Current Issue
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.
Read More...
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.
SEARCH OUR DIRECTORY
Darlington company clinches high profile contracts
Stone Technical Services has further secured its position as a leader in its field by winning several major contracts in Yorkshire.
Thanks to its reputation as one of the UK’s top high level and general maintenance and restoration companies, Stone has been appointed by English Heritage to carry out condition surveys to two historic mills and preservation works at an important ruin, celebrated by the well-known artist JMW Turner.
Zinc: It's not just for multivitamins anymore!
Zinc is not for the faint of heart. The key is learning proper installation techniques. If you are a metal roofing contractor scheduled to work on a job where zinc has been specified, do you a) cry because you’ve heard horror stories about how difficult it is to work with or b) grab a Kleenex, get yourself and your crew trained, and find a new material to master?
York roofing firm's double success
A York family roofing company has double reason to celebrate after reaching the finals of two prestigious national competitions.
Geoff Neal Roofing (GNR) Limited is one of only 6 UK roofing companies to reach the finals of the ‘Specialists Awards’, run by Construction News and the National Specialists Contractors Council to highlight the vital role of specialist contractors in construction.
St Johns Church gets 3 Zone, Energy Efficient Heating System
St Johns Church contacted HeatinGlobal with the task of installing a full new system for the church. The church community room was used on a daily basis and the heating system needed splitting into three zones as the boiler also had to provide instant hot water to a well used kitchen and toilet area.
Darlington company creates opportunity for Teesside University graduate
Darlington-based high level and general maintenance experts, Stone Technical Services, have strengthened their sales and marketing team as they put plans in place to grow further in 2013.
For the first time since establishing 15 years’ ago, the business has recruited an in-house marketing specialist.
Specialist Equipment For Church Heating Systems
HeatinGlobal often install high energy efficiency boilers in churches that have very low running cost. As with the old cast iron floor standing boilers the cost to run and maintain them become un-affordable and sometimes un-repairable.
Canterbury Cathedral
This contract covered the replacement of 450 square metres of lead on the Cathedral’s Southeast Transept roof. The contract win continued Norman & Underwood’s proud history of restoration work at the Cathedral.
All Saints Church, North Moreton
This Grade 1 listed church dates from the 13th Century and is constructed from limestone, flint and oak. It is best known for the stained glass window in the St Nicholas or Stapleton chapel, which is among the earliest and finest in the country.
FPDC Awards win for Hayles and Howe Ltd
Hayles and Howe are delighted to have been awarded the 2012 Internal Plastering Award by the FPDC (Federation of Plastering and Drywall Contractors) for restoration works at the British Armed Forces’ Chaplaincy Centre, Amport House, Andover.
Georgian Farmhouse gets the Ventrolla touch
Sash window renovation and repair experts Ventrolla have once again weaved its magic on a beautiful Grade II listed building, freeing a family farmhouse from their tired and draughty windows.
Wimbrick House in Ormskirk, Lancashire, had fallen into disrepair and was in dire need of some TLC.
Advice from NE building experts amid winter weather worries
North East general and specialist maintenance experts, Stone Technical Services, are warning business and home owners to ensure any weather damage is repaired promptly, after a surge in demand for their services.
The Winter Warmth and Light of Candles is not Just for Churches
The weather has that chill in the air. The days are shorter. What we need in our homes right now is more warmth and more light. Candles are one of the best ways to give us what we need.
Relocation of Canterbury Cathedral Doors for Restoration Work
The skills of Canterbury based Artful Logistics are often used in other industries and below you can see one example of their work, removing the ancient oak gates from the Christchuch entrance to Canterbury Cathedral, ready for restoration by Houghtons of York. (Please see video below)
The book on restoring furniture
From Billy Cook of W.J.Cook & Sons of BAFRA
It had long been obvious that there was not a comprehensive book on the subject of antique furniture restoration that had both been photographed and written by a commercial workshop.
County Durham business motors on by cutting costs and going green
A fast-growing Darlington-based business, which operates all over the UK, has invested thousands of pounds in its fleet of vehicles to help it become more environmentally-friendly and fuel efficient.
New apprenticeship opportunities in heritage construction
Would your business benefit from employing a conservation, maintenance and repair apprentice?
For the first time in the UK, North Yorkshire based Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd can offer level 3 qualifications which meet the specific needs of the built heritage sector.
From Medieval Magnificence to Henry Moore
The timeless art of weaving tapestries
The Fleming Collection
17 April – 1 June 2013
13 Berkeley Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8DU
An exhibition celebrating the timeless skills of tapestry weavers from the medieval era to modern times by focusing on one of Britain’s most important royal refurbishment projects is to be held at The Fleming Collection in London from 17 April to 1 June 2013.
VISIT OUR ASSOCIATED SITES
