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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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Proven reliability over the centuries - and annual awards are back
Brick is one of our oldest building materials and its use dates back to the beginning of civilisation.
The Brick Development Association represents the United Kingdom and Ireland’s clay brick and paver industries and promotes the contribution that brick makes to the places and spaces we live and work in today. Their role is to ensure clay brick and pavers are recognised as the material of choice by architects, engineers, planners, specifiers, developers, landscapers, builders and property owners.
The Brick Development Association conducts lectures and CPDs with students and practising architects and engineers and through it’s marketing arm, Think Brick, communicates the benefits of brick to a wider audience on-line, through advertising and PR and through the annual Brick Awards.
Brick has been a reliable construction material for centuries and has proven itself time and time again. There is no shortage of brick structures around the world still providing good service – just look at Brunel’s stunning spanned bridge over the Thames at Maidenhead or the brickwork at St Pancras.
Brick has long been a favourite among architects, developers and the public. Not only is it beautiful to look at, it has excellent sustainability credentials and it’s hard to beat on price. On versatility and pure aesthetics, few rivals come even close. And because we have been building with brick for thousands of years, its technology is well understood. In structural terms, its robustness provides solutions to masonry designs where ‘high’ strength is required.
Made from an abundant natural material, clay bricks have a much closer visual connection with their raw constituents than anything else you’ll find in a modern building. Their warm and humanising character brings buildings to life with a wonderful mixture of subtle tones and textures. Bricks blend easily and naturally with their environment and complement other building materials. Furthermore, brickwork can be adapted as a building changes use.
Now the case for brick has been boosted by a top environmental rating. The BRE’s latest Green Guide to Specification has assigned the highest possible accreditation A+ to every external wall it rated containing brick. This is positive proof that brick has a key role to play in meeting CSH targets.
It’s not surprising therefore that the demand for brick buildings continues to increase and this is clearly evident in the continuing success of the annual Brick Awards.
Organised by the Brick Development Association, the Awards, which first took place in 1977, are one of the top design and construction awards in the country – and the definitive showcase for what clay brick can do.
The Awards recognise excellence in design and construction using brick. Each year, hundreds of entries are submitted and the prestigious trophies and more than 100 certificates are issued to the successful projects. The architect/designer, brick manufacturer, mortar company and specialist brickwork contractor are all acknowledged on each project.
You can find out more about this year’s awards here.
For further information on the Brick Development Association click here.
You can find a selection of professionals in all things brick in our directory here - look for the BDA logo.
Michelmersh celebrates 11 shortlisted projects at the 2025 Brick Awards
Michelmersh is proud to have eleven projects shortlisted at this year’s Brick Development Association (BDA) Brick Awards – a continued testament to the strength, versatility, and trusted quality of its clay brick products across the built environment.
Click here to read the full story.
Michelmersh champions community, education and industry growth with over £1 million in donations
Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC ("Michelmersh") is proud to reaffirm its commitment to supporting local communities, educational institutions, and charitable organisations through its long-standing culture of giving. Since 2016, Michelmersh has contributed over £1 million in charitable and in-kind donations, reinforcing its mission to build a better future, brick by brick.
Click here to read the full story.
York Handmade provides bricks for brand-new Swiss hotel
The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has provided the bricks for one of the most exciting new hotels in Europe.
The company, based at Alne, near Easingwold, has supplied over 40,000 specially manufactured brick slips and 30,000 paving cobbles for Lo Dze, a brand-new hotel development in the heart of Martigny, one of Switzerland’s most historic towns.
Click here to read the full story.
Chapel Royal restoration in Brighton by Michelmersh includes four replacement Gargoyles
A total of 250 terra cotta replacement units were required at Chapel Royal. The restoration included four replacement Gargoyles, the complete parapet balustrade and a variety of other specialised pieces including finials and clock face surround blocks.
Click here to read the full story.
York Handmade plays pivotal role in the creation of the York Minster Centre of Excellence
The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has played a pivotal role in the creation of the York Minster Centre of Excellence.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, has supplied 17,000 specially manufactured bricks for the new centre, which is a world class campus facility for research, education and training in traditional craft skills.
Click here to read the full story.
York Handmade wins major award at the brick oscars
The York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the country, has won a major honour in the prestigious 2024 Brick Awards.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, triumphed in the Craftsmanship category for the company’s work on 5 St Frederick’s Place in the heart of City of London.
Click here to read the full story.
It’s a hat-trick! York Handmade secures three National Trust commissions
The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has landed a hat-trick of prestigious commissions from the National Trust.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, is suppling bricks for Little Moreton Hall in Congleton, Cheshire, Dunham Massey in Altrincham and Goddards in Tadcaster Road, York.
