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Current Issue

Ecclesistical & Heritage World No.98

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Scanaudio
Inspire

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."

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Insurance

Church Insurance | Ecclesiastical

Church insurance risk

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Lead Roofing

The benefits of 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.

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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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Exquisite Architectural Metalwork

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & Co Based in North Yorkshire and established over 30 years ago Topp & Co is
a leader in the restoration of heritage ironwork and one of the best known
names for the design and creative production of modern and traditional
iron work.

Suppliers of fine architectural metalwork and wrought ironwork
to some of the most prestigious properties in the world.

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & Co Based in North Yorkshire and established over 30 years ago Topp & Co is
a leader in the restoration of heritage ironwork and one of the best known
names for the design and creative production of modern and traditional
iron work.

Suppliers of fine architectural metalwork and wrought ironwork
to some of the most prestigious properties in the world.


Ecclesiastical Ironwork

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoChuppah Poles
Topp & Co. were asked to make four Chuppah Poles for the Jewish Museum in Manchester,
which is located in a former Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. It is the only Jewish Museum
outside London and is housed in the oldest surviving synagogue building in Manchester,
completed in 1874. It is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture, executed in Moorish style.

Using old photographs provided by the museum and some research, each pole was made in
brass and has a solid cast base and hollow twisted upright poles with an extendable rod to add
height with a finial at the top.

Location: Manchester
Client: Private Client
Material: Brass

For more examples click HERE


Gates

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoGate restoration for the Piece Hall in Halifax
The magnificent gates of the Piece Hall in Halifax have benefited from an extensive conservation
programme to repair and restore them to their original condition and decorative scheme.

Topp & Co. had them for over one year while they were repaired, conserved and repainted. The
conservation work has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The conservation work involved removing the gates and taking them to the company’s workshop.
Consultation was undertaken on the proposed new colour scheme which uses strong, rich Victorian
colours appropriate to the era of the design and construction of these ornate gates. At the workshop,
the heritage colour scheme was reintroduced, and the wear and tear associated with over 100 years
of use was repaired. The gates returned home to the Piece Hall in outstanding condition and ready
for a renewed future.

Location: Halifax
Client: Calderdale Council
Material: Wrought Iron
Material: Cast Iron

For more examples click HERE


Stairs and Ballustrades

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoQueen’s Gallery
Built for the new extension to Buckingham Palace, which now houses the Queen’s Gallery, this
balustrade was designed by prominent London architect John Simpson and executed in cast bronze
and mild steel by Topp & Co. The style is unrestrainedly classical with the use of steel ropes to
comply with British building regulations. Finished in natural bronze and gold leaf, the rope motif
follows through into the hardwood handrails above the newels.

Location: Buckingham Palace
Architect: John Simpson
Material: Mild Steel
Material: Wrought Iron
Material: Cast Iron
Material: Bronze
Material: Wood
Sub Contractor: Cambrian Castings
Sub Contractor: Crafted Handrails
Sub Contractor: Capisco Ltd
Sub Contractor: John Aynsley & Co

For more examples click HERE


Railings

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoSouth Hill Park gates and railings
South Hill Park is a 9.6 hectare site which lies to the south of Bracknell town centre in Birch Hill.

Gates, railings, rose arches and handrails were all made in genuine wrought iron for the Heritage
Lottery project which was awarded a £2.3 million lottery grant.

Location: Bracknell
Client: Bracknell Town Council
Material: Wrought Iron
Main Contractor: Gavin Jones

For more examples click HERE


Handrails

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoAnnesley Church wrought iron handrail
Annesley Old Church stands on a mound within the grounds of Annesley Hall, close to the estate
wall. It’s a Grade I listed building, and was bought by Ashfield District Council in 1980 and placed
in the care of the Kirkby and District Conservation Society to protect it from a demolition order.

With the help of a grant from the National Heritage Lottery the area had a makeover and Topp & Co.
were involved with making wrought iron grilles, two handrails and a 16ft high screen with a gate to
help make the site secure and safe for visitors.

Material: Wrought Iron

For more examples click HERE


Restoration

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoDean’s Eye Window repairs - Lincoln Cathedral
The Dean’s Eye rose window, the North Transept of the cathedral is one of the most important examples
of medieval stained glass in Europe.

Work started in 1990 and latest for 12 years on the largest restoration programme anywhere in Europe,
the previous restoration of a window of this size was to south transept window of the Notre Dame in
Paris. The Lincoln window has been part of a £2 millions restoration programme.

Topp & Co. have been working in conjunction with Lincoln Cathedral for several years to restore the
wrought iron Ferramenta to a number of the cathedrals magnificent stain glass windows. Most of the
original 800 year old medieval ironwork, or Ferramenta, has been conserved, the original iron work was
restored in the company’s North Yorkshire workshops. Considering the frames are 800 years old there
were remarkably few repairs needed.

Location: Lincoln
Client: Lincoln Cathedral
Year: 2010
Material: Wrought Iron

For more examples click HERE


Miscellaneous Projects

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoFire Screens at House of Commons
This project was part of a larger scheme to re-decorate and conserve the historic interior of the room.
The client wanted to reinstate a missing fire-guard, and the missing trim to the fire-hood.

The design of the new fire-guard was based on that of the fire-guard in the Salisbury Room. The details
of the setting out and construction of the new fire-guard, including the profile of all sections and the
exact detail of latches, stanchions, finials, decorative ornament etc., needed to be an exact facsimile of
this existing fire-guard. The dimensions were adjusted to suit the site dimensions of the Peers Writing
Room fireplace. Many of the parts were no longer available and had to be specially made. Some of the
sections could not be sourced, so Topp & Co. had to come up with a way of making them from scratch.

Location: London
Client: Palace of Westminster
Material: Brass

For more examples click HERE


Parks and Bandstands

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoBandstand Restoration - Exhibition Park Newcastle
Topp & Co. recently completed the restoration of this beautiful bandstand for Exhibition Park in
Newcastle. Completed on time and to the client’s expectations the bandstand is the centre piece of
the parks restoration.

The bandstand was built in 1875. It is a cast iron structure with a zinc roof and an octagonal platform
with scrolled cast iron balustrade. Thin cast iron columns support the arches and decorative spandrels.
The round-topped curved roof has an ornate spike finial.

There were challenges along the way as issues came to light that were not evident at the time of pricing,
but all in all the end justified the means and Topp & Co. are extremely proud of this restoration project.

Location: Newcastle
Main Contractor: Esh Construction

For more examples click HERE


Public Art

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Topp & CoCast iron monument - Castle Howard
At Castle Howard Yorkshire’s very own empty plinth was reinstated after a £60,000 restoration programme.
An ornamental Grecian brazier, or urn now  sits back on top of the 100ft high column at Castle Howard.
Leaping copper flames which have been gilded to reflect the sun’s light with a fiery glow crown the
impressive structure, resting on a ten-foot Grecian tripod on the column.

Topp & Co. worked with Easingwold-based Ebor Stone and York gilder Bill Bonney to restore the
magnificent monument, which is visible for miles around.

Location: North Yorkshire
Material: Wrought Iron
Material: Cast Iron
Material: Copper

For more examples click HERE


• For more information about Topp & Co. please visit www.toppandco.com

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