Ecclesiastical & Heritage World issue No. 60 by DMMonline

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

COVER STORY

CONTENTS Heating specialist destined for better things This issue’s front cover features Glasgow’s Destiny Church. This busy church is now reaping the benefits of a new heating system installed by Manchester-based church heating specialists HeatinGlobal Ltd. The system has dramatically reduced the church’s running costs in the first few months of operation.

read more from p7

5 Reflections NEWS 9 11 12 13 13

YORKSHIRE SPOTLIGHT

Volunteers converge to record wreck Cheers! Whisky firm aids appeal Firm reaches record milestone HLF seeks new chair Style, strength and flexibility

WWI COMMEMORATIONS 14 Memorials are focus of attention 14 Amateur sleuths sought 14 War Museum opens new galleries 15 HLF marks 500 WWI grants 15 Specialist restorers help commemorate 16 History is in the making 16 Storage for WWI archives 17 Purcell completes centenary scheme

25 27 28 29 29 30 32 33 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 41 41

Craftsmanship flourishes YCCC scores a double century Window’s musical theme Award winners are showcased Furnishings receive attention Architecture honours the past Houghtons carve out reputation Promoting the city’s skills The life and work of a real iron man Artworks benefit from expert touch Bringing paintings back to life Stolen lead replaced and protected Technology helps map the stones Inclusiveness brings benefits New chapter for Sewerby Hall How to keep comfortable in church Fighter fires up in commemoration

LIGHTING 52 St Peter’s Church, Winchester 53 Firm goes back to the future

HEATING 55 Stately homes get heat pumps, too! 55 Striking the right balance WINDOWS 56 Industry group mounts fightback 57 Golcar vicarage receives revamp 57 Scottish Laird finds it Ecoeasy!

ROOFING 18 Heritage Roofing Register 19 Roofing Awards reflect excellence 20 Expert slaters bring in Heritage prize 20 Leadwork excellence rewarded 21 FTMRC Guide to Good Practice 23 ALM rolled lead provides focal point 24 Prison ends four year stretch

CRE NORTH 42 New installation lights the way 43 Everything under one roof 44 Book helps make sense of war 44 Christians say it in films 44 Furniture adds comfort and style 45 Craftsmen come together 47 Installer awarded commissions 47 TV brings the Word home 47 CRE heads for the capital PROJECTS 48 Hallé’s new rehearsal space 48 Musicians take centre stage 49 Acoustic alchemy 49 Making the most of a shared space 51 Redundant church takes on new role

FOCUS ON OXFORDSHIRE 58 The heart of England’s heritage 58 Public to nominate heritage ‘assets’ 59 Applauded design forges link 60 Museum bids to keep rare mirror 61 City’s ageless vista to be re-assessed 61 Noel Coward telegram found 61 Museums get on-going funding 62 Trust keeps county’s heritage alive LIME 63 63 64 64

Ancient material still has many uses Roof repair uses old-fashioned skills Half a lifetime working with lime Scottish guide is of universal value

CHURCH & HERITAGE SUPPLIES 65 Classified Section

Richard Shepherd – Business Development Manager Advertising enquiries: 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.

1DZZ

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

All CPS manufactured products carry an unrivalled Lifetime Warranty

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

‹ ON 4 AUGUST the entire country – indeed the whole world – found itself in deep reflection on the

devastation that results from what Clausewitz first described as ‘total war’. He was describing the Napoleonic Wars, possibly the first series of wars that involved the whole populations of the combatant countries, but even he could not possibly have conceived of the monumental catastrophe that was the First World War. Monumental it was – and it led to the building of war memorials in nearly every community in Europe, the then-Empire and the US. In commemoration of the centenary of the beginning of that conflict, many are being recorded and restored with Government help. The commemorations have involved people of all ages and more than 500 projects across the UK were helped by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Other organisations have also been helping efforts to bring that era to life. One such, the York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship (YCCC), aided the restoration of an Eastchurch Kitten plane at the Yorkshire Air Museum in time for the commemorative ‘thunder day’. The museum is only one of the many heritage attractions to be found in that ancient county. The YCCC and its craftspeople membership are involved in many of them. The organisation centres around the ancient industry associated with the building, maintenance and now restoration of York Minster. Keeping those crafts alive is a labour of love for its members, working in that ancient and magnificent city. An altogether different environment for scholars and craftspeople is the city of Oxford, with its many ‘dreaming spires’. They are viewable from many vantage points in the environs of the city, a network that is currently under review to keep pace with the development of a modern economic dynamo. In the Middle Ages major cities such as York and Oxford had cohorts of craftspeople based around their religious edifices devoted to the upkeep of those buildings. Traditional crafts were passed on down the generations. Those crafts involved such skills as stone masonry and roofing. These days such skills are kept alive by trade organisations with their apprenticeship schemes and awards. Mention therefore has to be made of the fact that six out of the 10 award categories in the Roofing Awards were won for heritage projects. Other traditional crafts being kept alive revolve around traditional building materials. Lime has been used in building for thousands of years and is still much in demand. A new marketplace has also developed to showcase the many and varied enterprises engaged in the provision of religious service. The most modern manifestation of that marketplace is the Christian Resources Exhibition, in its various guises. In October, CRE returns to Manchester, to the Trafford Centre’s EventCity. It is the second visit of the show to that venue following a successful shift there two years ago. R

Chris Stokes

Editor, Ecclesiastical & Heritage World

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

COVER STORY

The heating specialist that is destined for greater things

‹ WHEN DESTINY CHURCH in Glasgow

had a full energy audit completed one of the big issues that became apparent was the existing heating system and its running cost. The system comprised three old floor-standing boilers. It was un-zoned and costing £18,000 a year to run. The church and local authority did contact some local contractors, none of whom had the experience or knowledge of what was needed to heat the church, and so a visit from Manchesterbased HeatinGlobal was arranged. Destiny Church is a busy church and is used every day by various groups and full time administration staff. It also has its own café which is open to the public seven days a week, so a carefully planned work programme was drawn up to ensure the work did not interrupt any church gatherings. The main issue for the church was to have the new heating system split into three zones providing enough heat in each as required. Zone one was the main church, which was heated by a full new underfloor heating system. That was achieved by removing the entire existing oak floor, which was sold in aid of church funds. The floor joist was then resupported and correctly spaced for the new plate underfloor heating system. The floor was insulated with 100mm rock wool to prevent heat loss and all the air gaps were sealed. The new plating system was installed and two manifolds allow the underfloor system to be split into two halves. Once all the underfloor heating had been installed a new 18mm chipboard floor was fitted to give a flat, smooth and warm finish. On the side walls of the church the existing cast sectional radiators were re-positioned to provide a better distribution of heat throughout the church building. The whole system was then connected to a new thermostat and timer controls. The second zone was the café and administration rooms. That zone is the largest of the three, so a higher output boiler was used.

The administration and meeting rooms all had new thermostat controls fitted to the radiators, allowing each of the rooms to be pre-set to its own required temperature. The third zone – the hall – had six fan-assisted radiators which were old and providing very little heat output. Four of the units were recessed into the walls and two were not. As the hall was used by various sports groups and a weekday crèche it was decided to install new units in the recessed areas only, but with a higher output. All the units were made tamper-proof, including the main thermostat and clock controls. As the church was used on such a regular basis during the day and the team from HeatinGlobal had only three weeks to complete the installation, the decision was made to carry out the work at night, allowing the engineers to complete the night’s work and ensure all areas were clean and clear before the church and café opened again the following day. The existing church boiler room had complicated timer controls and a full overall of the system was needed. The only thing that was re-usable was some of the existing pipework. The old boilers were removed and three new Ideal Evomax condensing boilers were installed in their place. Each zone had its own timer and thermostat control connected to its own independent circulation pump. All the zones were connected to a filter system to ensure the system stays clean all year round. In the first few months of operating the new system the church had already saved 82% on running costs. Peter Cocking of the church’s management committee commented: “A fantastic set of engineers and all round team. Any issues were quickly sorted out and the heating works beyond our expectations. Many thanks for all your help and guidance – a job well done.” A further contract has already been awarded to HeatinGlobal for Destiny Church, Dundee and they are waiting for a date to be arranged to visit Destiny Church in Munich, Germany. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Volunteers converge to record wreck ‹ LICENSED DIVERS AND LOCAL volunteers gathered at Southend

Pier in Essex in July as part of a Festival of Archaeology, to conserve and record artefacts that have been retrieved from one of England's most important 17th century shipwrecks, The London. The event was part of a major project by English Heritage, Cotswold Archaeology, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Museums Service and local professional divers. The London mysteriously blew up in 1665 and sank off Southend-on-Sea, where it is now rapidly deteriorating, lying in two parts on the sea bed. Over the previous three months a specialist diving team undertook 10 planned dives of the wreck site, mapping the ship and discovering and retrieving a series of objects. Led by experienced Thames Estuary diver Steven Ellis, the team have retrieved musket shots and ingots as well as ship fixtures and fittings, tools and personal items including pewter spoons, coins and navigational dividers. Mark Dunkley, maritime archaeologist at English Heritage said: “There are still five dives to go. What we have confirmed so far is that the well preserved and vulnerable remains of the wreck of The London are consistent with the historical records that she did in fact blow up.” Steve Webster, project manager at Cotswold Archaeology, said: “This two-year project is the only on-going excavation on an underwater wreck in England at the present time. The artefacts that we can recover may be similar in scope to those recovered from the Mary Rose, but 120 years later in date. This will allow us to understand better a whole range of changes that occurred between the first half of the 16th century and the second half of the 17th century. This period saw the expansion of Britain's sea power and marks the start of the British Empire.” Finds recovered from the site are being curated by Southend Museums Service, which secured a grant from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to develop the community project to record the finds as well as hosting a permanent display. There will also be a publication produced about the wreck. The London was one of only three completed wooden ‘Second Rate Large Ships’ that were built between 16421660 and is the only one that survives. English Heritage commissioned Cotswold Archaeology to carry out this underwater excavation in order to find out just how much archaeological material survives. Divers are excavating three trenches in the bow of the wreck, designed to explore archaeological remains in the hold, the orlop deck where the anchor cables are and the main gun deck, as well as carpenter and boatswains store rooms which would have contained tools and timber stores.

