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
A stitch in time for Fairfax House
Following their recent successful completion of conservation and restoration works in Ripon Cathedral, St Nicholas, Newcastle and Manchester Central Library, York-based Andrew G Podmore & Son have been involved with the York Civic Trust at Fairfax House.
Reputedly the finest Georgian town house in England, Fairfax House was designed by York's most distinguished eighteenth-century architect, John Carr. It was saved from decay and returned to its former glory by York Civic Trust in 1982-84.
The complete discreet AV solution
Creative Audio-Visual Solutions (CAVS) are a dedicated church audio and visual supplier working throughout the UK.
CAVS were recently commissioned to install a new audio and visual system into the Parish Church of St James in Trowbridge. The brief was to ensure that all the new equipment fitted seamlessly into the environment whilst providing the latest technologies for full range worship and advanced multimedia display.
The visual system consist of three discreet winched projection screens which hide behind the arches when not in use. These utilise 7,500 and 5,000 lumens projectors for the highest image quality across all sources – from words, to pictures and video.
Houghtons repair castle door at Holy Island
Houghtons of York recently had the pleasure of being asked to travel to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) in Northumberland to examine one of the castle doors and bring it back to their workshop for repair.
Following an early start Houghton's joiners reached site at 8:30am and made their way to the door. They were met on site by the property’s building surveyor and discussed the methods by which the door was to be repaired and together agreed the best way to proceed.
Why invest in stacking chairs?
Chairs might seem simple: four legs and seat to sit on. How hard can they be to shop for?
However, when it comes to investing in a set of chairs that are designed to be versatile, easy to use and serve their purpose, there’s many more factors to consider! Stef Bewers of Gloucestershire-based Race Furniture explains:
How many chairs should you buy? Where should you store them? Can staff manoeuvre them? How comfortable are they? These are just some of the questions that you need to be asking in commercial or multi-function use settings.
Families praise poignant memorial sculpture by Derbyshire craftsmen
All Steel Fabrications, a Derbyshire company that builds steel sculptures, has been praised for a “deeply moving” memorial built to mark the centenary of one of Britain’s worst wartime civilian disasters.
The Chilwell Explosion in July 1918 at the National Shell Filling Factory in Nottingham claimed 134 lives.
The remains of the victims rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s in Attenborough, Nottingham, and the church wanted to pay tribute to the courage of those who worked at the factory by commissioning a new memorial.
Merritt, international interior solutions firm, acquires renowned Agrell Architectural Carving
Merritt, an Ohio-based international interior solutions firm, has acquired Agrell Architectural Carving, one of the world’s preeminent ornamental woodcarving companies. Agrell, with offices in the UK and US, provides exquisite, classical hand-carved ornamentation for architecture, luxury interiors and furniture around the globe. Merritt’s acquisition of Agrell furthers the company’s mission to be a complete interiors solution with all traditionally outsourced crafts under one roof.
Independently, Agrell and Merritt have earned reputations for precision and innovation that have resulted in close collaborations with many of the world’s most renowned architects and interior designers. Together, their highly regarded approaches ensure seamless execution, delivered on time and on budget.
NHIG launches Membership Directory
The National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) have recently launched an online Members Directory, providing a valuable resource for those seeking suitable contractors who subscribe to the organisation's Conservation Principles.
Associations and organisations can also become members, and the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) have recently joined the ranks in recognition of their common aims and shared goals.
Perfect period plaster for your church and listed building
Based in Bury St Edmunds, Rickards Period Plastering provides a professional application of traditional plastering techniques throughout the county. Whether working within the precious historic environment or on a unique architecturally designed new build they endeavour to provide a skill set and finished product of the highest quality.
Mike Rickards is from a previous restoration background and established the company in April 2012 and his experience has been built upon undertaking the projects that others may shy away from - whether due to material use, design, access or other site specific challenges. He says: "We enjoy the challenge and relish the unique and unusual projects so that, when finished, we can take a step back and say....’we did that’.
The development of the Heritage Crime Programme in England
Mark Harrison, Head of Heritage Crime Strategy at Historic England, outlines the development of their Heritage Crime Programme.
Historic England defines heritage crime as: "Any offence which harms the value of England's heritage assets and their settings to this and future generations."
Harm caused to a heritage asset by crime or anti-social behaviour will often have both direct and indirect impacts. For example, the loss of historic fabric from a listed building through theft or vandalism will not only have a direct impact by damaging the fabric of the building itself. It can also have an indirect impact such as social or economic loss to the amenity of an area.
