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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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Hidden Herstories
Innovative documentary binds generations and inspires young people.
A documentary film that uncovers four of history’s most significant, yet unsung heroines has been made by 20 young people in an extraordinary community project featuring big names including Gurindha Chadha, Ms Dynamite and Tristram Hunt.
‘Hidden Herstories, women of change’ unveils how the achievements of Octavia Hill, Claudia Jones, Amy Ashwood Garvey and Jayaben Desai had significant international impact on the issues of race relations and social poverty. While their names are known to few, their legacies are anything but unsung.
The film exposes the plights and determination of Octavia Hill, a pioneer in social housing and one of the founders of the National Trust; Claudia Jones, a pivotal figure in establishing the Notting Hill Carnival; Amy Ashwood Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the Association for the Advancement of Coloured People; and Jayaben Desai, who made unprecedented advancements for workers rights by leading the famous Grunwick strike.
The women have inspired many of Britain’s biggest success stories today including Bend it Like Beckham Director, Gurindha Chadha, Hip Hop revelations Bashy and Ms Dynamite and local figureheads Colin Prescod and Bob Crow, all of whom feature in the documentary.
While the premise of the film has already impressed enough to earn it a screening tour across the Capital, the real story lies in the making of the film itself. With funding (£50,000) from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the documentary is the brainchild of the Octavia Foundation, a local charity who offered 20 people aged 13 to 24, some disabled, the chance to research, direct, film and edit the film themselves.
Hidden Herstories is a follow-up to Grove Roots, a similar film, set up by the Octavia Foundation, which saw 8 novice young film-makers produce a documentary about the history of Ladbrooke Grove and the 1958 race riots. One year on, the crew of Grove Roots have grown from shy, inexperienced young people to award-winning confident film makers capable of accepting requests to speak in front of the likes of the Mayor of the RBKC and local MPs. Now Hidden Herstories, has given them the chance to mentor other young people.
Hidden Herstories the project, has also given the young people the chance to acquire other vocational skills in producing a supplement magazine and website but more importantly the project has required the young people to understand the value of history, interview individuals from all generations and has seen the most diverse group of young people from all ethnicities and backgrounds including disabled and non-disabled people, to work together.
Stephanie Vaz, one of the young people involved said:
‘We have had the chance to be involved in every aspect of film making…we are learning so much. The group work really well together, it’s really professional.’
‘Hidden Heroes’ will be brought to the wider community through a free screening tour of theatres, cinemas and education centres beginning with the public premiere at the London School of Economics, a conference where the public can view the films and engage in a question and answer session with the young people.
Councilor Pat Mason, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said:
‘I wholeheartedly support the "Hidden Herstories" project, that explores the history of great women and activists who either lived or were active in North Kensington. There is a great thirst in the people here to learn and to preserve the history of North Kensington - an area that has historically been poor and deprived but an area that has been rich in great community activists like Claudia Jones who not only helped to start the Notting Hill Carnival, but whose actions helped to change the face of race relations in this country.’
Sue Bowers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund London, said:
“This project focuses on the lives of four groundbreaking women whose desire for a more equal society played a hugely significant role in our country's history. It's important that young people today remember the sacrifices that these remarkable figures made on their behalf. 'Hidden Herstories' gives them the perfect opportunity to do so whilst also helping them develop a whole new range of skills - interviewing, researching and film-making - which they can take into the future.”
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