The London was rediscovered in 2005 during work in advance of the London Gateway Port development in Thurrock, Essex. In October 2008 it was designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act (1973) and immediately placed on English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk register as its fragile archaeological remains were being exposed by shifting sediment levels on the seabed. The wreck is routinely monitored. Southend Museums Service and Steven Ellis and his dive team are a contender for this year’s English Heritage Angel Awards for their work on The London. The Angel Awards, co-funded by the Andrew-Lloyd Webber Foundation, celebrate local people who rescue heritage at risk and will be announced at a glittering ceremony in London on 3 November. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Cheers! Whisky firm comes to the aid of Mackintosh Appeal ‹ SCOTCH WHISKEY AND premium gin manufacturer Chivas

Brothers has donated £50,000 to the appeal to restore the Mackintosh Building at the world-renowned Glasgow School of Art (GSA). The Category A-listed building – named by the RIBA Journal in 2009 as Britain’s favourite building of the past 150 years – was badly damaged by fire on 23 May. It was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and completed in two phases in 1899 and 1909. The donation will be used to help the school recover from the impact of the fire. Firefighters managed to save most of the building and 70% of its contents, but many students were severely impacted when they lost irreplaceable Degree Show work. Chivas Brothers is now part of the Pernod Ricard group and its chairman and CEO Laurent Lacassagne visited the GSA to present the donation and meet recent fine art graduates Agathe Weiss and Andreas Behn-Eschenburg as well as GSA’s director of development Alan Horn. The two graduates were amongst the artists installing their work in the building when the fire broke out. Accepting the company’s donation, Alan Horn said: “The GSA has been overwhelmed by the emotional, practical and financial support it has received since the sad events of 23 May. This generous donation from Chivas Brothers will help our students, who are the beating heart of the GSA, and the institution to recover from the impacts of the fire.” Mr Lacassagne added: “The terrible news of the fire at Glasgow School of Art was heard all over the world and greatly saddened myself and my colleagues, not just in Scotland but globally. Supporting our communities and artistic development are values we hold dear

Alan, Agathe, Andreas and Laurant

at Pernod Ricard. We are delighted that through this donation we are contributing towards the Development Trust, and look forward to seeing this prestigious institution and iconic building restored to its former glory very soon.” The GSA has launched a search for an architect-led multi-disciplinary design team to realise the restoration and an appointment is to be made in early 2015. The Government has pledged £5m towards the £20m restoration appeal. On a visit to the school in July Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The damage done by the fire to the magnificent Mackintosh Building is terrible, but what really hits is the loss of students’ work and the many hours of creativity and dedication they poured into it.” q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

There’s plenty more in store as firm reaches record milestone ‹ ONE OF THE UK’s best known storage

providers, DeepStore Records Management, is celebrating a milestone having topped more than two million boxes of assets stored inside Britain’s largest salt mine. The company, which is part of the Compass Minerals group, was set up in Winsford, Cheshire, in 1998 and is now aiming to increase the number of boxes it stores to 3.5 million in the next 12 months. It already operates vault space the size of 700 football pitches with items under current management equating to 3.25 million cubic feet. DeepStore has more than 1,000 public and private sector clients, including the National Archives and the Royal Society, as well as pharmaceutical, legal and financial organisations, police forces and the healthcare industry. During the three-year restoration and expansion of Manchester Central Library DeepStore was chosen to look after the library’s most precious assets. It created the underground storage facility from the space left by the extraction of millions of tonnes of rock salt from sister company Salt Union’s mine. The mine, 150 metres below ground, is ideal for storing documents as it has consistent temperature and humidity levels

that meet the specifications of British Standard PD5454. Its storage areas also are naturally free from ultraviolet light, vermin and flooding. “We’re excited that DeepStore has reached its current level of activity and more is yet to come,” said head of sales Craig Trimby. “This year will see the company taking over space for yet another one million boxes, taking DeepStore’s capacity to more than 4 million boxes, or 5.2 million cubic feet. We have the capacity to expand to over 500 million cubic feet so there will never be a shortage of space.” The site is set to make its TV debut this autumn in a programme on the National Archives in the hugely popular How Do They Do It? series for the Discovery Channel. That will be followed towards the end of the year by a series of BBC programmes made in collaboration with Jaguar Heritage. DeepStore is committed to a total storage solution for its customers. In addition to its Winsford site, there are over-ground storage

Craig Trimby, head of sales at DeepStore Records Management facilities in the Bow and Wallington areas near London. Clients of DeepStore’s door-to-door nationwide service have also benefited in the past year from a scan-on-demand service. q

Unique company offers a comprehensive service ‹ DeepStore prides itself on its ability to meet even the most challenging records

management needs through its uniquely comprehensive services. They include: • 2-Tier – a cost-effective service combining quick and convenient access to active records • with separate, long-term storage in the optimum environment for preserving archives. • Media Storage – a specially designed media storage space that is ideally suited to • electronic media and disaster recovery materials. • Artefact Preservation – from PD5454-compliant storage to bespoke solutions, • DeepStore can meet the most challenging archival requirements. • DeepStore Online – a database portal allowing customers to track assets and perform • many tasks remotely from their desks. • Retrieval Services – same-day and next-day retrievals, plus Scan-on-Demand and Fax • Back services when minutes matter. • Secure Destruction – comprehensive security protocols to ensure that sensitive records • are safely destroyed. Designated DeepStore staff members have undergone specialised document handling training carried out by the National Archives Collection Care Department. With such a range of expertise, DeepStore can offer fully tailored solutions for every client’s needs. q

DeepStore Ltd

Astbury House, Bradford Road, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 2PA For Sales Tel: 08450 565759 For Service Tel: 08450 565758 Email: enquiries@deepstore.co.uk

www.deepstore.com 12

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Heritage Lottery Fund seeks new chair ‹ THE HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND (HLF) and the National

Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) are seeking to appoint a person to chair both bodies. It is a Prime Ministerial appointment, made with the advice of the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The NHMF was set up in 1986 to save the most outstanding parts of our heritage at risk of loss to the nation, as a memorial to those who have given their lives for the UK, and has a current annual budget of £5m. To date, HLF has awarded over £6bn to 37,000 heritage projects across the UK from money raised by the Lottery for good causes and has a grant budget for 2014-15 of £375m. The chair will need to have a broad appreciation of heritage and promoting its public understanding and enjoyment, together with strong skills in strategic leadership, analytical thinking, influencing, communication and a sound understanding of corporate governance. The chair is responsible for the strategic leadership of the HLF board, taking ownership and responsibility for developing and delivering strategy, and is its primary board-level advocate, championing its aims and strategic objectives with government at Westminster and in the devolved administrations.

The current chair, Dame Jenny Abramsky, offered this review of her time in the post: “Being chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund and National Heritage Memorial Fund has above all been a great privilege. Working with such committed and talented trustees and staff has been a wonderful and fulfilling experience. “HLF is making a real difference for heritage and bringing real and sustained benefits for people across the country. I have met truly inspirational applicants, grantees and volunteers and have visited transformational projects, both large and small. It has been an honour to chair an organisation which thrives on passion, professionalism and commitment.” q

Style, strength and flexibility in church furniture ‹ FOR OVER 30 YEARS the Cheshire

based Rosehill Furniture Group have supplied durable, well-crafted furniture to thousands of churches across the UK and beyond. Their philosophy is to provide customers with greater choice, quality and service at the best possible price. With churches keeping themselves at the centre of their respective communities, these historic buildings are becoming more multipurpose. At Rosehill, they understand this can lead to different requirements with flexible seating being of high importance. As well as traditional wooden church chairs, the company also offers a large range of stacking and folding chairs to suit other uses. Rosehill continually strive to enhance their product range. Only this year they introduced the Communion Church Chair which is the only model on the market to have an integrated folding kneeler. Their entire range of furniture covers both modern and more traditional design, and they can therefore ensure that the furnishings are appropriate for the character of your church. The company does however supply more than just seating – they also offer an excellent selection of other church furniture including communion tables, lecterns, baptismal fonts, tables, trolleys, curtains and credence tables. All products are manufactured using recyclable materials with timber sourced from managed forests, thus blending style and strength with sustainability.