Roofing restorations at York Minster follow traditional design
York Minster is Northern Europe’s second largest gothic cathedral and has a long and varied history dating back almost 1500 years. Initially built with wood, the church has undergone numerous transformations over the two centuries, including complete refurbishments and organised repairs, and has survived two fires and William the Conqueror’s harrying of the North!
Conservation and restoration is an on-going commitment and those in charge are dedicated to keeping the traditional architecture and heritage. As a result, they utilise a combination of cutting-edge science and ancient craftsmanship when undertaking any remedial restorative work.
A Skynamite view to aerial surveys
If you require promotional aerial pictures of your property suitable for publication, promotional videos or inspection imagery, then Wiltshire-based Skynamite can deliver to your requirements in a safe, fast and efficient manner.
Lead pilot Simon Knight, has been operating drones commercially for four years. He also works part-time as a UAV flight instructor with Phoenix UAV Centre and as a flight test examiner with The Aerial Academy. With a background in model aircraft flying and photography, Simon has the expertise necessary to operate a drone efficiently and deliver high quality imagery to meet your requirements.
The ‘family GP’ for your church
What are Quinquennial Inspection Reports?
Under the Inspection of Churches Measure 1955, as amended by the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991, all consecrated buildings of the Church of England must by law be inspected once in every five years by a registered architect or chartered building surveyor (the ‘Quinquennial Inspector’ or QI) who is approved by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). Most other denominations and many secular organisations which are responsible for historic buildings now adopt a similar approach to inspections.
Local joinery company awarded prestigious contract at Flaxmill
Morris Joinery has been awarded a coveted commission from Historic England to restore and replace a total of 39 windows at the town’s historic Flaxmill Maltings, known as the grandparent of the modern skyscraper.
Four of the original 4ft square windows at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings are to be carefully restored by hand with a further 35 other replicas hand crafted to complete this element of the major refurbishment project.
All the windows will be made from wood with sills crafted from English oak and frame and casements in Douglas Fir with modern thermal requirements included to ensure the new windows are ‘future-fit’.
York Handmade helps to restore iconic Scottish church to its former glory
The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has played a crucial role in the restoration of one of Scotland’s most iconic churches.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, has provided 12,000 specially-made bricks for St Bride’s Church in East Kilbride, near Glasgow.
St Brides was designed by the celebrated architect, Professor Andy MacMillan, whose Scottish practice Gillespie Kidd & Coia worked extensively on ecclesiastical buildings from the 1950s through to the 1990s.
Restoration work at Shrewsbury's historic Flaxmill Maltings
Historic England took leadership of the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings project in March 2014. The Department for Communities and Local Government awarded £1,169,000 of funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) towards a Stage One, £2.5m, project to kick-start regeneration. Historic England provided the balance of the funds.
Completed work - Stage 1:
The Oice and Stables have been converted for use by the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings as an interactive visitor centre and education facility The 1950's grain silo has been demolished, providing further external space for cultural, interpretation and public use. This added to work previously carried out by Shropshire Council to clear derelict modern buildings from the site.
Britain’s oldest brewery benefits from aluminium rainwater systems
The Faversham Brewery, the oldest working brewery in the UK, recently undertook a restoration project to restore their Brew House and enhance the key architectural features that had been lost, including the original cast iron gutters. Provided by Marley Alutec, the Faversham Brewery’s rainwater system replicates the original Victorian aesthetic, whilst enjoying all the benefits of marine grade aluminium.
Shepherd Neame is Britain's oldest brewer - and while 1698 is the Brewery's official founding date, there is clear evidence that its heritage pre-dates even this period. Located in Kent, beer production has taken place on this site for centuries and whilst Shepherd Neame’s dedication to brewing great beer has never wavered, the Victorian brew house was in need of restoration.
Ecclesiastical Insurance partners with The Prince’s Foundation to preserve heritage skills for future generations
Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical is supporting The Prince’s Foundation in its bid to prevent specialist trade skills disappearing.
Ecclesiastical, the leading insurer of Grade 1 listed buildings in the UK, has pledged £225,000 to The Prince’s Foundation over the next three years to enable 36 students to take part in the charity’s Building Craft Programme (BCP).
The Prince’s Foundation established the course to help preserve valuable crafts skills, which are gradually being lost as the average age of workers in the historic buildings sector approaches retirement age.
VISIT OUR ASSOCIATED SITES
