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In this issue...
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METAL ROOFING 6 Federation launches 2nd edition of Good Practice Guide MURDOCH AWARDS 10 Northwest Lead scoop Murdoch Award for second time in three years 15 A craftsman at work
COVER STORY: Few of the hundreds who attended the unveiling ceremony of the new RAF Bomber Command Memorial in London’s Green Park this summer, or who watched it on TV, can have been aware of the story behind the creation of the largest UK memorial for 200 years and the international effort that was required in one particular aspect of its construction – Page 4
CRE West We preview the first ever visit to Bristol by the CRE and take a look at some of the products and services offered by the event's exhibitors – Page 17
CRE WEST 16 New lighting for Great Malvern Priory 17 First ever visit to Bristol marks start of 2013 for CRE 19 Church furniture specialists provide a Finer product 21 Lighting Dynamics complete another stunning church lighting project
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PROJECTS 22 Pyeroy: Never a bridge too far 36 Energy usage slashed on relighting city hall clock tower 37 Rugby School lights up its chapel NORTH EAST HERITAGE 23 Medieval Undercroft revealed at Durham Cathedral 25 Open Treasures at Durham Cathedral CONSERVATION CASE STUDY 28 The Clive Engine House, North Wales
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CHURCH HEATING 30 How to heat a church and save the planet 31 EH guidance helps church managers warm to their task 31 Suiting your church’s heating needs 33 Spence church gets new heating system after 15 years in the cold! TRAINING 34 HLF’s new strategic framework ACCESS 35 About Access is the safe solution for historic castles and dragons’ dens LPOC 37
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Listed Property Show returns to Olympia, London
Classified Section p39
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ECOLOGY 38 God’s Acre is a haven for wildlife 38 Discover the spiritual base for being ‘green’ 38 Bats the way to do it! Richard Shepherd – Business Development Manager Tel: 07429 516265 Email: richard@dmmonline.co.uk All other enquiries: Tel: 0161 710 3880 Fax: 0161 710 3879 61 Lower Hillgate, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3AW Copyright Ecclesiastical & Heritage World. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Ecclesiastical & Heritage World. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.
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The Bomber Command Memorial
A Case Study in International Co-operation Few of the hundreds who attended the unveiling ceremony of the new RAF Bomber Command Memorial in London’s Green Park this summer, or who watched it on TV, can have been aware of the story behind the creation of the largest UK memorial for 200 years and the international effort that was required in one particular aspect of its construction. n It started in 2010, when David Martin, managing director of FTMRC member Martin UK Roofing Systems, was approached by respected architect Liam O’Connor, of Liam O’Connor Architects and Planning Consultants, to provide a full design and installation service for the memorial roof covering. After initial meetings to discuss the project and the potential roof, a natural finish sheet copper was selected for its longevity, lightness and harmony with the classical design of the memorial. The design incorporated 0.7 mm curved profile copper sheets to the central hall of the memorial together with perimeter copper clad parapet gutters and flashings, designed to discharge rainwater onto the adjoining east and west masses. These were also adorned with copper clad mono pitch roof areas and were drained by a secret internal cast iron rainwater system.
The roof design package also included the timber substrate incorporating 200mm curved timber battens bolted to the stainless steel structural framework. The battens were then clad with two layers of 9mm WBP plywood forming the perfect curved substructure for the copper cladding. It was only during the design stage of the copper roof that David Martin, together with consultant Ian Harvey, were also asked to consider installing the aluminium ceiling between the internal stainless steel lattice work on which the copper clad timber substrate was to be laid. Whilst pleased to take on what was thought to be a straightforward addition on such a prestigious project, it was only after further research that the truly symbolic nature and complexity of this work became apparent.
The structural stainless steel lattice work supporting the roof had been specifically designed by Liam O’Connor to represent the diamond shaped structural framework found in the RAF Wellington bomber. Not only that, it
The structural stainless steel lattice work supporting the roof had to interface with an aluminium ceiling which represented the aluminium cladding – complete with authentic riveting and joint detailing – found in the cladding of warplanes in the 1940’s. Not only had the detailing to be authentic, but the material used was itself to be uniquely sourced, from a World War II Halifax Bomber recovered by the Canadian Bomber Command Museum in Naton, Alberta. The Halifax Bomber LW682 was part of the
426 Thunderbird Squadron of the RCAF and had been shot down over Belgium in 1944, killing the crew of 7 Canadians and one Briton. In 1997 a team from Canada recovered the aircraft from a swamp, together with the bodies of three of the aircrew that had not been recovered before the aircraft had sunk. The unusable wreckage was melted down into aluminium ingots and shipped back to the museum in Canada, initially with the intention of being made into memorial plaques. Then, some five years ago, the museum was approached by representatives from Britain seeking to raise funds for a long overdue Bomber Command Memorial and the curators immediately offered some of the precious aluminium ingots, as an incredibly special ‘donation’ to be used in the memorial. “The very essence of that Halifax crew remained in those ingots” said one museum curator. It was at this point that a unique design to incorporate this material was developed by the architect. But that wasn’t the end of the story of international co-operation, as the next problem for Messrs Martin and Harvey was to find a smelter to convert the ingot into the 2mm
aluminium sheets required. Despite extensive enquiries in Canada, the United States, UK and Central Europe, no commercial smelter operation could take on such a small quantity and guarantee to preserve its unique identity. Almost by accident the problem eventually came to the attention of Shaun Kelly, managing director of Richard Austin Alloys of Coventry, who was meeting that evening with Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium manufacturers. As a tribute to the Norwegian aircrew that were in Bomber Command during the war, the company’s management agreed to do a special smelt and produce the required sheet, free of charge, as their donation to the project. The ingots were flown by the RCAF from Canada to Glasgow and from there shipped to the Hydro smelter in Sunndal, Norway and then onto the rolling mill at Homestrand. Having sourced the metal, attention turned to the very specific design requirements, resulting in a visit for Messrs Martin and Harvey, organised by Liam O’Connor, to the Sir Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at RAF Cosford where a Wellington Bomber was being renovated. It provided key information with regard to the diamond lattice work fuselage dimensions and the aluminium clad wings showed the riveting patterns used. With the information from Cosford, David and Ian were able to work with Littlehampton Welding to recreate the design pattern representing the internal bomber frame, which would be on show within the memorial on the underside of the roof, some 8.5m above the floor. The exposure of the roof underside
meant particular attention was necessary not only with regard to the dimensions but also the perspective, as viewed from ground level. Having agreed the design detail, the prefabrication work on the aluminium sheets could be organised – but not in Norway. The sheets were shipped back to Glasgow to the premises of specialists John Gilmore Ltd, who sheared them to size and then punched the riveting holes and anodised the surfaces, before forming the curved ‘top hat’ jointing ribs which would be used to fit the panels together in situ. The Gilmore family fully appreciated the significance of the project because of their own family losses with Bomber Command aircrew during the war and waived all charges for their work. Next stop for the aluminium fabrications was the workshop of Littlehampton Welding, where David Martin’s team used the sheets to partially clad the steelwork which had been carefully prepared to fit under the timber substrate. This off-site work saved critical time on the project which had an absolute deadline, with Her Majesty the Queen unveiling the memorial
on June 28th to a world-wide television audience. Meanwhile, back on site in London, work was progressing apace on the timber substructure to the east and west masses. A second Martin UK Roofing Systems team had completed the timber substrate on the concrete slab and the copper cladding to these areas had begun. The structural stainless steel framework, partly clad in aluminium, was transported in sections to London, assembled on site and the four elevations crane-lifted into place, enabling the parapet gutters to be constructed by the Martin UK Roofing Systems team together with the remaining areas of the curved aluminium and timber substrate. With the substrate complete, the final effort was focused on installing the remaining copper gutters, cladding and flashings to the central hall together with the cladding to the perimeter cornice. By a relative hairsbreadth, the project was completed on time and signed off on June 25th, three days before the opening. As can be seen from the accompanying photos, the finished result is breath taking and a magnificent testimony to those from Bomber Command who sacrificed their lives. “Attending the opening ceremony was a humbling experience” admitted Ian Harvey, “and to see the appreciation in the eyes of all the veterans who attended that day made all the effort and aggravation worthwhile. I doubt that any of us will ever again be part of a project like this that attracted such international support, effort and involvement and we are all extremely proud of the contribution each of us has made.” q
Federation launches 2nd edition of
Good Practice Guide O It has taken more than a year for the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors to compile the second edition of their UK Guide to Good Practice in Fully Supported Metal Roofing and Cladding, which was launched at their Summer Technical Seminar in London. Containing 96 pages of technical information, including over 100 detailed drawings, plus tables, charts and photographs, the publication of this second edition fulfils a major commitment made by the Federation to produce a single technical reference document that covered the design and installation recommendations for all hard metals used in traditional UK roofing and cladding. According to FTMRC Secretary, Ray Robertson: “The Guide addresses a long standing and, in our view, critical gap in the information provided to designers, specifiers and installers of aluminium, copper, galvanised and stainless steel and zinc. “Most significantly, the Guide to Good Practice will provide an essential training aid to those just starting out in this sector of construction, an area which is being addressed as part of the
An example of work by J. Hempstock & Co Ltd – Whitehead Clocktower, Bury, Lancashire