Rosehill are renowned for their efficient, courteous service and remain determined to see this level of customer service exceed expectations. They offer custom floor plan and 3D design services to determine how many chairs are required when changing from pews to chairs. You need simply call their sales team to discuss your requirements and they will take care of the rest. Their products can now also be purchased

online via their new easy-to-use website at www.rosehillfurniture.co.uk where all their collections are available to view, or you can sign up to the online newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and access to new products. q • If you are not sure what you’re looking for you can make an appointment to visit the showroom on 0161 485 1717 or email sales@rosehill.co.uk. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

War memorials are now the focus of attention ‹ AS THE LIGHTS DIMMED on 4 August, throughout Europe

and around the world, attention turned to the many memorials that were erected to the dead of all wars. Although there had been war memorials built in the centuries before the First World War, the eruption of feeling following the Great War was unprecedented. Now, in many countries, efforts are being made to record war memorials and the condition they are in, with a view to restoring them. In the UK a fund of £5m to help restore memorials was announced by the Prime Minister in July, while in Scotland a fund of £1m has been established. An online resource – War Memorials Online – has been set up to create the UK’s most comprehensive understanding of the condition of war memorials in the UK. According to the site: “It will help us plan for the future conservation of local and community monuments so they are fit to mark not just the events to commemorate the centenary of World War I but beyond. “The initial focus is on location, images and gathering a snapshot of the current condition of our war memorials. As the project develops you will be able to submit more information and complete condition reports to ensure at risk memorials can be found before it is too late.”

A similar project is underway in the United States. The World War I Memorial Inventory Project is a volunteer-based effort to assemble a comprehensive, online record of World War I memorials and monuments in the US. Its mission is to promote the documentation, preservation, appreciation and interpretation of these memorials, and in so doing, to raise the profile of World War I in American public consciousness. q

Amateur sleuths sought to identify WWI impact in pictures ‹ THE PUBLIC IS BEING asked to help ‘tag’ a vast online archive of aerial

photographs known as Britain from Above with sites, ruins and remains that show the impact of the First World War on British soil. Launching the appeal, English Heritage’s chief executive Simon Thurley said: “There are 95,000 aerial photos on the Britain from Above website, so we really need help! We’re calling on members of the public to turn detective and use their local knowledge or family history to identify the many unlocated remains of the First World War across the country.” An example is the aerial photograph of St James’s Park (right), which shows temporary buildings where the lake had been drained to prevent its reflection attracting enemy aircraft. Helen Grant, the minister in charge of the commemoration of the centenary of the outbreak of the war, explained: “The First World War left a huge footprint on the UK’s towns, villages, cities and countryside. No matter where you live now or where your family were living and working in 1914-18, there are likely to be structures, sites or whole TO MARK THE CENTENARY of the start of the First World War, the Imperial War buildings that survive. Now the public can help Museum in London (IWM London) has opened permanent First World War galleries. Visitors create a lasting aerial photographic record of can discover the story of the war through the eyes of people in Britain and its empire, both the impact of the war on our landscape.” on the home front and the fighting fronts. They will see how the war started, why it continued, Karen Brookfield from the Heritage Lottery how the Allies won and its global impact. Fund, added: “The Aerofilms Collection gives The new galleries are part of the wider transformation of IWM London, which includes a a spectacular picture of the changing nature newly configured atrium with iconic large object displays and a number of new exhibitions, of Britain during the first half of the 20th public spaces, shops and cafes. century. The archive tells us much about the The £40m transformation has been made possible by a number of funders, including a places, buildings and landscapes that were the grant of £6.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £5m from the Department for Culture, backdrop of everyday life. We want as many Media and Sport. people as possible to share their knowledge Visitors can view over 1,300 objects on display, many of which have never been seen and join in with ‘tagging’ images in the before. They range from weapons, uniforms and equipment to diaries and letters, keepsakes archive to show the dramatic impact the First and trinkets, photographs, film and art. q World War had on our country.” q

War Museum opens new galleries

‹

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

HLF marks 500 WWI grants

Specialist restorers can help communities commemorate

‹ WITH THE ATTENTION of the world on the events of August 1914, many communities around the country are looking at the possibility of restoring their own war memorials. And with funding being made available the opportunity is at last there. One company that specialises in carrying out such projects is Harri-Stone Masonry Ltd of Witney in Oxfordshire. They offer a complete service for the restoration of war memorials – from a simple clean and repoint to taking structures down and rebuilding them. They can also restore or recarve lettering to enhance the legibility of inscriptions. The company can help communities use the grants available from the Government as part of its centenary commemoration programme to restore and renovate their own memorials. Harri-Stone are specialist monumental masons and can also create or repair memorial headstones for churchyards and cemeteries. q

‹ FROM TRENCHES TO FACTORIES and rugby matches to

• For more information visit www.harristonemasonry.co.uk.

radio shows, Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has helped 500 projects across the UK exploring the stories of the First World War. On 3 August – the eve of the centenary of the UK entering the war – HLF announced it had so far awarded more than £4m to 500 community projects through its dedicated First World War: then and now programme. Launched in May last year, First World War: then and now is HLF’s small grants programme which offers groups up and down the country between £3,000 and £10,000 to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage. Grants have enabled blind and partially sighted groups in Wolverhampton to research how the war advanced ophthalmic medicine and people across the UK to investigate the names commemorated on their local war memorials. That included Abbotskerswell in Devon, Chorley in Lancashire and Belfast in Northern Ireland. The contribution of Scotland’s nurses to the war effort is being marked and the stories of Commonwealth contributions to the war effort are being explored and shared Culture Secretary Rt Hon Sajid Javid said: “The success of this programme shows the incredible depth of interest right across the country in marking the centenary of the First World War. The Government wanted the whole nation to get involved and that is clearly what’s happening. This sort of programme – helping community projects off the ground - is exactly what the National Lottery does so well.” Carole Souter, chief executive of HLF, commented: “When we opened this programme in 2013, the interest we had already seen from people looking to mark the centenary meant we knew it would be popular, but we have been astounded at the demand and the sheer breadth of stories people have been uncovering. 500 projects are now underway and this is just the start; we will continue to support new projects as the centenary unfolds.” q Image © Copyright Jaxpix 50 and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Licence

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

IKO Permaphalt – history is in the making ‹ THIS YEAR, AS WE commemorate the centenary of the First World

War and the 70th anniversary of the D-day landings, the thoughts of IKO – who have been setting the standards in roofing and waterproofing since 1883 – turn to the construction of British war memorials. Built to pay homage to those who fell in battle, British war memorials are some of the most iconic architectural structures in the world and Theipval in Picardie, France is no exception. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission contacted Kent based Bell Asphalt to assist with the roof renovation at Thiepval – the largest war memorial in the world dedicated to the missing of the Somme who died in battle and have no known graves. Thiepval stands at 47m high and consists of 16 piers faced with Portland Stone and 1,000m2 of roofs protected by mastic asphalt. Completed in 1932, the roof was installed by contractors unfamiliar with the art of installing mastic asphalt. Eventually, the roof failed with the majority of the 60 roofs cracking, allowing water to leak into the rooms in the structure and threaten the memorial’s integrity. IKO’s Permaphalt mastic asphalt was chosen for the project, not only for its high quality but also for the technical support service that IKO plc provides. Permaphalt is a polymer-modified mastic asphalt which allows for thermal movement while retaining its shape. It has been used on many heritage buildings in the UK that are still going strong some 60-plus years on, and was also the very first product of its kind to receive BBA accreditation. In 2008 UK mastic asphalt was the first industry in the world to achieve the CarbonZero standard. Once the site was prepared, the old asphalt was stripped off the building and recycled to be used for roadways in other parts of the cemetery. Installation was carried out in the depths of winter and the

Thiepval War Memorial going was tough, but a total of 60 roofs were installed over a 12-week period, and the project was completed on time and within budget. The success of mastic asphalt installations on heritage projects is not only due to the product itself, but the skill of the people who install it. It can only be installed by trained operatives who have undertaken the mastic asphalt industry’s extensive training programme, which lasts for a minimum of three years to NVQ Level Two/Three or equivalent. q • For further information visit the website www.ikogroup.co.uk.

