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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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Two churches get new heating systems for the coming winter
St. John the Baptist Anglican church in Meols, Wirral was consecrated nearly 100 years ago in 1913. The heating system recently needed replacing. This involved the removal of a large, inefficient boiler, cast iron radiators and pipe work to be replaced by a more modern and economical arrangement. After taking advice from a church consultant heating engineer, the church committee elected HeatinGlobal the church heating company to install the new DRU gas wall heaters.
The London Oratory speaks volumes for quality lead workmanship
Popularly known as the London (or Brompton) Oratory, the Oratory of St. Phillip Neri and the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is a celebrated London landmark just down the road from Harrods and next to the Victoria and Albert Museum. It is a large church comparable in size to many cathedrals.
Italian Baroque in style, it is made more memorable by the great dome crowning the composition. The dome had been created in 1895 as the crowning glory of the second largest Roman Catholic church in London.
Africa House provides shop window for ALM heritage leadwork
Associated Lead Mills’ involvement in the £22m remodelling and enlargement of Africa House in London’s Kingsway entailed supply of lead for the creation of a new two storey lead and slate mansard roof. JM Architects, led by Michael Ashenheim, specified the materials as a consequence of local planning requirements.
Lead dormer windows, corner finials and a wealth of detail work were fabricated by ALM for the Grade 2 Listed building. Due to their size, decorative panels, corner finials, rose and ribbon hip details had to be handmade in the company’s workshop for delivery in sections to site. Work therefore included provision of CAD details prior to the creation of patterns for casting.
Chancel Decorative Scheme at The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin
Founded in 1998 by David Everingham, the company has become established as one of the leading private conservation businesses in the north of England. The conservation of easel paintings in the Harrogate-based studio remains the core activity with clients including local authority museums and collections and privately owned paintings. The company has become increasingly involved in large scale projects in churches and historic building.
George III Carved Giltwood Armchair by W Thomas Restorations Ltd
This is one of a pair of George III Carved Giltwood Armchairs, in the manner of Thomas Chippendale, Circa 1765.
The chairs are closely related to plate XVIII in the first edition of Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman & Cabinet-Maker's Director published in 1753. Described as French Chairs, Chippendale notes that this and the following three plates are 'Eight Designs of French Chairs which may be executed to advantage.
St Nicholas' Church, Burton in Wirral gets new audio system
St Nicholas' Church, Burton in Wirral, is located in the village of Burton, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Cheshire. It is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Wirral South.
In the church is a hatchment bearing the arms of the Congreve family and other memorials to this family.
The memorial to Richard Congreve who died in 1820 is by S. Gibson and includes a weeping putto. The parish registers start in 1538.
The parochial church council’s brief to Richard King Systems was for the upgrading and modernisation of the audio system, for the reproduction of both speech and live performances. The system was designed to include the installation and commissioning of replacement loudspeakers, amplification, control desk, microphones and audio socket provision.
Admiral Beatty’s Union Jack cleaned and re-displayed by The Landi Company
The flag had been hanging vertically for many years against a wall in the church which was damp. Dirt and mould had taken their toll and earlier out-door use had shortened it by about 20cm.
Otherwise the condition of the cloth was strong except for a few tears and loss from moth.
The project was to clean and re-display the flag in a different position within the church, at the same time turning it to fly horizontally so as to be out of the way.
The site chosen was over the arch leading to the base of the tower at the west end and above the font.
The aim was to hang it in such a way as to minimise the weight to be hung and disguise the presence of the framework which supported the flag.
Victorian gothic style triptych reredos restored by Halford Restorations
This is a decorated screen originally mounted behind the alter within the chapel of Hockerill college Bishop's Stortford. It is in triptych form, i.e. made up of three panels and is quite typical in such that the panels are hinged to close in on itself.
The central screen of the reredos (pronounced "rear-dos") comprises a plaster panel depicting Jesus on the cross with presumably Mary and John, the 'Titulus' inscribed INRI above Jesus :Latin, Iesvs Nazarenvs Rex Ivdaeorvm (Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews ).