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quality standards commitment of the FTMRC. “Formed in 2006, the Federation has grown rapidly and has a membership core of specialist contractors who between them cover the UK, with new members joining all the time. We are supported by manufacturing and distribution Associate Members, including all the major European manufacturers of the metals used in traditional roofing and cladding whose input has been essential in drawing up the Guide. “Together we have developed and established a co-ordinated and progressive training programme, delivered in partnership with the Lead Sheet Association (LSA) at their customised roof training facility in Kent. We have worked closely with the LSA and our Manufacturing Associates, notably VM Zinc and KME, and through them have developed the LSA training staff to the point where national qualifications can be offered in hard metals as part of the Another example of J. Hempstock’s work – Elbut Lane Retirement Village
One of the projects by member company Salmon Plumbing – Worplesfield
NVQ/QCF framework. The FTMRC has co-ordinated the expansion of the LSA Roof Training Centre to embrace hard metals training, providing the necessary tools, equipment and resources to enable training towards a recognised qualification delivered at all levels. “Throughout these endeavours the FTMRC has been encouraged and supported by ConstructionSkills and the funding they have provided has enabled us to achieve many of our objectives, including the Guide to Good Practice and the creation of a UK based hard metals roofing training facility, far more quickly than would otherwise have been possible. “This commitment from ConstructionSkills has been welcomed as recognition of the progress achieved by the FTMRC as an organisation dedicated to quality standards and which has become the voice of the specialist contractor in this sector. “The FTMRC has also been working closely with the Construction
More work undertaken by member companies - from top to bottom: Coventry Cathedral and Skipsea Church North Aisle by JCT Roofing Contractors Ltd; and (bottom two images) St Pancras Church extension by Metal Roof Ltd
Skills Certification Scheme to create a CSCS card at an advanced ‘Heritage Skills’ level for traditional metal roofing. This category has now been approved by the CSCS Board and will be launched in February 2013. Applications will be processed through the FTMRC during the initial 12 months Managed Industry Accreditation (Grandfather rights) period. “Further recognition of the FTMRC commitment to quality standards is also evident in other areas, with an increasing number of metal manufacturers offering extended warranties on their products when installed by Federation members. Their confidence in FTMRC members’ standards of design and workmanship is justified by the policing of their work by way of regular inspection as part of a formal vetting programme, requiring members to provide on-site rooftop access to their work for inspectors nominated by the FTMRC Council.” Technical information and updates are also provided in-house through the FTMRC seminars, which are well supported by both members and associates. There is also an annual Directory published which is distributed free of charge to 16,000 architects and surveyors. The directory, together with the FTMRC web site at www.ftmrc.co.uk, provides technical information and articles as well as further details of all members and a gallery of photographs of their workmanship, together with the products and services provided by their Associates. q • For more information about the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors contact the Secretary at Centurion House, 36 London Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1AB; tel 01342 301627; fax 01342 303200; email info@ftmrc.co.uk. Copies of the UK Guide to Good Practice in Fully Supported Metal Roofing and Cladding are available at £45 + £5 P&P) (hardback) and £40 +£5 P&P (laminated flexible cover) from the FTMRC at the address above. • FTMRC members are specialists, committed to maintaining the skills and traditions of the craft, and a selection of members can be found in the classified section of this magazine under the FTMRC logo.
Northwest Lead scoop Murdoch Award for second time in three years n Following on from their success in winning the Murdoch Award in 2010 for their work on Dewsbury Town Hall, Northwest Lead have presented another award winning project at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Dick Murdoch himself again chaired the judging panel for the 2012 Awards and at the presentation, at the close of the LCA Conference in Cheltenham in October, he complimented the quality of entries this year for both the Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award. He acknowledged as a “sad fact of today’s world” that metal theft issues had probably affected the overall number of projects submitted for both competitions, however the standard remained high – although not entirely perfect. The judging panel had spotted minor faults in detailing with some entries and Dick used this to emphasise the importance of attending the Technical Seminars organised by the LCA. “Even the very best LCA member is only as good as their worst leadworker”, said Dick “and it is so important that the foreman and supervisors are up to the mark, which is why I think compulsory attendance at the seminars is a good thing.” He went on to highlight fixing details at the top of tapered pitched roof or cladding panels and the correct method of leadwelding as being likely subjects to be tackled by the next seminar. In confirming the finalists for the Murdoch Sponsors Award for projects using up to 5 tonnes of lead, Dick pointed out that V McKee Plumbing,
a regular entrant, had this year been joined as a finalist by a couple of heavyweights as both Richardson Roofing and John Fulton (Plumbers) had both previously won the Murdoch Award itself. However on this occasion, in the opinion of the judges, the small business had prevailed and Dick announced that the winner of the Murdoch Sponsors Award was Vince McKee for his excellent work on the extension to Cokehurst, a property in East Farleigh, Kent. Vince came forward to receive the Murdoch Sponsors Award from Rod Bexson, representing Associated Lead Mills who have sponsored the Murdoch Award since 2003 and introduced the Sponsors Award in 2006. This was the third time V McKee Plumbing had won the Murdoch
On this page: Northwest Lead’s Murdoch Award winning project – Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
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Two of the other Murdoch Award finalists were Norfolk Sheet Lead Ltd for St George’s Chapel in Yarmouth (left) and Conservation Leadwork Ltd for The Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in London (right). And (below right) Paul Hempstock receiving the Murdoch Award from Dick Murdoch on behalf of Northwest Lead Sponsors Award, following earlier success in 2006 and 2009. Before turning to the Murdoch Award itself, Dick again paid tribute to the continued support from Associated Lead Mills for the awards through their promotion and sponsorship activities. He also applauded the work of Ian Harvey who had replaced Peter Rutherford on the awards panel and quickly realised what a difficult task it was to encourage all the entries and then bring them through the qualifying stages. The three finalists for the 2012 Murdoch Award were Norfolk Sheet Lead for the St George’s Chapel, Great Yarmouth, Northwest Lead for the covering of the dome on the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Conservation Leadwork for their work at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital which included a large and small dome and circular gutters and weatherings. Dick said he was particularly pleased that Conservation Leadwork had made the final as they were relatively new LCA Members who were demonstrating a very high standard of leadwork skill. However, the unanimous vote of the judges was for the Northwest Lead project at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and project manager Paul Hempstock stepped forward to receive the 2012 Murdoch Award. LCA members were already aware of the extensive substrate preparation work and subsequent leadwork detailing involved in the project as it had been the subject of a case study at a Technical Seminar earlier in the year. Managing Director Steve Hempstock was delighted to win the Murdoch Award for a second time and immediately paid tribute to his on site team which had made such a fantastic job of the project. q
The Temple of Apollo in Stourhead, an example of work undertaken by LCA member Young’s Roofing Limited
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A craftsman at work n Producing a special project judged by your peers as good enough to win an award needs focus and careful attention to detail, as well as exceptional hands-on skills and, needless to say, a very good leadworker. To produce award winning projects three times in seven years shows the consistent high quality standards of a leadworker who is a master of his craft – and that is certainly the case when it comes to Vince McKee from Kent. The first winner of the Murdoch Sponsors Award in 2006, Vince repeated the feat in 2009 and has now once again been judged the winner of the 2012 competition, for his work on a private house extension in East Farleigh, Kent. The Sponsors Award was introduced by Associated Lead Mills who have sponsored the Murdoch Award since 2005. ALM wanted to recognise the smaller leadwork project (less than 5 tonnes) which were often overshadowed by the more eye-catching larger jobs, even though they might be just as complex in detail. That is certainly the case with the latest winning entry, a Victorian country rag stone house in the west Kent countryside whose owners wanted a rear projecting garden room in addition to the extensive renovation work being carried out. Lead was a natural choice for the roof of the garden room in complementing the aesthetics of the main building and V McKee Plumbing secured the design and construction contract, which included the timber substrate for the roof and gutters. Proper ventilation of the roof space was a key design concern, addressed by vented soffits and the use of Nicholson Ventilators with the rooflights and triangular roof vents, whilst at the same time ensuring there was adequate cross ventilation. Various thicknesses of rolled lead sheet were used on the project including Code 8 for the side gutters (as no steps could be detailed), Code 6 for the main roof slopes and two flat roof areas and Code 5 for the valleys. The lead was laid on geotextile underlay, with wood rolls used for jointing the main areas and patination oil carefully applied throughout to provide the perfect finish. The individual lead sheets were cut, prepared and fabricated at ground level and then lifted into place. The whole installation was completed without the need to lead weld any area on the roof. Graham Hudson, managing director of Associated Lead Mills was particularly delighted with the winning entry. “Although there is absolutely no restriction on whose lead is used on Murdoch and Murdoch Sponsors Award entries - provided it’s either milled or sand cast - it’s great to see that Vince actually used ALM lead on this project” he said. “Vince winning the Sponsors Award for the third time is a tribute not only to his skills as a craftsman, but also to his consistent careful attention to detail and going that extra mile, which is what the judges look for.” q
The 2012 Sponsors Award winning project in East Farleigh, Kent
• The 2013 Murdoch Sponsors Award competition is now open to entries from all LCA members for projects using up to a maximum of 5 tonnes of lead sheet to BSEN12588 or traditional sand cast material. Contact the LCA secretariat for further details.