DeepStore provides storage for WWI archives ‹ DEEPSTORE RECORDS MANAGEMENT, as the approved remote depository

for The National Archives, has been entrusted to provide secure storage for a large volume of First World War records. Documents from the war include regimental and individual service records, medical records and medal award index cards and associated files. Copies of original letters to families and loved ones from soldiers serving on the front line are also contained within the collection. The majority of the records are stored in digital format and can be viewed through The National Archives’ First World War website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ firstworldwar, although historians still retrieve hard copies for individual research projects and exhibits. Craig Trimby, DeepStore’s head of sales, said: “DeepStore has been working in partnership with The National Archives since 2003, storing a wide range of items of great historical interest. We are extremely proud to be involved with such important documents, especially in this centenary year of the start of WWI.” The records are stored under tightly controlled environmental conditions in the DeepStore facility, which is based in Britain’s largest salt mine in Winsford, Cheshire. DeepStore developed the underground storage facility from the space left following the extraction of millions of tonnes of rock salt from sister company Salt Union’s mine. The mine, 150 metres below ground, is ideal for storing documents as it has consistent temperature and humidity levels that meet the specifications of British Standard PD5454. Its storage areas are also naturally free from ultraviolet light, vermin and flooding. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Purcell completes National Museum of the Royal Navy scheme £4.5m refurbishment and extension of listed storehouse marks WW1 centenary

‹ THE BABCOCK GALLERIES at The

National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard have opened to the public following a £4.5 million renovation led by architects Purcell and project managers Artelia. Princess Anne, a patron of the museum, officially opened the Galleries on 26th June. The project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and marks the centenary of the First World War. The Galleries house a major new permanent exhibition, Hear My Story, which tells 100 years of life in the Navy and covers the personal stories from those who served at sea. The Babcock Galleries are housed within an 18th century naval storehouse – Storehouse 10 – a Grade I listed brick and timber framed building. Before major works were carried out the brickwork, which had suffered from erosion, was repaired and the timbers were stripped back. One of its most significant characteristics is the building’s floor, which in certain areas is made up of Spanish ships’ timbers. A raised floor has been installed above the timbers to protect them and glass vision panels inserted so that they can still be viewed. This fully reversible solution

creates a void for all services to run beneath the floor and ensures level access. A new, single storey glazed link was conceived as a transition space between the two listed buildings, Storehouse 10 and Storehouse 11. The design was technically demanding as the ground between the buildings is not level. As part of the concept, the overall thickness of the roof structure had to be the same depth as the stone band of the two flanking storehouses. A terne coated stainless steel roof finish was specified, which allows the roof to be laid to a shallow fall and is suitable for the marine environment with longevity equivalent to lead roof finishes. Taking pride of place in the centre of the new link space is the ‘4 inch’ gun from the destroyer HMS Lance which fired the very first shot of the war at sea in WW1. This 3.6 tonne gun was craned into place by the contractor, Warings, before the roof was laid. The exhibition fit out was designed by Redman Design. It is highly interactive with audio points stationed throughout the galleries, allowing visitors to listen to personal accounts of Navy life, and a dedicated audio-visual space in the centre of Storehouse 10 which shows the dramatic conflicts. Further facilities include an education

space for schools and a temporary exhibition area which currently accommodates the Racing to War: The Royal Navy and 1914 exhibition. Associate, Martin Dunseath from Purcell said: “Our simple glazed link intervention is distinctly different from the brick buildings either side, but is informed by the architectural rhythm of the arched colonnades and window openings across their elevations. The link is a practical solution, enabling the museum to guide visitors on a seamless journey through their buildings, and a shop window, showcasing what the museum has to offer.” Matthew Sheldon, head of strategic development at The National Museum of the Royal Navy said: “We are delighted with both this contemporary link building and with the sensitive conversion of the Georgian storehouse. At the start of the project we posed the question, 'is it possible to create a 21st century exhibition within this space without compromising this 18th century building?'. Purcell has shown definitively that it is possible and it is a pleasure to see our many visitors enjoying a newly-revealed building and thoroughly modern exhibitions”. q Images: The National Museum of the Royal Navy©

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Heritage Roofing Register a helping hand for architects ‹ A UNIQUE REGISTER OF HERITAGE roofing specialists

is providing much needed help and assurance for architects and specifiers when working on heritage projects. The register is the brainchild of the UK’s largest roofing trade association, the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC). Designed to ensure that the roofs on some of the UK’s most precious buildings are restored to the highest standards possible, this register – The National Heritage Roofing Contractors Register – provides an exclusive listing of only those roofing companies that have the vital skills and experience necessary for the repair and renovation of heritage projects. Ray Horwood CBE, chief executive of NFRC explains: “Successful cultural heritage preservation is not just dependent on the meticulous planning provided by architects, it relies very much on the involvement of specialist craftsmen who are qualified to work on heritage sites. When it comes to roofing, their knowledge and experience is invaluable. “From concept to completion, the importance of roofing design in heritage preservation can never be under-estimated. The register is already proving popular with architects and specifiers alike, and it is widely being seen as a ‘guarantee of confidence’ in specialist roofing knowledge and expertise,” adds Ray. Comprising a total of 73 companies located throughout the UK,

the register features roofing companies that fall into one of three categories. Firstly, there are Heritage Roofmasters who provide both technical design and quality workmanship and secondly, there are Heritage Craftroofers who assure quality workmanship at all times. Lastly, Heritage Craft Roof Operatives carry out the work as specified. The National Heritage Roofing Contractors Register is endorsed by English Heritage, Cadw Welsh Historic Monuments, the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland, Historic Scotland, The National Heritage Training Group and CITB. NFRC is also a board member and plays a leading role in the National Heritage Training Group. q • For more information please visit www.nfrc.co.uk or call them on 020 7638 7663.

Work to a B Listed Victorian property was undertaken by Bain and Irvine Limited, members of NFRC and the National Heritage Roofing Contractors Register. The East Lothian project was shortlisted for the Heritage Roof category of the 2014 Roofing Awards. 18

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Roofing Awards reflect depth of excellence in heritage skills â&#x20AC;š HERITAGE PROJECTS figured large among

the winners of the 2014 Roofing Awards. In addition to the Heritage category itself, no fewer than five of the other 10 winning projects were for heritage buildings, while a sixth was for a crematorium. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony 16 May at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in central London. They were jointly hosted by NFRC chief executive Ray Horwood and interior designer and TV celebrity Linda Barker. For some years there has been a specialist Heritage category in the awards. This year the winner was Claude N Smith Ltd for The Laurels, a Grade Two-listed private house in Stilton, Peterborough. They clinched the prize ahead of finalists Castell Coch in Cardiff, by Greenough and Sons, the North Berwick Turrets by Bain and Irvine Ltd and Newark Castle in Port Glasgow, by Archibald McCorquodale Ltd. The winner in the Fully Supported Metal Roofing category was Richardson Roofing Co Ltd for Penarth Pier in Cardiff. Richardsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked closely with the project architect and metal supplier to develop rhomboid shingles for use on the four tower roofs. The award in the Liquid Applied Waterproofing

category was presented to Tor Coatings with Roofing Consultants Limited for the Leeds Corn Exchange. The project was to clean, prepare and repair the steel glazing bars and glass panels of the roof light on the Grade One-listed building. The entrance to Tintern Abbey in Chepstow provided the winner in the Solar on Roofs category for Bauder Ltd with J Randall Roofing Contractors Ltd. It was important that the 57 PV panels installed following roof repairs were unobtrusive and therefore the panels were set at a 10o angle.

Fulham Wharf is a landmark residential and retail regeneration scheme which included the ecological enhancement of its 1,000m2 jetty, which lay abandoned for over 40 years. The project won Bauder Ltd its second award, this time with Accurate Roofing Ltd, in the Green Roofs category. The clutch of successful heritage projects was completed by the award in the Slating category for the re-roof of the Grade B-listed Jeffrey House in Edinburgh by B & D Roofing and Building Ltd. The building is a two-storey with attic house in the Arts and Crafts style which was purpose built as boarding accommodation for the Edinburgh Academy in c 1899. The award in the Single Ply category went to IKO plc with Briggs Amasco for Blacon Crematorium on The Wirral. Other awards were made during the event, including the announcement by the LCA of the Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award and of the LSA Young Leadworker of the Year award. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Expert slaters bring in Heritage prize ‹ THE HERITAGE CATEGORY in the Roofing Awards was won

by Claude N Smith for The Laurels, a Grade Two-listed building built around 1760 and situated in the conservation village of Stilton. The stone and Collyweston-slated building was originally two cottages but was sympathetically converted into one in the late 1970s. The existing roof is thought to have been over 200 years old, evidenced by the split hazel laths onto which the slates are oak pegged. Numerous patch repairs over the years, using cement to hold the slates in place, meant more slates than usual were lost and slates from the company’s own stock had to be used to make up the deficiency. All the Collyweston slates had been hand-dressed and parted into sizes using a traditional slater's rule whilst other work took place. The slates were fixed by two expert Collyweston slaters with over 50 years slating experience between them. The front of the property has three flat top dormer windows with replaced zinc coverings of little detail and lacking originality. A listed building application granted permission to change the dormer tops to lead coverings and detailed woodwork fascias and soffits. The rear of the property has two pitched dormer windows with the original windows now due for replacement. Listed building consent was granted to replace those windows to replicate the existing ones, with the addition of modern weather seals. These were made and fitted by the joinery team at Claude N Smith Ltd. With the slates removed the opportunity arose to access the roof voids and ceiling slope voids so extra insulation could be fitted. Additional scaffolding was erected around the chimneys to re-build the weathered top courses of brickwork and to re-fix the chimney pots. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Leadwork excellence rewarded ‹ THE 2014 ROOFING awards also witnessed the formal

presentation of the lead industry’s 2013 awards by the LCA and LSA. The winner of the 2013 Murdoch Award was Martin (UK) Roofing Systems Ltd for their superb refurbishment of the dome at the London Oratory in Kensington. In all, more than 57 tonnes of Code 6 and 7 lead sheet was used on the dome and Martin UK were also required to clean, repair and gild the ornate copper orb and bronze cross. It was a very pleasing result for the sponsors of the award, Associated Lead Mills, as it was their own material which was used throughout the project. The winner of the 2013 Murdoch Sponsors Award was Lead Tech Roofing for work done to a private house in the Cotswolds. The project required a highly detailed ridge section, designed as a focal point over a glass extension. It was careful attention to detail and the aesthetics of the project, as well as the obvious leadworking skills, that caught the judges’ attention. The Lead Sheet Association’s Young Leadworker of the Year award went to Harry Blain¸ a self-employed leadworker from Leicester. He scooped the award for his methodical approach and his meticulous attention to detail, producing the neatest and most technically correct leadwork. q

