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Time to start the clock!

To coincide with shops, towns and cities re-opening, Smith of Derby are offering communities a free guide (Restarting Mechanical Tower Clocks) to help start the thousands of local mechanical public clocks, up and down the country, which may have stopped or purposefully stopped for safety reasons, during lock-down.

Over the last few months many mechanical clocks in our communities have stopped due to restrictions preventing regular clock windings and the BST time change taking place. As we look forward to our communities return to a new normal, a working public clock will be an important sign of wellbeing to everyone.

Leading leadworker tells the story of giant planter installation

Turners pic1 Further details have come to light of the magnificent lead planter produced by Brian Turner of Turners Ornamental Leadwork for a private client in Norfolk, as featured in Ecclesiastical and Heritage World last autumn.

The trellis tree planter is three metres in diameter and 560mm high. Each of the individual cast panels is 1,710mm in length, giving a circumference of 9.426 metres. Each panel is decorated with motifs designed by the client, depicting items of significance to the family.

Traditional windows - their care, repair and upgrading

0n7841 The loss of traditional windows from our older buildings poses one of the major threats to our heritage. Traditional windows and their glazing make an important contribution to the significance of historic areas.

CRE National postponed for 12 months

0n8717 With large-scale indoor events unlikely to be permitted in the autumn, CRE National at Sandown Park, Esher has been postponed for 12 months – until 12-14 October 2021.

‘Though October is still four months away, we thought it best to make this difficult decision sooner than later,’ said event director Brett Pitchfork. ‘Even if Government restrictions are lifted, we doubt enough people will feel confident about attending an event of this kind in the autumn. We have taken the decision with a heavy heart but feel it is the responsible thing to do and appreciate the thoughts and prayers of our visitors and exhibitors as we plot our way through these difficult times.’

A brief history of artificial lighting at Ely Cathedral

Light Perception, specialist lighting consultants for historic buildings, has recently been appointed as lighting consultants to Ely Cathedral and, having designed a new scheme for the octagon – featured on the front cover of our latest issue – is now designing a new scheme for the interior.

This article, by director Bruce Kirk, describes some of the earlier artificial lighting schemes in the cathedral and explains what lessons have been learned from understanding the work of past designers.

Trees - A Church Guidance Note by Ecclesiastical

Gweb1NS Many churchyards contain a large number of beautiful trees. They form a natural part of the overall landscape, bringing wide and many varied benefits as well as contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal of your church premises.

However, trees, if not properly managed, can cause serious damage. In windy conditions, they may fall onto or lash against the church building itself, neighbouring property or cars. Root movement can cause the collapse of boundary walls. Roots can also absorb soil moisture causing foundations to move and walls to crack. They can also encroach upon the foundations of neighbouring buildings, causing subsidence or damage to drains.

Forever together - bespoke memorial lead urns

Forever together lead urns by Turners Memorial Leadwork are designed to capture lasting memories of your loved one’s, displayed in attractive centre pieces fit for any home or garden that will last for a thousand years.

The lead urns have double compartments, so you and your partner can stay together and be cared for by your family and future generations as a lasting legacy of your life, with the peace of mind that you will be forever looked after and not forgotten.

Antenna reinforcement installation

Antenna reinforcement installation - The design will not only provide the ability to operate their radio microphones from the main West Door location, but also improve the coverage throughout key points of the cathedral, including the Lady Chapel and will replace their somewhat temporary existing antenna installation, not only improving performance, but also aesthetics (less equipment visible). Coverage is also required in the Lady Chapel area, not only so the radio microphones can work through the main PA system, but also, a future requirement where these existing radio microphones can be routed to the stand-alone Lady Chapel PA system. This will maximise their return on investment, since there will not be a need to purchase another set of radio microphones just for the occasional use in this area [Lady Chapel]

Radio frequencies in the 600-700Mhz range are highly directional and are easily attenuated by large objects such as pillars and other building structures. It is very important that antennas have a clear line-of-sight to the radio microphone transmitter, therefore satisfactory coverage of such a building with a single antenna array is rarely possible. In addition, as the frequency goes up, so do losses in the coax cable connecting the antennas to the receiver. The type of antenna, location and distance from receiver, are a careful balancing act to ensure losses in the system are kept to a minimum. Simply extending the coax cabling 100 meters to an antenna right besides the West Door say, will result in large losses and also not provide seamless coverage in the main areas as detailed in this document. A very high quality low-loss coax cable (expensive!) such as LMR 400 will still be required due to the distances involved.

Each antennas specified work on the mixed polarisation diversity principle, therefore will require 2 feeds of coax back to the main system rack.