Vince McKee receiving the 2012 Sponsors Award from Rod Bexson of ALM
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New lighting for Great Malvern Priory Designed and installed by Anthony J Smith(Glos)Ltd n Great Malvern Priory was, until the middle ages, a Benedictine priory. The Benedictine way of life focuses on worship and service to the community and these traditions continued when the medieval building became a parish church. In addition to being the principal place of worship in Malvern, the priory is a venue for a wide range of artistic and cultural activities including exhibitions, concerts and lectures. Great Malvern Priory is Grade 1 listed and the lighting design needed to suit a variety of architectural styles. The church retains the original Norman arcade in the nave with plain walls, round pillars and circular arches, while the chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century in an ornate Perpendicular style. A programme of improvements to the building is in progress and a Lighting Project Group was formed to guide the improvement of the lighting on behalf of the Parochial Church Council. The project group invited proposals from three church lighting design and installation specialists. The proposal by Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd was the most comprehensive and was the closest to providing for all the current uses of the building. The Lighting Project Group then worked with Neil Blake of Anthony J Smith to refine the proposals, taking into account the advice of the Diocesan Advisory Committee and English Heritage. A clear understanding of the requirements for the new lighting installation was developed and observations of other installations were made. The company’s wide experience of church lighting has enabled a design to be produced that is functional, economical to both run and maintain whilst remaining sympathetic to the building. The scope of the project has been extended to include the renewal of the electrical power circuits together with the incoming electrical mains equipment and a contract for £156,000 is now in progress. Fund raising has been organised by a small team and has been supported by a generous legacy and three grants. The priory community has responded magnificently and the target sum has almost been reached. Chairman of the Lighting Project Group, Michael Angling said: “The new lighting scheme is a substantial improvement over the 1962 installation that is being replaced. The guidance provided by Neil Blake has resulted in a lighting design that combines bespoke and off-the-shelf luminaires together with a sophisticated control system. “The new lighting will both improve the experience of the many users of the priory and enable the full splendour of the building to be appreciated by our growing number of visitors. Although the installation is not yet complete worshippers and visitors are already pointing out details of the building that
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have until now, been hidden in the gloom.” The installation work is continuing with Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd’s electricians working around the many activities that continue to take place in Malvern Priory. q • Further information is available through email: enquiries@anthonyjsmith. co.uk or visit the website: www.anthonyjsmith.co.uk.
A children’s production from Oddments Theatre Company
First ever visit to Bristol marks start of 2013 for CRE
O The Christian Resources Exhibition continues its progress into the New Year with a first-ever visit to Bristol. The major national exhibition of everything for a church organisation – often referred as the ‘Ideal Church Show’ – will be at the exhibition centre of the University of West England from 23-24 January. The show will be packing into its two days the usual wealth of events and showcases for church leaders, organisers, communicators and mission leaders. On show will be furniture, books, music and instruments, software, hardware, plate and even puppets.
Vicar and author to perform opening The exhibition will be opened by Rev Paul Langham, vicar of Christ Church in the city’s Clifton area. In fact, the Clifton suspension bridge – perhaps the city’s best-known landmark – symbolises Paul's heartfelt passion to bring Jesus to those yet to encounter him. He is the author of WHO?, a vivid re-telling of the New Testament from CRE’s organisers The Bible Society, written to help those who struggle with scripture – and those who haven’t yet tried to tackle it. “I see my book as a bridge into the Bible,” says Paul. “I have tried to think how the New Testament authors would think if they were alive today.” With lively dialogue that lifts off the page, the first three Gospels run together in a free paraphrase style making WHO? an easy read. Before coming to Christ Church in September 2010, Paul was vicar of three parishes on the outskirts of Bath, and before that a University Chaplain. He will be speaking on 23 Jan at 1pm.
Fashion, theatre and comedy One of the highlights of the show is always the ‘Clerics on the Catwalk’ fashion parade, at which local clergy become not-so-
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reverend to strut their stuff in the latest ecclesiastical clothing. The show in Manchester attracted the local BBC station, which ran a feature in its North West Tonight programme. Clergy on the Catwalk takes place at the Toybox Café (after the charity that helps street children) as one of the Spotlight events. “Entertaining and informative is the best way to describe Spotlight,” say the show’s organisers. “Spotlight presents the very best of the exhibition including interviews, demonstrations and a few surprises.” One of those surprises may come from Oddments Theatre, a full-time Christian theatre company from nearby Yeovil. Members of the company will perform material from their ‘All Age Services’ programme and a sample of one of their children's productions, suitable for schools and outreach events. While the group is based in the South West, it has built a national reputation for top quality story-telling theatre. The group regularly performs at major Christian festivals. Spotlight will be compered by Christian comedian and presenter Joe Fisher. The Spotlight Stage will feature interviews and performances from a variety of special guests as well as some of the speakers and worship leaders who make a day at CRE such a blessing. Besides being sought after for his comic creations, some of whom will be making an appearance at the exhibition, Joe has compered events such as the opening weekend of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and the inaugural Jenson Button triathlon.
Food for thought – and prayer There is more to it than stands and the displaying of wares, however. “CRE is more than just an exhibition,”say the organisers “it’s an event with seminars and workshops led by gifted communicators in their field of expertise, with presentations ranging from how to lead worship to young people and the Bible.” In fact, there will be over 30 seminars and workshops on how to
Church furniture specialists provide a Finer product n Fullers Finer Furniture is based in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset and was established in 1985. From humble beginnings they now design and manufacture church furniture on a national basis. Although they offer furniture both commercially and for the home, it is church furniture that they specialise in. From bespoke items to the award winning gas height adjustable Canterbury Lectern, right through to restoration work and complete reordering of church furniture, Fullers provide a high quality comprehensive service with distinctive attention to detail. The award winning Canterbury Lectern and its big brother The
York Lectern are gas height adjustable to suit the needs of any congregation. With its stylish design it comes in a number of finishes including oak, ash, beech, mahogany and maple. Fitted with microphone sockets and the option of an LCD video monitor these fine portable lecterns will fit perfectly into any type of church building. They are also able to design and make to order communion tables, fonts, A/V cabinets, table top lecterns, choir frontals, communion rails, flower stands and much more. q • Visit Fullers Finer Furniture at CRE Bristol, stand No. C2.