Click here to read the full story.
York Handmade Brick praised for 'magnificent' role in York Racecourse development
The pivotal role played by York Handmade Brick in the stunning transformation of the southern end of York Racecourse has been highlighted by the racecourse’s Chief Executive.
William Derby praised the award-winning York Handmade for the company’s “magnificent contribution” to the multi-million-pound project, which comprised a significant upgrade to the 1913 Bustardthorpe Stand and the brand-new Roberto Pavilion.
Click here to read the full story.
Now you can have the aesthetic of clay within a cladding system
FabSpeed, a Michelmersh Group brand, has introduced its CMS40 façade system, in collaboration with fellow industry leaders Cladmate Façade Systems.
CMS40 is a lightweight, easy-to-install, cost-effective system that integrates mechanically fixed, non-combustible brick slips into façades to offer the beautiful clay aesthetic that we all know and love. It is suitable for a range of construction projects – from volume high or low-rise or single new build projects to retrofit applications – and can be applied to both indoor and outdoor façades.
Click here to read the full story.
Hathern Terra Cotta’s 100-year partnership with Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse
STEAMhouse is a hybrid building that promotes collaboration between students, start-ups and larger businesses, which Aukett Swanke began the design and briefing process of in January 2018.
Hathern Terra Cotta’s involvement in the project started in 1899 when Hathern Station Brick and Terra Cotta Company were approached to supply the initial terracotta. Over the next few decades, it moved on from its genesis as the Eccles Rubber and Cycle Company headquarters and became a linen clothing factory under the Co-operative Society.
Click here to read the full story.
Repurposing project features in clutch of brickmaker’s RIBA winners
The bringing back into use of a heritage site is one of five winners of this year’s RIBA Regional Awards that have featured products from traditional brickmaker Michelmersh.
For more than 180 years the RIBA Awards have been commemorating exceptional accomplishments. Its esteemed awards and prizes are seen as a symbol of excellence worldwide, honouring first-class architecture, architects, research and students. This year, Michelmersh was proud to see a wide range of its products used by five Regional RIBA Award winners.
Click here to read the full story.
Grade 2-listed Battersea Power Station among Michelmersh record seven awards at 2022 Brick Awards
Michelmersh is thrilled to show its pedigree as Britain’s Brick Specialist with 7 wins and 2 commendations at the 2022 Brick Development Association (BDA) Brick Awards. The 46th Brick Awards highlighted exemplary work across the construction industry with fantastic projects submitted by architects across the country. 13 judges worked together to identify projects that embody celebrated brick architecture, innovation and craftsmanship across 17 categories both locally and internationally.
Click here to read the full story.
At the double! York Handmade highly commended at brick oscars
The York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the country, has been highly commended in two categories in the prestigious 2022 Brick Awards.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, was singled out for praise in the Individual Housing and the Refurbishment categories.
Click here to read the full story.
Work smarter, not harder with the new Michelmersh Group website
Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC is excited to announce the launch of its fresh, new website. The innovative and inspiring content on offer at mbhplc.co.uk provides an incredibly quick way for anyone to create their own façade design, compare products by colour swatch, download BIM files, read case studies on its award-winning projects or search for information such as technical guidance on projecting brickwork and much more.
Click here to read the full story.
York Handmade project wins prestigious Stirling Prize
One of the York Handmade Brick Company’s most acclaimed projects has won the prestigious 2022 RIBA Stirling Prize.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, provided more than 300,000 bricks for the magnificent new Magdalene College Library at Cambridge University.
Click here to read the full story.
Michelmersh to produce the world’s first 100% hydrogen fired clay bricks
Michelmersh has announced its successful bid to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) UK Government, Industrial Fuel Switching competition to conduct a feasibility study to replace natural gas with hydrogen in the brick making process. The programme is part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) which aims to provide funding for low-carbon technologies to decreasing the costs of decarbonisation.
Click here to read the full story.
Leading brick maker reiterates its sustainability goals
Clay brick specialists the Michelmersh Group has released its 2021 Sustainability Report. The report offers an insightful and detailed account of Michelmersh’s established sustainable practices and its plans for achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Click here to read the full story.
York Handmade project nominated for prestigious Stirling Prize
One of the York Handmade Brick Company’s most acclaimed projects has been shortlisted in the prestigious 2022 RIBA Stirling Prize.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, provided more than 300,000 bricks for the magnificent new Magdalene College Library at Cambridge University.
Click here to read the full story.
