Midlands firm warms the hearts of the church and ancient fabric of Wales

When it comes to the installation of church heating systems, few companies can claim a better pedigree than Stoke-on-Trent firm Mellor and Mottram. In recent years they have figured in a roll call of projects in Wales – from small village churches to the ancient cathedrals the early Celtic church became famous for.

One of the iconic buildings of the church in Wales is without doubt Bangor Cathedral. The diocese itself predates any in England – having been founded by St Deiniol in the sixth century – and the present cathedral was begun in the 13th, following the destruction of the previous building by King John’s troops.

The involvement of Mellor and Mottram was to reline the flues of the heating system. Although a relatively small-scale operation for the company, by stopping the damp resulting from the failure of the previous linings they helped preserve this significant and ancient building.
Mellor and Mottram also recently completed work, included plumbing and the installation of disabled people’s toilets, on St Giles Cathedral in Wrexham.

Another church of national significance where the company has been involved is St Mary’s in Conwy. St Mary’s is known for having been the burial place of many of the Princes of Gwynedd, the last of the native rulers of Wales. Following the building of Conwy Castle, St Mary’s became the parish church of the surrounding town.

The prestigious new visitor centre at Conwy Castle also sports plumbing and heating facilities installed by Mellor and Mottram. It is one of two historic castle sites where the company has recently completed installations. The other, the new visitor centre at Denbigh Castle, is one of the most prestigious and groundbreaking in the country and a pointer to the future of heating projects in historic buildings.

The heating of the prestigious new building is via both ground source and air source heat pumps. They are part of the steps taken to reduce the carbon footprint of the new building, both in its construction and operation. Even the plant room housing the system utilised recycled materials.

Main contractor Grosvenor Construction said: “The masonry and rubble from the existing visitor centre building that was demolished has been crushed on site and reused as part of the fill that covers the pipework associated with the ground source heat pump installation. The existing facing stonework has been reused in its entirety within the gabion cages that enclose the basement plant room space and clearly labelled recycling streams were established to manage any construction waste that arose from the building works.”

The air source pump is one of a number that have been installed by the company – another was in the converted Old School at Llanrhos village, near Conwy. The school house is now a much valued community centre.

A similar project was the 19th century church in Tremadog – a ‘planned’ town near Porthmadog. St Mary’s Church in the town has been restored for use by the charity set up to preserve and restore the town as its offices and as a community resource. Mellor and Mottram installed the heating system, including the boilers, as well as the plumbing and toilet facilities.

The involvement of Mellor and Mottram in these various high-profile projects runs alongside a programme of installations across Wales, keeping places of worship serviceable. In fact, the company can be found across the whole of the UK – their latest project is for a new heating system in the church and nursery at St Marys in Broughty Ferry near Dundee and they will be exhibiting at CRE Scotland in November. The installation will consist of two new gas-fired condensing boiler and associated control panels and new circulation pumps. The heating system will be divided into three heating zones each with optimum start control of the system.

• For more information visit www.mellorandmottram.com