Good practice guide helps keep roofers on their mettle ‹ WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED in 2006, one of the

principal goals of the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors was to produce a single technical reference document covering the design and installation for all the hard metals used in traditional roofing and cladding in the UK. The first publication along that route emerged in 2007 in the form of the FTMRC Guide to Good Practice. That publication allowed roofing installers and specifiers the ability to reference independently good practice and compatible materials. As the FTMRC points out in its own publicity material, many manufacturers publish guides for their own product, but they vary widely in content and detail, often owing to the different countries in which they are produced. Five years after the publication of that first edition – and following a year of preparation – the second edition was printed, with the somewhat grander title of UK Guide to Good Practice in Fully Supported Metal Roofing and Cladding. The second edition was launched at the federation’s Summer Technical Seminar in London in 2012. This latest edition contains 96 pages of technical information with over 100 detailed drawings, plus tables, charts and photographs. The photographs showing examples of FTMRC members’ achievements are particularly lavish. The information is set out in tabbed, easy-to-access sections covering the general detailing requirements for aluminium, copper, galvanised and stainless steel and zinc roofing and cladding. Expanding on the scope of the first edition, the technical guidance includes sections on underlays, abutments, types of joints and detailing. The tables include guides to compatible metals, solders and flux materials and calculation of expansion coefficients. Writing in the introduction, FTMRC secretary Ray Robertson says the publication of 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, it will provide an essential training aid to those just starting out in this sector of construction, an area which is again part of the quality standards commitment of the FTMRC.” The guide is available in laminated hardback and soft cover versions and in digital format suitable for PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. The hardback and soft cover versions are priced at £45 and £40 plus £5 p&p respectively, while the digital version is available at £35, giving online access to the e-book. All versions can be obtained via the dedicated website at www.guidetometalroofing.co.uk. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

ALM rolled lead provides focal point for Harrow School restoration

‹ THE HARROW SCHOOL conservation area is set within Harrow-

on-the-Hill to the south-west of the borough. It contains buildings that are some of the most well known in, and emblematic of Harrow. From the top of Harrow Hill, the rooftops of Old Schools and Harrow School Chapel are clearly visible. The large, dramatic buildings almost exclusively fill the conservation area and are crucial to its character. One of the most eye-catching is the semi-circular rotunda roof of the Old Speech Room built in 1819-21 as a chamber in which to encourage public speaking. Richardson Roofing used Associated Lead Mills code 5, 6 and 8 lead (the latter for gutters) for their complex refurbishment in which the original wood roll substrate of the Grade II-listed building was also replaced with timber supplied by ALM. The roof required modification as the rotunda profile was unusual in that the original wood roll layering was in a pattern which used the girth rather than the taper of the lead. With the splash lap facing into the fall of the roof, patterns crossed the fall line 'worming' and giving rise to leaks. The solution was to radiate wood rolls to natural falls from a raised tier at the pinnacle of the roof. This effectively forms a hub where the roll ends are hidden. Segments of king roll and wood rolls had to be lost and in order to offset the problem whereby laps appeared too large, the base of wood rolls was rebated and covered in lead. Lead capping was also fitted on the parapet at an angle to preserve the profile of the stonework beneath, in conjunction with a stainless steel drip. Not surprisingly, Richardson Roofing was selected as one of the three finalists from shortlisted entries in the 2013 Murdoch Awards, the judges praising the ‘fantastic workmanship and detailing’. The acknowledgement of projects which reflect the very best in lead roofing irrespective of size, prompted ALM’s initial sponsorship and continued support of the Murdoch Awards. They provide a deeper insight into the best UK lead workmanship as well as the diverse ways in which rolled lead and pre-formed materials are used. R • For more information visit the website at www.associatedlead.co.uk. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Prison ends four year stretch for Martin-Brooks ‹ SHEFFIELD-BASED MARTIN-BROOKS is

concluding a four year chapter of work at Lincoln Castle by helping to construct a building that will add another page to the city’s history books. The heritage roofing specialists are combining old and new techniques to transform the castle’s prison block into a state of the art visitor centre, dedicated to Magna Carta. Martin-Brooks’ craftsmen are installing a sand cast lead roof on a brand new subterranean building that is being opened to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Situated in the prison exercise yard, the climate controlled structure will be used to house Lincoln’s original copy of the ancient charter, alongside the Chapter of the Forest and will be the only place both historic documents can be seen together. Working with main contractor, Woodhead Heritage, Martin-Brooks is also repairing roof lights and replacing lead guttering on Lincoln Castle’s Grade II listed Victorian and Georgian prison blocks and re-roofing the north and south entrance lodges using salvaged Welsh slate. The work is due to be completed by the end of August. Dale Wright, Martin-Brooks’ contracts director, said: “Retaining the quality of Lincoln Castle’s historic buildings has demanded the highest standards of craftsmanship from our heritage experts. Through all stages of work, we have restored and replaced roofing materials sympathetically to enhance the visitor experience. “It is an honour to be involved in this latest project – it will add another dimension to the castle’s rich architectural tapestry and we look forward to seeing the innovative Magna Carta building open to the public.” As part of the £22 million Lincoln Castle Revealed project, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and Lincolnshire County Council, Martin-Brooks has also worked on the Grade I listed Cobb Hall, the old bath house and the new Heritage Skills Centre. q • Martin-Brooks is listed on the National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ (NFRC) heritage register. For more information about its work on historic buildings, telephone (0114) 244 7720 or visit www.martin-brooks.co.uk.

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Martin-Brooks’ heritage lead workers, Dave Shipton (left) and Craig Knowles (right), installing the sand cast lead roof on Lincoln Castle’s new Magna Carta visitor centre

YORKSHIRE SPOTLIGHT

Craftsmanship flourishes in the ancient centre of

a remarkable county The county is known not only for its famous heritage landmarks such as York Minster but also for its wealth of craftspeople producing items such as this Hartcliff chandelier – designed and handmade in Yorkshire by Nigel Tyas

‹ THE MASSIVE PRESENCE of the tower

atop York Minster dominates the skyline far beyond the borders of that ancient city. It forms the centre of a diocese that encompasses what used to be by far the largest county in England and once included counties across the Pennines and as far as the Cheviots. The Minster still acts as a hub for one of the largest concentrations of craftspeople in the country, with ancient skills that have kept our cathedrals and other treasured buildings in operation for centuries. Over the next few pages we will be offering a glimpse into the world and work of these craftspeople, including the select band of members of the York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship. The Diocese of York, however, together with the new Diocese of Leeds and the West Riding, have within their borders all of the ancient three Ridings and offer a wide variety of heritage

buildings – from ancient abbeys now in ruins to modern masterpieces celebrating the mass media and from rural manor houses to industrial behemoths. This special feature celebrating the heritage of Yorkshire will likewise be venturing forth from the ancient city to learn a little about that heritage. In the former East Riding are to be found the beautiful Beverley Minster – one of the country’s Gothic marvels – and the railway town of Doncaster, whose own Minster church has recently received Lottery funding to restore its high altar reredos. The modern county of South Yorkshire was a centre of the coal industry that powered England for decades and enabled the Industrial Revolution to accelerate into full industrialisation. A project to restore a rare relic of the early days of the pits – the Newcomen engine at Elsecar Heritage Centre near Barnsley – has reached its halfway point.

