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‘Capability’ Brown lead fountain dedicated

A fountain in Westminster Abbey’s cloister garth to commemorate the tercentenary of the great 18th century landscape gardener Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was dedicated last year.

The fountain was made in lead by Brian Turner, who is a veteran exhibitor at the Chelsea Flower show and prominent committee member of the Lead Contractors Association.

Cast aluminium ornamental hoppers – in 'textured black' with next day delivery

Rainclear Systems, the UK’s leading stockist and online retailer of metal rainwater systems, has recently broadened the range of cast aluminium ornate hoppers it offers from stock for next day delivery in 'textured black' – the most frequently requested colour and finish.

They have seen a slow decline in demand for cast iron rainwater systems and an equivalent increase in demand for cast aluminium for restoration and refurb projects – being easier to install, less expensive and requiring very little ongoing maintenance.

Grade II Listed Georgian Cottage by Broadstairs Roofing

0n8734 This cottage was badly blighted with a modern concrete tile and a dormer cladded in white UPVC, giving the cottage a dated and depressing appearance. Broadstairs Roofing removed the concrete tiles and replaced them with Kent peg tiles. The dormer was leaded, the clients were delighted with the new look of their roof.

Spotlight on church and heritage work in Bath

Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa, Bath became an important centre of the wool industry in the Middle Ages. In the 18th century, under George III, it developed into an elegant town with neoclassical Palladian buildings, which blend harmoniously with the Roman baths.

There is a World Heritage Site Management Plan (2010) for the site and a World Heritage Site coordinator is responsible for implementing the objectives and action plan.

Pineapple fountain with copper Leaves by Turners Ornamental Leadwork

An original lead and copper design by Brian Turner inspired by the texture of the pineapple.

This design is ideal for use as a fountain centrepiece, as the surface texture has been specially crafted to work against the water to create a beautiful sound.

Five new awards and £100,000 in six years

The Castles Studies Trust are excited to announce five grants totalling a record £27,000 that will advance our understanding of castles. These awards mean they have reached the landmark of giving away £100,000 in grants. It has taken six years to do that, during which time the Trust has doubled the maximum amount they can award to £10,000.

Druminnor, Aberdeenshire – Using GPR for an investigation of the 15th century core of the castle – presently under a hardcore car park. This was the original caput of the lords of Forbes. During the 15th century they were amongst the most powerful families in the North-east of Scotland.

Ripley Castle revisited – testing the performance of a Trace-in-Metal installation four and a half years on

Ripley Castle, the Grade I listed 14th century house near Harrogate in North Yorkshire, has been the hotspot for historically significant events and to this was added the first installation of the Trace-in-Metal marking system in April 2014.

The current owner and custodian of the Castle, Sir Thomas Ingilby, Bt, contacted Trace-in-Metal with the intention to have the metal marking system installed to protect lead on his buildings. Sir Thomas, who runs the Stately Home Hotline monitoring burglaries at 2,000 historic buildings (Historic Houses Association), was keen to try this innovative technique to reduce the constant concern over lead theft owners of historic building have.

Metal theft is threatening Britain's heritage - 37 thefts every month from churches alone

A survey of reported metal thefts from heritage sites across the UK indicates that the country is seeing an alarming rising trend in metal theft, leaving hundreds of historical buildings with repair bills they cannot meet.

On the eve of the first major conference on metal crime by the British Transport Police (BTP) and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), the survey, conducted by VPS Security Services, found 100's of reports of church roofs being stripped of lead in the 12 months leading up to April this year, averaging 37 incidents a month.

Votive Candelabra at Weybourne Church, North Norfolk

The candelabra stand at Weybourne Church is located in the north aisle, originally the Saxon nave, which is one of the oldest parts of the priory church still in use. The votive stand was commissioned in 2013 by Maggie Broad, in memory of her husband Peter and with the approval of the Parochial Church Council and the Chancellor of the Diocese.

0n8758 Brian Turner of Turners Ornamental Leadwork was approached by Tuecer Wilson, who was the designer, and is one of the country's leading stone carvers. Brian takes up the story: "My brief was to make a steel globe, two meters in diameter, incorporating the art of Peter Broad, a successful professional architect and a keen artist, using one of Peter's paintings of water lilies to incorporate it into the globe.

