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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.
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.
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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The Past is Present for Heritage Skills Training Centre
A centre to train craftsmen in the skills needed to protect England’s historic buildings has officially opened in North Yorkshire.
The Heritage Training Centre in Bedale is the first of its kind in the UK, dedicated to ensuring skills like stone masonry and building with lime are not lost.
It’s been created by Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd in the grounds of the Thorp Perrow Arboretum, with the support of organisations like The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, the National Trust, and British Waterways.
It’s taken more than a year to plan, and will offer professionals training in specialist skills, as well as giving young people formal qualifications to go into the workforce.
A grant from DEFRA allowed the development to go ahead.
Thorp Perrow’s owner, Sir John Ropner, says “I’m relieved to see these buildings being used to train the next generation of craftsmen, with a bright future in caring for our past”.
Keen amateur enthusiasts will also be able to try their hand at courses like Repairing Leaded Glasswork, and Green Timber Framing.
Managing Director of Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd, Glenn Young, says “we’re terribly excited about the project, and we’re working very hard to ensure that people enjoy the experience”.
The centre can cater for around one thousand people every year, and it’s hoped the centre will now attract more visitors to the area and generate revenue for the Thorp Perrow Estate.
N.B William Hague officially opened the site on 9th September
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