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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
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."
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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Purcell completes National Museum of the Royal Navy Scheme
The Babcock Galleries at The National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard have opened to the public following a £4.5 million renovation led by architects Purcell and project managers Artelia.
The opening coincides with the centenary of the First World War. The Galleries house a major new permanent exhibition; ‘Hear My Story’, which tells 100 years of life in the Navy and covers the personal stories from those who served at sea.
Responsible sourcing is key to survival of the UK lighting industry
These days many of us try to be more informed about how the food we eat has been produced and the clothes we wear have been manufactured, according to Jeremy Quantrill, joint managing director of Dernier & Hamlyn. "But can the same be said of the way that lighting is specified and purchased? If you have responsibility for procuring or designing lighting do you think about where it has been produced and what that means for the people involved and for the wider UK economy?" he said.
"As a lighting manufacturer, which has been around since 1888, we are clearly keen to promote the 'buy British' message. Obviously we would prefer that all lighting was made here and we welcome anyone to visit our factory.
The Roofing Awards - winners revealed
On Friday 16th May, the 9th annual Roofing Awards took place at the Hilton Metropole in central London. A record 700 guests arrived at the Hilton to be a part of this prestigious industry event, which was jointly hosted by TV presenter and interior designer Linda Barker and NFRC chief executive Ray Horwood.
In the Heritage Category the overall winner was Claude N Smith Ltd for The Laurels (pictured), a private dwelling in Stilton, Peterborough.
The LSA lead sheet manual: a traditional material goes into cyberspace
Most people are familiar with the use of lead sheet as a traditional building material, for roofing and many other decorative purposes. For those active in the construction industry, however, the material is very much an up-to-date sustainable product. The technical elements of the production, specification and installation of lead sheet are the province of the Lead Sheet Association (LSA), whose Rolled Lead Sheet – The Complete Manual has set the technical standards for the industry for many years and is the essential reference point for leadworkers, architects and specifiers.
New windows create authentifc appearance for Ilkley home
The owner of a terraced home in Ilkley has achieved her goal of creating an authentic looking property, thanks to the installation of sliding sash style windows, from Ilkley Windows and Conservatories.
Homeowner Liz Foster set about transforming the two bedroom property, after moving in with her dog Nellie, a Labrador-cross. The home featured heavy-framed windows that were not in keeping with the rest of the property, or the style of others in the area.
Gopak furniture adding comfort and style to church community
Wesley Methodist Church requires furniture that can be used by all members of the public for the activities it hosts in its community rooms. The church’s existing chairs had started to deteriorate and users were finding their existing chairs too low for their needs. The Methodist Church contacted Gopak who offered a cost effective furniture solution.
Gopak Comfort upholstered folding chairs and Capel easy chairs gave the community areas of the church a new lease of life. All members of the community use the folding chairs so it is important the furniture suited young and old.
Seven times a day I shall sing praise to you, and I shall rise at night to sing your praise
This resolve from the psalms, taken from the sixth century rule of St Benedict, means that Benedictine nuns - such as those at St Cecilia's Abbey on the Isle of Wight - certainly need good lighting in church. When this lighting was in urgent need of replacing they turned to church lighting specialists Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd.
Bursar Sr Eustochium explains: "Our church was built in 1907 and we still relied on gas lighting until the 1950's. The original electric lights were apparently OK if you were fortunate enough to sit directly below them, and the fluorescent tubes installed in the 1970's were seen as a great improvement. The strip lights lit up the nuns' choir stalls but anyone declaiming the Word in the centre of choir had to struggle to see the text.
Armitage Construction - 140 years in the construction industry
"We have already started 2014 on a high and we are delighted to be celebrating our 140th anniversary within the construction industry.
Armitage Construction has roots in the industry tracing back to 1874. The Armitage family has an enviable history and reputation throughout the North West of England for delivering high quality construction and development projects to both traditional and contemporary specifications.