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meet the needs of the church for old and young. “Seminars and workshops have become an invaluable part of the CRE experience and our aim is to both resource and equip the church through relevant and inspiring talks,” they say. “Whether you are a worship or youth leader, webmaster or treasurer, there is a seminar or workshop to help make your ministry even more effective.” Indeed, the event lives up to its name in every sense with the CRE book and resource centre. Stocked with everything from Bibles, books and Christian music to a wide range of learning resources to help and equip ministers, group leaders and children and youth workers. There are, of course, opportunities for worship throughout the two days, including half-day workshops on ‘Messy Church’. Messy Church is for families who might want to meet Jesus, belong to their local church and bring up their children as Christians, but can't cope with traditional Sunday morning church services. The CRE workshops will allow people to share ideas, experiences and stories about Messy Church and will be led by its founder Lucy Moore and other leaders. Visitors are invited to go along and discover what other Messy Church leaders are finding useful, with discussion, story sharing, consultation, large and small group activities and hands-on ideas to try out. More traditional prayer can be encountered in the prayer area where quiet moments can be taken or Exhibition Pastors will lead formal prayer. The pastors will also be walking around the exhibition to offer support and to pray for those attending CRE. Finally, visitors are being asked to take along more than just their ticket: Book Aid’s vans will be parked at the site to accept donated Bibles and other Christian books for distribution to ‘book famine areas’. The vans took in more than 10 tonnes of books last year. CRE is a series of exhibitions held at different venues in different regions, with an annual national event at Sandown. Next year will see an unprecedented four CREs, with the Bristol event being followed by shows in Sandown, Birmingham and Edinburgh. q
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Joe Fisher, compere at the exhibition
Lighting Dynamics complete another stunning church lighting project n Lighting Dynamics UK, based in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, has recently designed and completed the installation of yet another stunning lighting project for the magnificent and sumptuous interior of St Augustine of Hippo Church in Edgbaston, Birmingham. St Augustines, a Grade II* building, has been a splendid Victorian landmark at the centre of the Conservation Area that bears its name since the church was first consecrated in 1868. Gerry Browne of Lighting Dynamics said the interior lighting upgrade at St Augustine’s provided a real challenge, especially in terms of the correct type and levels of illumination for the church’s magnificent architectural and ecclesiastical features. Working closely with key members of the PCC, the DAC, the church architect, English Heritage and Birmingham Victorian Society, Gerry worked through all of the details and a final lighting design solution evolved. This included a variety of all modern, long life and energy saving light sources including LEDs, ceramic metal halide and low voltage tungsten, all of which are linked to a unique and bespoke dimming / lighting controls system. These light sources are linked to a quality range of appropriate architectural light fittings all with the correct optics and the ability to take a complete range of lighting accessories, such as anti glare louvres, spread lenses, etc. The client and all of the project team are delighted with the final result and a grand opening ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham has already taken place. Lighting Dynamics continue to offer a totally independent, creative, unbiased lighting design and consultancy service and, where required, the supply of all associated / specified lighting equipment. If required, the company can also provide a complete electrical installation service via a dedicated team of NIC EIC registered electricians. They have a number of very prestigious church lighting projects currently in progress with a further significant number at advanced stages of planning and design. Gerry Browne believes that this is a very exciting time in the further development of church lighting, especially with such a great and diverse range of modern light sources now coming on stream. He has found that customers are increasingly looking for someone with
the flair and experience to provide a quality lighting design, whilst also specifying top grade lighting equipment and controls that will provide longevity and reliability for their project. q • If you are visiting this years CRE show at Bristol between 23 and 24 January 2013, then why not visit them on Stand No B9.
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Pyeroy: Never a bridge too far n Providing access scaffolding to support the repair and refurbishment of the 15th Century Rothbury Bridge in Northumberland required not only a delicate touch but the specialist expertise, skills and project management capability that only a company like Pyeroy, with its track record on other similar projects, can provide. Pyeroy, which has eight operating centres located around the UK and Ireland, has extensive experience in undertaking bridge projects as well as an industry wide reputation for quality of work, safety standards and professionalism. Scaffolding systems for structures like Rothbury Bridge require skilled and adept engineers to deliver projects, no matter how complex, on time and to budget. The use of turnkey management solutions is recommended best practice as it provides clients with clear benefits in project planning, control and cost effectiveness, while quality and contract monitoring systems ensure projects are completed on time. It’s also important to consider a contractor’s experience of working at height over water. This can have a major bearing on how well a project is completed and, if not properly addressed, can have implications in terms of project overruns and health and safety issues. Pyeroy’s history of working on other bridge projects includes The 15th Century Rothbury Bridge in Northumberland the most famous re-painting job
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The company also gave one of London’s most iconic structures – Tower Bridge – a fresh coat of paint
of all time, the Forth Rail Bridge, which was completed in 2011 after more than 10 years of work and involving contractors repainting more than 30,000 metres of structural steelwork. The company also gave one of London’s most iconic structures – Tower Bridge – a fresh coat of paint to make sure it was pristine as London prepared to welcome the world for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Other bridges the company has been involved with include the High Level Bridge, which spans the River Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead, and the refurbishment of London’s 120 year old Blackfriars Railway Bridge – all projects demonstrating how developing effective refurbishment and maintenance programmes with a partner like Pyeroy can only be an advantage in protecting major assets. q • For more on Pyeroy visit www.pyeroy.co.uk.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Chris Cotton, lead architect of Purcell at the opening of the new Durham Cathedral shop. Image courtesy of David Burdus
Medieval Undercroft revealed at
Durham Cathedral
n Durham Cathedral has opened a stunning new shop in the Undercroft of the western range of its Cloister. For the first time in over 100 years all thirteen bays of arches in the Undercroft are visible. Celebrated paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson performed the honours. The relocation of the shop brings visitor amenities together in one location. It is directly opposite the popular Undercroft Restaurant, with both the restaurant and the shop accessed from an enlarged foyer. The steps into the Undercroft have been remodelled with the addition of a new platform lift making it easier for visitors. Ahead of cutting the ribbon Baroness Thompson said, “Making historic buildings such as Durham Cathedral accessible, in particular providing access for visitors with different needs to the shop, restaurant and toilets is important. I have experience as a mum, with my own family, of not being able to easily access such important areas on visits to historic buildings. It is obvious that a huge amount of thought has gone into this development and it is an open, welcoming and absolutely stunning space.” A visit to the new shop is an experience in itself. It offers a range of merchandise that reflects what is most important about the Cathedral, including good quality, original and exciting products, many unique to the Cathedral, providing visitors with a lasting memory of their visit. Much of the merchandise is locally sourced and developed. The shop continues to provide an excellent theological and spiritual book resource for clergy, students, lay people, pilgrims and visitors. The new shop and Undercroft Foyer were designed by Purcell with Chris Cotton as lead architect and Simpsons of York as the contractor. The
The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, Dean of Durham, with Baroness Grey-Thompson. Image courtesy of David Burdus Cathedral’s own yard staff, comprising specialists who carry out ongoing conservation and maintenance work around the Cathedral, did enabling work ahead of Simpsons coming on site, and have created components of the shop fittings. The project is part of Open Treasure, the Cathedral’s development project that aims to transform the way visitors can enjoy the Cathedral and gain inspiration from it. The next phase of Open Treasure includes the creation of world class exhibition spaces in other areas off the Cathedral’s Cloister, including the monastic Great Kitchen, and has received a first stage pass for £3.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. q
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Open Treasures at
Durham Cathedral
n Durham Cathedral has been a site of pilgrimage for centuries and today’s visitors are, in a way, little different from those who have come before. Each visit is unique – perhaps the end of a journey for some or the beginning of a journey for others – a thirst quenched, a peace found, a thought contemplated, a belief born, a direction discovered, a meaning uncovered, a prayer answered, a lessoned learned. Each visitor is touched by the experience they have and the memories they leave with. Specialist exhibition design company Studio MB are delighted to be helping the team at Durham Cathedral realise their aims and ambitions for their Open Treasures project. Durham Cathedral is already a truly special place and deserving of its status as one of the world’s finest heritage sites – and with the considerable investment taking place over the next couple of years, this site will enhance its status as a ‘must see’ destination and place of welcome, worthy of its historical, spiritual, educational and cultural importance. The project will transform facilities for visitors and re-imagine the way the Cathedral’s story is told by opening up and revealing, in a more meaningful and coherent way, the Cathedral’s claustral buildings – allowing their former use, as well as their role in the Cathedral’s life today as living working spaces, to be more clearly understood and enjoyed. Interpretation will be at the fore with the creation of two new exhibition spaces within the Monks’ Dormitory and the Great Kitchen. These amazing and historically significant spaces will provide a stunning backdrop for the display of more of the Cathedral’s internationally significant collections, including St. Cuthbert’s cross and coffin, three copies of the Magna Carta and a first edition of the King James Bible. Studio MB’s designs for Open Treasures will harness the powerful ‘sense of place’ that the Cathedral environments provide and capture visitors’ imaginations so that they fully immerse themselves in the narratives presented. Charlie Barr, Director of Studio MB said: “We want the visitor to connect with the key events and dramatic stories as they unfold before them so that they gain a deeper understanding of the Cathedral’s past and present, and the lives of the people who have come here and lived within these walls.”