'The Spire' - redundant church takes on a new role in the community
Standing forlorn, neglected and decaying, the Church of St Peter at Ufton Nervet, a small hamlet in West Berkshire, was one of the many redundant churches throughout the country. It had been built in 1862 on the site of an earlier medieval church, through the instigation of the then rector James Frazer (one-time Bishop of Manchester) and the generosity of Richard Benyon, ancestor of the present custodian of the nearby Englefield Estate.
The Esher Hall Antiques & Fine Art Fair
The Esher Hall Antiques & Fine Art Fair takes place at Esher Hall, Sandown Park Racecourse, Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey KT10 9AJ from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 October 2014. Now in its 7th year, organised by The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited, it is back by popular demand and is Surrey's most established event for quality antiques and fine art combining the very best antiques with contemporary to create the clean cut modern feel of today's houses. The fair is supported by Knight Frank's Esher office.
Restoring historic roofs with handmade clay tiles
A naturally aged roofscape made from handmade clay roof tiles can be visually stunning. With no two tiles the same, each roof has a character of its own.
However, the characterful roofs found on old churches and other heritage properties deteriorate over time and may need repairing or replacing entirely, so it is important to choose high quality, historically authentic clay plain or peg tiles that will match the architecture of the building and help restore the roof to all of its former beauty.
Win a free church boiler, fully installed worth up to £10,000 by HeatinGlobal
The church heating specialist is giving you the chance to win a free church heating boiler worth up to £10,000.00p.
The competition has been put together to help you win that much needed boiler upgrade that so many churches need but cannot raise funds for.
All we ask of you is for you to get in touch via our enquiry page and tell us why you think you deserve to win in under 500 words along with all your details.
Tyddyn Street Church, Mold, Flintshire, North Wales by Richard King Systems
This historic church built in the 1860's has been transformed in a renovation that has turned it into a community and arts centre as well as a church.
The intention is to attract people to the church as a centre for community activities, the arts and small business conferences.
The work has been carried out with funds from the sale of surplus property, fundraising and the support of a number of important grant funding organisations, including the rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd from the Flintshire Key Fund which aims to help bring new life to the community buildings of rural Flintshire.
United Reformed Church, Saltaire by Norman & Underwood
Saltaire village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built by manufacturer and politician Sir Titus Salt in the 1850s around his new textile mill. His model village included houses, public buildings and a church to cater for the spiritual needs of his workers.
Norman & Underwood Conservation and Roofing divisions worked together to undertake various restoration works for this Grade 1 listed church, including reroofing the Mausoleum of Sir Titus Salt. The zinc panels had to be hand worked and folded on site by skilled craftsmen to ensure they matched the curvature of the stonework.
Protecting our buildings and our heritage – careful maintenance makes good sense
“It can prove to be an extremely costly over sight to neglect checking and regularly maintaining a building’s guttering system” warns Rainclear Systems’ Managing Director Geraint Jones. “After a property’s roof, a rainwater disposal system is one of the most critical features of a building which can both influence its unique character and ensure its care and preservation.
It’s a feature which can be easily overlooked, but at a building’s peril – especially an historic or listed building.” Designed to remove water from a building, leaking or inadequate guttering, hoppers and downpipes can lead to damaging internal and external conditions such as damp, flooding or dry rot – all potentially destructive and expensive to rectify.
Two-year project to restore the Great Gallery brings natural light to the Old Masters
The Wallace Collection has reopened the stunning Great Gallery after a two-year rebuilding programme led by architects, Purcell.
The Great Gallery was originally built by Sir Richard Wallace between 1872-5 as part of his major extension of Hertford House to accommodate his collection’s move from Paris to London. As was typical for great private residences, the Gallery was positioned behind the private living quarters in order to create a magnificent impact at the culmination of any visit. Constructed over what had originally been a mews behind the house, the vast space would have been hugely impressive to the small groups of guests who were privileged enough to be shown the collection. It is now hugely impressive, once again.
Teamwork makes the most of a shared space
Across the Atlantic in Toronto, the world-renowned Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir have for decades shared Trinity St Paul’s Church with the local congregation.
Tafelmusik approached SSD and AMPC to see what improvements could be made for music performance, acoustics, staging and sightlines.
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