For coverage down to the West Door and up the main isle, an RF Venue Diversity Fin antenna will be positioned at [photo_1,jpg] location. This antenna will have a pickup area detailed in [photo_2.jpg]. A custom-made bracket will facilitate this antenna being discreetly mounted so it has a clear line-of-sight to the areas of interest. There will be approximately a 2x 50m run of coax needed and a pair of RF Venue In-Line Amplifiers will be required to take into account cable losses.
For coverage in the area ahead of the above antenna and in front of the steps area, an RF Venue Diversity Architectural Antenna will provide an 180 deg omnidirectional coverage of the area, as the distance from microphone transmitter to antenna is a lot less. [photo_4.jpg]
For coverage around the alter and choir stalls area, another RF Venue Diversity Architectural Antenna will provide an 180 deg omnidirectional coverage of the area, as the distance from microphone transmitter to antenna is a lot less.[photo_3.jpg]. A custom metal mounting bracket and plate will be fabricated so that the antenna can be supported from the wooden floor and "look over" the marble rail, since we are not allowed to mount anything directly to this marble rail! [photo_6.jpg]
For coverage in the Lady Chapel area, another RF Venue Diversity Architectural Antenna mounted high up next to the loudspeaker. [photo_5.jpg]

These four diversity antenna systems will be combined into a single diversity output by an RF Venue 4 Zone and the output fed into the Cathedrals existing RF distribution amplifier. The RF Venue 4 Zone will be mounted in the main PA rack up at the balcony besides the exiting radio microphone equipment. Carry out a detailed RF analysis involving a spectrum analyser once the system is installed, to ensure that it meets the coverage requirements in the areas detailed.

The Cathedral installation was carried out, tested performance with team on site which they were very happy with, Radio mic signals are now rock solid throughout the Cathedral - including in areas where coverage requirement was not originally specified. Mics can even now be taken outside the West Door onto the steps where the receiver still registers a full signal strength. The signal picked up by antenna 4 (the fin firing down the Cathedral) was so strong that we have had to program in a few dBs of attenuation on the 4Zone combiner so as not to overload the receiver. Also attended Easter service on Friday to witness performance, which was solid for the whole system throughout. Took around 10 signal and 19 RF spectrum measurements around the Cathedral alongside Chris to demonstrate wholeness of performance from the system. Also to note that audio distortion from Radio Mics appears to have disappeared suspect due to weak signals and digital receivers struggling to error correct.

With regards to the 6 monthly maintenance, this is what is involved:

Description of Services:

Carry out planned audio system maintenance on mutually convenient dates/times, first visit prior to Palm Sunday and second before the First Sunday of Advent.
Inspect all items of equipment within the equipment rack and test for correct operation and functionality
Check the interior of the equipment rack for cleanliness, taking high levels of dust accumulation in the cathedral into account – dismantle and clean where necessary
Inspect each of the installed loudspeakers for condition and functionality. Periodically test intelligibility (Sti) using calibrated test equipment
Inspect and test the radio microphone receivers for condition and functionality
Inspect the wired microphones and cables for condition and functionality
Inspect the beltpack radio transmitters for condition and functionality
Test all aspects of the overall system as required by the Cathedral custodians including electrical safety of the system
Check the settings of the microphone mixer and digital signal processor
Test the induction loop system for the hard of hearing for correct functionality and accordance with prevailing requirements in respect of the Disability Discrimination Act
Using Computerised Smart real time analyser test system equalization and other crucial parameters to ensure maximum gain before feedback etc where necessary
Consult with staff and clergy to ensure that all is in order
Respond to reports of suspected faults and to be available by telephone and email
Two emergency attendances provided within the contract period during working hours (Monday – Friday, 08:30 – 17:30 excluding bank holidays).

image grid with original titles

Aesthetic audio solutions

0n8773 Modern audio solutions often mean function over form – where cutting edge audio quality and distribution may not sit happily in the aesthetic surroundings of a traditional church. This is precisely the challenge mounted and overcome by Creative Audio-Visual Solutions (CAVS) in their equipment selection and overall system design – providing the latest technology whilst respecting the décor of, in most cases, grade-listed buildings.

Integration of ancient and modern is the aspiration

0n7010 Low carbon consultancy MTA is a practice that specialises in the sympathetic conservation of culturally significant buildings during the integration of modern services.

With over 20 years of experience, the team at MTA have a comprehensive understanding of the complex rivalry between historical architecture and modern comfort. With an aspiration to ‘repair rather than replace’ they aim to preserve the historic fabric of these important structures.

Historic colliery boiler gets some TLC

The Califat boiler in Swannington, Leicestershire, gets its name from its association with the Califat Colliery, also known as Coleorton No 2 colliery. It sits in the Califat Spinney to the north of the village and is of national significance. The boiler is a rare survivor of the first type of commercially successful steam engine, the Newcomen atmospheric engine. Only six are currently known to survive.

Stained glass repairs at St. Martin on-the-Hill, Scarborough

0n7039 J Goodwin Stained Glass carried out repairs to the windows at the church of St. Martin on-the-Hill, Scarborough after a painstaking period producing what was described as ‘a stunning piece of work’.

St. Martin’s is the perfect High Victorian Church and was built in response to the rapid urban development of the South Cliff that had taken place since 1845.

Webinar on assessing the condition of heritage ironwork

Not to be deterred by COVID-19 in their quest to bring you the benefit of their expertise, on June 3 National Heritage Ironwork Group (NHIG) are holding a new webinar on assessing the condition of heritage ironwork.

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