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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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Welsh Slate helps a historic railway station get back online
One of the earliest surviving railway stations in the world is enjoying a new lease of life, and TV stardom, thanks in part to Welsh Slate.
Some 4,200 or 230m2 of Welsh Slate’s Penrhyn Heather Blue roofing slates have replaced their 180-year-old predecessors on the roofs of the main station and parcel shed buildings at Wingfield Station in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
Spider operator ‘jumps at chance' to go large with Hinowa
Work at height specialist Fletcher Access has placed an order for the new Hinowa Lightlift 40.18 - the biggest spider lift ever produced by Hinowa - as it renews its platform fleet.
The Worcester-based company has also taken delivery of a new Hinowa Lightlift 20.10 spider lift, putting it to good use on a maintenance project at a 19th Century Grade II listed Greek Revival country house.
Home restoration with successful handicapped bathroom refurbishment
Unlike normal remodelling, when you start planning a bathroom refurbishment for the use of a handicapped individual, you need to start thinking a little bit differently. What needs to be taken into account is that the whole world changes when you live it through a wheelchair and bathroom access can often be especially frustrating when you have to deal with smaller entry doors, tiny interiors and sometimes times features that can be downright unwelcoming.
Light Perceptions enters exciting era joining forces with CBG
CBG Consultants Ltd, one of the leading independent sustainability led MEP practices in the UK, has established a new lighting consultancy division with the acquisition of Light Perceptions Ltd, providers of specialist lighting design services for more than 20 years.
Light Perceptions’ experience covers landmark ecclesiastical and historic sites, private estates, museums and galleries, and other public buildings. Bruce Kirk, founder of Light Perceptions, has joined the CBG Board.
Roofing specialists help keep Durham’s jewel in good order
Durham Cathedral has a rich and varied history. Founded as a monastic cathedral at the beginning of the 12th century, it was built as both a place of worship and the home of a Benedictine community. Over the past century it has served a multi-use purpose and is a church of the Anglican Communion as well as being a shrine to St Cuthbert, the seat of the Bishop of Durham and a place of pilgrimage and spirituality.
A much-loved and cherished landmark in the North East of England, it also won the Reader’s Choice for Britain’s Best Building in a poll conducted by The Guardian, detailing its importance and recognition among the local community and wider public.
Specialist glazing units help period buildings stay ahead of the curve
Curved-in-plan glazing units have been around for some time, but over recent years there has been a significant surge in their popularity. The curved shape matches both contemporary and heritage aesthetics, creating a sense of flow and continuity. Internally, they help to enhance a feeling of light and spaciousness.
For conservation and listed properties, curved-in-plan units have a number of benefits. They can be designed to match the exact shape and size of the existing windows – a key consideration when it comes to preserving the historic and architectural integrity of the building – and as well as providing a sympathetic replacement for the original windows, curved-in-plan units provide enhanced thermal and acoustic performance. Curved-in-plan units help to reduce energy bills and lower the property’s carbon footprint.
Restoration of Darby’s Great Exhibition fountain nears completion
The fountain known as the Swan and Boy is currently displayed outside the Museum of Iron in Coalbrookdale, Shropshire: just in front of Abraham Darby’s original iron furnaces. It was cast by the Coalbrookdale Company in around 1850, originally for the Great Exhibition of 1851 organised by Prince Albert in Kensington, London. The foundry won an award at the Exhibition. Today it is Listed Grade Two by Historic England.
Conservation rooflights allow period house to become a 21st-century home
The Old Court House is located on a large farm in the West Midlands which is under private ownership. The farm had been purchased with a number of outline consents for the conversion of the various farm buildings into habitable dwellings and staff accommodation; but those consents were all linked to the repair of one particular building on the site: The Old Court House.
The house, which had been derelict for over 30 years, was close to collapse and on the Buildings at Risk Register. It was home to bats, newts, slow worms and badgers and its location on the edge of several Sites of Special Scientific Interest presented further challenges. In the words of the architect, it was ‘more ecosystem than building.’
A majestic May half term in store at Cadw sites across Wales
Cadw has released its packed May half-term schedule, offering unique activities for families to enjoy and bring Welsh history to life.