Studio MB work with museums and heritage destinations the length of the UK. However, a visit to a cathedral is a quite different heritage experience than a visit to a historic castle or stately home. The team at Studio MB are enjoying the challenge that this presents. In addition to Open Treasures at Durham Cathedral their current projects include the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition on Palace Green for the University of Durham; Illuminating Stories for the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas in Newcastle; and the Quest for Longitude, an exhibition for the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich. Their past projects include the Roman Vindolanda Fort and Museum, home to The Vindolanda Tablets - ‘Britain’s Top Treasure’ as voted for by the British Museum; and Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill at the Tower of London for Historic Royal Palaces and Royal Armouries. Michael Day, Chief Executive, Historic Royal Palaces said: “It is very rare indeed that the final built exhibition outshines the often over shiny visuals that design companies produce as part of their tender presentation. In the case of the Henry VIII exhibition our expectations were not only met, but surpassed.” Founded in 2004, Studio MB has grown year on year in reputation and strength which has allowed them to build a core of exhibition and graphic design professionals and establish a flexible talent resource that can meet the unique challenges presented by each project undertaken. Their multi disciplinary team’s experience, expertise and sheer enthusiasm for the interpretation of peoples and places in history is certainly amongst the very best in the UK. Studio MB provide a complete range of exhibition design services that cover every stage of the project process – from funding, feasibility and master planning, through concept creation, scheme and detail design, to procurement, off site fabrication and on site installation including interpretative planning, content development, exhibition design, graphic design, lighting and AV design, plus all production and project management. The design team never rest on the many laurels won, but have the hunger and ambition to constantly improve, ready to make their next project even better than the last. q • www.studiomb.co.uk.
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CONSERVATION CASE STUDY
The Clive Engine House, North Wales O The Clive Engine House is one of the few remaining such buildings in Wales. It was built to Cornish standards in 1862 but stands on ground that is thought to have been mined since Roman times. The Talargoch Mine produced copper, silver and calamine, but was best known for the extraction of lead ore. In the late 1800’s, Talargoch was one of the most productive mines for miles around as the advent of the coal-fired steam engine facilitated larger mines following longer veins and deper shafts to be sunk. One of these larger shafts was the Clive Shaft, sunk in 1845 to a depth of over 600ft and employing the labour of 350 men. The removal of water from the mines was originally the work of horses yoked to a circular whim, but mechanisation brought with it the Cornish beam engine and to house this industrial beast, the Cornish engine house was born. The Clive Engine House contained a hugely powerful 100-inch diameter cylinder engine powered by seven boilers pushing a pivoting beam which weighed some 85 tonnes, drawing tens of millions of pounds of water out of the shaft. Unfortunately for this engine house, it only saw twenty two years of service as the Talargoch Mine closed for good in 1884. The building was stripped out and the machinery sold off to other mines. Unusually, the roof was left on, but the building was otherwise left to the elements, quickly falling into a largely dilapidated state. However, the building was robustly built to take the huge forces of very powerful machinery, meaning it wasn’t going to give in to time too easily! The design of an engine house was fairly universal since they were built to accommodate a fairly standard machine. Their prevalence across the country and the rest of the world was such that nobody thought much of them until relatively few were left. Today, the Clive Engine House is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II listed and is considered to be a rare example of its type. The fate of the building had been the subject of much local concern for many years, particularly given that the engine house is the only remaining building still standing of the large complex originally on the site. In 2010 funding was identified by Cadw and Denbighshire County Council who applied for a £100,000 grant from the WREN Heritage Restoration Fund. WREN is a not for profit company that awards grants to community,
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conservation and heritage projects within a ten-mile radius of landfill sites, from funds donated by Waste Recycling Group (WRG) to the Landfill Communities Fund. Cadw and Denbighshire CC also put forward a percentage of the funding for the project. Conservation architects Donald Insall Associates were appointed to draw up plans for the project, to develop the philosophical The Cornish pumping engine, as would have approach based on the been installed at the Clive Engine House significance of the building as a whole, and to consider the approach to the subsequent repair and conservation of each element of the fabric to achieve the wider conservation objectives. In January 2012, specialist historic building contractor Recclesia Ltd moved onto site and began to sort carefully through the years of detritus, vegetation, collapsed masonry and disintegrated historic building fabric. The entire building was tangled thick with ivy, self-seeded trees at low and high level, all wrapped around the remains of the roof and fallen masonry. The work was carried out under an EPS (European Protected Species) License granted by the Welsh Assembly Government as bats were known to have been roosting on site and all of the uncovering work was carried out under ecological watch. It took several weeks just to reveal the remains of the original building and sort through the salvageable fabric. One of the most difficult areas of the building to reveal was the top of the bob wall, the huge mounting wall that took the weight and the force of the pivoting beam over the shaft beneath. The bob wall top was excavated under archaeological watch and, underneath a century of growth, the original timbers and mounting brackets for the beam were discovered. The metalwork was largely intact and was
CONSERVATION CASE STUDY quickly protected, but the timber mounting beams were rotten beyond saving and after a lot of discussion and consideration, the decision was made to remove them. However, rather than simply leave a gap, new oak beams were added onto the sides of the bob wall to help ensure that the visual impression of the original layout was not lost. The mounting metalwork was conserved and treated, and the wall head coated with an hydraulic lime weathering coat to help the bob wall to cope with the weather in its exposed location. Above the bob wall the roof had failed entirely, timbers were very badly rotten, about two thirds of the slates were missing and the oak wall plates and masonry wall heads had failed entirely and disintegrated. All of the roof timbers were examined and tested and marked up for replacement or repair. Rather than replacing whole sections, new sections were spliced into the old in the same timber types, using a combination of joinery techniques and steel plates. The biggest exception to this was the bottom chord of the bob wall truss, which was some 30 feet long and 18 inches square in section and was hollow from end to end and required complete replacement. This massive timber was difficult to source and had to be installed by crane – at the same time as supporting the retained truss above whilst the new section was carefully manoeuvred into position ready to be spliced into the existing. The roof itself was re-slated using a combination of the original salvaged slates and reclaimed slates to match. The underside was torched using a lime putty mix designed to withstand both the heat and movement of the slates. The Clive Engine House is one of a very few engine houses to have been plastered out internally, and a significant proportion of the plaster had survived on the walls. Further, the layout of the remaining plasterwork showed the location of original staircases, mountings and location points of the machinery on the inside. In order to preserve the legibility, painstaking work was carried out to conserve as much of the lime