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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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Record breaking year for Stirling Castle as visitor numbers rise
Stirling Castle is amongst a string of Scottish tourist attractions that had a record-breaking 2015, according to figures released by The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) today, Monday 7th March.
ALVA reports a 5.48% increase in visitors to its member sites across Scotland, with Historic Environment Scotland confirming a 4.1% increase in footfall – a total 458,932 visitors – to Stirling Castle last year.
Steel windows - the important questions answered
Our picture shows W40 steel windows and doors. The Steel Window Association have provided answers to nine of the most important questions surrounding steel windows:
1. Do steel windows rust?
Modern steel windows, positively rustproofed by the hot dip galvanizing process and then polyester powder coated, together with brass and stainless steel hardware, will provide as good if not better durability than is offered by competing materials.
Edinburgh Castle seeks modern apprentices
Historic Environment Scotland is celebrating Scottish Apprenticeship Week by offering 9 school leavers the opportunity to join the team at Edinburgh Castle on a two-year Modern Apprenticeship.
Starting in June 2016, the Modern Apprentices will spend their first three months taking part in a thorough induction of the castle, before being thrown into working life at Scotland’s most popular visitor attraction. Over the two years, apprentices will divide their time between college and hands-on experience of working in one of three main areas: admissions, tour guiding, or retail.
Glass artist shines a light on notable events
York-based stained glass artist Ann Sotheran has more than 25 years experience of designing and making stained glass for a wide range of locations. She works in the traditional English method of stained glass making, selecting and cutting glass from hand-made sheets sourced from English Antique Glass at Alvechurch, Lamberts in Germany and St Just in France, along with precious remnants of glass once made by Hartley Woods in Sunderland. The glass may be acid etched, painted and stained before being leaded.
Oak coffer at historic church restored to former glory
Southampton based Ian Wall Furniture Restoration were contacted by the Parish Church of St Margaret of Antioch, East with West Wellow about an old oak coffer that had been used for many years to store the flower arranging paraphernalia.
The back and base had become detached and it was no longer stable. Upon inspection it was found to have suffered badly with woodworm and the bottom rail at the rear was so badly damaged it fell away.
With a limited budget it was decided to insert a section of oak so that it was able to hold the back panels and floor in situ. A length of oak was dimensioned and machined to accept the old structure and then inserted into place. It was then coloured to bring it to a dark colour to match as best possible within the time constraints.
York Theatre Royal to reopen on Friday 22 April following a £6million redevelopment
York Theatre Royal, founded in 1744 and one of the UK’s oldest producing theatres, reopens its doors on Friday 22 April 2016 following a £6million redevelopment. The project by architects De Matos Ryan has transformed the 270 year old theatre into a building fit to serve a 21st century audience with improved access and flexibility.
The project has been funded by Arts Council England, City of York Council and York Conservation Trust with generous grants and donations from local and national trusts and foundations, corporate and individual supporters. A further £153,000 has been raised through a public fundraising campaign.
War memorials to receive funding for repairs as part of centenary commemorations
War memorials in Cowie and Strathblane are to receive £1.5k and £2.4k respectively, to carry out vital repairs, as part of an initiative to restore memorials across the country, as part of the four year centenary commemorations of the First World War.
They are part of a wider group of 8 war memorials across Scotland who have been awarded a total of £87k. Two well-known Falkirk memorials - the Duke of Wellington Memorial (pictured) and Falkirk Boer War Memorials in Newmarket Street - are to receive £750 each. The announcement coincides with the commemorations for the centenary of the beginning of the Battle of Verdun – one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts of the First World War.
FAKRO roof windows with bespoke flashings for new community church
Westhill Community Church in Aberdeenshire was a new, greenfield project. Its contemporary style was designed for maximum functionality and to encourage use by the wider community. 33 FAKRO roof windows flood the stage with natural light and illuminate buildings which form the sanctuary, foyer and offices.
Products included FTP-V U3 Electro windows with rain sensor, EFW flat roof windows and an FAKSV17 Smoke Vent window.
Buy cast iron rainwater products with confidence
Rainclear Systems has been in the business of providing customers with high quality Cast Iron Rainwater products and a high quality of advice and service for over 10 years.
Cast Iron guttering and downpipes have the longest life span of 100+ years when maintained correctly.
If purchased pre-painted the finish will last for approximately 10 years before the system needs to be repainted.
