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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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New York cathedral gets bespoke furniture to accommodate diverse needs
In March ICS Church Furnishers of the Republic of Ireland announced the successful completion of a bespoke seating project for The Cathedral of St John the Divine, the cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. This collaboration began in 2018 when the cathedral sought a solution for their seating needs that would accommodate their diverse range of services and events.
The project, which resumed in early 2023 after a pause due to external factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in the creation of 2,000 custom-designed chairs tailored specifically for the cathedral’s requirements. Each chair, a modified version of ICS’s renowned ICON 40 chair, was meticulously crafted to compliment the cathedral’s existing architecture, featuring a darker stain, and engraved with the cathedral’s iconic Rose Window emblem.
Careful conservation allows candelabra to shine again
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is in Skelbrooke, a small village to the north of Doncaster, beside the A1 trunk road. The church is listed Grade II by Historic England, with a chantry chapel recorded on the church site as early as 1338.
Some elements of a medieval church survive, including some stone arches between the chancel and chantry chapel. They were bricked up during the reformation in 1549 and are some of the few early features to survive a serious fire that destroyed much of the church building in 1870.
How urban mining can help reach net-zero goals
When considering the heritage buildings of the future, the carbon footprint not only of the buildings in operation, but also the process of construction and the building’s life span – from design, through construction to demolition. An innovative, circular approach is emerging that has the potential to reduce the environmental impact of construction significantly: urban mining. Here, traditional brickmakers Michelmersh explain the process and its advantages.
Over £3m spent locally as Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways ‘Tell Stories & Preserve the Past’
Twenty contractors and sub-contractors from across Gwynedd and North Wales have benefited from over £3 million in funding awarded to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (FfWHR) for its Interpretation and Boston Lodge Project by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), the Ffestiniog Railway Society and Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Trust.
During the last eighteen months the railway has made use of local skills and craftsmanship, resulting in significant contracts for local businesses.
Perth heritage venues get new environmental monitoring systems
Culture Perth and Kinross care for one of the UK’s oldest nationally significant collections, which features works by influential Scottish artists, including Joan Eardley, Sir William MacTaggart, Calum Colvin and Alison Watt. These are currently on display in Perth Art Gallery.
The place of conservation in repurposing ecclesiastical buildings
Modifying places of worship for new and additional uses is one way of tackling the crisis of the growing number of historically significant churches across the UK which are crumbling away and becoming redundant. Here, Lewis Proudfoot, managing director of Cliveden Conservation, focuses on educational uses and the role of conservation in future-proofing these buildings.
Cliveden Conservation’s expertise is required for the ‘Our Cultural Heart’ project in Huddersfield town centre
Cliveden Conservation has been subcontracted by BAM – the principal contractor for Kirklees Council’s Our Cultural Heart project in Huddersfield – to conserve the Fritz Steller pieces of art and other heritage building material as part of the redevelopment of the Grade II Listed former Queensgate Market building.
A condition survey of the ten decorative ceramic panels entitled 'Articulation in Movement' created by German sculptor Fritz Steller (1941-2015) has been undertaken by Cliveden Conservation. The survey informs a programme of conservation repair works to the panels on the eastern elevation of the Queensgate Market building. The works will be carried out in 2025.
York firms embark on iconic city building’s conservation project
York’s Bar Convent is undertaking a major conservation project, in conjunction with local contractors, that will involve the careful restoration or renewal of many of the building’s original features, helping to ensure the historic property is preserved for future generations to celebrate and enjoy.
Famed for being Britain’s oldest living convent and the country’s second ever school for girls, the Bar Convent is one of the city’s best known buildings, located on the corner of Nunnery Lane and Blossom Street near Micklegate Bar. Formally known as the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, it houses an 18th-century chapel which features the relic of St Margaret Clitherow, a modern exhibition, an award-winning 22-bedroom guest house, café, gift shop, garden and three meeting rooms.
