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Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Cathedral Care
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.
Master Craftsmen
Championing our heritage with modern craftsmanship
Twenty years ago, English Heritage (now Historic England) published its first-ever Register of Buildings at Risk across England, which featured nearly 2,000 buildings and monuments that were ‘neglected, broken and unloved’. Recently Historic England was delighted to announce that over two-thirds of those buildings were now safe, in both urban and rural areas right across the country.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
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CRE Events
After the Midlands, onward to Milton Keynes
"CRE Midlands reminded me of the giddy days when it first began – the venue was packed with exhibitors and visitors and there was a busy atmosphere. The whole thing looked great."
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Church Maintenance
Church maintenance and repair: Calendar of Care
Just as prevention is always better than cure, maintenance is preferable to major repairs. But, such repairs may not always be avoidable. Church Care offers a monthly guide in our coming issues Starting in Spring
We can help you understand the common problems and areas that need your special attention, and give you tips for regular maintenance schemes.
Pest Control
Michael Palin warns of pest threat to churches
Michael Palin is supporting the future of the UK’s historic churches and chapels with a voiceover for a new animated film. The 80 second animation, produced for the National Churches Trust, highlights why churches are some of the nation’s best loved buildings.
Town Halls
The history of the great Victorian Town Halls of Northern England
From industrial squalor to civic pride, the story behind some of the most impressive buildings of the North involve a unique mix of economics, grand designs and noble sentiments within communities.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
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Ancient Highland seat prepares for new occupants
A three-year restoration programme is reaching its conclusion at the historic Mingary Castle on the west coast of Scotland.
Mingary Castle stands by the sea a mile or so to the east of the village of Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsula – the most westerly village on Great Britain. It is a castle with a long and rich history, the seat of the Clan MacIain, a sept of Clan MacDonald and once one of the most powerful clans along the western coast of Scotland.
The castle’s curtain walls are up to 14m high and form a hexagon. The longest and thickest is to the north, facing onto a neck of land which is cut by a defensive ditch 7.5m wide and 3m deep. There is a sea gate in the south wall, and a rock-cut stairway leads from the beach at the west to a land gate in the NW wall.
Although the outer structure dates from the 13th century, the interior is Georgian in origin, although since its last occupation in the 19th century the castle had fallen into disrepair. That is until the owner of the Ardnamurchan Estate and Mingary itself, Donald Houston, set up the Mingary Castle Preservation & Restoration Trust and set about restoring it.
Work has progressed steadily until, by the beginning of February, the main effort of bringing the castle back into occupation had been completed and the interiors ready for the finishing touches.
Visitors to the site will have noticed that a flag is flying at the masthead on the north battlement. It's the Yorkshire flag, and it deserves to be there because it has largely been Yorkshiremen like builders Mark Thompson (left) and John Paul Ashley of Leeds based contractors Ashley Thompson Ltd (www.ashleythompson.co) who have worked on the project.
With over 30 years experience and knowledge, the construction and refurbishment specialists undertake work across the entirety of the UK and are proud to offer professional services for any project - large or small. One of their finest projects involved work on the Peel Tower in Skipton, which was featured on Channel 4′s Grand Designs.
They have survived for two and a half years in very difficult circumstances to make the Trust's dream of a refurbished Mingary Castle become reality.
Also representing Yorkshire on the project and pictured (left to right) were Dom of Mark Galley Decorators (www.markgalleydecorator.co.uk), Rob and Tigger of R&B Electrical & Renewables and Paul of Proficient Plumbing of Whitby.
Another company with a big part to play in the project - but from the other side of the hill - are TSB Ironcraft (www.tsbironcraft.co.uk). Based in Rishton, near Blackburn in Lancashire, they are a small family business who have been involved with the manufacture and installation of wrought iron products for over 12 years.
Proprietor Tim Birbeck has been raising the levels of the iron railings and bannisters which were a few inches too low. Pictured (below left) is the top of the stairway from the courtyard up to the battlements. TSB has also installed safety bars across those points along the battlements where people could, in their eagerness to enjoy the views, fall out. The company also fitted the iron gates pictured right.
Pictured below is of one of the castle's lancet windows, taken in September 2013, giving some idea of their condition before renovation work started. These beautiful little windows, were returned to their former glory by yet more craftsmen from the White Rose county, namely Design Glass (www.designglass.co.uk) and its sister company Touchstone Glazing Solutions (www.touchstoneglazing.co.uk) from Brighouse.
They had already visited the site previously to measure up and prepare individual templates for each of the nine small windows which they were going to hand craft for the building, starting with the chapel's lancet window.
This window has a lower, opening section and an upper, fixed section. The lower section has a steel frame and a unique catch, the handle having had to be curled in upon itself because the unit is so small.
Dave Morris, managing director of Design Glass and Touchstone, is pictured (left) with his team Alex Bottomley (centre) and Andy Mitchell. They not only fitted the units but were also involved in their manufacture.
The plan is for the castle to welcome visitors as a holiday let from the spring of this year. Visitors will be able to enjoy the stunning views, historic environment and the sumptuously-restored interior, albeit with modern facilities.
To find out more about the restoration effort, visit www.mingarycastletrust.co.uk/mingarycastletrust/blog, or to find out more about the castle, including how to book your stay, visit www.mingarycastle.com.
The full story of the castle’s restoration will be featured in the next issue of the Ecclesiastical and Heritage World magazine.
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