Current Issue
Fixed those gutters? Your building needs you!
Your building needs you! Unfortunately, the best time to check for leaks and overflows in gutters and downpipes is while it is actually raining.
National Maintenance Week is coming up in November and this annual awareness week always ends with National Gutters Day - this year on Friday 27 November 2015. It is a gentle reminder for everyone to take a little time to make a simple check on the condition of any property you are responsible for. A basic building ‘MOT’ can save you from having to spend a great deal of money at a later date.
Two Purcell projects recognised at the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards
Purcell is delighted to have two projects recognised once again at the Oxford Preservation Trust (OPT) Awards. The Undercroft Bar received a certificate and St Nicolas Church, Abingdon, received a letter of commendation. Purcell has previously won with the Radcliffe Humanities Building and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
The Undercroft is a Grade II listed bar that was desperately in need of modernisation. It’s located within the lower level of the Lee Building at Christ Church and was formally used for dissections as part of the Anatomy School. Purcell upgraded the area to improve access and build a new bar and facilities making better use of the space.
Read more: Two Purcell projects recognised at the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards
Church Sound Chester to showcase potential benefits of technology in places of worship
Church Sound Chester is being held on Wednesday 4th November 2015 at the Abode Hotel Chester from 3 pm to 8 pm.
At Church Sound Chester visitors will have the opportunity to see and hear how modern technology can enhance and benefit 21st century worship.
Read more: Church Sound Chester to showcase potential benefits of technology in places of worship
Northcot Brick wins prestigious Self Build Award
Northcot Brick, one of the UK’s foremost independent brick manufacturers, has received a prestigious 2015 ‘Build It Award’ for the quality of its brickwork.
As this year’s outright winner in the ‘Best Masonry Home’ category, Bridge House, a traditional brick and flint family house in Norfolk, was highly praised by the judges for its outstanding craftsmanship and brick detailing, which they said ‘could not be faulted’.
What lies below is testament to heating installer’s expertise
In a recent issue of Ecclesiastical and Heritage World the cover story featured the restoration project at the Grade One-listed Church of St Andrew in Epworth, Lincolnshire – known as The Wesleys’ church. A long-suspected Saxon church had been found under the concrete floor when it was lifted for replacement with a more authentic stone floor.
The lifting of the floor provided the opportunity to replace the old heating system with an underfloor system. The installation of underfloor heating in Grade One-listed churches is often fraught with difficulty, so the opportunity to do so without disturbing the fabric was grasped.
The new system was installed by Yorkshire-based Byfield Heating Ltd, specialists in underfloor installations.
Read more: What lies below is testament to heating installer’s expertise
New home found for scouts' stained glass window
When the local scout hut in Middleton, Greater Mancester was being demolished, a new home for the scout window of 1924 was required. St Gabriel’s, the local church, was chosen to be that home.
Cheshire Stained Glass removed the window from the hut and stored it until a final decision about its future had been made.
New sound and lighting company has over 80 years experience!
Exhibiting for the first time at a CRE event this week were a new company in the sound and light arena - new in name but with over 80 years experience in the industry!
In February 2015 Northern Stage Services acquired Lancelyn Theatre Supplies and Lancelyn Lighting to create National Stage Technology - a UK-wide stage, sound and lighting solutions provider. Northern Stage Services, Lancelyn Theatre Supplies and Lancelyn Lighting have over 80 years’ experience in the industry with an enviable reputation in the marketplace.
Read more: New sound and lighting company has over 80 years experience!
The ultimate accolade for the leadwork craftsman
At the beginning of October, some 57 LCA members, associates and their guests assembled at the Fawsley Hall Hotel, near Daventry for the announcement of the winners of the 2015 Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award competitions.
The Awards are presented each year in recognition of the very best in leadwork design and installation, carried out by the specialist members of the Lead Contractors Association - in effect the ultimate accolade for the craft of working with lead.
As part of a pre-dinner reception hosted by Jamestown Metals, guests were able to assess the entries for the 2015 Awards and try to pick the overall winner from the keenly competitive and high quality nominations.
The refurbishment of Marston's historic chimney
Marston’s brewery in Burton-on-Trent, is very much the spiritual home of British beer. Still brewing in the traditional way, this historic brewery was established in 1834, using the unique spring water from the Trent Valley that gives its ales the famous sulphurous aroma known as the ‘Burton snatch’.
The Victorian brewhouse, which stands in the town centre, boasts an impressive grade II listed industrial chimney, which is a well-known local landmark.
The importance of old fashioned brick making
In recent years many historic crafts and trades have gradually declined or been separated from mainstream building in the face of the demand for mass production and more cost effective processes.
Modern brick making, in particular, has developed far beyond its small-scale regional origins. Today’s enormous high-tech factories have the capability to produce immense quantities of perfectly uniform and colour-controlled bricks through fast, efficient, fully automated processes.
However, as technology continues to advance, traditional craftsmanship is in danger of becoming lost in time.
Tudor Roof Tiles offer a link to the past
Britain's foremost independent manufacturer of genuine handmade Kent Peg tiles and Plain tiles. Traditionally made using local materials, then baked to exacting standards, Tudor's roof tiles suit both historic and modern constructions, from new build or restoration.
Tudor Roof Tile Co Limited is proud to be a 100% British company and is now the largest independant manufacturer of handmade only roof tiles. They are particularly suited to architecturally sensitive churches and old building.
Marking your event with a stained glass commission can leave a legacy for future generations
Do you have a forthcoming event or special anniversary in your church? An exciting commission in glass would be an excellent way to mark the event and will provide a striking feature for generations to come. Is there a new glazed partition at the back of the church to separate a refreshments area? Could a visual connection be made to the rest of the building by incorporating a newly designed stained glass church window as part of the glazed screen?
Bristol-based AP Stained Glass Design and Restoration undertake repairs of all sorts to church and chapel windows, matching the original as closely as possible.
Sound Space Design RIBA Awards success 2015
Sound Space Design are proud to have been acting as acoustic consultant on two RIBA award winning projects this year. Island Pavilion and Bridge, Wormsley with Robin Snell and Partners won in the south region category and follows in the success of the 2012 RIBA award winning Garsington Opera Pavilion also on the Wormsley Estate and in association with Robin Snell and Associates.
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