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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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Thorp Perrow to host a week of heritage craft courses and demonstrations
Heritage Craft Alliance is opening its training centre at Thorp Perrow in the Yorkshire Dales for a full week of demonstrations, training courses and advice sessions relating to conserving, maintaining and restoring older and historic buildings.
Anyone who owns or has interest in older properties would benefit from visiting the centre and even taking part in one or more of the short training courses.
Halfway through the York Minster Apocalypse
Conservators working on the restoration of the Great East Window at York Minster have completed the conservation of half of the panels in the stunning medieval window depicting the story of the Apocalypse.
York Minster's Great East Window contains the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in Britain, and was designed by one of the stained glass master John Thornton of Coventry. Started in 1405 and completed in 1408, the main part of the window depicts the Apocalypse, and is recognised around the world as being some of the finest medieval stained glass still in existence. The restoration of half of the Apocalypse panels is now complete thanks to the tireless work of the York Glaziers Trust.
From Humble Roots to International Distinction - J&M Sewing Service Ltd
In the beginning
Joyce Davison and Maureen Waterston first met late in 1979, when (with many years of individual experience in different areas within “the Rag-Trade”) they both applied for jobs at a local Theatre, making and mending Costumes for the 8-week Pantomime Season. When those time-limited jobs came to an end, the Theatre Manager suggested that they should set up in business together.
Gas engineers’ training school selects DRU Kamara heater to keep students warm
RF Training owns and operates its own City and Guilds accredited training centres in Birmingham and Manchester. The company delivers plumbing courses, electrician training, and gas courses, specialising in foundation courses for new entrants to the trades and those upgrading their skills, such as Gas Safe accreditation.
Work on historic Whalley Abbey Choir pits completed
Stone Edge has completed a building conservation project on one of the last remaining choir pits in the country.
The conservation works to Whalley Abbey Choir Pits, near Clitheroe, which lasted from May until July, saw the repair and consolidation of the low level ruins.
City church restored for its 300th anniversary
July saw the 300th anniversary of one of Manchester’s most iconic buildings: St Ann’s Church the centre of the city.
When St Ann’s was opened in 1712, Manchester was on the point of becoming the world’s first industrial city. It was to be the church of the wealthy ‘new Mancunians’: the non-Jacobite, non-high church Protestants.
Lights coming back on at Christopher Wray
One of Birmingham’s most interesting disused historic buildings is set to be restored following a deal between its owner and local developer Linford C-Zero.
The former Christopher Wray Lighting Factory on Bartholomew Row is something of a local cause célèbre. The site, which was once valued at over £2m for residential development, has had a dogged planning history culminating in an application for demolition last year.
To be heard but not seen
Oxford University gave this brief because a Grade I listed building needed refurbishing with a sound system. The Sheldonian Theatre is the second work of Sir Christopher Wren. Because its design resembles that of a Roman theatre, it is called a theatre even though plays are not performed in it. During the last two years re-ordering included cleaning, repairing and painting the ceiling.
Local 18 year old is new Apprentice Stonemason at Salisbury Cathedral
Christian Sullivan (18) from Salisbury has been chosen from over forty candidates to be Salisbury Cathedral’s new full-time Apprentice Stonemason and begins his four year apprenticeship at the Cathedral this week.
Heritage Trees
by Paul Hanson, Chairman of The Scottish Arboricultural Association
Older, mature, native and exotic trees often have the potential to be described as ‘Veteran’ or ‘Heritage’. Veteran describes those trees of extraordinary age for their species whilst Heritage alludes to some human, cultural connection e.g. folklore, religious or commemorative.
Raising the roof!
Consultant Timber Technologist and historic woodwork specialist Jim Coulson, of TFT Woodexperts, looks back on 35 years of investigations into old roofs: many of which have been in ecclesiastical buildings; and he composes a “Hymn of Praise” to the timber roof.
I’ve been inside a lot of cathedrals, churches and chapels in my time: not because I'm especially religious, but because there was usually something going on with the roof that needed looking at.
Covenanter’s Oak – Dalzell Estate, North Lanarkshire
In August 2008, after heavy rain, a large wound was torn in the main stem as one of three major scaffold limbs collapsed. In addition to this large wound the tree had an open crack from ground level to circa 2m running across the whole diameter of the main stem and predisposing the remaining scaffold limbs to separate above the root collar in adverse weather.
St Cuthbert’s memorial window restoration
An important facet of Wayne Ricketts Stained Glass’ stained glass studios work concerns the upkeep of their stained glass heritage; whether it be the in situ replacement of individual pieces of a damaged window, the removal and complete restoration of part or all of a window, or the conservation of the fabric of a stained glass window (the lead camb and the glass) in it’s entirety.
One cog in a very big machine
The construction of a ‘silver sundial’ in the Olympic Park has been a tiny cog in the huge machine that has been working away since 2008 to build the Olympic venues and surrounding facilities in east London. The project has demonstrated in miniature the kind of co-operation between different companies – offering different skills, expertise and experience – that has characterised the way the enterprise as a whole has developed.
Solar power helps Waterloo Church to victory over energy bills
A Church built to celebrate the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo is now generating its own power thanks to solar panels.
St Andrew’s Church was built in the 1830s as one of the famous Waterloo Churches – built using money granted by the Government to mark the defeat of Napoleon.
About Access is building a history of helping properties to operate safely
About Access is now established as the perfect partner for organisations who want to make sure their historic sites don’t become tourist traps.
Based in Yorkshire and operating nationwide, the company has developed an impressive portfolio of work with churches, castles, stately homes and other heritage properties to help them look after their visitors and staff – and to make sure they keep within the law.
The Collegiate Church of The Holy Cross and the Mother of Him Who Hung Thereon, Crediton
The Collegiate Church of the Holy cross and the Mother of Him Who Hung Thereon in Crediton is a building on a scale befitting what was (much earlier) a cathedral town and the birth-place of St. Boniface. The present building is mainly 15th century; a collegiate church of cruciform plan with a central tower. After neglect and degradation in the 18th century it was repaired an d restored in the 19th century by John Hayward who was one of the leading regional Victorian architects.
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