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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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UK's leading regeneration event heads for Liverpool
Regen, the 3rd annual free-to-attend Exhibition and Conference for the UK Regeneration Industry, is taking place from Wednesday 22 to Thursday 23 March 2017 at St George's Hall in Liverpool.
For exhibiting companies wishing to market or sell their products and services, attract new investment or establish new long-term business contacts and relationships, or visitors wanting to meet potential suppliers or partners, or attend the conference to learn, discuss and debate the hot topics in regeneration, Regen offers something for everyone involved in the industry.
Urban & rural regeneration is a massive industry in its own right, and continues to transform the prosperity of every town and city in the UK, and is the precise reason that Regen was launched 3 years ago, attracts over 1,500 registered delegates each time, and is now firmly established as the regeneration industry’s leading forum in the U.K.
Advanced Panels installed in historic Bath Empire
Global intelligent fire systems manufacturer, Advanced, has been chosen to protect the historic Empire Hotel in Bath.
The historic Grade II-listed building is located close to Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge and was used as a Royal Navy postal sorting office from World War 2 until 1990, when it was converted into retirement apartments and restaurants.
Dreadnought Tiles play their part in award winning conservation
Re-roofing of Tyntesfield House, a Grade 1 Listed Victorian Gothic Revival mansion near Bristol, formed a major part of it's restoration, which won the RICS 2012 South West Building Conservation Award. Leaks in the roof had caused water damage in most rooms and poor maintenance had contributed to its state.
A key principal of the restoration was the retention, where possible, of all original materials and the use of traditional ‘like for like’ materials, which led to new Dreadnought roof tiles being used alongside those salvaged from the property.
Specialist buildings need specialist audio systems
Any architecturally or acoustically demanding building which requires sound or communication systems needs input from experienced audio specialists to ensure the right products and design input are incorporated into a new or upgraded system.
Members of the Institute of Sound and Communications Engineers (ISCE) are professionals from the field of audio, especially public address, voice alarm, sound system, audio frequency induction loop system, audio-video or acoustics, who maintain a code of conduct in professional activities.
Fixed those gutters? Your building needs you!
Your building needs you! Unfortunately, the best time to check for leaks and overflows in gutters and downpipes is while it is actually raining.
National Maintenance Week is coming up in November and this annual awareness week always ends with National Gutters Day - this year on Friday 27 November 2015. It is a gentle reminder for everyone to take a little time to make a simple check on the condition of any property you are responsible for. A basic building ‘MOT’ can save you from having to spend a great deal of money at a later date.
Two Purcell projects recognised at the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards
Purcell is delighted to have two projects recognised once again at the Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) Awards. The Undercroft Bar received a certificate and St Nicolas Church, Abingdon, received a letter of commendation. Purcell has previously won with the Radcliffe Humanities Building and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The Undercroft is a Grade II listed bar that was desperately in need of modernisation. It’s located within the lower level of the Lee Building at Christ Church and was formally used for dissections as part of the Anatomy School. Purcell upgraded the area to improve access and build a new bar and facilities making better use of the space.
Northcot Brick wins prestigious Self Build Award
Northcot Brick, one of the UK’s foremost independent brick manufacturers, has received a prestigious 2015 ‘Build It Award’ for the quality of its brickwork.
As this year’s outright winner in the ‘Best Masonry Home’ category, Bridge House, a traditional brick and flint family house in Norfolk, was highly praised by the judges for its outstanding craftsmanship and brick detailing, which they said ‘could not be faulted’.
New home found for scouts' stained glass window
When the local scout hut in Middleton, Greater Mancester was being demolished, a new home for the scout window of 1924 was required. St Gabriel’s, the local church, was chosen to be that home.
Cheshire Stained Glass removed the window from the hut and stored it until a final decision about its future had been made.
The ultimate accolade for the leadwork craftsman
At the beginning of October, some 57 LCA members, associates and their guests assembled at the Fawsley Hall Hotel, near Daventry for the announcement of the winners of the 2015 Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award competitions.