Ebenezer Evangelical Church adopts live streaming solution
Thanks to the expertise of audio-visual integrator Vaughan Sound, Ebenezer Evangelical Church in Neath Abbey now benefits from an intuitive live streaming system – facilitating remote, online services.
Situated between junctions 43 and 44 of the M4 motorway, the church approached Vaughan Sound looking for a means of streaming their services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Lockdown guidelines and restrictions had greatly restricted the number of participants that could physically attend this small worship venue.
Transformative technology for Welsh chapel earns praise in Y Tyst
Capel Gellimanwydd in Ammanford has benefitted from a complete makeover, including an array of new audio-visual equipment provided by leading integrator, Vaughan Sound.
The chapel dates back as far as 1782, making it the oldest in this former coal mining town in Carmarthenshire. Rebuilt in 1836 before extension in 1865, a vestry was later added in 1882.
Richard III cathedral praises ISO Chemie’s load bearing bracket support system
ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system and sealing tapes have been specified for a new development project at Leicester Cathedral.
The move sees WINFRAMER type 1 units, BLOCO ONE foam sealant tapes and VARIO SD window connection foils installed to support and insulate large Internorm HF410 triple glazed composite windows being fitted in the cathedral’s eye-catching new heritage and learning centre.
Networking, innovation and community shine at ISCVEx 2024
The Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers (ISCVE) are celebrating the overwhelming success of ISCVEx 2024, an event that has notably marked its presence in the sound, communications, and audio visual industries. The two-day symposium, which took place from 19-20 March at the historic Coombe Abbey near Coventry, brought together more than 250 attendees in a compelling showcase of knowledge, technology and community.
Work begins on £7.5m restoration of Newhaven Fort, revealing unseen areas
Construction workers have arrived on site to begin a milestone restoration project to transform Newhaven Fort - including opening hidden areas never seen by the public before.
The £7.5 million restoration, which is taking place throughout 2024, means the Fort will remain closed to the public until its grand reopening in early 2025.
The cost of lead roofing in 2024
In the quest for durable and aesthetically pleasing roofing materials, lead stands unparalleled. Its longevity, beauty, and historical value make it a top choice. This guide, by lead roofing specialists Silk-Leadwork, dives deep into the cost per square meter, equipping homeowners with the knowledge to make an informed investment.
Choosing lead roofing transcends a mere material selection; it’s a long-term investment in your property’s future. Known for its impressive lifespan and robustness, lead roofing promises a leak-free and visually appealing outcome.
John Williams & Company - still thriving after over 150 years
John Williams & Company (familiarly known as JW & Co) is a well-known name in the roofing and slating trades and has been for well over a century. In fact, the firm celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020.
The date of 1870 as the establishment of the company lies in Whitaker’s Red Book of Business, published in 1907. The entry tells us that JW & Co was established in 1870 especially to transport slate from the Dinorwic slate quarries in North Wales.
Restoration of heritage iron and lead windows on site at the Grade II-listed Pro-Cathedral in Bristol
The existing cast iron windows had been left for over 50 years. During this time the paint had deteriorated, glass broken, putty fallen out and some rust jacking of the cast iron members. Due to budget constraints the works were carried out on site.
The frames were cleaned back to a sound surface by hand and the rust treated by Bristol-based Dorothea Restorations. Missing putty was replaced with metal casement putty and the glass replaced where required on a like for like basis. The glass found in the windows was a mixture of crown, cylinder and float.
Brian’s gilt-edged brushwork adds lustre to commissions both sacred and temporal
Pretty much all of us will have passed by commercial properties or visited premises with exquisite signage and wondered at the craftsmanship involved in their creation. In particular, if the work involved gilding the artistry is all the more admirable.
What most of us will not know is that the same artistry involved in the representation of those treasured local names is to be seen in the restoration projects of some of our historic buildings. Those of us who live in the North of England will be particularly familiar with the work of Brian the Brush Ltd – a traditional hand-painting signwriting company based in Yorkshire and Cheshire, but which also serves the whole of the UK.
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