Pershore Abbey tower: a fitting tribute for the Jubilee

Pershore Abbey was one of the largest medieval abbeys in Britain – even larger than Worcester Cathedral – before it was part destroyed in the Reformation. The tower was added in 1350 and has stood as a beacon which can be seen for several miles across the district.

Until recently the tower has externally been bathed in white light during the hours of darkness. However, a generous donation from The Friends of Pershore Abbey has enabled a new state-of-the-art colour change LED floodlighting system to be installed by lighting specialists Anthony J Smith(Glos) Ltd. It was first used over the Jubilee weekend with the tower being illuminated in red, white and blue which cycled through the colours every 15 seconds.

Read more: Pershore Abbey tower: a fitting tribute for the Jubilee

York Handmade plays pivotal role in stunning Surrey house

The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has played a significant role in a stunning Surrey house.

The Easingwold-based firm, one of the leading independent brick-makers in the country, has supplied specially-manufactured bricks for a magnificent home in Esher.

The house has already been featured on the front cover of the June edition of Build It magazine, one of the prime publications for the self-build housing sector.

Read more: York Handmade plays pivotal role in stunning Surrey house

D C Blacksmiths - family business forges ahead

D C Blacksmiths are specialists in the conservation, restoration and reproduction of period architectural wrought iron and designers of new and contemporary styles of forged metalwork, using traditional blacksmithing techniques and jointing methods.

Read more: D C Blacksmiths - family business forges ahead

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.

Read more: Michelmersh to produce the world’s first 100% hydrogen fired clay bricks

York Handmade short-listed for two awards at brick oscars

The York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brickmakers in the country, has been shortlisted in two categories in the prestigious 2022 Brick Awards.

York Handmade, based at Alne, near Easingwold, in North Yorkshire, was short-listed in the Individual Housing and the Refurbishment categories.

York Handmade provided the bricks for Green Acres (pictured right), a stunning new detached house in Effingham in Surrey, and for Holy Trinity Church in the heart of Sunderland.

Read more: York Handmade short-listed for two awards at brick oscars

Hay Castle opens its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history

On Friday 27th May, Hay Castle will open its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history, following a major 10-year restoration and regeneration project.  Situated in the small town of Hay-on-Wye in Powys, best known for its leading annual literature and arts festival, Hay Castle is one of the great medieval defence structures on the border of England and Wales still standing.  Thanks to over £5million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and £2m match funding from various trusts and individual donors, Wales now has an important heritage destination, a vibrant new centre for learning and the arts, and a space for the community to come together.

Read more: Hay Castle opens its doors to the public for the first time in its 900-year history

Lambeth Palace’s new national library and archive set to open later this year

Lambeth Palace’s newly-built £23.5 million national library and archive is due to open later this year with many of the collections having already moved into the sustainably-designed building.

Lambeth Palace Library in London contains an “unrivalled collection” of books and manuscripts that document over 1000 years of ecclesiastical and cultural life in the UK. 

Read more: Lambeth Palace’s new national library and archive set to open later this year

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.

Announcing the publication of the report on 26 January, the company said: “Michelmersh is determined to continue being the sustainable face of clay brick manufacturing and with the support of its chief executives, its dedicated Sustainability Group and Net Zero Steering Group, it has already undertaken numerous projects to minimise its environmental impact and increase its already efficient production methods with state-of-the-art technology, reporting systems and quality standards.”

Read more: Leading brick maker reiterates its sustainability goals

New address - a move for the good

Conservation by Design are excited to announce that the company's sales office, warehouse, and dispatch have successfully relocated and are now fully operational.

Their new address is CXD International, Unit 14, Crowhill Farm, Ravensden Road, Wilden, Bedford MK44 2QS. Their phone number and email address will remain the same: 01234 846300 and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Read more: New address - a move for the good

Work will take place to conserve Birmingham Cathedral’s world-famous Burne-Jones windows!

Birmingham Cathedral has been awarded over £640,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support an extensive programme of conservation work to the cathedral’s remarkable stained-glass windows.

The project, known as Divine Beauty, has been made possible by National Lottery players, and an award of £641,200 from by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

As well as extensive conservation work, an exciting programme of activity and engagement is planned over the next 2 years at the cathedral.

Read more: Work will take place to conserve Birmingham Cathedral’s world-famous Burne-Jones windows!

Tron Kirk to re-open to the public

The City of Edinburgh Council has handed the keys of the Tron Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) as the new custodians of the building. The council selected SHBT as its preferred partner to restore the Tron in 2021 and the charity has now signed a 5-year lease in an agreement that will see it take on the management role of the building as it develops the restoration project. This will convert to a 125-year lease when the capital project is ready to begin.

Read more: Tron Kirk to re-open to the public

Historic metalwork specialists repair the Maclagan Crozier

When the Crozier head on Lichfield Cathedral's Maclagan Crozier had broken away from the central stem, as a result of the screw thread being overtightened, the cathedral's treasurer appointed Shropshire-based Historic Metalwork Conservation Company (HMCC Ltd) to carry out the repair.

The company provide conservation advice to all those charged with the care, management and preservation of historic metalwork in all its various forms, but with a particular emphasis on historic ironwork.

Read more: Historic metalwork specialists repair the Maclagan Crozier