The West Riding was the powerhouse of Yorkshire during the Industrial Revolution and retains many reminders of the era that now form a cluster of heritage sites. That same county was also the birthplace of great artists such as David Hockney and Barbara Hepworth, and it was the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield that was named the Art Fund Museum of the Year in July. North Yorkshire is noted for its wealth of abbey ruins. From the imposing arches of Fountains Abbey and its surrounding Studley Royal Park – a UNESCO Heritage Site – to the visitor-friendly Bolton Abbey on the banks of the River Wharf, their origins predate the Normans but both suffered from the attention of Henry VIII during the Dissolution. Back in York, the city is returning to normal following the 2014 performance of the quadrennial Mystery Plays. But what is normal for York is nothing short of extraordinary for anywhere else. q

York Minster image © Copyright Keith Laverack and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic Licence

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship scores a double century ‹ WITH A 2,000 YEAR history and a wonderfully preserved

stock of fine buildings, York has for generations been a thriving centre for what we now think of as heritage skills. York Minster and the many medieval churches in the city have long stimulated a demand for masons, carvers, ironworkers, carpenters and stained-glass experts. Sustaining and developing their heritage skills isn’t easy. The long training and commitment required, usually for modest financial rewards, makes it a challenge to nourish these skills and prevent them dying out. For that reason, in 1999 a group of concerned and interested people in York got together to establish two parallel bodies. The York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship has over 150 members, mostly heritage practitioners, and exists to provide services to and promote the interests of specialists in the region. Its sister organisation, the York Foundation for Conservation and Craftsmanship, began to raise funds that could be distributed to help craftsmen take on apprentices and to assist determined and talented individuals develop their craft and conservation skills further. The Foundation has grown steadily and now has funds of about £300,000. Income generated by this fund is spent as bursaries ranging from a maximum of £3,000 to as little as £500. In addition to the Foundation’s own money, a number of other supportive charitable organisations – the York Company of Merchant Taylors, the Historic Houses Association and the Freemasons’ Provincial Grand Charity – provide additional bursary funds. The Foundation employs no staff and administrative costs are covered by the trustees. A highly efficient methodology has developed over a number of years to target, identify and evaluate suitable bursary recipients. The Foundation aims to spend quite small sums that have the potential to make a big difference. This year the Foundation achieved a double century – it has awarded its 100th bursary and the total value of bursaries awarded in the Foundation’s relatively short history has exceeded £100,000. According to Martin Stancliffe, a conservation architect and former Surveyor to St Paul’s Cathedral who is chairman of the Foundation: “It is incredibly encouraging to meet and be able to help so many really worthwhile individuals. We know from quite extensive research into the way our bursary recipients careers’ have developed subsequently that these bursaries make a real difference. It is partly about the money, of course, but also about the confidence and recognition that the awards engender.” James Grierson, secretary to the Foundation, added: “While we are able to help some terrific individuals, there are many deserving applications that we have to reject every year and this is why we are working very hard to grow our funds. This seems to be striking a chord with many generous individuals. We have raised £75,000 so far this year but are determined to raise more.” Applications for next year’s bursaries need to be received by the end of March and application forms can be downloaded from the Foundation’s website at www.conservationyork.org.uk. Those interested in proving financial support should email the foundation at jrj.grierson@gmail.com. q

The Chideock Memorial Chapel has had the original dome restored using bespoke clay tiles from YCCC member Sandtoft

Restoration work at St Paul’s by YCCC member Hesp and Jones

Traditional lime rendering (before and after) to an old church property in Church Fenton, undertaken by Ryedale Plasterers who are also YCCC members www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Window’s musical theme honours church wardens’ talents ‹ WHEN THE CHURCH of St Edward the Confessor in Barnsley, South

Yorkshire, decided to commemorate the lives and work of church wardens and music teachers George and Lily Stone, they commissioned YCCC member Mark Harvey of Park Glass Studios to create a new window. The window consists of two slender lancet top main lights, with a single tracery light. Its main theme is music: celebrating the musical talents of the couple while connecting Christ and the church with song. The single tracery light depicts the Holy Spirit, with light radiating into the upper sections of the main lights. Angels with trumpets herald the Holy Spirit coming to earth from heaven – the wings of the angels harmonising with the shape of the lancet tops of the main lights. There is a cascading scroll Mark Harvey's granddaughter, of music, with the angels’ song the muse for the new window, – Glory to God in the highest meeting the Bishop of Wakefield

and on earth peace and good will toward men – entwining the two main lights together. That leads the viewer’s eye down the window to the lower section, where the two musical instruments of the couple are commemorated. The text in the left main light reads To the Glory of God and in loving memory of George & Lily Stone; the right main light reads Lift up your hearts and sing to the Lord. The muse for the angels was Mark’s granddaughter, aged seven. When she met the Bishop of Wakefield, who dedicated the window, he commented that it was the first time he had been introduced to a person in a stained glass window. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Award winners are showcased by their benefactor ‹ EVERY YEAR A number of awards and bursaries are made to young craftspeople to further their skills and knowledge and to

A hand-made tree enclosure by YCCC member Derwent Valley Forge

established firms to take on new trainees. These awards are made by the YCCC’s charitable arm, the York Foundation for Conservation and Craftsmanship. In 2013 the Foundation compiled a series of case studies to show how the bursary winners have progressed in their careers. The case studies were published as a booklet, under the title Creating Tomorrow’s Heritage Skills, which is available to download from the YCCC website. The document details a number of bursary winners in various craft skills. There are wood carvers, stained glass and picture restorers, object restorers and even a traditional hurdle maker. Alongside the stone masons and ornamental plasterers are conservers of paper and archives. Even the York Aircraft Museum received a grant. The Foundation’s chairman, Martin Stancliffe writes in his introduction: “The Foundation exists to promote and develop heritage skills. Each year we receive many applications for short-listing, and a panel of expert judges chooses the fortunate winners following

Member Francis Downing conserved this large cathedral painting after years of dilapidation interview. A review of how our bursary winners benefited, and how their careers subsequently have developed, provides insights into the shortage of skills nationally and into how the Foundation can best target its funds to make the greatest impact.” q

Important furnishings receive sympathetic attention ‹ BASED IN KNARESBOROUGH, North Yorkshire, YCCC

member Tim Phelps is a fully ICON-accredited conservator, listed in the Conservation Register. Tim and his workshop team specialise in sympathetic treatments of important historic interiors, such as show-wood, panelling and fittings, and have worked on significant commissions across the north of England. These have included the magnificent oak panelling, fittings and doors in the Great Hall of Durham Castle and the Adam-designed cabinets in the Muniment Room at Nostell Priory, along with furniture and fittings in the Butler’s Pantry. The team has also been responsible for treatment and repairs to the fragile, early 19th-century curved glass and mahogany display cabinet fronts at Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum. They are currently carrying

out on-going maintenance of the library cabinets, fixtures and fittings of the stunning, Grade One-listed interior of the John Rylands Library on Deansgate in Manchester. Alongside these notable on-site works, the workshop restores individual pieces of furniture for museums and private clients across the region. They can take the form of structural repairs, comprehensive restoration following fire and water damage, tidying tired surfaces or replacing show-wood losses on quality antique pieces. Says Tim: “Our speciality is sympathetic finishing to historic surfaces – retaining a mellow, subtle waxed appearance rather than the sad loss of surface, colour and texture often associated with french polishing treatments.” q

The John Rylands Library Historic Reading Room www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Houghtons carve out an enviable reputation ‹ BASED ON THE OUTSKIRTS of the city, Houghtons of York

Replacement dormer windows forming part of a refurbishment project – period features were retained whilst introducing upgrading to current specifications

specialise in the manufacture and installation of high quality, bespoke joinery and wood carving. The exceptionally high levels of skills within the workforce and their attention to detail has earned the company an enviable reputation that sees them being commissioned to undertake a wide range of projects – from new build through to restoration, conservation, repairs and maintenance. The long established, family-run company are active members of the British Woodworking Federation, the leading trade body for the industry, and work throughout the country for private clients, The National Trust, parish churches, cathedrals and contractors. The company’s projects could typically include sash windows, wall panelling, staircases, libraries, doors, oak framed structures, kitchen and bathroom fitments. Their specialist wood carvers produce to order fine hand carved decorative mouldings, applied ornament, lettering for plaques and chimney pieces to a customer’s requirements. For restoration and conservation projects, carvings can be expertly reproduced to seamlessly match with the originals. The company’s links with the York Consortium have proved beneficial in helping them develop future quality craft skills and, through their fellow members, enable them to take on larger multidiscipline projects. q • For further details of their services please visit their website at www.houghtons.plus.com or phone 01904 489193.

