Current Issue
Metal theft is threatening Britain's heritage - 37 thefts every month from churches alone
A survey of reported metal thefts from heritage sites across the UK indicates that the country is seeing an alarming rising trend in metal theft, leaving hundreds of historical buildings with repair bills they cannot meet.
On the eve of the first major conference on metal crime by the British Transport Police (BTP) and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), the survey, conducted by VPS Security Services, found 100's of reports of church roofs being stripped of lead in the 12 months leading up to April this year, averaging 37 incidents a month.
Read more: Metal theft is threatening Britain's heritage - 37 thefts every month from churches alone
Serial award winners have many talents
Ayrshire-based family run Glenbuild Roofing Contracts scooped the Roof of the Month award from the Confederation of Roofing Contractors in January of this year. This follows a similar award in June last year which on that occasion lead to the firm being entered into a further competition for Roof of the Year in which they came first runner up - pictured right.
Director John Stewart has over 40 years experience in the roofing trade and the company boasts a team of roofing specialists holding the LSTA qualifications as well as experienced plumbers, electricians, joiners, bricklayers, plasterers and roughcasters, enabling them to successfully carry out major contracts throughout Scotland and the UK.
The company has been honoured and privileged to work on various Historic Scotland sites and The Great Steward of Scotland's Dumfries House Trust projects such as Kelburn Castle in Largs and New Cumnock Town Hall.
Saving the artistry of early craftsmen
Beaten, twisted, cut or cast, ornate designs bear out the skill and artistry of early craftsmen. And surviving examples are under threat.
CAVS install new AV system 'seamlessly' at St James Church, Trowbridge
Creative Audio-Visual Solutions (CAVS) are a dedicated church audio and visual supplier working throughout the UK.
The Hertfordshire-based company were recently commissioned to install a new audio and visual system into the Parish Church of St James in Trowbridge. The brief was to ensure that that all new equipment fitted seamlessly into the environment whilst providing the latest technologies for full range worship and advanced multimedia display.
Read more: CAVS install new AV system 'seamlessly' at St James Church, Trowbridge
Award winning design using lime
Lancashire-based James Stone Masonry were contracted to fix the precast units to Gabbie House - a prestigious development in Hale Barn Cheshire. The balcony units were fixed to a steel frame using s/s brackets and dowels.
The company installed Jura Limestone panels on the project. The stone panels were supported on corbel plates and restrained back to the block work with brackets and dowels. The finish on the stone panels was a sand blasted finish, the cills were highly polished.
Grade II Listed Georgian Cottage by Broadstairs Roofing
This cottage was badly blighted with a modern concrete tile and a dormer cladded in white UPVC, giving the cottage a dated and depressing appearance. Broadstairs Roofing removed the concrete tiles and replaced them with Kent peg tiles. The dormer was leaded, the clients were delighted with the new look of their roof.
Read more: Grade II Listed Georgian Cottage by Broadstairs Roofing
Conservation work reveals original wording on Framilode plaque
St Peter’s Church in Framilode was built by public subscription and by a Church Commissioners’ grant in 1854. It was one of many Commissioners churches built with money voted by Parliament as a result of the Church Building Act of 1814 and related further Acts.
The money was either used to pay for the cost of a church in full or as a grant to cover part of the cost. St Peter’s Church was awarded a grant of £200 and this was recorded on a cast iron plaque originally erected in the porch of the church. The main condition attached to these grants was a requirement for a number of seats to be reserved for the use of poor parishioners.
Read more: Conservation work reveals original wording on Framilode plaque
Pineapple fountain with copper Leaves by Turners Ornamental Leadwork
An original lead and copper design by Brian Turner inspired by the texture of the pineapple.
This design is ideal for use as a fountain centrepiece, as the surface texture has been specially crafted to work against the water to create a beautiful sound.
Read more: Pineapple fountain with copper Leaves by Turners Ornamental Leadwork
Leadworker of the Year 2019 - winner announced
Shane White of SW Leadworks has been crowned Leadworker of the Year 2019. The competition, now in its eighth year, is sponsored by the Lead Sheet Training Academy, which specialises in training those using lead or hard metals in the construction industry. It was open to both self-employed leadworkers and those working for contractors.
Competitors were required to send in a portfolio showcasing their work before seven talented finalists were invited to attend a two-day practical assessment at the LSTA’s Training Centre in East Peckham, Kent. The competitors were required to complete a series of tasks over identical model roof sections, all under the watchful eye of a panel of expert judges.