plasterwork as possible by micro-pinning, grouting and weather-shedding the remaining perimeter of each area, followed by protective coats of limewash. The retention and conservation of this original fabric was one of the most successful and one of the most striking parts of the project on completion, allowing visitors to understand the original internal layout. It is expected that visitor numbers will be quite high as the project generated a huge amount of public interest. There was a daily stream of visitors to the site, all wanting to see the work going on and all wishing the project well. The building is such a prominent landmark and close to the main road, meaning that it is both very well known and that thousands of local people have watched it decay for their entire lives. Such was the level of interest that an open day was held to allow local people the chance to see the work underway. Some 120 people came through on three tours, but so many more wanted to come that a second open day had to be held a fortnight later. The days were hosted by County Archaeologist Fiona Gale who gave a fascinating talk about the history of the site and Jamie Moore from Recclesia, who gave a talk about the work in progress, the conservation approach and some of the specialist techniques being employed. The completed building is very much a case study in how to conserve a building ‘as found’. The objective was not to restore the building to a specific point in its history, a bottomless can of worms for any conservator of historic buildings, but to save everything that was left and to conserve each element in the best possible way to secure its survival into the future. There were nevertheless plenty of conservation scruples to deliberate over, such as how best to secure the building without impinging upon the original fabric too heavily and how to allow visitors into an un-manned site without obscuring the appearance or intruding upon the original form of the entrances. In many ways, the success of the scheme executed here can be measured by the extent to which it looks like nothing has changed. The building is now very obviously in good repair, but this was much more an exercise in gently erasing a century of decay and of attending to the tiniest of details as well as the larger issues. The end result is a building which appears to have been recently vacated by the mining company that left in 1884. q
The roof as it was found and the extent of rotten timbers (left), and the new and old timbers coming together
The excavation of the bob wall underway (from above)
Before (left), and looking up over the bob wall to the new roof
The new bottom chord sliding into position under the original truss
The reinstated roof (left), and the engine house on completion Unit 3, St. Ives Way, Sandycroft, Chester CH5 2QS Tel: +44 (0)1244 906 002 Fax: +44 (0)1244 906 003 Email: admin@recclesia.com w w w. r e c c l e s i a . c o m
Acknowledgements Talargoch Mine by J.A. Thorburn (British Mining publication No.31, 1986) Metal Mines of North Wales, CJ Williams, (Bridge, 1997)
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How to heat a church and save the planet How Green Is My Church? by Christopher Dunphy The Green Apostle Ltd; ISBN 978-0-9560300-0-9 O “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not the shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you did not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.” (Ezekiel 34:2-4) That damning indictment of the way people can treat what is put into their care was quoted in a book on environmentalism in the church by long-established ecclesiastical heating specialist Christopher Dunphy. The consequences, according to the prophet Ezekiel, were devastating for the tribes of Israel. Our modern-day tribes may be heading for the same fate if we don’t take greater care of the natural resources we have hitherto frittered away. That is the theme of How Green is Your Church? – a handbook for carrying out an environmental audit of a church building, as well as an explanation of global warming. It goes on to suggest ways in which churches can encourage their members to act as pioneers in environmentally friendly behaviour. It is a kind of localised version of the CofE’s Shrinking the Footprint campaign. And of course, as
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Chris points out, he has the highest authority for advocating such action. Christopher Dunphy has been installing heating systems in churches for over 30 years, having been attracted to ecclesiastical buildings by masses at St John’s in Rochdale – a wonderful piece of Victorian neo-Byzantine architecture which used to form the backdrop for window-gazing from the offices of Ecclesiastical and Heritage World. In the wider community Chris is best known as chairman of Rochdale Football Club. He presided over the club’s promotion for the first time in over 40 years, so could be hailed as a bit of a miracle worker himself. His portable heaters were to be seen in the depths of last winter gently defrosting the icy pitch at Spotland. R
EH guidance helps church managers warm to their task n The issue of replacement heating becomes really complex when the church is an ancient building – particularly if it is listed. English Heritage has renewed its advice and guidelines on the issue in its 2012 document, New Work in Historic Places of Worship. The start point of the advice is that the building must be capable of being used regularly – otherwise it has no point. There are, however, issues of conservation to take into account. The guidance states: “Effective heating is essential for the continued use of historic buildings, but the wrong sort of heating can have damaging effects on building fabric. Historic fabric benefits from a stable environment, which can be assisted by providing a low, constant temperature to help to dispel damp and reduce condensation. “That temperature is likely to be 8-10oC, which is still clearly not warm enough to be comfortable for use, so it would need to be raised for services etc. “In our view heating an historic place of worship to typical home or office temperatures is not advisable because of the strain it puts on historic fabric. Heating the building only in occasional rapid bursts is undesirable because it will create fluctuations of temperature, which will do
nothing to control damp, might exacerbate condensation and might subject the fabric – especially the roof timbers – to stress resulting from movement. We recognise, however, that some places of worship are and will remain in only occasional use and the heating regime will need to reflect this pattern and level of use.” Furthermore, the guidance states, installing a new system may involve alteration to the building, “…ranging from excavation or the penetration of walling to accommodate pipes to the displacement of pews to allow space for radiators.” Older buildings also require different levels of ventilation than more modern structures. The document goes on to consider the various types of heating system that can be used in church buildings, concluding that a combination of methods may be preferable. Ideally, any new system should incorporate existing elements. “Many places of worship retain 19th or early 20th-century underfloor ducts or radiators and these should be re-used whenever possible. In places of worship that have never had such a system, the installation of a new hot water system may entail some difficulties in respect of its effect on the historic fabric or character of the building. In view of the advantages of this
form of heating it should nevertheless be considered before others.” Extra heating can be provided by electric pew heaters, however, the guidance warns against their use where the seating has any historic or aesthetic interest. q • New Work in Historic Places of Worship can be downloaded from the English Heritage website at www.english-heritage.org.uk/ publications/new-work-in-historic-places-ofworship/places-of-worship-2012.pdf.
Suiting your church’s heating needs n Manchester based church heating specialists HeatinGlobal Ltd can assist in designing, planning and installing a heating system that suits your church’s heating projects, with heating systems available in natural gas, oil and LPG.
They are a friendly and local business offering quality church heating and plumbing installation and services throughout the UK, with the highest attention to detail at all times. The company does not manufacture or market any form of heating systems, however
they will advise you on a suitable heating system for your church. q • For a free quotation on the design of your church heating projects call 0161 211 6955 or visit www.heatinglobal-ltd.co.uk.
