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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.
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.
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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Long-Term Future of Historic Island Railway Vehicles Secured
Initial Funding Award for Steam Railway’s New ‘Changing Trains’ Project
A project to ensure the long-term preservation and display of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s historic collection of locomotives, carriages and other rolling stock has been given the green light from The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The Isle of Wight Railway Company Ltd has been awarded a £35,000 development grant to progress the plans for its ‘Changing Trains’ Project.This first-round pass* means that they can now progress to the second stage of the HLF application process and they have up to two years to submit more detailed plans and apply for a full grant of £929,600 from HLF for the project.
'Changing Trains' aims to ensure that the Railway’s historic steam locomotives, Victorian and Edwardian carriages, and other heritage rolling stock, is kept under cover when not in service, away from the harmful effects of sun, wind and rain, and in so doing are placed on display for the public to enjoy. The project focuses on providing a Rolling Stock Storage and Display Building adjacent to Havenstreet Station which will provide covered space for most of the Railway's restored locomotives, carriages and wagons, including items scheduled for completion during the next 10 years under the HLF-assisted Carriage & Wagon restoration programme.
“This first-round pass and development grant is excellent news and takes us closer to making ‘Changing Trains’ a reality”, said IW Steam Railway Lottery Application Director, Chris Tagart. “The award will assist us with preparation of detailed plans and specifications for the project, and assist us in preparing our second-round grant application. It is also reassuring to note that this initial approval means that the ‘Changing Trains’ project has met HLF criteria for funding, and in their view has the potential to deliver the high-quality benefits and value-for-money necessary for the award of Lottery money.”
In total the ‘Changing Trains’ project will cost £1.1m and to meet part of the criteria for securing HLF funding the Steam Railway has already raised £140,000 of ‘match-funding’. This has been raised through the generosity of IW Steam Railway members and supporters across the country and through donations from visitors to the Railway.
Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for South East England said: “We’re extremely pleased to give initial support to the Isle of Wight Railway Co. Ltd for ‘Changing Trains’ and we look forward to receiving their application for a full grant in the future."
Expressing delight at the initial HLF grant, IW Steam Railway Chairman Steve Oates said, “This is a tremendous boost to us in our 40th anniversary year. Our railway is unique in only operating Victorian and Edwardian carriages, which are hauled by equally historic tank locomotives, three of which date from the Victorian era. Having this precious rolling stock under cover will halve the time currently spent on maintenance, which in turn means far more time can be spent on restoring and preserving yet more historic railway vehicles - And very importantly, as ‘Changing trains’ will have public access, we will also be able to further our educational objectives by giving visitors the opportunity to view historic railway vehicles at close quarters and discover how they were once so much a part of life on the Island.”
This project is the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's largest since the three mile long extension to Smallbrook Junction was opened in 1991 and will be a major step forward for the preservation and display of a unique and nationally important collection of historic Railway vehicles.
2011 is the IW Steam Railway’s 40th anniversary year, since the establishment of the Railway at Havenstreet in 1971.