Ripley Castle revisited – testing the performance of a Trace-in-Metal installation four and a half years on
Ripley Castle, the Grade I listed 14th century house near Harrogate in North Yorkshire, has been the hotspot for historically significant events and to this was added the first installation of the Trace-in-Metal marking system in April 2014.
The current owner and custodian of the Castle, Sir Thomas Ingilby, Bt, contacted Trace-in-Metal with the intention to have the metal marking system installed to protect lead on his buildings. Sir Thomas, who runs the Stately Home Hotline monitoring burglaries at 2,000 historic buildings (Historic Houses Association), was keen to try this innovative technique to reduce the constant concern over lead theft owners of historic building have.
Training at the Lead Sheet Training Academy
The Lead Sheet Training Academy is at the forefront of training for those using lead or hard metals in the construction industry. To deliver this training the LSTA operates from a state of the art, purpose-built training facility in East Peckham, Kent which is open six-days a week for most of the year.
Votive Candelabra at Weybourne Church, North Norfolk
The candelabra stand at Weybourne Church is located in the north aisle, originally the Saxon nave, which is one of the oldest parts of the priory church still in use. The votive stand was commissioned in 2013 by Maggie Broad, in memory of her husband Peter and with the approval of the Parochial Church Council and the Chancellor of the Diocese.
Brian Turner of Turners Ornamental Leadwork was approached by Tuecer Wilson, who was the designer, and is one of the country's leading stone carvers. Brian takes up the story: "My brief was to make a steel globe, two meters in diameter, incorporating the art of Peter Broad, a successful professional architect and a keen artist, using one of Peter's paintings of water lilies to incorporate it into the globe.
"This globe was a challenge as I wanted to make it with the minimum of welding. I started with rolled flat steel and round bar shaped to the diameter required. Then the central column with the help of Ian Ridgeways, the local blacksmiths, helping to make the scrolls in his forge on the central steel column.
"The next job was to make all the copper candle holders and the other copper parts I planned to make, banishing them to shape in a previously made wooden block taken from a nearby woodpile.
"Then from some aged 1/8” (3mm) thick copper plate I made some other copper components, then gradually prepared the other part and drilled out the rolled flat bar ready to fit the rolled round bar. These were then fitted with copper pipe in each section then fitted to a copper ring one top and one at the bottom, slowly building the globe, threading the rolled round bar through the flat bar, this was a challenging fun part trying to keep everything together. Once all the round bar was fitted and all equally spaced the round bar was welded together.
"Now I had to make the brackets to support the copper candle holders to make by heating and swaging the steel to the shape and thickness needed at the ends of the brackets which would allow drilling and tapping. Once they were all made, I made the copper cap to go on to the top and rivet to the rolled flat bar.
"This done the globe was lifted onto the column, then a 3mm thick copper thick dish was made and fitted at the base of the globe. The globe was now secured to the column. Now to do a test run with the copper Lillie leaves, looked good so carried on and fitted the remainder - happy with them.
"Now they had to all come off and be patinated and sealed. Next stage was to complete cancel holders that had a few stages to go through where they were silver soldered together. Strengthening washers were cut out and silver soldered to the underside of the small copper dishes, this was to allow the swaged arms to be fitted to the copper. Copper lids were made so you could just see the flame.
"Now all the arms had to be made at various lengths with both ends drilled and taped with small threads fitted into to allow the bowls to be fixed to the arms and to the column with some bespoke fixings. Under the top I put a surprise for the client - a small copper cross gold leafed so only the client knew it was there, you had to look for it to find it.
"Eventually all the copper candle holders are fitted - have to excuse the light as pictures were taken in the dark bleak mid winter with snow outside and freezing cold inside.
"Now to fit all the lilies and a candle holder on top to take a large candle. My part is all done and now it just needs the stone base and wood base fitted."
To find out more about Brian and his hard and soft metal skills visit www.turners-lead-collection.co.uk
Rainclear adds a NEW white to its Galvanised Steel Rainwater Range
Rainclear Systems, the UK’s leading specialist metal rainwater system stockist and online retailer are adding a NEW colour to their durable, affordable and sustainable Infinity Galvanised Steel rainwater system.
Infinity is innovatively designed to be as easy to install as the usual materials used in the UK without the need to solder or rivet. Lengths are just as easy to handle and to cut to size without any specialist tools or equipment.
Read more: Rainclear adds a NEW white to its Galvanised Steel Rainwater Range
VISIT OUR ASSOCIATED SITES