Master carver from Houghtons of York working on repairing the 400 year old Christchurch Gates at Canterbury Cathedral. Each of the gates, estimated to weigh over 1 tonne, was removed for cleaning and the repair or replacement of damaged carvings

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Promoting the city’s skills is what the YCCC is about ‹ THE STATED objectives of the

York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship are to ‘promote to the widest audience the skills, knowledge and capabilities available in York, over a diverse and growing range of conservation specialisms, in order to attract additional work and funding’. It also aims to ‘build on York’s enviable reputation as a nationally and internationally

recognised centre for conservation practice, research and teaching’. In order to achieve those objectives the Consortium actively seeks to attract conservators and craftsmen to York to live, thereby attracting into the city more business in the conservation sector. The YCCC also promotes York as a place to hold heritagerelated conferences, meetings, training courses

and exhibitions and to learn about heritage conservation at both the theoretical and the practical level. It also works with other organisations based in York to showcase the successful work that is being done in the conservation of York’s buildings, archaeology and collections and to share the experience and expertise available there with the world. The YCCC also sees its objectives being promoted by ‘encouraging and facilitating the training of students by the disbursement of awards and grants’. q

The life and work of a real iron man ‹ DON BARKER IS A Fellow of the Worshipful Company of

Blacksmiths and derives a great deal of pride from having been one of the founder members of the York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship and to have taken an active role in its development. His 40 years as a working blacksmith were preceded by a formal engineering apprenticeship. Indeed, many of Don’s ancestors were blacksmiths and he avers that blacksmithing is ‘in his blood’. He was elected to serve as Prime Warden (Master) of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in London during the Queen’s Jubilee Year and was the first working blacksmith to have held this post for over 200 years. His wealth of experience in blacksmithing and engineering and his

knowledge of the materials and their restoration allow him to offer a unique, bespoke design and development service to customers’ briefs and professional advice on methods and materials. Don has completed commissions for many of Britain’s best-known churches and cathedrals and many stately homes, monuments and palaces. They include Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, Kensington Palace, York Minster and Bishopthorpe Palace. His private clients include many high-profile figures whose privacy is fully respected and maintained by Don and his staff. His forge specialises not only in new work but also in the faithful restoration and reproduction of antique ironwork using British-made new pure iron – an appropriate successor to the old wrought iron. Pure iron does not contain laminations and so any new additions or repairs to antique wrought ironwork are distinguishable by future restorers. q • For more information visit the website www.theblacksmiths.co.uk. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Yorkshire churchesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; artworks benefit from an expert touch â&#x20AC;š BASED IN HARROGATE, Everingham

Conservation provides a high-quality service for the conservation and restoration of fine art and decorative surfaces. David Everingham trained at the University of Northumbria, where he gained an MA in the conservation of fine art. David worked at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney and several galleries in Britain before setting up his own studio. He currently divides his time between studio-based conservation work and freelance conservation work in historic buildings throughout Britain. He has considerable experience of large-scale conservation projects in historic buildings and churches. Two of his recent projects were carried out in churches in Yorkshire. David was commissioned to restore a number of wall paintings at the Parish Church of St Mary at Bolton-on-Swale in North Yorkshire. The wall paintings are attributed to Miss Florence Burnett and are thought to have been executed around 1902. They depict adoring

The Florence Burnett wall paintings at St Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church, Bolton on Swale, before and after

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

The Emily Ford painted panels at All Souls in Leeds, before, during and after

angels and are after the renaissance masters Filippino Lippi, Matteo de Giovanni and Sandro Botticelli. They were in very poor overall condition, with widespread loss and delamination of plaster support, extensive loss of primed and painted surface and delamination and flaking of paint layers. Moisture ingress and salt migration had led to micro-loss of paint and blanching of the painted surface. They were also covered with loose deposits such as dust and cobwebs. A comprehensive treatment proposal included pre-consolidation of the painted surface, removal of surface dust and consolidation of delaminating mortar prior to the repair of water-damaged mortar and consolidation of painted surfaces with aqueous and solvent-based adhesives. Surface cleaning of the painted surface could then proceed, with distilled water adjusted to the equivalent ionic concentration of the surface. Fine surface filling of paint losses was followed by the reconstruction of elements where there was sufficient existing form and

finally tonal inpainting to large areas of loss to harmonise with existing form. At the Church of All Souls in Leeds the font cover consists of four fixed and four folding wooden panels. Each has paintings by Emily Ford on the interior faces, surmounted by an elaborate, carved wooden architectural canopy with finials, tracery, flying buttresses, statues of saints and other decorative features. The canopy is widely enhanced with golf leaf. All the surfaces and decorative elements were profoundly discoloured by over a century of accretion of dust and atmospheric pollutants. The conservation process began with the panels being photographed and assessed for flaking and other structural instability. The flaking paint was consolidated and the loose surface dirt and dust removed from all surfaces. In-depth testing was carried out to determine safe and effective cleaning strategies before surface dirt and loose deposits of dust were removed, as was the heavily discoloured varnish. The gilded surfaces and timber were surface-cleaned before the gilded surfaces were re-integrated and the timber surfaces wax polished. q

Join the Consortium and support craftsmanship ‹ MEMBERSHIP OF THE York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship

is open to anyone interested in supporting its aims – whether they are a conservation practitioner or craftsman, a commissioner of conservation work, a researcher, an educator or just an interested supporter. As a member, you would be helping to support the work of the Consortium, which is run entirely voluntarily. New members receive a copy of the current directory and the latest newsletter. Members also receive regular newsletter mailings and emailed announcements of local events, as well as courses, lectures and the like which may be of interest. They are also sent details of special trips, visits and lectures organised specifically for Consortium members. Members who are active craftspeople can market their services via the listing of practitioners and companies on the Consortium’s website with ONE OF THE SPECIALIST members of the York Consortium links to their own sites. for Conservation and Craftsmanship, Gillian Walker has worked in There are two categories of membership: corporate, which costs £30, the conservation of easel paintings for over 30 years. Among her for those wishing to represent workshop, company or institution; and accreditations is that of the Institute of Conservation (ICON), whose Individual, costing £10, for practitioners or supporters who want to join Conservation Register includes her studio in its listing. on their own behalf. Her clients include art galleries, museums, the National Trust, historic A membership form is downloadable from the Consortium website at houses, churches and universities throughout the north of England. All www.conservationyork.org.uk. R the studio’s assistant conservators are fully qualified, having completed a

Bringing paintings back to life ‹

recognised postgraduate course in the conservation of easel paintings. The Sheffield studio can accommodate very large paintings and is protected by electronic and physical security to museum specifications. Gillian’s impressive portfolio includes the conservation of such treasures as Summer by Antonio Zucchi, Mary Queen of Scots by Peter Oudry, The Peak District, Peveril Castle, by L Campbell Taylor and Picking Cobnuts by an unknown artist. The treatments carried out include both restoration – including surface cleaning, removal of varnish layers and discoloured retouchings, filling, retouching and varnishing – and conservation, including consolidation of ground and paint layers, structural treatment of canvas supports and backing of wood panels or hardboard supports. They may also include technical examination of paintings using ultraviolet light, binocular microscopy, infrared, X-rays and pigment analysis. Paintings are then reframed to museum standards. Gillian and her team can also make site visits to inspect individual paintings or carry out surveys of collections. They can give advice on conservation priorities and on suitable conditions for the display and storage of paintings and provide a ‘disaster response’. R

Summer by Antonio Zucchi before (left) and after treatment www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Stolen lead replaced in time for anniversary – and protected for the future ‹ WHEN THIEVES STRIPPED the lead from

the 17th-century home of the Sir John Moore Foundation and school in Leicestershire over Christmas last year, there was sadness and anger all round. Deana Wildgoose, the charity manager at the foundation in Appleby Magna, said: “It’s a very sad day and some of this leadwork cannot be replaced. The building has stood for over 300 years and petty thieves have stolen part of our heritage. “Some 16 lead ornate brackets and 20m of lead downpipe were taken in the early hours of 27 December. Our Grade One-listed 17th century building is unique, delivering the vision of Sir John Moore by providing education to all.” Even more ironic is the fact that much of the work done by the foundation focuses on heritage education. The building was constructed between 1693 and 1697, based on an original design by Sir Christopher Wren and Sir William Wilson. It was established and financed by Sir John Moore, the younger son of the local squire, who became Lord Mayor and Alderman of London. The main school building is Grade One-listed while the gates, gate piers, wall and outbuildings are all Grade Two-listed. A major renovation was completed in 2004 and the foundation trust is responsible for the management and maintenance of the building, providing a home for the local primary school. Community access to the site is enhanced through a variety of cultural, leisure and educational events.

Deana Wildgoose with a surviving example of an original bracket

Also in 2004, a Heritage Centre was created in the original dormitories on the second floor, which recreates life in the Sir John Moore School in Victorian times. It includes the village boys’ classroom, headmaster’s study, dormitory and clock room. All are set in 1891 with breathtaking attention to detail, hands-on displays and authentic sounds. Fortunately, the thieves missed one of the brackets and a blacksmith was able to use it as a template to recreate the stolen artefacts. They were installed in time for the foundation to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its renovation. To prevent a re-occurrence of the theft, specialist deterrence company Trace-in-Metal was called in to secure the metal assets for the future using its unique marking system. Managing director and former senior

policeman John Minary explained: “The installation was very quick and easy for us, as we were able to infuse the new sections of fallpipe with the Trace-in-Metal coded microdots using our applicator gun. We also surface marked the sections with weather-resistant UV lacquer – which also contains thousands of our coded microdots – and with the postcode of the school in UV ink. “By doing this, we provide a resilient marking system that protects the metal throughout the metal recycling ‘food chain’. And because the microdots we use survive the temperatures used in reprocessing lead and can be easily collected and read, we can trace the metal back to source at each and every stage of the recycling process. The deterrent factor therefore goes higher up the food chain as well.

