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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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Stone Technical Services is restructuring and re-branding
The company will now be known as Stone Technical Services Group which will incorporate its four divisions: -STS Lightning Protection, STS Restoration, STS Maintenance and Facilities Management and STS Conservation .
The new brand name will allow for effective expansion and the ongoing diversification of the business, making best use of its growing teams’ areas of expertise.
Managers at Stone reported a successful 2013 with turnover steadily growing to over £2 million. Five new jobs were created, taking staff numbers to 35. The company hopes to create around six new jobs in 2014 and boost turnover by around 30%.
Extension of the Listed Places of Worship Grant
The Government announced changes to the scope and operation of the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme, these changes came into effect on 1 October 2013. From this date, works to pipe organs, turret clocks, bells and bell ropes are eligible for claims under the scheme. Professional services directly related to eligible building work such as architect fees are also eligible.
Also from 1 October 2013, applications to make use of the scheme are accepted from religious or charitable groups whose principal or primary purpose is to conserve, repair and maintain redundant listed places of worship are not in private ownership.
Inspect and Protect Campaign for Lightning Protection Systems
To combat the rise in unqualified companies testing lightning protection systems, the Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists (ATLAS) has launched the Inspect and Protect Campaign to promote the importance of using a fully trained Specialist Contractor for annual systems testing.
To comply with the current British Standard, the majority of buildings should have their lightning protection system tested every year.
Demolition threat to Victorian landmark building removed
The application to demolish the historic Ancoats Dispensary has been withdrawn by the owner Urban Splash.
The Grade II-listed building has been the focus of an intense campaign of local people, led by the Save Ancoats Dispensary Group, to resist demolition. An application to knock it down had been brought before Manchester City Council’s Planning Committee but this has now been withdrawn.
Re-ordering reveals Victorian splendour - with a 17th century centrepiece
When the Victorian middle class spread into the suburbs and villages they built an impressive number of churches, many of which have been celebrating their 150th anniversary.
St Michael's at Tilehurst, in Reading, was one of these, having been remodelled and enlarged by George Edmund Street in 1855.
18th century church restored to its former glory in Manchester
An 18th Century church in Manchester has recently undergone extensive repairs to its roof, which included reintroducing leadwork as originally designed.
The main roof had been problematical for a number of years. The roof, at 16 degrees, was too shallow and never intended for a slate finish. The parapet gutters and lead covered apse roof had bays of lead that were excessive in length with step joints averaging only 20mm. The church had been experiencing leaks for a number of years.
Concorde and aerospace centre project takes off for Focus Consultants and Purcell architects
Focus Consultants and architects, Purcell have been appointed to draw up designs for a multi-million pound heritage museum and learning centre dedicated to aerospace.
The Bristol Aerospace Centre will create a permanent home for Concorde and will also feature refurbished, listed World War One aircraft hangars, which will be transformed into a first-class heritage museum, learning suites, archives and workshops.
Historic church provides a happy ending for young couple
The Churches Conservation Trust are pleased to have helped a young couple in the Lake District to find and purchase a church that they will turn into their home in one of the most expensive property hot spots in England.
The CCT have owned St John the Baptist since 1993. The church is unlisted so they decided to seek an alternative use for it to help secure its future. In collaboration with locals, the Regeneration Taskforce identified the lack of housing for young people as a key issue in the area. High house prices coupled with a lack of suitable land on which to build affordable housing has led to many young people leaving the area.
A pane-staking restoration in South Yorkshire
A stunning Victorian conservatory at Wentworth Castle in Stainborough near Barnsley, one of the finest examples of its kind anywhere, has been painstakingly and faithfully restored to its former glory.
William Anelay Ltd, a building firm established in 1747, was charged with the task of delivering a complex 12 month project, in conjunction with architects Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams that involved the complete restoration of the conservatory and the construction of an adjoining new build extension with visitor area, shop and cafe facilities.
DRU wood fires and stoves division re-branded as DG Fires in the UK
DRU Verwarming BV, which is a leading European manufacturer of contemporary gas and wood burning fires, has announced that its wood fires and stoves have been re-branded as DG Fires in the UK.
DRU acquired the famous Dutch wood stove company Dik Geurts back in 2007. Since then, the production of all Dik Geurts products has been moved to DRU’s central factory at Duiven in the Netherlands, including the development of new models specially designed for the UK fireplace market.
SLPTG Celebrates Apprentices at Annual Awards
The Steeplejack and Lightning Protection Training Group (SLPTG) Apprentice Awards which recognise the achievements of apprentices in the sector were presented at the National Construction College (NCC) - East on 12 December 2013. There were 12 awards chosen by NCC instructors, including Best Academic Achievement, Best Technical Application (Lightning Conductor) and Highest Attention to Safety (Steeplejack), for those apprentices who excelled during their 2-year training.
Prussian regal legacy honours innovative church repair project
In November it was announced that the King of Prussia’s Gold Medal for 2013 has been awarded to John Bailey of Thomas Ford & Partners, for the project to preserve and repair All Saints’ Church at Westbere in Kent.
County Durham company scales new NE heights winning more work
A Darlington specialist repair and maintenance business has secured in the region of £200,000 worth of new contracts around the North East.
Stone Technical Services, experts in the fields of high level, historic and general maintenance, is working on a variety of contracts across its home region.
Firs House - The restoration of a historic listed property
The renovation of a historic period house can be a challenging and rewarding, but also a heartbreaking experience, particularly when you see your ‘labour of love’ burn down and have to start the whole restoration process again.
What the Beck? Historic home heated by river heat pump
A stunning waterside property in the village of Crakehall near Bedale, North Yorkshire, has been fitted with an innovative water source heat pump system which generates its energy from Bedale Beck.
York Minster 'Upcycles'
The new stands, are each over two metres high, were designed by Chris Topp & Co Architectural Metalworks at Tholthorpe near York, they were made to replace old wooden stands which had been used to hold candles for night-time services. They used metal from the Skidmore altar railing, which had sat in storage at York Minster for many years after being removed from use.
A church where installation started before the contract had been awarded
Kernow Installations, prominent member of the ISCE, has been installing sound systems in churches and chapels since 1985 and have completed more than fifty to date including a Cathedral.
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