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York Handmade unveils 'transformational' £1.5m state-of-the-art machinery
The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which will transform how the company makes bricks.
York Handmade, who are now the UK’s leading small independent brickmaker, is confident this investment will open a new chapter in the company’s illustrious history.
The first bricks from the new plant will be available in March.
Read more: York Handmade unveils 'transformational' £1.5m state-of-the-art machinery
Hinowa spider ‘vital’ to clear trees laying siege to castle
Tree surgeons have become kings of the castle after taking delivery from Access Platform Sales of a Hinowa Lightlift 17.75 Performance IIIS spider platform.
That’s because their first project for the exceptional tracked boom lift has been to clear diseased ash trees from around a Welsh medieval castle.
And without it, certain elements of the project would have been impossible to carry out, said Tom Morris, Director of Morris’s Grounds Maintenance of Rhadyr, near Usk, in Monmouthshire.
Read more: Hinowa spider ‘vital’ to clear trees laying siege to castle
Clock dials restored at St Lawrence Jewry Church, London
The four dials on the St Lawrence Jewry clock tower in the City of London were faithfully restored and gilded with gold leaf, and painted black – the originally colour, discovered during the restoration process.
In October of this year, a four-man team from Smith of Derby comprising Rich, Tim, Dan and Mak travelled from the Clockworks in Derby to London with the dials. Under the guidance of project managers from Bakers of Danbury and with the assistance of the scaffolding team from Fourways, they were successful in refitting the dials to the clock tower which overlooks the Guildhall square and can be seen from much of the City.
Read more: Clock dials restored at St Lawrence Jewry Church, London
Summertime and the lightning is striking!
With summer in the offing there is actually a greater risk of thunderstorms and lightning strikes. That is because they occur in specific conditions, requiring two basic elements – moisture and rapidly-rising warm air. High humidity combines with warm temperatures to create a large amount of warm, moist air that can form a thunderstorm as it rises into the atmosphere.
Adrian Brown of lightning protection experts Lightning Strike Ltd has researched the causes of the increase in storms and explains it in his blog.
Parishioners at St Matthew’s are seeing things in a new light!
CLS Electrical Services Ltd – also known as Church Lighting Systems – were given the task of updating the existing lighting system in St Matthew’s Church in Worthing, which mostly consisted of tungsten halogen floodlights providing the main illumination throughout the church. Not very energy efficient!
After CLS carried out an inspection of the existing installation, they confirmed that the existing control equipment and most of the wiring could be kept and re-used, keeping the overall cost of the project as low as possible to meet the church’s budget.
Read more: Parishioners at St Matthew’s are seeing things in a new light!
Revamped masterpiece adds clarity to its delivery
While Rochdale’s Grade One-listed Victorian Gothic Town Hall is one of the finest municipal buildings in Britain, renowned for its unique and detailed architecture, it also functions as the ceremonial headquarters of Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and houses local government departments, including the borough’s civil registration office.
The extensive work being carried out will also create an open and accessible community space, featuring exhibition rooms and a new Bright Hall next to the Great Hall, for community events to take place.
Read more: Revamped masterpiece adds clarity to its delivery
Works such a bind for bookman Phil
What do you do if, after 25 years in secure, paid employment, you suddenly find yourself on the redundancy scrapheap? Put the skills you’ve acquired to work on your own behalf, of course – by setting up in business for yourself. That’s what Phil Winskill did 14 months ago when he was made redundant from his job as a bookbinder at York University.
Expansion of pioneering private hospital in historic Leeds building set for approval
Planning approval is set to be granted for the second phase of a pioneering private hospital in one of Leeds’ most iconic buildings.
Leeds City Council planners are ready to give the green light to a brand-new 6,500 sq ft extension at the 17th century Red Hall House estate near Roundhay Park.
Phase One of the £8m development is complete with the multi-disciplinary Leeds Private Hospital at Red Hall now fully operational.
Read more: Expansion of pioneering private hospital in historic Leeds building set for approval
All Saints floor is finally restored to its stable self
The Victorian tiled floor at All Saints Church in Boyne Hill, Maidenhead – designed by G E Street in 1857 – had become deteriorated and unsafe due to being laid on a defective substrate. Quantity surveyors Sawyer and Fisher and architect Roderick Maclellan recommended well-known specialists Cliveden Conservation to carry out the sensitive repair of the floor in accordance with Street’s original design.
Cliveden Conservation first assisted with moving furniture and placing items in safe storage. With the floor cleared, a detailed photographic survey was undertaken to provide a guide for re-laying the tiles. Cleaning trials then commenced.
Read more: All Saints floor is finally restored to its stable self
Order in the court!
The historic Guildhall in Tavistock, Devon, has undergone a complete refurbishment to allow visitors to have a more interactive and memorable experience when visiting the museum, council chamber and meeting place. As part of the project APi Sound & Visual were appointed to install a new AV system into the Guildhall’s courtroom.
The design of the courtroom was not conducive to easily installing an AV system without it being obtrusive when not in use. A system design that gave flexibility but ease-of-use was paramount to the success of the project.
Winners of British Woodworking Federation Awards 2022 announced
The winners of the prestigious British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Awards 2022 have been revealed at an evening of celebration held at the Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel.
This year marks the 14th anniversary of the annual Awards which celebrate outstanding achievement, skills and talent from across the woodworking and joinery manufacturing sector.
Read more: Winners of British Woodworking Federation Awards 2022 announced
Midlands trio add to church heating specialist's portfolio
A trio of churches in the Midlands are set to find winter more comfortable in the future. They are the latest additions to those benefitting from the expertise of specialist installers Mellor and Mottram of Stoke-on-Trent, who have been installing heating systems into churches for more than three decades.
St Mary’s in Royal Leamington Spa (right) is a Grade Two-listed building designed by J G Jackson and built in 1838-9. It is complemented by two adjoining halls, all suitable for hiring out.
Read more: Midlands trio add to church heating specialist's portfolio
Serious concrete - the new Hartley Memorial Pathway
This commemorative pathway dedicates the names of all the victims of the Hester Pit Disaster on the site of the old pit head which is now a memorial garden.
The path was designed by Russ Coleman in collaboration with Rob Walton who worked with local people to produce a prose poem that weaves eye witness statements, newspaper accounts and a telegram from Queen Victoria into an emotive walk through the garden to the old pit shaft. The path was designed in black concrete with white letters in a contemporary font for the time. There are also commemorative hedgerow flowers cast into the path.
Read more: Serious concrete - the new Hartley Memorial Pathway
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