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Spence church gets new heating system after 15 years in the cold! n In the mid-1990s, the original under floor heating system at St Aidan’s on the New Parks estate in Leicester, broke down. Nothing surprising in that as it had been in use since the church was built in 1959. The system, like the church itself, was designed by celebrated architect Sir Basil Spence and was a pioneer in the modernist style, with its skeletal tower sited as a separate structure and a light and airy space inside. The heating system had been the latest technology at the time, but nothing lasts forever. The vicar of the Anglo-Catholic church at the time was Fr Kit Dunkley SSC. He acted quickly to ensure that there was heat in the building for the following Sunday's mass by installing a number of wall heaters as a temporary measure. That ‘temporary’ solution was still in place in 2009 when the church celebrated its 50th anniversary! The dynamic Fr Kit had moved to another parish and nothing was done for more than a decade. Finding a solution became the church’s first priority for 2010 once the birthday celebrations had ended. It was, as the chronicler of the saga on St Aidan’s website put it, “… inconceivable that the church could remain so cold!” Following extensive discussion by the PCC involving a number of possible solutions, a contract for a warm air system was awarded to Vulcana Gas Appliances of Haywards Heath in West Sussex. The story continues: “Saint Aidan’s now has seven large heaters that can bring the temperature of the church up to a much more tolerable 20oC in about half an hour.” The system installed by Vulcana is made up of fan-assisted powered flue convector heaters from its Temcana Kestrel range. The gas-fired Kestrel 400S models are ‘room-sealed’, which means the oxygen needed for combustion is taken from outside the building and does not in turn need heating by the system. That efficiency is added to by the fan assistance. The heaters also continuously self-monitor for added safety. Vulcana Gas Appliances Ltd began life in 1966 as Temco Ltd, adopting its current name (after Vulcan, Roman god of fire) in 1972. The company manufactures its own appliances at its modern factory in West Sussex, as well as working in partnership with other companies throughout Europe to market innovative products. q
n St Aidan’s was built to serve the new congregation of worshippers on the New Parks estate, the first new housing to be built in Leicester after World War Two. It took as its patron the Celtic Saint who had founded the monastery at Lindisfarne. It remains in the catholic tradition of the Church of England and is one of a number of churches to have reversed the decline in church-going, its congregation having more than trebled since 2006. The church was designed by Sir Basil Spence, who became world-famous for his design of the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral following its destruction during the Blitz. He said of his life’s work: “I felt certain that architecture could rise to greatness if its goal was Faith.” q
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HLF’s new strategic framework Glenn Young, director of Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd, reviews the HLF’s five-year plan
This is a really new initiative which has been developed to offer matched funding of up to £100,000 for building endowments in the heritage sector and/or building capacity in the arts sector. It reflects the serious reduction in funding for crucial organisations that have traditionally relied on support from government funding, or other private supporters who have suffered via the recession. As the negative effect bites, HLF hope to bridge the gaps to allow important programmes to continue.
Our Heritage (supporting heritage in private ownership) We know that a significant amount of the nation’s heritage lies in private or commercial ownership. According to the HLF website, supporting heritage in private ownership is something which the HLF can consider, with provisos: • The project must have significant heritage value and public interest. • Benefits to the public must exceed any private gain Under the Our Heritage programme applications can be between £3,000 and £100,000.
Our Heritage (single round applications)
New funding for Skills for the Future
O In July the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) launched its new strategic framework, covering 2013-2018. It followed substantial public consultation and has resulted in a number of significant changes, along with some consolidation of previously successful programmes. Details of all the new programmes and support materials can be found at www.hlf.org.uk/Pages/ Home.aspx. Some of the more significant changes are:
The Catalyst programme
In simple terms, this programme offers applications for our Heritage funding via a simplified one-stage application. According to the HLF website “Our Heritage is a rolling programme and there are no deadlines for applications. You will receive a decision on your application within 10 weeks from us receiving your fully filled-in application.” It seems to be in direct response to the public consultation, where 25% of participants found the application process for smaller sums onerous. The programme offers project funding between £3,000 and £100,000.
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I am sure many are aware of the Skills for the Future programme launched by the HLF in 2009. Some £26.8m has been allocated so far, with an excellent rate of success being recorded for the programme. To build on that success the HLF has allocated another £15m to continue the project from 2013. This may interest those who deliver training in the sector or who would like to support training in the sector. The deadline for initial pre-applications is 31 January, so those wishing to bid for funds need to get something in quickly. R
About Access is the safe
solution for historic castles and dragons’ dens n About Access is drawing on its increasing experience of historic buildings to warn owners and occupiers of their responsibilities in terms of the law and good business sense. The company deals with historic properties with a wide range of uses – and the individual needs of a variety of people. Managing Director Ian Streets said: “Our case studies for historic buildings include many examples of tourist attractions and churches but they also extend to such public buildings as local authority offices, public libraries and community halls as well as academic institutions. “And of course the many corporate concerns who choose listed buildings for their dragons’ dens are under the same obligation to look after the people who use their property.” Based in Yorkshire and operating nationwide, About Access is a member of the National Register of Access Consultants and the Access Association and works with BSI Standards, the UK’s national standards body, to guide on appropriate designs for buildings and their surrounding areas. The company is recognised as a leader in advising on how to make sure buildings comply with access requirements under the Equality Act. But Ian also emphasises that a business which anticipates and removes barriers to access will be more successful than one which overlooks potential problems. One particular project – auditing the access facilities of almost an entire university campus – involved inspecting buildings with an age difference of around 100 years. “In common with many academic establishments this particular site comprises buildings dating from when the campus first opened right up to the modern day,” said Ian, who founded About Access in 2006. “My audit covered about 90 per cent of the premises and paid particular attention to some of the older buildings which have been upgraded over the years – many of them on more than one occasion.” The project reflected the wider workload of About Access, whose contracts during the last years have included work for such corporate clients as Virgin Holidays and Virgin Atlantic and for English Heritage. “Our work is about making sure the buildings are safe and accessible for the people who work there and for the people who visit, whether they are business visitors, colleagues from another site, members of the public, whatever,” said Ian. “You can never be sure of the level of physical ability or disability of the people who will arrive at your door, so you have to cover all eventualities. Apart from the legal duty, if a person is unable to visit your premises safely and comfortably that could cost you a customer.” q • For further information on how About Access can help you and your properties please contact Ian Streets, Managing Director, telephone: 01482 651101, email: ian@aboutaccess.co.uk or visit website: www.aboutaccess.co.uk.
Two of the many historic properties which have been assessed by About Access: Pendennis Castle in Falmouth and the Guild Church of St Martin within Ludgate in London
Tel: 01482 651101 Fax: 01482 653413 Email: info@aboutaccess.co.uk
63 Wilson Street, Anlaby, Hull, East Yorkshire HU10 7AJ
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Energy usage slashed on relighting city hall clock tower n As part of essential maintenance and re-wiring of Bradford Council’s City Hall, Lancashire based lighting solutions specialist LITE Ltd were contracted to replace an out-of-date mixture of fluorescent, sodium, mercury and metal halide lamps, illuminating the City Hall’s iconic 220 ft tall clock tower, with energy saving, emission reducing LED lighting. Using LITE’s LED lighting scheme has reduced the electrical load on the clock tower from 12.8 kW to 2.4 kW. Added to this saving, the annual sunset to midnight lighting consumption has been reduced from 24,428 kWh to 3,931kWh. While increasing lamp life by a factor of 10, the LEDs have reduced annual CO2 emissions from 12,815 kg to 2,062 kg. As well as saving Bradford Council over 45 per cent in the energy costs for lighting the clock tower, LITE’s colourful LED illumination of the city’s iconic landmark has enabled the Italianate, Palazzo Vecchio inspired clock tower, which dominates the centre of Bradford, to be visible and appreciated from all parts of the city. Relighting the clock tower, part of the council’s City Park scheme, has enabled the previous, 15-year old, outdated, basic on/off, single-colour flood lighting to be replaced with an energy-saving LED system, which provides an easily maintained, flexible, colourful, fully controllable lighting scheme. Programmable to provide extra functionality, including dramatic colour changes and lighting effects, LITE’s LED lighting scheme is designed to complement City Park and support special events. It can be used to add an extra dimension to the tunes played by the programmable 13 bells in the tower, supporting special events and celebrations, while the clarity and intensity of the LED lighting provides the perfect white light to enhance the clock tower’s intricately carved stonework. Relighting the clock tower has significantly reduced the council’s costs for cleaning, maintenance and frequent lamp changes, as the previous positioning of the roof-mounted flood lights required specialist mechanical equipment and qualified engineers for any lamp change or other maintenance work. With a lamp life of only 6-8,000 hours, maintenance of the old installation was relatively frequent. The new combination of repositioning the LED lighting units, to easily accessed areas, combined with a lamp life of 80,000 hours, has totally eliminated this maintenance cost apart from an occasional, nonspecialist cleaning of the tempered glass lens. LITE’s all LED solution uses high level Philips Color Kinetics ColorBlasts to provide a combination of rich, saturated, wall washing colour and colour changing effects for the clock face backlighting. These are linked to the long throw, low level, ColorReach floodlights to provide a split diffuser light combination, ideal to highlight the four external faces. The whole LED RGB colour change lighting is co-ordinated by a DMX Pharos lighting controller, within the clock tower. Proof that the Philips Color Kinetics RGB LED equipment was the ideal way to relight the Bradford City Hall clock tower took place in late 2011 when Bradford Council engineers viewed a demonstration of lighting on the clock tower. q Unit 2, Farrington Place, Rossendale Road Ind. Est., Burnley, Lancashire BB11 5TY Tel: 0845 8732 601 Fax: 0845 8732 602 E-mail: sales@lite-ltd.co.uk
www.lite-ltd.co.uk
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Rugby School lights up its chapel n A stunning lighting scheme has been completed by dpa lighting consultants for Rugby School chapel. The lighting scheme followed on from a £500,000 project to repair the ornate ceiling of this Grade 1 listed Victorian Gothic building. A range of lighting fittings from Light Projects Ltd have been used throughout the interior. These include powerful but small and discreet Window Reveals on the inside edges of the windows and well as Mini Minor fittings with integral cowls to light up the arches and stonework. In addition, larger Toucan fittings on vertical tracks have been installed to highlight the altar. Light Projects has a long history of supplying different types of lighting for places of worship. These have been uniquely designed to provide powerful and effective illumination based on small and subtle fittings so as to not to detract from the aesthetic beauty of their location. The Mini Minor and Window Reveals in particular are commonly used for uplighting and for picking out interesting architectural details. The range of lamps used in Rugby School include MR16-CMH 35 watt 25° flood, MR16 35W 12 10° narrow spot and 35w
BriteSpot lamps. Each fitting is available with its own specialist range of accessories to complement different lighting tasks. These can include coloured and frosted lenses, dichroic filters, eggcrate louvres, scrims and cowls. q
• Light Projects specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of lighting fittings and accessories for an extensive variety of interior and exterior lighting applications, as well as bespoke lighting solutions. More information is available from Light Projects on 020 7231 8282 or visit www.lightprojects.co.uk.