Conservation of delicate silk paintings
Nicole Wall of Southampton based picture framers We Frame It has just completed a major project involving a series of four silk paintings that arrived in a perished condition. Liaison with a textile conservator resulted in the silk being consolidated and finally framed.
Nicole takes up the story: "Four silks depicting the seasons arrived in my studio in a very delicate state having already been shipped back from New Zealand. I was able to offer advice to the customer concerning their conservation before I could frame them.
"One had been disturbed and broken away along the top edge. The others were in good condition but very delicate. Each one was fastened behind the matt along the top edge only, thankfully, with a strip of double sided Sellotape, now beyond easy removal with a solvent.
Martin-Brooks makes no bones about heritage skills
You wouldn’t expect an archaeological dig to form part of a roofing project, but for Sheffield-based Martin-Brooks, it is all part of the service.
While working on St Michael and All Angels church in the Derbyshire village of Taddington, the heritage specialists needed help to uncover the past and cure a soggy problem.
As land to rear of the grade I listed church was prone to waterlogging, Martin-Brooks was asked to extend its remit to improve drainage across the site. The churchyard is known to contain unmarked graves of orphans who worked at nearby Litton Mill in the 1800s, so expert assistance was called in to monitor the excavations and record anything of archaeological interest that was encountered.
Brighton College terra cotta tower completed
MBH PLC’s Hathern Terra Cotta brand is the UK’s leading manufacturer of traditional hand pressed architectural terra cotta and faience, with a highly skilful team and unsurpassed customer service. Due to its accomplished craftsmen and unrivalled reputation, HTC were selected to accurately re-create over 1650 individual handmade pieces for Brighton College, complementing the site’s previous designs by the highly acclaimed Sir George Gilbert Scott and Sir Thomas Graham Jackson’s design in 1887. The original plans for the front façade included an impressive Tudor style, central bell tower which was never completed due to lack of funding, left as a truncated stub.
Virtus Contracts Ltd were appointed as Main Contractor, working in conjunction with Richard Griffiths Architects, who were tasked to orchestrate and re-create the bespoke tower to match the infamous original 19th century designs.
Rhuddlan Castle: Conservation of Castle River Dock
The impressive Rhuddlan Castle stands today as a dominant, yet ruinous, feature alongside a once strategic crossing point of the river Clwyd in Denbighshire, North Wales. The castle can be seen on the approach to the town, lending an enchantment to the view and awakening the imagination, of a time long past, and of the stories behind its existence. Now, Cadw and a team of skilled masons are helping to preserve this historic site for present and future generations.
First look at Salisbury Plain Heritage Centre
Purcell has been appointed to lead the design team on the Salisbury Plain Heritage Centre project in Larkhill, Wiltshire. The ambition of the centre is to create a sustainable new home to share the heritage of Salisbury Plain and display internationally significant collections. The new image shows Purcell’s proposed design in context.
Architectural ceramics skills saved by experienced team
Jon Wilson and Steve Allen, both former employees of a specialist clay building products manufacturer, have set up Darwen Terracotta Limited and in the process been able to re-employ 25 skilled and experienced craftspeople in the new business. Their former employer, Shaws of Darwen, closed its terracotta and faience business to concentrate on their domestic sink range, leading to skills that could have been lost forever.
Jon explains, “Steve and I have over 50 years combined experience in this industry having worked on some of the most prestigious building projects in both the UK and USA. All of our people have spent most of their working lives in this trade and preserving these skills is vital. We are a close knit team with a strong commitment by everyone to support the business and succeed together.”
Cathedral Centenary War Repair Fund helps conserve Chester Cathedral
Essential conservation work has begun on the fabric of the ancient Chester Cathedral.
In 2014, Chester Cathedral became one of 31 English cathedrals to be awarded a grant as part of the £8.3 million First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund.
This award provided a once in a generation opportunity to re-lay the Cloister Roof and to reset the decorative pinnacles added to the cathedral by the esteemed cathedral architect Sir George Gilbert Scott.
Cabinet makers maintain the highest standards
Set within the heart of Devon, Colin Layzell Cabinet Makers pride themselves in maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship in all projects undertaken. Their reputation has been established through traditional values and by working with the finest materials - and never compromising cost over quality.
The company are a dedicated team of skilled craftsmen with a wealth of experience and knowledge across all aspects of their trade. They pride themselves in offering the highest standards across all of their work and love the challenges each new project brings.
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