0n8757 "This globe was a challenge as I wanted to make it with the minimum of welding. I started with rolled flat steel and round bar shaped to the diameter required. Then the central column with the help of Ian Ridgeways, the local blacksmiths, helping to make the scrolls in his forge on the central steel column.

"The next job was to make all the copper candle holders and the other copper parts I planned to make, banishing them to shape in a previously made wooden block taken from a nearby woodpile.

"Then from some aged 1/8” (3mm) thick copper plate I made some other copper components, then gradually prepared the other part and drilled out the rolled flat bar ready to fit the rolled round bar. These were then fitted with copper pipe in each section then fitted to a copper ring one top and one at the bottom, slowly building the globe, threading the rolled round bar through the flat bar, this was a challenging fun part trying to keep everything together. Once all the round bar was fitted and all equally spaced the round bar was welded together.

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"Now I had to make the brackets to support the copper candle holders to make by heating and swaging the steel to the shape and thickness needed at the ends of the brackets which would allow drilling and tapping. Once they were all made, I made the copper cap to go on to the top and rivet to the rolled flat bar.

"This done the globe was lifted onto the column, then a 3mm thick copper thick dish was made and fitted at the base of the globe. The globe was now secured to the column. Now to do a test run with the copper Lillie leaves, looked good so carried on and fitted the remainder - happy with them.

0n8743

"Now they had to all come off and be patinated and sealed. Next stage was to complete cancel holders that had a few stages to go through where they were silver soldered together. Strengthening washers were cut out and silver soldered to the underside of the small copper dishes, this was to allow the swaged arms to be fitted to the copper. Copper lids were made so you could just see the flame.

"Now all the arms had to be made at various lengths with both ends drilled and taped with small threads fitted into to allow the bowls to be fixed to the arms and to the column with some bespoke fixings. Under the top I put a surprise for the client - a small copper cross gold leafed so only the client knew it was there, you had to look for it to find it.

0n8741

"Eventually all the copper candle holders are fitted - have to excuse the light as pictures were taken in the dark bleak mid winter with snow outside and freezing cold inside.

"Now to fit all the lilies and a candle holder on top to take a large candle. My part is all done and now it just needs the stone base and wood base fitted."

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To find out more about Brian and his hard and soft metal skills visit www.turners-lead-collection.co.uk

Serial award winners have many talents

Ayrshire-based family run Glenbuild Roofing Contracts scooped the Roof of the Month award from the Confederation of Roofing Contractors in January of this year. This follows a similar award in June last year which on that occasion lead to the firm being entered into a further competition for Roof of the Year in which they came first runner up - pictured right.

Director John Stewart has over 40 years experience in the roofing trade and the company boasts a team of roofing specialists holding the LSTA qualifications as well as experienced plumbers, electricians, joiners, bricklayers, plasterers and roughcasters, enabling them to successfully carry out major contracts throughout Scotland and the UK.

The company has been honoured and privileged to work on various Historic Scotland sites and The Great Steward of Scotland's Dumfries House Trust projects such as Kelburn Castle in Largs and New Cumnock Town Hall.

Saving the artistry of early craftsmen

Beaten, twisted, cut or cast, ornate designs bear out the skill and artistry of early craftsmen. And surviving examples are under threat.

CAVS install new AV system 'seamlessly' at St James Church, Trowbridge

Creative Audio-Visual Solutions (CAVS) are a dedicated church audio and visual supplier working throughout the UK.

The Hertfordshire-based company were recently commissioned to install a new audio and visual system into the Parish Church of St James in Trowbridge. The brief was to ensure that that all new equipment fitted seamlessly into the environment whilst providing the latest technologies for full range worship and advanced multimedia display.

Award winning design using lime

Lancashire-based James Stone Masonry were contracted to fix the precast units to Gabbie House - a prestigious development in Hale Barn Cheshire. The balcony units were fixed to a steel frame using s/s brackets and dowels.

The company installed Jura Limestone panels on the project. The stone panels were supported on corbel plates and restrained back to the block work with brackets and dowels. The finish on the stone panels was a sand blasted finish, the cills were highly polished.

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