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.
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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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Manchester Town Hall - cleaning and restoration of the Great Hall
James Stone Masonry Ltd in association with McCrory Holding are proud to have been involved in this prestigious project to restore the historic Grade One-listed Victorian Gothic edifice. The Great Hall in Manchester Town Hall is of immense importance: within the Great Hall there are 12 murals painted by Ford Madox Brown. These murals had to be protected and great care had to be taken when we were working around them.
The superb painted ceiling in this room is also quite remarkable, the ceiling is separated into panels bearing the coats of arms of principal countries and towns with which Manchester traded. The timber panels around the ceiling were cleaned taking great care not to damage the gold leaf and paint work to the woodwork.
D C Blacksmiths - family business forges ahead
D C Blacksmiths are specialists in the conservation, restoration and reproduction of period architectural wrought iron and designers of new and contemporary styles of forged metalwork, using traditional blacksmithing techniques and jointing methods.
York Handmade short-listed for two awards at brick oscars
The York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the country, has been shortlisted in two categories in the prestigious 2022 Brick Awards.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, was short-listed in the Individual Housing and the Refurbishment categories.
York Handmade provided the bricks for Green Acres (pictured right), a stunning new detached house in Effingham in Surrey, and for Holy Trinity Church in the heart of Sunderland.
Lambeth Palace’s new national library and archive set to open later this year
Lambeth Palace’s newly-built £23.5 million national library and archive is due to open later this year with many of the collections having already moved into the sustainably-designed building.
Lambeth Palace Library in London contains an “unrivalled collection” of books and manuscripts that document over 1000 years of ecclesiastical and cultural life in the UK.
New address - a move for the good
Conservation by Design are excited to announce that the company's sales office, warehouse, and dispatch have successfully relocated and are now fully operational.
Their new address is CXD International, Unit 14, Crowhill Farm, Ravensden Road, Wilden, Bedford MK44 2QS. Their phone number and email address will remain the same: 01234 846300 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tron Kirk to re-open to the public
The City of Edinburgh Council has handed the keys of the Tron Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) as the new custodians of the building. The council selected SHBT as its preferred partner to restore the Tron in 2021 and the charity has now signed a 5-year lease in an agreement that will see it take on the management role of the building as it develops the restoration project. This will convert to a 125-year lease when the capital project is ready to begin.
York Handmade plays pivotal role in stunning Surrey house
The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has played a significant role in a stunning Surrey house.
The Easingwold-based firm, one of the leading independent brick-makers in the country, has supplied specially-manufactured bricks for a magnificent home in Esher.
The house has already been featured on the front cover of the June edition of Build It magazine, one of the prime publications for the self-build housing sector.
Michelmersh to produce the world’s first 100% hydrogen fired clay bricks
Michelmersh has announced its successful bid to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) UK Government, Industrial Fuel Switching competition to conduct a feasibility study to replace natural gas with hydrogen in the brick making process. The programme is part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) which aims to provide funding for low-carbon technologies to decreasing the costs of decarbonisation.
Hay Castle opens its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history
On Friday 27th May, Hay Castle will open its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history, following a major 10-year restoration and regeneration project. Situated in the small town of Hay-on-Wye in Powys, best known for its leading annual literature and arts festival, Hay Castle is one of the great medieval defence structures on the border of England and Wales still standing. Thanks to over £5million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and £2m match funding from various trusts and individual donors, Wales now has an important heritage destination, a vibrant new centre for learning and the arts, and a space for the community to come together.
Leading brick maker reiterates its sustainability goals
Clay brick specialists the Michelmersh Group has released its 2021 Sustainability Report. The report offers an insightful and detailed account of Michelmersh’s established sustainable practices and its plans for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Announcing the publication of the report on 26 January, the company said: “Michelmersh is determined to continue being the sustainable face of clay brick manufacturing and with the support of its chief executives, its dedicated Sustainability Group and Net Zero Steering Group, it has already undertaken numerous projects to minimise its environmental impact and increase its already efficient production methods with state-of-the-art technology, reporting systems and quality standards.”
Work will take place to conserve Birmingham Cathedral’s world-famous Burne-Jones windows!
Birmingham Cathedral has been awarded over £640,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support an extensive programme of conservation work to the cathedral’s remarkable stained-glass windows.
The project, known as Divine Beauty, has been made possible by National Lottery players, and an award of £641,200 from by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
As well as extensive conservation work, an exciting programme of activity and engagement is planned over the next 2 years at the cathedral.
Historic metalwork specialists repair the Maclagan Crozier
When the Crozier head on Lichfield Cathedral's Maclagan Crozier had broken away from the central stem, as a result of the screw thread being overtightened, the cathedral's treasurer appointed Shropshire-based Historic Metalwork Conservation Company (HMCC Ltd) to carry out the repair.
The company provide conservation advice to all those charged with the care, management and preservation of historic metalwork in all its various forms, but with a particular emphasis on historic ironwork.
Szerelmey restore Grade One-listed columns at St John's College, Oxford
Szerelmey was appointed alongside Beard Construction and working with Wright and Wright Architects to carry out extensive repair, restoration and replacement work to the Grade I listed Laudian Library extension in the Canterbury Quadrangle. This follows on from the successful delivery of a new package of works creating a new library and study centre, artwork walls and interior and exterior paving – completed by Szerelmey in 2019. The Canterbury Quadrangle is one of the most famous, historic and beautiful of Oxford’s buildings.
Wells Cathedral awarded a £578k grant by National Lottery Heritage Fund to implement major project
Wells Cathedral in Somerset has received initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its ‘Vicars’ Close: A Medieval Street Singing Through the Centuries’ project. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project aims to make a number of the historic properties on Vicars’ Close in Wells accessible to the public for the first time, to better share their rich history. The project will also conserve the unique architectural heritage of the Close, the oldest continuously inhabited medieval street in Europe.
Development funding of £577,562 has been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help Wells Cathedral progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant at a later date.
Weldon stone give a guide to natural stone
Looking for some useful tips on natural stone? There are obviously a wide variety depending on what its end use is.
Peter Dunn of Weldon Stone gives some examples with technical specifications and images of the products they have available. You can choose from everything from paving stone to stone for fine carving, from window sills to copings, from lime stone to headstones.
20th Anniversary success for ISCVEx 2022
Wednesday, March 23rd 2022, the Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers winds up its 20th Anniversary ISCVEx event at Coombe Abbey Hotel and Country Park near Coventry.
Held annually by the Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers, ISCVEx is open to members and non-members and is a mixed programme including a manufacturers and distributors exhibition, networking and seminars events.
Shedding some light on the new Part L Building Regulations
A major part of the UK’s commitment to meeting its targets for carbon reduction is being driven by a tightening of the Building Regulations surrounding energy efficiency standards for homes. Here, Stella Rooflight Director, Paul Trace, addresses the new rules for rooflights and thermal performance including why they are needed.
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