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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
Exhibitors enthuse over the CRE experience
By 4pm on the first day of CRE 24 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, exhibitors Chris and Kim Dunphy had already had so many helpful and detailed conversations with visitors that they were “completely talked out”.
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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Facade Restoration to External Envelope of Iconic Independent Emporium
Quadriga Contracts Limited has successfully finished the restoration of the iconic Affleck’s Palace Building in the Northern Quarter of Manchester City Centre. This famous shopping Aladdin’s Cave was, until very recently, destined to become city centre apartments.
However, after overwhelming protests against the scheme, landlords Bruntwood began negotia¬tions with Affleck’s founder Elaine Walsh to save this popular emporium.
Afflecks (formerly Affleck’s Palace) is a striking five-storey building, housing an indoor market of unusual independent stalls, small shops and boutiques. The building was original¬ly occupied by a long established independent department store called Affleck and Brown; Debenhams then acquired it in the early 1950s and owned it until 1973.
On 31 March 2008 Affleck’s Palace ceased trading, and traders were told they would have to vacate the building by the end of January 2009, after Brentwood’s were unable to renew the 25-year lease which ran out in June 2007. Suggestions then followed that Bruntwood would redevelop the building into a residential site. However after objections to the scheme, Brunt¬wood took the unprecedented step of buying the Affleck’s Management Company to assure the safety of this significant building’s future.
In a joint statement, Bruntwood and Affleck’s management team said: “After 26 years of trading, Affleck’s management has sold their company to Bruntwood in an agreement that protects the future of Afflecks. Bruntwood will manage Afflecks while they look for a new owner.” A Bruntwood spokesman added, “never in our 30 years history have we bought one of our customer’s businesses, but Afflecks is an icon that we wanted to protect. Coun¬cilor Pat Karney from Manchester City Council added: “I am delighted a deal has been done.
“Afflecks Palace is the face of the Northern Quarter and the face of independent retailing in Manchester.”
Following on from the extensive facade restoration carried out ChurchGate House, also in central Manchester, Quadriga were commissioned to repair to the external envelope of this former independent department store. Remedial works included, liquid applied waterproof membrane to flat roofs, wet grit blasting to rendered and stone work facades to remove numerous layers of paint in preparation for restoration, the removal of defective render and application of a new render system, in situ stone restoration to cills, mouldings and fea¬tures, the stabilising of unsound brickwork – many parapet walls were carefully dismantled and rebuilt, masonry clean to brickwork elevations, fixing bird deterrent system in the form of sprung wire and netting and the complete redecoration of all facades, windows and shop fronts.
Quadriga Contracts Limited is a company dedicated to preserving our English Heritage and with the team’s combined talent, commitment and experience; the work they produce is of exceptional quality and to the highest standard.
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