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York firms embark on iconic city building’s conservation project
York’s Bar Convent is undertaking a major conservation project, in conjunction with local contractors, that will involve the careful restoration or renewal of many of the building’s original features, helping to ensure the historic property is preserved for future generations to celebrate and enjoy.
Famed for being Britain’s oldest living convent and the country’s second ever school for girls, the Bar Convent is one of the city’s best known buildings, located on the corner of Nunnery Lane and Blossom Street near Micklegate Bar. Formally known as the Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, it houses an 18th-century chapel which features the relic of St Margaret Clitherow, a modern exhibition, an award-winning 22-bedroom guest house, café, gift shop, garden and three meeting rooms.
Read more: York firms embark on iconic city building’s conservation project
Ebenezer Evangelical Church adopts live streaming solution
Thanks to the expertise of audio-visual integrator Vaughan Sound, Ebenezer Evangelical Church in Neath Abbey now benefits from an intuitive live streaming system – facilitating remote, online services.
Situated between junctions 43 and 44 of the M4 motorway, the church approached Vaughan Sound looking for a means of streaming their services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Lockdown guidelines and restrictions had greatly restricted the number of participants that could physically attend this small worship venue.
Read more: Ebenezer Evangelical Church adopts live streaming solution
John Williams & Company - still thriving after over 150 years
John Williams & Company (familiarly known as JW & Co) is a well-known name in the roofing and slating trades and has been for well over a century. In fact, the firm celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2020.
The date of 1870 as the establishment of the company lies in Whitaker’s Red Book of Business, published in 1907. The entry tells us that JW & Co was established in 1870 especially to transport slate from the Dinorwic slate quarries in North Wales.
Read more: John Williams & Company - still thriving after over 150 years
Transformative technology for Welsh chapel earns praise in Y Tyst
Capel Gellimanwydd in Ammanford has benefitted from a complete makeover, including an array of new audio-visual equipment provided by leading integrator, Vaughan Sound.
The chapel dates back as far as 1782, making it the oldest in this former coal mining town in Carmarthenshire. Rebuilt in 1836 before extension in 1865, a vestry was later added in 1882.
Read more: Transformative technology for Welsh chapel earns praise in Y Tyst
Restoration of heritage iron and lead windows on site at the Grade II-listed Pro-Cathedral in Bristol
The existing cast iron windows had been left for over 50 years. During this time the paint had deteriorated, glass broken, putty fallen out and some rust jacking of the cast iron members. Due to budget constraints the works were carried out on site.
The frames were cleaned back to a sound surface by hand and the rust treated by Bristol-based Dorothea Restorations. Missing putty was replaced with metal casement putty and the glass replaced where required on a like for like basis. The glass found in the windows was a mixture of crown, cylinder and float.
Richard III cathedral praises ISO Chemie’s load bearing bracket support system
ISO Chemie’s thermal insulating and load bearing bracket support system and sealing tapes have been specified for a new development project at Leicester Cathedral.
The move sees WINFRAMER type 1 units, BLOCO ONE foam sealant tapes and VARIO SD window connection foils installed to support and insulate large Internorm HF410 triple glazed composite windows being fitted in the cathedral’s eye-catching new heritage and learning centre.
Read more: Richard III cathedral praises ISO Chemie’s load bearing bracket support system
Brian’s gilt-edged brushwork adds lustre to commissions both sacred and temporal
Pretty much all of us will have passed by commercial properties or visited premises with exquisite signage and wondered at the craftsmanship involved in their creation. In particular, if the work involved gilding the artistry is all the more admirable.
What most of us will not know is that the same artistry involved in the representation of those treasured local names is to be seen in the restoration projects of some of our historic buildings. Those of us who live in the North of England will be particularly familiar with the work of Brian the Brush Ltd – a traditional hand-painting signwriting company based in Yorkshire and Cheshire, but which also serves the whole of the UK.
Read more: Brian’s gilt-edged brushwork adds lustre to commissions both sacred and temporal
Networking, innovation and community shine at ISCVEx 2024
The Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers (ISCVE) are celebrating the overwhelming success of ISCVEx 2024, an event that has notably marked its presence in the sound, communications, and audio visual industries. The two-day symposium, which took place from 19-20 March at the historic Coombe Abbey near Coventry, brought together more than 250 attendees in a compelling showcase of knowledge, technology and community.
Read more: Networking, innovation and community shine at ISCVEx 2024
Sometimes, being a miser can be a good thing
Green heating specialist Christopher Dunphy relates how his ChurchEcoMiser system helped one church save energy and money.
When churchwarden Nigel Sprat contacted me about St Mary’s Church in Fordingbridge, situated on the edge of the New Forest, I was delighted to be involved with the programme of upgrading at one of Hampshire’s finest churches.
The church had been heated for the previous 20 or so years by a gas-fired warm air system, but it had come to the end of its life. The warm air system was not entirely suitable as it was giving rapid temperature differentials, which can be detrimental in a church as old as St Mary’s.
Work begins on £7.5m restoration of Newhaven Fort, revealing unseen areas
Construction workers have arrived on site to begin a milestone restoration project to transform Newhaven Fort - including opening hidden areas never seen by the public before.
The £7.5 million restoration, which is taking place throughout 2024, means the Fort will remain closed to the public until its grand reopening in early 2025.
Read more: Work begins on £7.5m restoration of Newhaven Fort, revealing unseen areas
Just to be clear: choose your speakers with care
Whether you’re a regular member of the congregation or attending a wedding, funeral or some other religious ceremony, there’s nothing more frustrating than having to struggle to understand what is being said. That was brought into sharp focus recently at St Mary the Virgin, in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside – a local church struggling with exactly that sort of sound issue. Complaints of distortion and patchy coverage were common among the congregation, leading to an urgent need for an overhaul of their sound system.
The cost of lead roofing in 2024
In the quest for durable and aesthetically pleasing roofing materials, lead stands unparalleled. Its longevity, beauty, and historical value make it a top choice. This guide, by lead roofing specialists Silk-Leadwork, dives deep into the cost per square meter, equipping homeowners with the knowledge to make an informed investment.
Choosing lead roofing transcends a mere material selection; it’s a long-term investment in your property’s future. Known for its impressive lifespan and robustness, lead roofing promises a leak-free and visually appealing outcome.
What is a conservation rooflight?
Paul Trace, director of Stella Rooflight discusses the unique properties of a genuine conservation rooflight.
What is a conservation rooflight?
If you know that you need conservation rooflights for your project, the chances are that you have searched online and found plenty of choice. But what is a conservation rooflight and are they all the same?
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