Listed Property Show returns to Olympia, London
Olympia London – 16th and 17th February 2013
n The free admission Listed Property Show returns to Olympia, London this year and it looks set to be the biggest and best yet! The exhibition, which is organised by the Listed Property Owners’ Club (LPOC), provides practical advice, tips and information for homeowners looking to maintain or refurbish their properties. This, seventh annual show, will feature more than 100 specialist suppliers showcasing products and services. A spokesman for the organisers said: “We are delighted with the response to the previous shows and we already have more exhibitors joining us for the next show.” The Listed Property Show brings together the industry’s best – all under one roof at London’s Olympia – and there’s no other event like it. It’s a unique opportunity for a stress-free one-to-one conversation with Conservation Officers, who will happily talk you through any hypothetical plans you may have about altering or extending your home. The event will also include architects and planners, window and door manufacturers, craftsmen and ‘caring’ builders, as well as practical demonstrations. More than 100 of the UK’s leading experts will be at the show to give advice and guidance. Many will be giving practical demonstrations, including woodcarving, lead work, plasterwork and window and door manufacturing. There will also be interactive talks by, amongst others, English Heritage. Other exhibits includes the Charles Brooking collection of architectural details, the Georgian Group, Salvo, Estate Management
and architectural historians, as well as many commercial suppliers of products suitable for period homes. q • Entry to the show is free when applied for in advance; get your free invitation from www.lpoc.co.uk or via email info@lpoc.co.uk. Alternatively ring 01795 844939.
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God’s Acre is a haven for wildlife O According to the Church of England’s advice body for the care and maintenance of its 16,000plus churches and cathedrals, an estimated two thirds of these have churchyards which collectively cover the area of a small national park. “They represent a precious resource which can make a huge contribution to the biodiversity of the country and at the same time engage and educate the wider community. As wildlife havens they are home to a wide variety of species, some of which – such as dormice – are becoming increasingly rare. Therefore good management is essential.” In 1997 a pilot scheme began in Shropshire to carry out and promote nature conservation in churchyards. Caring for God’s Acre – a reference to a poem by Longfellow which quotes an Anglo Saxon name for the burial ground as God’s Acre – has since extended its geographical area and its remit to offer advice and support around the whole country on all areas of burial ground ecology and conservation. It also produces a wide range of free
downloadable guidance on managing your churchyard for wildlife, including birds, bees, wasps, ants and mammals. R
• For more information, or to download the guidance documents, visit www.caringforgodsacre. org.uk.
Discover the spiritual base for being ‘green’ O On Saturday 16 March the Christian Ecology Link movement will be hosting a day of celebration in Leeds. The Stream of Life will take place at the Oxford Place Methodist Centre in the city and will be led by Philip Broderick, director of the Quiet Garden Movement and spiritual advisor to the Diocese of Sheffield. Characterised as ‘Tributaries and trails of thanksgiving, vulnerability and radical choice’, the day will focus on the spiritual roots of environmentalism for Christians. It takes its title from a Bengali poem celebrating the relationship between man and nature. Christian Ecology Link describes itself as offering ‘insights into ecology and the environment to Christian people and churches’ and also offering Christian insights to the green movement. It promotes ecocell, a programme of action that enables groups of people to discover ways to live more sustainably. The opening statement on its website reads: “Ordinary Christians, extraordinary times: we are responsible for our impact on God's creation as a whole. CEL helps members to understand and relate these responsibilities to their faith. Members can then encourage others in their local church to think seriously about these issues.” R • For more information visit www.christian-ecology.co.uk.
Bats the way to do it! O British bats have declined drastically in the past century, largely due to a reduction in habitat and roost sites – the loss of woodland, the intensification of agriculture and the modernisation of housing are the chief culprits. British bats have an extremely energy demanding lifestyle and need insects to meet their needs. Less woodland and increased use of pesticides reduces the abundance of insects. Bats also have very specific roost requirements and are generally found in mature trees and oldfashioned buildings. Less suitable trees and more efficient, insulated properties further restrict bats. Churches are a long-standing and important landscape feature for many reasons – and bats and churches have long been associated. The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) estimate that almost 6,400 churches and chapels in England are occupied by bats, some for over 100 years! Bats generally coexist harmoniously with clergy and congregation, however sometimes problems can arise. For example, bat urine is slightly acidic and can degrade treasured artefacts. Bats are legally protected but where serious problems persist a compromise must be found. Sussex based Lizard Landscape Design
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and Ecology offer professional assessment, survey and mitigation proposals for bats and find workable solutions. R • For further information visit www.lizardlandscapedesign.co.uk or tel 01903 216033
ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION
ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK
ASBESTOS
BELLS
ARCHITECTS
BESPOKE JOINERY
ARCHITECTURAL JOINERY
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BIRD PROOFING
BUILDING SERVICES
CANDLES
BLACKSMITHS CARVERS
BUILDING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION
MASTER CARVERS ASSOCIATION
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YORK CONSORTIUM FOR CONSERVATION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP CHURCH HEATING
CLOCKS
CONSERVATION CONSERVATION BUILDERS
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CONSERVATION STORAGE
EXHUMATION SERVICES
FENCING
DAMP PROOFING
FIREPLACES DISABLED ACCESS
FURNITURE EARTHING
ELECTRICAL CONSULTANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING GILDERS & RESTORERS
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GUILD OF MASTERCRAFTSMEN
LEADWORK
JOINERY
LANDSCAPING
LEADED LIGHTS
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LCA
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LIGHTING & SOUND
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LIGHTNING PROTECTION
LOGISTICS
MORTAR SUPPLIES
THE STEEPLEJACK AND LIGHTNING PROTECTION TRAINING GROUP
MOSAICS
ORGANS
LIME
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ROOFING
PAINTING CONSERVATION
PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO PLAQUES
PLASTERERS
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FTMRC
ROOF TILES
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SASH WINDOWS
STAINED GLASS SCULPTURAL METALWORK
SECURITY
SIGNS
SOUND & AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEMS
STONE
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TERRACOTTA
TESTING AND CONSULTANCY
TIMBER RESTORATION
STONE SUPPLY TRADITIONAL BUILDING SERVICES
STOVES TRAINING
SUNDIALS
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WEB DESIGN
TRANSPORT & STORAGE
TREE SURGERY & CONSULTANCY WINDOW REFURBISHMENT
WROUGHT IRON
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