Strata Florida Abbey – 850 years of inspiration
This year marks the 850th anniversary of Strata Florida abbey – a monument that’s both admired for its captivating beauty and famed for its historical importance.
Believed to be the resting place of Dafydd ap Gwilym, one of Wales’s best known medieval poets, the site still attracts literature lovers through its majestic carved doorway today. The Ceredigion wonder was once home to Cistercian monks of the Middle Ages.
Rosehill launches a new online shop
Rosehill Furniture Group is pleased to announce the launch of our first online shop. Our E-Shop has been designed to make buying from our wide range of new and existing products easy and secure.
Due to popular demand and positive customer feedback we wanted to provide an online platform to help our customers purchase our contract furniture at times suited to them and from any location across the globe.
Zinc roofing that's right out of the Top Drawer
Described as a 'small but effective company', Chingford-based Top Drawer Zinc Ltd is exactly what it says in its name. The firm, under the direction of founder Tim Boyle, specialises in the supply, re-manufacture and fixing of zinc for roofs and windows.
Says Tim: "Neat installations, neat fixing and attention to detail have always been strong factors in my work throughout the 30-plus years that I have been in this business. Zinc for roofing and facades has been my material of choice since 2009 after completing VMZinc's installation training courses."
Purcell and S T Walker & Duckham join forces in unique collaboration
Purcell and S T Walker & Duckham are pleased to announce a unique collaboration that aims to raise the profile of both architectural practices in the West Midlands. The agreement to share resources, skills and experience will also help them to provide a comprehensive service across key sectors. The aspiration for this collaboration is to facilitate a merger between the two practices.
S T Walker & Duckham is headed by David Duckham and based in Worcester. The practice is best known for their conservation work for clients including the National Trust, English Heritage and Local Authorities.
A practitioners verdict on Apollo ceiling collapse
Initial findings, from an investigation conducted by Westminster City Council into the ceiling collapse at London’s Apollo Theatre in December 2013, have revealed that aged hessian wadding was to blame for a tragedy that left seventy six people injured.
According to two of the UK’s most renowned and award winning specialist plastering experts, the collapse will hopefully lead to improved facility management and vigilance by theatre staff coupled with regular inspections by structural experts.
Accepting the challenge at All Saints, Ockham
When ChurchPA.co.uk were approached by Martin Heijne of bch architects to help with a problematic church, they were glad to accept the challenge.
The problem was that All Saints at Ockham is an 11th century parish church, grade one listed, that needed its first sound system installation.
The brief was for a simple voice reinforcement system, with two tie clip microphones, a fixed lectern microphone plus MP3 record and replay facilities, and the ability to raise the volume of the small choir from the chancel area.
Scottish Laird finds it Ecoeasy!
It’s no easy task draught proofing an 800 year old Scottish castle but incumbent Laird Simon Craufurd believes he’s found a way!
Simon, owner of the the A-Listed Craufurdland Castle, based near Kilmarnock in Ayreshire, took delivery of a number of Ecoease secondary glazing panels in late 2013 and they are already proving their worth and paying their way.
Anelay revives Sculpture Park Chapel
Building restoration specialists William Anelay Ltd has just completed two key phases of restoration work at Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s Grade II* listed St Bartholomew’s Chapel in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
The initial phase of the project began in August 2013 and ran over a six-month period encompassing masonry, re-roofing, external decorations and groundworks to make the chapel watertight. A second phase was initiated later in the year to provide improvements to lighting, heating and ventilation.
CRE moves on to Manchester
After a successful CRE International at Sandown Park in May - the very last event to be held at this venue - the CRE roadshow moves on to Manchester in October from 8th - 9th October 2014
The exhibition and programme will include:
- A unique exhibition of Christian resources with an anticipated 150+ exhibitors.
- An extensive range of books, music and resources to buy.
- The latest multimedia equipment & expert advice.
- Over 40 practical and resourcing seminars.
- The best in Christian theatre and music.
In fact, no other event provides such a remarkable range of seminars, workshops, theatre and church resources - this event is truly an experience not to be missed.
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