Important ironwork set for conservation programme
St Peter’s Church in Daylesford, Gloucestershire – close to Stow-on-the-Wold – is a Grade One-listed building and is now redundant, coming under the care of St Peter’s Daylesford Charitable Trust.
The present church building was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, a Gothic Revival architect, in 1859 and completed in 1863. Pearson had a long association with church architecture and was responsible for designing a large number of church buildings, including Truro Cathedral in 1880.
Read more: Important ironwork set for conservation programme
Latest installation ensures everyone can participate – whether in church or not
A recent commission saw Creative Audio-Visual Solutions (CAVS) install a new AV system into Holy Trinity Church at Frogmore in St Albans. The new installation not only ensures the highest quality audio-visual solution for the church, but also provides a flexible and expandable visual streaming and recording system, to ensure those not able to meet at the church can continue to participate actively in services.
CAVS are a dedicated church technology supplier working throughout the UK to provide the latest audio, visual, streaming and lighting requirements for the modern church. They are committed to ensuring churches can keep communicating with their congregation and the wider world, and a well-designed system will allow the church to be ever-present when fellowship and togetherness are perhaps more important than ever.
Read more: Latest installation ensures everyone can participate – whether in church or not
Training centre of excellence for roofers opens in Salford
At the end of a challenging year for many of us, there is at last some great news for the roofing industry. A state-of-the-art training facility in the North West of England is opening its doors to the first of many trainees keen to further their knowledge and skills in the roofing sector.
Read more: Training centre of excellence for roofers opens in Salford
Where there’s a window there’s a way: scaffolders’ ingenuity gets the job done
Long-established Hertfordshire company Rodells has been providing steeplejacking, lightning protection and other specialist access services since 1898.
The company now encompasses a large scaffolding department, fully equipped to gain access to buildings of all sizes and functions, together with a specialist church and conservation department.
Read more: Where there’s a window there’s a way: scaffolders’ ingenuity gets the job done
Tree surgeon invests in new Hinowa spider platform - and gets free rainbow
It must be a candidate for access platform picture of the year - and 2021 has only just begun.
Tree surgeon Ian McClelland had been trimming fir trees from the basket of his Hinowa Lightlift 26.14 Performance IIIS spider platform when a rainbow appeared immediately behind him.
Fortunately, his customer could spot a picture opportunity when he saw it and took a series of snaps before the rainbow faded away.
Read more: Tree surgeon invests in new Hinowa spider platform - and gets free rainbow
Award-winning project proves the value of mastic asphalt
Back in 2018 an impressive roof refurbishment project was completed at the Church of St Mary and All Saints in Fotheringhay, Peterborough – a magnificent 15th-century, Grade One-listed building.
The project was carried out during one of the coldest winters on record by contractors BCC Asphalt – who are members of the Mastic Asphalt Council (MAC) – and was completed in just 14 days. The project was named the winner of the Challenge Trophy Award in the MAC 2018 Awards, presented at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London.
Read more: Award-winning project proves the value of mastic asphalt
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.
Cathedrals and their precincts form archaeological sites of outstanding interest; function as centres of artistic patronage and craft skills; and hold in their collections books and works of art of worldwide importance. In addition to their beauty and architectural significance, cathedrals generate more than £220 million for the national economy; employ more than 7,000 people, and benefit from the contribution of nearly 15,000 volunteers. They welcome more than 11 million adults (27% of the UK population) and more than 300,000 schoolchildren each year. And cathedrals do all of this while remaining in use for their original and central purpose: the worship of God.
St Gwrst’s Church, Llanrwst, North Wales gets specialist audio system
Originally built in 1170, St Grwst’s, a Grade 1- listed building, is reported to be the only church dedicated to the Saint. After being partially destroyed during Owain Glyndwr’s uprising in the 1400s it was fully demolished during the War of the Roses in 1468. The building that stands today was constructed in 1470, with further alterations and additions made over the following centuries.
In 2018 St Grwst’s was awarded a National Lottery grant to upgrade the building and enable it to remain as a place of worship, while also serving a dual purpose as a heritage and tourist attraction, bringing visitors and the local community together.
Read more: St Gwrst’s Church, Llanrwst, North Wales gets specialist audio system
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, Southwark gets new internal and external lighting
The Catholic Parish of the Most Precious Blood was founded in 1891 by Bishop Butt and designed by architect Frederick Arthur Walters (1849–1931) who designed over 50 churches in his career.
The clients provided a clear brief to CES Lighting and Electrical Specialists: "The overall effect we are aiming for in the church is one of 'Cistercian' simplicity and calmness punctuated by highlighted areas of religious/spiritual significance. The architecture of the building is already strong in both scale and form and does not of itself require any particular highlighting or enhancement."
Read more: Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, Southwark gets new internal and external lighting
Historic England lead by example and specify Stella Rooflight
Historic England (formerly known as English Heritage) has specified and installed a Stella bespoke conservation rooflight at their York Regional Office.
As part of a programme of works, which included several fire safety improvements throughout the building, Stella was approached by specialist heritage surveyors, Smith & Garratt to design a bespoke conservation rooflight. The design of which would need to provide suitable ventilation for the building’s communal stairwell.
Read more: Historic England lead by example and specify Stella Rooflight
LED Conversion at Grade 1 listed St John the Baptist Church, London
St John the Baptist Church, Holland Road in London is Grade I listed, embedded between the urban landscapes of Shepherd’s Bush and Holland Park. The church is an impressive example of Victorian Gothic Revival built from 1870 by architect James Brooks.
Surrey-based CES Lighting & Electrical Specialists were approached to address the lighting within the church which was no longer suitable for the running of the services and other church activities. Due to the architecture and location of fittings maintenance was an ever-present issue.
Read more: LED Conversion at Grade 1 listed St John the Baptist Church, London
Leicester Cathedral Revealed
Leicester Cathedral is being restored and renewed so that it can be its very best as a place of worship, heritage, pilgrimage, hospitality, learning, sanctuary and celebration. The work is necessary because the cathedral spaces are inflexible and inadequate for current and future use. The infrastructure - lighting, heating and decorations – needs to be upgraded. And the tenfold increase in visitors, who come to see the tomb of King Richard III, has made the need more urgent. That is why it has been decided not only to restore the Cathedral but to transform it.
What makes better outdoor seating than…an oast cowl?
Did you know that oast cowl specialists Dude and Arnette also do bespoke features? That’s right; every so often they get requests from clients to build something unique for them and it’s always great fun for the team. It not only allows them to put their tried-and-tested skills to good use, but also to flex their creative muscles to bring ideas to life.
Read more: What makes better outdoor seating than…an oast cowl?