Michelmersh wins four awards at the BDA’s Brick Awards 2021
Michelmersh is proud to announce that it won four awards and was highly commended for another four at Wednesday night’s 2021 BDA Brick Awards. With stunning trophies designed by award-winning designer, architect and researcher, Maria Gasparian, the 45th Brick Awards received a record number of entries. In her final year as Head Judge, Hilary Satchwell led a team of 14 esteemed judges with the unenviable task of selecting the best of the best.
Click here to read the full story.
Imagine it, design it, build it with Michelmersh’s Façade Designer
Michelmersh is pleased to announce the release of its Façade Designer, a fully customisable tool featured on mbhplc.co.uk which allows designers, architects and clients the ability to create their own brick façade using its full range of products. The Designer aims to inspire creativity, giving users the freedom to firstly choose brick types through colour, texture or size, proceeding onto a mortar colour, and lastly, a bond to evolve the façade to the desired specification.
Click here to read the full story.
York Handmade nominated for four awards at brick oscars
The York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the country, has been nominated in a number of categories in the prestigious 2021 Brick Awards.
York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, is up for the awards following the company’s acclaimed role in the new library at Magdalene College, Cambridge (pictured); the restoration St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire; and the brand-new Valentine House at Allostock in Cheshire.
Click here to read the full story.
DRU Art series gas wall heaters selected by Primrose Hill church, Dudley
Primrose Hill Congregational church in Dudley, near Birmingham, has been in existence for 160 years and the present building has stood for over 130 years. It was built over one of the Earl of Dudley’s coal mines and, despite tilting due to historic subsidence, the building is now stable and is a thriving part of the local community.
The church caters for around 250 visitors per week. As well as its regular Sunday services, it hosts Bible classes, Brownies, a youth club, dance, drama and many other activities.
Church lighting with a difference...
Lighting Dynamics UK, based in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, continue their development as one of the UK’s premier companies specialising in the interior and exterior illumination of cathedrals, churches and other places or worship.
One of the company’s many recently completed prestigious projects now includes the installation of new lighting at the magnificent St Mary’s Church, in Stafford town centre.
Conservator’s amazing new find on 17th century tomb
Salisbury Cathedral conservator Dave Henson made a great discovery when he started the latest round of practical conservation work on the Monument to Sir Richard Mompesson (d.1627) and his wife Katherine. He found what is believed to be a 17th century polychromed Coat of Arms on the reverse of the stone supporting the Coat of Arms at the top and front of the monument. And the blazoning of the two Coats of Arms is almost identical.
Peter Martindale, polychrome expert, says “The Coat of Arms on the reverse of the monument is important historically and artistically, and quite rare. It appears not to have undergone a programme of treatment since being painted, its condition seems good, and it is therefore a valuable witness to the methods and materials of the time.”
One possibility is that it could be a ‘draft’ painting of the Coat of Arms found on the front of the armorial. It covers the entire back of the top section of the tomb, but is the only painting on the back of the tomb.
LISTED PROPERTY SHOW IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
DATE FOR THE DIARY – FEBRUARY 18th to 19th 2012 – OLYMPIA LONDON
The Listed Property Show, which takes place at Olympia in London in February (18-19) 2012, will be bigger and better for its sixth annual event.
The exhibition, organised by the Listed Property Owners Club (LPOC), provides practical advice, tips and information for homeowners looking to restore or refurbish their properties and will feature close to 200 specialist suppliers showcasing their products and services.
Date for the Diary for Marathon Trade Exhibition
CRE International (Tue 8 - Fri 11 May, Sandown Park, Esher).
LORD David Puttnam, producer of arguably the most successful sports-themed movie of all time, will open this year's CRE International (Tue 8 - Fri 11 May, Sandown Park, Esher).
Lord Puttnam, who turned the story of athlete Eric Liddell into the Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire, will launch a special set of church and community resources created by the Damaris Trust to accompany a re-release of the digitally re-mastered film in cinemas across the country (see www.damaris.org/chariots).
'In this unique year, with the Olympics at the very top of the agenda, we are delighted to invite such a distinguished person to open the show,' said Paul Trott, head of marketing for CRE's parent company Bible Society. 'The story of Eric Liddell continues to inspire and challenge. With new resources available from Damaris we invite hundreds of UK churches to come to CRE and discover some great ways to communicate to their communities before and during the London Games.'
It will be Lord Puttnam’s first visit to a show which will showcase more than 375 organisations and be attended by more than 10,000 people.
DTZ appointed to market Castlefield landmark
DTZ has been appointed by Bluetree Estates to market the historic Grade II listed Castlefield Chapel in Castlefield, Manchester. The 12,000 sq ft (1,115 sq m) self-contained building, a former congregational chapel built in the 1850s by prominent Victorian architect Edward Walters, is available to buy or lease.VISIT OUR ASSOCIATED SITES
