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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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Green heat meets high tech meets the hallowed cloisters of Manchester Cathedral.
Reverend Christina ten Wolde, NSM cleric-in-charge of St Peter's Aberdyfi is seen blessing a robot drill rig and its crew as it prepares to leave the wilds of Snowdonia for ultra urban Manchester. This specially designed radial rig is almost ballet-like in its flexibility and lightness of footprint and therefore able to bring all the benefits of ground source heat to the most inaccessible of places - that could mean out in the wilds or in the middle of the concrete jungle.
Lantern at St Paul's Cathedral combines form and function
Dernier & Hamlyn manufactured a 1.6m high lantern for St Paul’s Cathedral’s South Portico. The design of the lantern was conceived by St Paul’s Cathedral’s surveyor to the fabric, Martin Stancliffe, who took his inspiration from another Dernier & Hamlyn lantern at The Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
He comments: "The installation of this lantern is an important element of our aim to make the Southern entrance a welcoming access point for visitors to the Cathedral.”
Lighting Dynamics complete another stunning church lighting project
Lighting Dynamics UK, based in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, has recently designed and completed the installation of yet another stunning lighting project for the magnificent and sumptuous interior of St Augustine of Hippo Church in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
St Augustine's, a Grade II* building, has been a splendid Victorian landmark at the centre of the Conservation Area that bears its name since the church was first consecrated in 1868.
NE restorers crowned with Royal recognition
Darlington-based Stone Technical Services has again received a top honour for its part in a major historic restoration project
Following its recent success at the Waterways Renaissance Awards where the company was recognised for its involvement in the renovation project on the Lune Aqueduct near Lancaster, Stone has again been named in a prestigious award.
Heritage Skills Centre, Lincoln Castle
The Heritage Skills Centre is a new-build single storey structure set within the grounds of Lincoln Castle, a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument. The project ran alongside the broader £19.9M Lincoln Castle Revealed project, for which the Practice has also been appointed.
Stories in Stone
The Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw, looks after 129 of Wales’s historic sites. Here, Cadw’s former Inspector of Ancient Monuments, Dr Sian Rees, explores the intricate and beautiful architecture of St Winefride’s Holy Well in north Wales, and the clues it gives us to the site’s rich history – from the martyrdom of St Winefride in the seventh century to the well’s fame as a medieval pilgrimage site.
Inside the chapel at St Winefride’s Well there is a wealth of history to be found simply by looking up. There, partly hidden in the shadows, is a huge carved stone hanging delicately by a coronet of carved angels from the centre of the vaulted roof.
Fire & Rescue Station, Birstall by Norman & Underwood
New headquarters building and fire station located in the Leicestershire village of Birstall. The fire station which opened in April this year has been announced as the new Leicestershire fire and rescue service's headquarters.
The project to build the fire station cost around £11m and has been completed on schedule. The fire station will be replacing that of Syston’s fire and rescue station which was closed down for good in April this year.
Blickling Hall Cisterns by Turners Ornamental Leadwork
Brian Turner's brief at Blickling Hall was to make a planter - something that could go under a window about a meter wide and about 500mm X 600 deep.
On visiting the front entrance of Blickling Hall you approach down a long drive with a ewe hedge on both sides, which is huge and hundreds of years old, coming into an outer courtyard with wings on both sides. Then standing in front of you is a wonderful old wooden door leading into an inner court yard over a stone bridge.
Once in the courtyard, it is the ideal location for two corner planters/cisterns. The front panels are 1200mm long and 900mm tall and weigh 453 kilos. The two planters were designed using the ornamentation on the bridge and facade linking the planter / cistern to the hall. They could be there for 1,000 years plus as there are examples of lead work lasting 4,000 years. All casting have been cast in a sand bed.
Purcell appointed to lead Hornsey restoration
Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts has announced today the appointment of RIBA award-winning architects Purcell to lead the design team for the redevelopment of the iconic Hornsey Town Hall in Crouch End. Today’s good news follows on from successfully securing initial support, including a development grant of £482,000, from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) last year.
Purcell has over six decades of experience, with an excellent record working on comparable heritage and arts projects, notably St Paul’s Cathedral, the National Maritime Museum and Theatre Royal Haymarket.
More apprentices join NE high risers
A Darlington company is continuing with its commitment to young people by creating another two opportunities at its HQ.
Already this year, Stone Technical Services has taken on five new members of staff- including three apprentices- and has now recruited another two to help with its planned growth. Thanks to his company’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people, MD Dave Stone has also been invited to advise the North East organisation ‘Foundation for Jobs’ about recruiting apprentices.
Metal marking company signs cooperation deal with Immobilise in fight against lead theft
Trace-in-Metal Ltd. has linked up with Immobilise, which recently received the Secured By Design award, meaning that police and other authorities can now access coded information on microdots infused into lead, trace stolen lead and prosecute anyone dealing in it at any stage of the recycling chain, thereby creating a comprehensive deterrent to the continuing problem of metal theft.
These days, theft of portable everyday items such as mobile phones, laptops and bicycles has become a common occurrence, with over 300 phones stolen each day in London alone.
Major upgrade to St Keverne Church, Cornwall
St Keverne Church, on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall has been a place of worship since St Keverne brought Christianity to the village in the 12th C. Today it is a Grade 1 listed church and registered charity.
It has an interesting history including a wealth of social and maritime heritage and architectural artefacts such as original medieval pew ends, and in the Lady Chapel an original barrel roof and bosses going back to 1460.
York Minister Roofing Renovations
York Minster is Northern Europe’s second largest gothic cathedral and has a long and varied history dating back almost 1500 years.
Initially built with wood, the church has undergone numerous transformations over the two centuries, including complete refurbishments and organised repairs, and has survived two fires and William the Conqueror’s harrying of the North!
Armitage Construction – Jodrell Bank
Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics is the astronomical research centre of the University of Manchester. The centre occupies three main locations: the world-famous Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, the Alan Turing and Sackville St Building in central Manchester.
Jodrell Bank is a world leader in radio astronomy-related research and technology development using MERLIN, the UK’s national radio astronomy facility.
IHBC welcomes ABBE’s high-level vocational qualification in conservation: ‘NVQ Level 6’
IHBC Education Secretary David McDonald said: ‘It’s wonderful to be able to see this critical partnership initiative – commenced under my predecessor as IHBC Education Secretary, John Preston – come to fruition at last.
Having secured occupational standards for built and historic conservation specialists last year, as well as a technical level vocational qualification (Level 3), we now have a high-level cross-professional conservation vocational qualification on offer from a leading accreditation body, ABBE, for specialists from all built environment disciplines.’
Re-united – in an appropriate style
An 18th-century vicarage on the edge of Bristol, built when the clergy was part of the gentry, has seen changes over the years. The most recent change, undertaken by Home and Garden Renovations, of Southmead, Bristol, concerned uniting two parts of the building and involved the creation of a covered stairwell to join two levels in a style that was appropriate to the main building.
The main part of the building was constructed in 1729, and 100 years later an extension – the south wing – was added.
Timecare Magazine launched
Welcome to Timecare Magazine, a publication produced specifically to offer an industry insight to both conservators and professionals working throughout the Heritage sector.
Designed to share information from across a whole spectrum of conservation disciplines, Timecare Magazine provides articles on the latest innovations, news and developments, whilst celebrating sector successes and discussing the most pertinent issues of the day, all achieved with the valuable insight of a host of seasoned independent contributors.
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