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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.
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.
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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Heritage Funding
£48m heritage funding opens for churches and historic buildings
Part of £1.5 billion government investment in cultural organisations over a five-year period
Thousands of churches and historic buildings across England could benefit from a major new £48 million funding package aimed at urgent repairs, regeneration projects and wider community use.
CRE Events
Christian Resources Exhibition enters a new chapter as Church Resources Exhibition
The Christian Resources Exhibition (CRE), the UK’s largest church-related show, has changed hands in its 40th year and has been taken over by Quartz Business Media.
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.
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Jewellery Quarter: factory to be restored
A £750,000 programme of restoration work has begun on a historic project which, when complete, will create a lasting tribute to Birmingham’s industrial and manufacturing heritage.
The JW Evans factory at 54-57 Albion Street, in the heart of the city’s Jewellery Quarter, was bought a year ago by English Heritage from a family whose silverware factory and workshops had been on the site since 1881. The buildings had long been neglected and were in a very poor condition with roof leaks and parts of the workshops on the point of collapse.
The restoration work, scheduled for completion by January 2010, will see the buildings exterior fully repaired and weathertight. It includes the careful dismantling and rebuilding of sections of brickwork. All the windows require extensive repair and 10,000 new slates from Penrhyn are being prepared to go on the roof.
The restoration work will protect the extraordinary interior structure of the building and its contents. The inside of the factory is densely packed with machinery, some dating from the late 19th Century. Since acquiring the site English Heritage have carried out an audit of contents and found approximately 55,000 pieces of machinery, dies and tools in the factory and workshops.
The houses on the site were built in 1836 and rear workshops were added in the 1870s. Jenkin Evans began his business as a die sinker and stamper at number 54 Albion Street in 1881 and in 1900 he was able to buy the whole premises from 54-57. The site was bought by English Heritage from Jenkin’s grandson Anthony in 2008.
Tim Johnston, English Heritage’s West Midlands regional director said: “JW Evans represents a major investment by English Heritage and the site is of considerable historic importance. It has long been recognised as one of the most complete surviving factories of the Jewellery Quarter.
“The key to the successful restoration at JW Evans is to repair the exterior and fabric of the building with as little disturbance as possible in order to preserve the special atmosphere of the place. This will be a major challenge as all the contents will have to remain in place while all the building work is going on, but we are confident this can be achieved.”
It is intended that the site will eventually open to the public as a working museum.
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