The Awards are presented each year in recognition of the very best in leadwork design and installation, carried out by the specialist members of the Lead Contractors Association - in effect the ultimate accolade for the craft of working with lead.
As part of a pre-dinner reception hosted by Jamestown Metals, guests were able to assess the entries for the 2015 Awards and try to pick the overall winner from the keenly competitive and high quality nominations.
The importance of old fashioned brick making
In recent years many historic crafts and trades have gradually declined or been separated from mainstream building in the face of the demand for mass production and more cost effective processes.
Modern brick making, in particular, has developed far beyond its small-scale regional origins. Today’s enormous high-tech factories have the capability to produce immense quantities of perfectly uniform and colour-controlled bricks through fast, efficient, fully automated processes.
However, as technology continues to advance, traditional craftsmanship is in danger of becoming lost in time.
Marking your event with a stained glass commission can leave a legacy for future generations
Do you have a forthcoming event or special anniversary in your church? An exciting commission in glass would be an excellent way to mark the event and will provide a striking feature for generations to come. Is there a new glazed partition at the back of the church to separate a refreshments area? Could a visual connection be made to the rest of the building by incorporating a newly designed stained glass church window as part of the glazed screen?
Bristol-based AP Stained Glass Design and Restoration undertake repairs of all sorts to church and chapel windows, matching the original as closely as possible.
Church Sound Chester to showcase potential benefits of technology in places of worship
Church Sound Chester is being held on Wednesday 4th November 2015 at the Abode Hotel Chester from 3 pm to 8 pm.
At Church Sound Chester visitors will have the opportunity to see and hear how modern technology can enhance and benefit 21st century worship.
What lies below is testament to heating installer’s expertise
In a recent issue of Ecclesiastical and Heritage World the cover story featured the restoration project at the Grade One-listed Church of St Andrew in Epworth, Lincolnshire – known as The Wesleys’ church. A long-suspected Saxon church had been found under the concrete floor when it was lifted for replacement with a more authentic stone floor.
The lifting of the floor provided the opportunity to replace the old heating system with an underfloor system. The installation of underfloor heating in Grade One-listed churches is often fraught with difficulty, so the opportunity to do so without disturbing the fabric was grasped.
The new system was installed by Yorkshire-based Byfield Heating Ltd, specialists in underfloor installations.
New sound and lighting company has over 80 years experience!
Exhibiting for the first time at a CRE event this week were a new company in the sound and light arena - new in name but with over 80 years experience in the industry!
In February 2015 Northern Stage Services acquired Lancelyn Theatre Supplies and Lancelyn Lighting to create National Stage Technology - a UK-wide stage, sound and lighting solutions provider. Northern Stage Services, Lancelyn Theatre Supplies and Lancelyn Lighting have over 80 years’ experience in the industry with an enviable reputation in the marketplace.
The refurbishment of Marston's historic chimney
Marston’s brewery in Burton-on-Trent, is very much the spiritual home of British beer. Still brewing in the traditional way, this historic brewery was established in 1834, using the unique spring water from the Trent Valley that gives its ales the famous sulphurous aroma known as the ‘Burton snatch’.
The Victorian brewhouse, which stands in the town centre, boasts an impressive grade II listed industrial chimney, which is a well-known local landmark.
Tudor Roof Tiles offer a link to the past
Britain's foremost independent manufacturer of genuine handmade Kent Peg tiles and Plain tiles. Traditionally made using local materials, then baked to exacting standards, Tudor's roof tiles suit both historic and modern constructions, from new build or restoration.
Tudor Roof Tile Co Limited is proud to be a 100% British company and is now the largest independant manufacturer of handmade only roof tiles. They are particularly suited to architecturally sensitive churches and old building.
Sound Space Design RIBA Awards success 2015
Sound Space Design are proud to have been acting as acoustic consultant on two RIBA award winning projects this year. Island Pavilion and Bridge, Wormsley with Robin Snell and Partners won in the south region category and follows in the success of the 2012 RIBA award winning Garsington Opera Pavilion also on the Wormsley Estate and in association with Robin Snell and Associates.
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