From 27th May to 4th June, Cadw sites – including an ancient fortress, abbeys, and castles - are playing host to a wide range of historical and cultural activities providing an exciting day out for the whole family.
Hinging on Wales’ ‘Year of Trails’, visitors are encouraged to curate epic adventures over the holidays. Cadw sites allow you to create your own experiences by transforming Wales’ history into engaging activities to inspire the next generation.
Paramount Platforms places biggest ever Hinowa order
Paramount Platforms Ltd, one of the UK’s leading spider rental specialists, has placed its biggest ever order for Hinowa spider lifts supplied by Access Platform Sales (APS).
Paramount Platforms is taking nine tracked spider booms in a deal worth over £1m.
They include bi-energy, lithium battery and diesel versions of the new Hinowa Lightlift 40.18 Performance IIIS.
Ecclesiastical and Benefact Group launch the Movement for Good Awards 2023
Ecclesiastical is inviting people to nominate a heritage charity to receive £1,000 as part of Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
Now in its fifth year, the Movement for Good Awards will once again see more than £1million gifted to charities up and down the UK and Ireland.
Ecclesiastical is inviting people to nominate a heritage charity online at www.movementforgood.com.
Two Heritage Heroes have been recognised for their exceptional service to the UK’s heritage sector
Two Heritage Heroes have been recognised for their exceptional service to the UK’s heritage sector.
Sponsored by specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical, the Heritage Heroes Awards, now in their 13th year, are the Heritage Alliance’s celebration of the outstanding contribution Britain’s heritage volunteers make to society.
Wells’ famous medieval clock restored and ready to spring forward this weekend
Wells Cathedral’s famous external clockface on the North Transept, which was feared to be irreparable if left in its current state, has been repaired and restored with a programme of work carried out by Cliveden Conservation and other heritage specialists.
Since its fabrication in c. 1475, the clock has undergone many phases of redecoration and repair. With further deterioration becoming more apparent specialist conservators were contracted at the end of 2022 to carry out crucial repair work to preserve as much as possible of the historic painted layers and fabric of the clock.
Access contract hire specialist seizes chance for green transition
Head of access Stuart Lambert at Contract Plant Rental has added lithium electric LGMG boom lifts to the company’s fleet to help access clients transition smoothly to a carbon-neutral future.
The contract hire specialist, based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has invested in new LGMG T20JE telescopic boom lifts for rental clients to use flexibly as they pivot to zero-emissions operations.
Second Tuesday Talks - Philip Gaches: Holidays with tools
For their March Second Tuesday Talk, the York Consortium for Craft and Conservation are excited to continue the theme of 'Conservation Without Borders' with Philip Gaches. As an expert in traditional plasterwork, Philip's work graces some of our most treasured Royal Palaces and his knowledge is in demand by craft professionals around the world.
During his talk, Philip will delve into the intricacies of travelling to remote and hard-to-reach locations with his tools. He'll share his experiences of arriving with little preparation, and being greeted by numerous delegates, as well as discussing how he sources materials and resources to provide the necessary information to his clients.
Locally-made tiles allow a jewel of the Jewellery Quarter to shine again
An award-winning restoration project on the Grade Two*-listed Argent Centre in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter has included matching tiles from nearby Brierley Hill-based Dreadnought Tiles.
Originally known as the Albert Works, the Argent Centre was designed by J G Bland and built in 1863 as a pen manufacturing centre consisting of rows of workshops overlooking an internal square courtyard. It is believed that the original building had two impressive corner turrets looking out over Legge Lane, which were truncated sometime after 1945.
Do you need to spend a fortune on a microphone?
By Paul Dougherty, managing director, Blaydon Communications Ltd.
Don’t worry, this article isn’t going to get too in depth from a technical point of view, but it does steer close to it! The argument of whether or not you need to spend a fortune on a microphone is a difficult one to answer. As with all things in life, you need to buy the best you can afford, and this will yield the best outcome for you and your pocket in the long run. Saying that, sometimes it is worth saving a little longer and spending a little more than you’d planned for too.
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