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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.
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.
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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LPOW Grants
£23 million government package to support restoration of thousands of listed places of worship
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be extended into the next financial year, providing £23 million so that thousands of historical buildings, including churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, can carry out restoration work.
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.
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Heritage charities celebrate share of £1million fund
Six heritage charities are celebrating today after receiving donations of £1,000 each as part of Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards.
For the fifth year running, Ecclesiastical Insurance and Benefact Group are giving away £1million to charities through their Movement for Good awards. Members of the public were invited to nominate causes close to their hearts, with 150 awards of £1,000 announced today.
Conservators are aided behind the scenes by cutting-edge paper producers
CXD International – Conservation By Design – have been designing and furnishing conservation studios since 1992. Working in partnership with conservation professionals, they help them to obtain well-designed, high-quality furniture and equipment which fits their precise requirements. No two studios are alike, but over the years and through close involvement with conservators, they have designed and built a range of products that can be adapted to fit most needs.
Grade 2-listed school amongst RIBA Regional Award triumphs for Michelmersh's bricks
For more than 180 years, the RIBA Awards have been commemorating exceptional accomplishments. Its esteemed awards and prizes are seen as a symbol of excellence worldwide, honouring first-class architecture, architects, research, and students. This year, Michelmersh was proud to see a wide range of its products used by five Regional RIBA Award winners, including the retrofit of the Grade 2-listed Houlton School in Rugby.
Lighting installation works hand-in-hand with restoration project
The restoration and refurbishment project at the Church of St Mary the Virgin at Holne, on the slopes of Dartmoor in South Devon, was a long-term undertaking. As all involved are well aware, obtaining the necessary permissions and faculty for the medieval, Grade One-listed building took almost a decade. That included securing the funding! But, then again, it had been over 100 years since the last refurbishment – so upgrading the lighting was integral to the whole scheme.
Exterior lighting scheme is latest in a long line of special projects
Church lighting specialists Lighting Dynamics UK have recently designed and installed a dynamic and exciting ‘colour change’ exterior lighting project at the Roman Catholic Church of St Edward in Selly Park, in the Archdiocese of Birmingham.
The church was designed in decorated gothic style by Henry Thomas Sandy of Stafford and the nave opened on 13 October 1902 by Edward Ilsley, Roman Catholic Bishop of Birmingham, and Samuel Webster Allen, Roman Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury. The builder was William Bishop of King’s Heath.
ATLAS publishes latest edition of 21st Century Steeplejack Campaign
ATLAS has published its latest edition of its 21st Century Steeplejack Campaign to raise awareness of the diverse range of access methods and services its members can offer, aware that many associate steeplejacks with only ladder access to churches.
Sound decision: Acoustic barriers keep your company compliant
In this modern world, urbanisation has led to a significant increase in noise pollution, affecting the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Excessive noise from construction sites, transportation hubs, and outdoor events can result in numerous health issues, neighbourhood complaints, and legal challenges.
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.
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