrike Knox, of Knox-McConnell Architects in Saltaire, led the project through the permissions process for this historic heritage building.
Gopak's Colourful Table's are a Hit at Learning Loft
The lunchroom at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry’s (MOSI) new Learning Loft is using robust and durable Premier tables in a range of primary colours from market leader Gopak. The bright and colourful space provides a much needed respite for school groups gaining an insight into the achievements that made Manchester a world leader in science and technology.
Award Winning Lightning Protection Systems
Central High Rise offer a wide range of lightning protection products and services from the test and inspection of lightning protection systems to the design and installation of a full faraday cage system or the supply and installation of early streamer emission systems to new builds or retro fits.
They have a team of ATLAS accredited designers who will carry out a risk assessment to determine exactly what level of protection will be required. This is supported by a fully trained team of operatives for the installation of the system to the highest standard ensuring safety at all times.
Harrods choose Good Directions to manufacture Big Ben replica for new signature room
Good Directions was excited to receive an enquiry to manufacture a replica of Big Ben for Harrods prestigious London themed signature room, which was designed and recently installed by Prop Studios.
Eight parks given a new lease of life thanks to £15.9m Lottery investment
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded confirmed funding¹ of £12.4m to six parks in London, Felixstowe, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Merseyside and Dunbarton.
The National Maritime Museum’s Sammy Ofer Wing opens
This July the National Maritime Museum opens the Sammy Ofer Wing, a transformative £36.5m capital project which sets a new strategic direction for the museum.
Opening on 14 July 2011, the £36.5million wing is the largest development in the National Maritime Museum’s history and a catalyst for the organisation to change completely the way it presents its galleries, exhibitions and visitor facilities. This major project has been made possible through a generous donation of £20m from international shipping magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer and an award of £5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
£20million Lottery money to boost heritage philanthropy
Today the Heritage Lottery Fund announced a £20million commitment to Catalyst, a joint funding initiative with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England, to help build the long-term financial resilience of cultural organisations
£8m vital funding for England’s places of worship
Today, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced more than £8million of Lottery funding to support urgent repairs to 67 of England’s most important Grade II listed churches, chapels and synagogues.
Heritage Construction, Access To Training
Focus on the issues
Recently In an article for the Independent. John Edwards of English heritage, stated that from a known number of practitioners in the heritage sector currently working on historic properties, his estimation was that only 30% are “properly qualified skilled craftspeople” We should take that as from the horse’s mouth and act accordingly. (Excerpt from The independent 25/3/2011)
Stonehenge funding package unveiled
The on-off saga of sorting out the roads around Stonehenge and building a proper visitor centre seems to be back on track after ministers announced two important measures which could mean work finally starting as early as next year.
Work to create new visitor centre and make road improvements could start next year after financial announcements by ministers
The closeness of the A344 to the stones near Salisbury, as well as the visitor facilities described by the public accounts committee in 1993 as a "national disgrace", have long been a problem in need of fixing. Government funding for the latest project was axed as part of £73m of savings announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sports in June.
£20m station overhaul by BDP includes a new transparent roof
BDP has revealed designs for its £20m proposed overhaul of Manchester Victoria rail station.
The plans include a new transparent roof made of ETFE – the same material used on the Eden Project.
The revamp will also includes refurbishment and renewal of the grade II listed station building.
VISIT OUR ASSOCIATED SITES
