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Tarrant Group undertakes clock face restoration at St Mary’s, Pulborough
Tarrant Group is proud to announce the successful completion of a truly unique project restoring the historic clock faces at St Mary's Church in Pulborough. This landmark structure has stood proudly for centuries, with its clock faces serving not only as a timekeeping tool but also as a cherished part of the town's identity. Restoring them required not only technical skill, but also sensitivity to heritage, meticulous planning, and seamless collaboration.
The project began with a detailed evaluation of how best to approach the clock’s disconnection without compromising the historic structure or the delicate mechanism. The process had to be carried out in perfect synchrony to avoid any damage, and the margin for error was extremely narrow.
Read more: Tarrant Group undertakes clock face restoration at St Mary’s, Pulborough
Memorials at the ready: the nation celebrates VE Day
As the nation celebrates the 80th anniversary of VE Day – the ending of the Second World War in Europe – many will be joining in bell ringing and the singing of the patriotic anthem I Vow to Thee My Country. The four days of celebration from 5-8 May mark the culmination of months of preparations, and for many a race against time to complete the cleaning and restoration of local and even national war memorials.
Local councils across the country have been commissioning a small army of specialist cleaning operatives to ensure their memorials are fit to reflect the significance of the occasion, including the Cenotaph in Ilkeston, Derbyshire (pictured).
Read more: Memorials at the ready: the nation celebrates VE Day
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.
Lo Dze is now open and receiving glowing reviews. It is situated 30 metres from the main square in Martigny and consists of two separate buildings around a central courtyard which is open to the public.
Read more: York Handmade provides bricks for brand-new Swiss hotel
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.
£23 million government package to support restoration of thousands of listed places of worship
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant has announced that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme will be extended into the next financial year, providing £23 million so that thousands of historical buildings, including churches, synagogues, mosques and temples, can carry out restoration work.
A street sign on Reading’s Oxford Road has triumphed in the national Sign and Wrap Awards 2025
The hand-written sign pays homage to the original Victorian sign on the flank of Russell Street, on its junction of Oxford Road, was awarded a gold position in the Traditional Sign’ category at the Sign and Wrap Awards on 25th March 2025.
Judges admired the craftsmanship, skill, and attention to detail of the traditional sign, which lists all the building proprietors dating back to 1829.
Industrial Heritage Support Officer for England project receives funding for 2025-2026
The Industrial Heritage Support Officer (IHSO) role has been awarded funding to enable it to continue its work to preserve England’s industrial heritage in the year April 2025 to March 2026.
Read more: Industrial Heritage Support Officer for England project receives funding for 2025-2026
The different types of lead roofs: a comprehensive guide by Silk Leadwork
Lead roofing’s legacy stretches back centuries, offering a blend of aesthetic appeal and functional superiority unmatched by other materials. It adapts seamlessly to diverse roofing needs, from historic restoration to modern architectural projects. This guide presents an in-depth look at the different types of lead roofs, highlighting their unique properties and the reasons behind their enduring popularity.
Read more: The different types of lead roofs: a comprehensive guide by Silk Leadwork
Let there be light!
Stella Rooflight have provided three bespoke conservation rooflights for St Mary’s Church in Wivenhoe as part of a transformation project.
St Mary’s church in Wivenhoe has been in existence since at least 1254. The North and South aisles of the church were built in 1340 and 1350, making St Mary’s the oldest building still standing in Wivenhoe and clearly of significant local and national historical importance.
The church tower was added in the 15th century with diagonal buttresses and a foundation of Roman brick. After a fire in 1850 it was decided to rebuild and enlarge the church according to the designs of the architect E C Hakewill. Further restoration was required after the parts of the church were damaged by the most destructive earthquake in recorded British history: the 1884 Colchester Earthquake.
Rare examples of painted railings preserved at Bath Abbey
The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Bath (Bath Abbey) was founded in the 7th century: originally as a convent and later becoming a monastery.
Monks fleeing reforms in France in the mid 10th century were given the church in Bath by King Edward I. During the early 12th century a building on a grander scale began to be built, dedicated to St Peter and St Paul, with work taking around 50 years to complete.
Read more: Rare examples of painted railings preserved at Bath Abbey
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.
Chapel Royal, Brighton was opened for worship in 1795, two years earlier the Foundation Stone was laid by the Prince Regent. Originally it was intended as a Chapel of Ease to St Nicholas, the old Parish Church, to accommodate Brighton’s seasonal fluctuation in population, however, it quickly became one of Brighton’s most important churches.
Read more: Chapel Royal restoration in Brighton by Michelmersh includes four replacement Gargoyles
ISCVEx 2025 wraps after two vibrant days of AGM, Networking Dinner, Seminars and Exhibition!
ISCVEx 2025, hosted at the historic Coombe Abbey Hotel in Coventry, is an exceptional gathering for professionals in the sound, communications and visual engineering industries. Organised annually by the Institute of Sound, Communications and Visual Engineers, the event welcomes both members and non-members to engage in a variety of enriching activities designed to foster professional growth, industry insights and networking opportunities.
Commencing on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, with the ISCVE Members’ Day and Annual General Meeting, ISCVEx provides a key moment for the Institute to reflect on achievements and outline future goals. After a scintillating presentation by Andy Dockerty, from Adlib on the future of the Live Events Industries, attendees later joined a vibrant networking dinner, complete with live entertainment, offering a unique environment to build relationships and celebrate together.
Heritage properties urged to take precautions as Blenheim Palace toilet theft trial continues
Specialist heritage insurer Ecclesiastical is reminding historical properties to take security precautions to protect valuable artworks as the trial of individuals accused of stealing a £2.8m gold toilet takes place.
The theft of the 18-carat gold fully functional toilet, titled ‘America’ and made by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, took place at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in September 2019.
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