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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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Protecting our buildings and our heritage – careful maintenance makes good sense
“It can prove to be an extremely costly over sight to neglect checking and regularly maintaining a building’s guttering system” warns Rainclear Systems’ Managing Director Geraint Jones. “After a property’s roof, a rainwater disposal system is one of the most critical features of a building which can both influence its unique character and ensure its care and preservation.
It’s a feature which can be easily overlooked, but at a building’s peril – especially an historic or listed building.” Designed to remove water from a building, leaking or inadequate guttering, hoppers and downpipes can lead to damaging internal and external conditions such as damp, flooding or dry rot – all potentially destructive and expensive to rectify.
Two-year project to restore the Great Gallery brings natural light to the Old Masters
The Wallace Collection has reopened the stunning Great Gallery after a two-year rebuilding programme led by architects, Purcell.
The Great Gallery was originally built by Sir Richard Wallace between 1872-5 as part of his major extension of Hertford House to accommodate his collection’s move from Paris to London. As was typical for great private residences, the Gallery was positioned behind the private living quarters in order to create a magnificent impact at the culmination of any visit. Constructed over what had originally been a mews behind the house, the vast space would have been hugely impressive to the small groups of guests who were privileged enough to be shown the collection. It is now hugely impressive, once again.
Teamwork makes the most of a shared space
Across the Atlantic in Toronto, the world-renowned Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir have for decades shared Trinity St Paul’s Church with the local congregation.
Tafelmusik approached SSD and AMPC to see what improvements could be made for music performance, acoustics, staging and sightlines.
Acoustic alchemy turns leaden surfaces into musical gold
The history and stories to be found in heritage buildings have long provided inspiration for musicians and performers alike. However, modern standards of acoustics and technical systems demand that these spaces are upgraded. Such was the case at St Peter’s.
In the first phase of the project Sound Space Design (SSD) led a collaborative process to test the feasibility of converting the church to a permanent rehearsal venue with space to accommodate the largest ensembles of over 100 musicians and to include an audio monitoring room, acoustically isolated from the main space for professional quality recording.
Yorkshire companies aim to address heritage skills shortage
The York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmenship (YCCC) is an association of individuals and companies who are actively engaged in or support the conservation of built and artistic heritage and the craft skills necessary for its preservation. While most of the member conservators and crafts workers are based in the city of York and the surrounding area, their knowledge and skills are in demand locally, nationally and internationally.
One of the main aims of the YCCC is remedying the worrying and increasing shortage of the skilled craftsmen and conservators necessary to ensure the conservation and restoration of the nation’s heritage which they address through their charity raising funds for burseries and grants.
Tudor adds 'Weathered Earth' to its standard range of peg and plain tiles
Tudor Roof Tile Co Ltd, Britain's foremost independent handmade clay roof tile manufacturer, has introduced a mellow earth tone into its standard range of peg and plain tiles.
Known as ‘Weathered Earth’, this subtle shade has a depth, which is ideally suited to restoration and heritage projects as it helps re-create the mature and time-worn appearance of clay tiles that have naturally darkened with age.
Dernier & Hamlyn - experts in the three R’s
Alongside their skills in bespoke lighting manufacturing for heritage buildings, the talented team is often called on to refurbish, renovate and repair light fittings. Much of this work is extremely challenging and requires unique skills and in-depth knowledge of historic lighting.
Past projects have included taking down a chandelier weighing several tons for extensive refurbishment that included the manufacture of missing sections and castings as well as wiring to current electrical standards with energy efficient lighting being installed.
Window's musical theme honours church wardens' talents
When the Church of St Edward the Confessor in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, decided to commemorate the lives and work of church wardens and music teachers George and Lily Stone, they commissioned YCCC member Mark Harvey of Park Glass Studios to create a new window.
The window consists of two slender lancet top main lights, with a single tracery light. Its main theme is music: celebrating the musical talents of the couple while connecting Christ and the church with song.
New chapter for Sewerby Hall
A team of craftsmen from Leeds-based specialist plastering firm Ornate Interiors have played their part in giving a new lease of life to a historic and popular East Yorkshire landmark.
Sewerby Hall is a Grade I listed Georgian country house that dates back to 1714. Set in 50 acres of landscaped gardens in the village of Sewerby near Bridlington, the venue attracts over 150,000 visitors annually and has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment with a range of plastering requirements forming part of the scope of works.
Specialist in sash windows can restore or replace with a perfect replica
One of the established craftspeople appointed by Team Force for a number of its projects is sash window restoration specialist David Humble.
Based in Morpeth, in the south east corner of Northumberland, David and his team offer a complete renovation service for traditional sash windows which leaves them looking and performing like new.
A lighting requirement? One church's perspective
Considerations other than cost need to be made when engaging a contractor for a church lighting project.
Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd has recently completed a project to install new lighting throughout Great Malvern Priory which is part of the Greater Churches Network. The priory is a Grade I listed building and is a focal point both in Malvern and in the Diocese of Worcester.
ATLAS members maintain commitment to safety
The latest annual accident survey undertaken by the Association of Technical Lightning and Access Specialists (ATLAS) demonstrates the high health and safety standards of its members in the workplace.
Despite operating in a high risk sector where working at height is unavoidable, ATLAS members recorded no fatalities for the fifth consecutive year and only one major injury, ensuring that the fatal and major injury rates were both lower than the construction industry as a whole.
New installation lights the way for pilgrims
Lastingham in North Yorkshire has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, its church having been founded by St Cedd of Lindisfarne as a monastery in AD 654. Following his death, 10 years later, he was buried beside the altar of the original church.
The founding of St Mary’s was described by the Venerable Bede and some of the decoratively carved Lastingham Stones date from the 8th century.
New exhibition at the London Canal Museum from 10 October
Canals were a vital lifeline on the Western Front during the First World War, saving millions from starvation, carrying tens of thousands of wounded to safety and even taking injured war horses in the holds of barges for hospital treatment.
This untold story of human endeavour on a vast scale on the waterways of France and Belgium will unfold in a fascinating new exhibition opening at the London Canal Museum near King’s Cross on 10 October.
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.
While this outcome was largely due to the collaboration and expertise of a wide number of professionals, it was also in no small part thanks to the dedication of craftsmen and women who provided their expert skills and services. There is still much to do in the future – but this was a positive step forward by those who work to protect our heritage.
Heritage Centre renovations completed
The substantial scaffolding structure outside the Heritage Centre at 150 High Street, Henley has attracted a good deal of curiosity and attention over the last three months. Well, you certainly couldn't miss it: it became facetiously known as the Heritage Centre's conservatory.
Ancient Buildings can look solid, indestructible and everlasting. In reality of course they are as prone to the ravages of age as any man-made construction. A large part of the house, the home of Henley's Heritage Centre, was dated by experts as a building of the middle 14th century - the year 1345 to be precise.
Verrier, profile of a Scottish restoration, design and maker of architectural and decorative glass
Verrier specialises in the design and making of architectural and decorative glass for domestic, and commercial settings. Leaded and kiln formed techniques are used to provide windows, wall hangings and decorative features.
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