Current Issue
NE restorers crowned with Royal recognition
Darlington-based Stone Technical Services has again received a top honour for its part in a major historic restoration project
Following its recent success at the Waterways Renaissance Awards where the company was recognised for its involvement in the renovation project on the Lune Aqueduct near Lancaster, Stone has again been named in a prestigious award.
Heritage Skills Centre, Lincoln Castle
The Heritage Skills Centre is a new-build single storey structure set within the grounds of Lincoln Castle, a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument. The project ran alongside the broader £19.9M Lincoln Castle Revealed project, for which the Practice has also been appointed.
Metal marking company signs cooperation deal with Immobilise in fight against lead theft
Trace-in-Metal Ltd. has linked up with Immobilise, which recently received the Secured By Design award, meaning that police and other authorities can now access coded information on microdots infused into lead, trace stolen lead and prosecute anyone dealing in it at any stage of the recycling chain, thereby creating a comprehensive deterrent to the continuing problem of metal theft.
These days, theft of portable everyday items such as mobile phones, laptops and bicycles has become a common occurrence, with over 300 phones stolen each day in London alone.
Read more: Metal marking company signs cooperation deal with Immobilise in fight against lead theft
Stories in Stone
The Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw, looks after 129 of Wales’s historic sites. Here, Cadw’s former Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Dr Sian Rees, explores the intricate and beautiful architecture of St Winefride’s Holy Well in north Wales, and the clues it gives us to the site’s rich history – from the martyrdom of St Winefride in the seventh century to the well’s fame as a medieval pilgrimage site.
Inside the chapel at St Winefride’s Well there is a wealth of history to be found simply by looking up. There, partly hidden in the shadows, is a huge carved stone hanging delicately by a coronet of carved angels from the centre of the vaulted roof.
Major upgrade to St Keverne Church, Cornwall
St Keverne Church, on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall has been a place of worship since St Keverne brought Christianity to the village in the 12th C. Today it is a Grade 1 listed church and registered charity.
It has an interesting history including a wealth of social and maritime heritage and architectural artefacts such as original medieval pew ends, and in the Lady Chapel an original barrel roof and bosses going back to 1460.
Fire & Rescue Station, Birstall by Norman & Underwood
New headquarters building and fire station located in the Leicestershire village of Birstall. The fire station which opened in April this year has been announced as the new Leicestershire fire and rescue service's headquarters.
The project to build the fire station cost around £11m and has been completed on schedule. The fire station will be replacing that of Syston’s fire and rescue station which was closed down for good in April this year.
Read more: Fire & Rescue Station, Birstall by Norman & Underwood
York Minister Roofing Renovations
York Minster is Northern Europe’s second largest gothic cathedral and has a long and varied history dating back almost 1500 years.
Initially built with wood, the church has undergone numerous transformations over the two centuries, including complete refurbishments and organised repairs, and has survived two fires and William the Conqueror’s harrying of the North!
Blickling Hall Cisterns by Turners Ornamental Leadwork
Brian Turner's brief at Blickling Hall was to make a planter - something that could go under a window about a meter wide and about 500mm X 600 deep.
On visiting the front entrance of Blickling Hall you approach down a long drive with a ewe hedge on both sides, which is huge and hundreds of years old, coming into an outer courtyard with wings on both sides. Then standing in front of you is a wonderful old wooden door leading into an inner court yard over a stone bridge.
Once in the courtyard, it is the ideal location for two corner planters/cisterns. The front panels are 1200mm long and 900mm tall and weigh 453 kilos. The two planters were designed using the ornamentation on the bridge and facade linking the planter / cistern to the hall. They could be there for 1,000 years plus as there are examples of lead work lasting 4,000 years. All casting have been cast in a sand bed.
Read more: Blickling Hall Cisterns by Turners Ornamental Leadwork
Armitage Construction – Jodrell Bank
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics is the astronomical research centre of the University of Manchester. The centre occupies three main locations: the world-famous Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, the Alan Turing and Sackville St Building in central Manchester.
Jodrell Bank is a world leader in radio astronomy-related research and technology development using MERLIN, the UK’s national radio astronomy facility.
Purcell appointed to lead Hornsey restoration
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts has announced today the appointment of RIBA award-winning architects Purcell to lead the design team for the redevelopment of the iconic Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End. Today’s good news follows on from successfully securing initial support, including a development grant of £482,000, from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) last year.
Purcell has over six decades of experience, with an excellent record working on comparable heritage and arts projects, notably St Paul’s Cathedral, the National Maritime Museum and Theatre Royal Haymarket.
IHBC welcomes ABBE’s high-level vocational qualification in conservation: ‘NVQ Level 6’
IHBC Education Secretary David McDonald said: ‘It’s wonderful to be able to see this critical partnership initiative – commenced under my predecessor as IHBC Education Secretary, John Preston – come to fruition at last.
Having secured occupational standards for built and historic conservation specialists last year, as well as a technical level vocational qualification (Level 3), we now have a high-level cross-professional conservation vocational qualification on offer from a leading accreditation body, ABBE, for specialists from all built environment disciplines.’
Read more: IHBC welcomes ABBE’s high-level vocational qualification in conservation: ‘NVQ Level 6’
More apprentices join NE high risers
A Darlington company is continuing with its commitment to young people by creating another two opportunities at its HQ.
Already this year, Stone Technical Services has taken on five new members of staff- including three apprentices- and has now recruited another two to help with its planned growth. Thanks to his company’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people, MD Dave Stone has also been invited to advise the North East organisation ‘Foundation for Jobs’ about recruiting apprentices.
Re-united – in an appropriate style
An 18th-century vicarage on the edge of Bristol, built when the clergy was part of the gentry, has seen changes over the years. The most recent change, undertaken by Home and Garden Renovations, of Southmead, Bristol, concerned uniting two parts of the building and involved the creation of a covered stairwell to join two levels in a style that was appropriate to the main building.
The main part of the building was constructed in 1729, and 100 years later an extension – the south wing – was added.
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