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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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Historic village church has heaters powered from underground LPG tank
St Peter’s in Hixon, Staffordshire is a Grade 2 listed rural church dating from 1849. It was designed by the renowned Victorian architect Gilbert Scott and is part of the Mid-Trent diocese.
As part of a major refurbishment programme, DRU has supplied Kamara powered flue gas wall heaters, replacing old and inefficient overhead electric heaters.
New crafts heritage training centre reaches anniversary
On Friday 9th September 2011 Heritage Crafts Alliance, the heritage skills training centre at Thorp Perrow, North Yorkshire was formally opened by the Rt Hon William Hague MP.
The Rt Hon William Hague MP tries stone carving under the watchful eye of Heritage Craft Alliance MD Glenn Young
Meare Close House’s renovation
The original part of the house is reputed to date from the 1580s with major Victorian Gothic restyling in 1851. Modernisation took place in the 1930s and extension during the 1950s. Adjacent, though now forming a wing of the house, is what was formerly a two storey Victorian cottage. For over the last 70 years, the house has been owned and lived in by three generations of one family.
HMG Adhesives help preserve our cultural heritage
It’s the nature of all materials to degrade and deteriorate over time. But specialist products from British surface coatings manufacturer HMG are dedicated to preserving these materials at both ends of the natural cycle. Its anti-corrosive primers, preservative wood treatments, weather-resistant masonry paints and high performance coatings help protect them against abrasion, wear, chemical and environmental attack;
Castle Drive’s historic gates carefully restored
Grade I-listed, wrought-iron gates, on Castle Drive have been carefully refurbished by Chester Renaissance in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council with aspirations for public access via the gates.
Dating back to 1885, the gates stand under the arch which leads to the entrance of Castle Square, now home to the University of Chester and Chester Crown Court and where the County Gaol once stood.
A dummy pass for avoiding VAT relief?
Heritage property experts at Smith & Garratt, the Borders-based firm of conservation accredited surveyors, are united with the great majority of those with interests in our built heritage in asking the Chancellor to re-think his proposal to apply standard-rate VAT to approved alterations to protected buildings.
Using birds to clear birds
Guild of Master Craftsmen members East Riding Pest Control was set up after being approached by the biggest well known pest control company in the UK to do work for them. They specialise in the clearance of nuisance birds.
They use birds of prey as an effective and environmentally friendly way of controlling the behavioural patterns of species such as pigeons, gulls, starlings and sparrows.
RICS Conservation Accreditation and me
A Personal View of the RICS Conservation Accreditation Scheme
By Anthony Redman BSC FRICS
I received an official looking letter in 1985 telling me that because I was not a qualified architect, I could no longer undertake Quinquennial inspections.
Ornate Interiors complete stable preservation at Nostell
As one of Yorkshire’s most popular historical locations National Trust property Nostell Priory, near Wakefield in West Yorkshire, deserves the very best in restoration craftsmanship and that is exactly what has happened recently as part of a major refurbishment programme to its stable block.
Mirfield Church and College Resurrected by Anelay
An Anglican monastic community based in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, has a new look home following the recent completion of a £2million restoration project at the Church of the Community of the Resurrection.
The 39 week long refurbishment, which focused predominantly on the removal and levelling of stone flooring, has been carried out by York and Manchester based William Anelay, a 264-year-old building restoration and conservation business operating under the auspices of Architects Harris McMillan and Quantity Surveyors Randall Simmonds LLP on behalf of clients the Community of the Resurrection.
Roman Gardens open to the public
Chester’s popular Roman Gardens have officially re-opened this week following an extensive programme of improvements at the historic city centre site.
The works, which includes a new path to access the base of the city walls, high quality planting of Roman origin and topiary and a new York stone sitting and display area, follow on from the installation of Roman-themed floor mosaics last year.
Designed by Cheshire West and Chester Council’s landscaping team and project managed by Chester Renaissance, overgrown shrubs have been replaced with a new sculptured grass area, improvements have been made to the display of Roman artefacts and masonry and new litter bins have been installed.
Paul Mellon Estate Pledges £250,000 for Stowe House
The Paul Mellon Estate Pledges $250,000 towards the
Restoration of the State Music Room at Stowe House, Buckinghamshire
Through World Monuments Fund (WMF), The Paul Mellon Estate has announced a pledge of $250,000 towards the restoration of the State Music Room at Stowe House, the magnificent Grade I listed Neo-Classical palace set in 400 acres of landscaped park in Buckinghamshire. The funding means that the work will begin this year and should be completed by 2012-13.
Cross border expertise
Experts practicing across national borders have an added responsibility – to ensure their work is presented according to the codes required in the country of delivery. Professionals working in the USA, where legislation differs from state to state, or in parts of mainland Europe, will be more familiar with this extra challenge than we are … but devolution cometh.
The offices of property specialists Smith & Garratt Rural Asset Management overlook the River Tweed from the ancient hamlet of Ladykirk – about 300 yards north of the Scottish Border. Principal surveyor Hugh Garratt acknowledges that professionals along the Border have to be mindful of the increasing differences in law and procedure between England and Scotland. “Scotland has preserved its own legal system since the inception of the Union and devolution is bound to widen the difference with every piece of legislation produced by the Scottish Government, and with every piece of UK legislation that is implemented differently across the Border. Even European legislation, which you would think applies consistently across the UK, is treated differently – because court procedures differ, or legislation is enacted with slight but significant differences”.
Asbestos - An unholy problem?
Hailed as the wonder building material when first used in the 1890’s and reaching its peak use in buildings around the mid 1970’s it’s not unreasonable to find asbestos used extensively in schools and churches. Asbestos containing materials take on many forms and have many uses in construction from simple floor tiles to board materials, anti-condensation products and of course thermal insulation.
Ventrolla step in to save Cheshire church windows
Ventrolla Lancashire has successfully completed a renovation project at St Vincent de Paul's church in Altrincham, Cheshire.
Two casement bay windows and 32 sash windows were restored at the presbytery, home to the church's three priests and the main location for the running of the parish.
The bay windows of the Cheshire church building were suffering from wet rot and Ventrolla used its expertise to repair the wood ensuring the original aesthetics of the windows were not lost.
Govt to increase VAT on alterations to listed buildings
On 21 March, the Government announced in its 2012 Budget that it intends to remove the zero rate of VAT for approved alterations to listed buildings. This means that from 1 October 2012 the standard rate of VAT will apply to the alteration of a listed building.
The Government has published draft legislation designed to introduce this change to the current VAT system and is seeking views from interested parties. The consultation is open until Friday 4 May and the details of how to respond are available online here.
As members of the Cut the VAT Coalition The Tile Association believe that VAT on all home repair, maintenance and improvement work should be reduced from 20% to 5%. This targeted VAT cut would bring with it a huge number of economic, social and environmental benefits.
Purcell Miller Tritton completes work on new Lewis Carroll Centre in Daresbury
Purcell Miller Tritton has recently completed work on a new Lewis Carroll Centre for Daresbury Church, which opens on 25th March 2012, following a competition win by the practice to develop a new design for the centre, subsequent to an initial scheme for the site.
In keeping with the main church’s Lewis Carroll memorial windows and other nearby interventions, including the monument of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in nearby Warrington, the centre is themed on Carroll’s connection with Daresbury, where he was born in 1832.
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