The new box sections of fall pipe and brackets under construction, having been given the Trace-in-Metal treatment

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

“Our system is very much aimed at removing the market for stolen metal, and because scrap metal dealers know they can’t get rid of the markers, they will not be able to sell the metal on. To help with this we sign up the local scrap metal dealers as Trace-in-Metal ‘detectors’ and provide them with deterrent signage. Indeed, we have developed a network of police, dealer and local authority contacts. In fact, following the Sir John Moore theft, we were able to broadcast the theft of the original lead to over 200 scrap metal dealers. “Additionally, to help save police time we

The new sections of fall-pipe were infused with the Trace-in-Metal coded microdots using their applicator gun

provide the end users with an installation pack. It includes a police-compliant ‘witness statement’ identifying the codes used, advice on victim impact statements, crime prevention and crime scene management. This all helps provide protection and reassurance for the end users and is included free as part of the installation.” In that way Trace-in-Metal allows this most traditional and sustainable building material to continue in use with less chance of expensive and sometimes catastrophic theft and without resorting to less appealing substitutes.

As a director of the company told Ecclesiastical and Heritage World earlier this year: “There is nothing like lead in terms of aesthetics, effectiveness and sustainability. It was always, and can continue to be, recycled – making it attractive for both the heritage and green building markets. “Trace-in-Metal’s job is to help to protect it and ensure it doesn’t end up in unscrupulous hands.” R

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

New technology allows more sophisticated mapping of the stones ‹

THE GLOBAL GEOSPATIAL services group IIC Technologies acquired the Harrogate-based company Photarc Surveys in 2010. From its formation in the 1970s Photarc had built an enviable reputation as measured building surveyors, using sophisticated close-range photogrammetric techniques. Photarc was particularly active in the heritage sector, including carrying out surveys of many churches and cathedrals throughout the UK. In particular they had been involved for many years at Lincoln Cathedral, building a 3D stone-by-stone record of the building. Photarc also played an important role in the conservation of the Dean’s Eye window at Lincoln by creating a highly accurate digital model of the existing window stonework (pictured) which was used to create templates for carving the replacement stones. This was one of the largest conservation projects in Europe. IIC Technologies has continued to invest in the sector and has introduced a range of new technologies. In addition to close-range photogrammetry the company now uses sophisticated laser scanning technology and structure-from-motion techniques to capture 3D data, accurately modelling the external elevations and interiors of some of our most important religious buildings. The company has begun using cameras carried by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to obtain photography for measurement purposes in areas where previously a hydraulic platform or scaffolding would have been used. The UAV-mounted cameras have made roof surveys and inspections a much simpler task. New technologies have also brought new ways of presenting data. IIC Technologies continues to provide plans, sections and elevations, but clients can now have 3D models of their building for visualisation purposes. The models also allow digital reconstructions to be created showing how the building might have appeared at a chosen period in the past. IIC Technologies also captures photography for record purposes and is at the forefront of the new imaging technologies. It recently recorded the interior of Bradford Cathedral using gigapixel panoramic images to record its interiors in fine detail. The company is a framework contractor to English Heritage and Historic Scotland and has carried out a number of recent projects for CADW. Its survey teams are currently working in India surveying some of India’s outstanding heritage buildings. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Hull experts show how inclusiveness brings tangible benefits ‹ HULL-BASED disability access specialists About Access

has been drawing on its considerable experience of work on historic buildings to warn owners and occupiers of their responsibilities in terms of both 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, who founded About Access in 2006, 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 that choose listed buildings for their dragons’ dens are under the same obligation to look after the people who use their property.” Although based in Yorkshire, About Access operates nationwide and is a member of the National Register of Access Consultants and the Access Association. The company also works with BSI Standards – the UK’s national standards body – to provide guidance 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. A project carried out for English Heritage demonstrated their expertise

in conducting audits of historic buildings – some of them more than 700 years old. About Access consultants visited a number sites, including Tintagel Castle and Pendennis Castle (pictured) in Cornwall, Battle Abbey in Sussex, Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire and Witley Court in Worcestershire, and completed studies of all of them. Said Ian: “The project highlighted our awareness that what benefits a disabled person will also really help older people and families with young children. We looked into the availability of such facilities as lifts, ramps and handrails and the presence of such potential hazards as steps, slippery floors and uneven ground.” The company also worked with English Heritage’s own disability action group, which looks at disability equality issues across the entire organisation, and with their properties access group, which works to enhance the visitor experience for disabled guests. As a result they were able to help English Heritage update the information on access to its properties in print and online, giving really useful advance information so that as many people as possible can plan a visit that suits them and enjoy these wonderful places. Ian also emphasised 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. “My audit covered about 90% 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. “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 or members of the public,” 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 www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

New chapter for Sewerby ‹ A TEAM OF CRAFTSMEN from Leeds-

based specialist plastering firm Ornate Interiors have played their part in giving a new lease of life to a historic and popular East Yorkshire landmark. Sewerby Hall is a Grade I listed Georgian country house that dates back to 1714. Set in 50 acres of landscaped gardens in the village of Sewerby near Bridlington, the venue attracts over 150,000 visitors annually and has recently undergone a comprehensive refurbishment with a range of plastering requirements forming part of the scope of works. In 1936 the hall and park was opened to the public with aviator Amy Johnson conducting the opening ceremony. Working on behalf of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council and under the auspices of contractor William Birch of York, a three strong team of plasterers worked on site for a period of nine months on and off as part of a second phase of refurbishment. Phase one involved the conversion of outbuildings into holiday lets. Ornate Interiors MD Ronnie Clifford took up the story: “There was a lot of internal and external plastering involved in this project with over 25 rooms requiring attention, including the Amy Johnson Room, and many fascia features that required reinstatement. “Internally we were charged with haired lime plastering of the walls and ceilings, a method dating back millennia that allows a building to breath more effectively, the securing of a number of ceiling areas using the tried and tested penny washer and screw method and the in-situ reinstatement to original of a variety of mouldings including ceiling panels and cornices. “The hair, generally horse hair, is used within a lime mix to ensure the

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Hall

plaster binds together more effectively during the curing process. The penny washer and screw method is used to repair ceilings that incorporate damaged lathes. “The range of external mouldings applied using Roman Stucco to the courtyard and Clock Tower covered cornices, architraves, keystones and raised bands to window heads. “Additional staff within our workshop in Pudsey were on hand to manufacture the mouldings to match and then transport them to the venue for fixing,” added Ronnie. Janice Smith, curator of the Museum of East Yorkshire which is based at Sewerby Hall, paid tribute to Ornate Interiors’ crafsmanship, saying: “Ornate Interiors were a pleasure to work with. Their professionalism and quality craftsmanship combined with a cando attitude and sense of humour made our restoration campaign an absolute joy.” Ronnie summed up: “This is a landmark Yorkshire building that I remember visiting as a child. It has required a lot of careful attention in order to restore it to its former glory. All of our craftsmen have enjoyed the process immensely and the finished job will give pleasure to Sewerby Hall’s many visitors.” Ornate Interiors is currently employed at another proud Yorkshire venue, the York Art Gallery. q • For more information visit www.ornateinteriors.co.uk.

How to keep comfortable in a church that’s also an arts venue ‹ HOLY TRINITY CHURCH in Leeds

is a fine example of a Georgian church, consecrated in 1727. Although an active worship centre, for the past 10 years it has

housed a community arts centre, Arts@Trinity, which has a full calendar of events. The aim of the church is to promote its own heritage along with that of its surroundings,

World War One fighter fires up in commemoration ‹ ONE OF THE MOST exciting museums in Yorkshire is the Yorkshire Air Museum at

Elvington near York. It recently completed the restoration of a World War One Eastchurch Kitten plane, with the aid of a grant from the York Foundation for Conservation and Craftsmanship. The Kitten was an experimental interceptor – ‘high altitude’ fighter designed to tackle the threat posed by the Zeppelin airships. It was to be launched off battleships, cruisers or even torpedo boats. A ‘disposable’, one operation aircraft, to simply go up, intercept and shoot down the airship, then ditch in the sea. It made its first flight on 1st September 1917. There is no other example of this aircraft type in existence in the world, so the restoration is quite significant, encapsulating a fascinating piece of aviation history. The Kitten joined the museum’s other WWI aircraft, a Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a, in being ‘fired up’ on 3 August, the eve of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the war, which co-incidentally was the occasion of one the museum’s Thunder Days. The museum is also the home to the Allied Air Forces Memorial, so the occasion was particularly significant. q

as well as developing a creative and proactive venue capable of hosting a broad range of arts events and corporate activities. For the paying public, as well as for performers and the congregation, a comfortable environment is essential, so an energy-efficient heating system is a priority for keeping costs down. The church’s boiler was around 40-50 years old and was in desperate need of changing. The pipe work however was still in good condition and just required some simple cleaning out and chemical testing. Help came from over the Pennines as a new boiler and controls were installed by Manchester-based specialists HeatinGlobal, who had to bring in the new boiler in pieces and rebuild it in situ. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

New installation lights the way for pilgrims ‹ LASTINGHAM IN NORTH YORKSHIRE has been a place of

pilgrimage for centuries, its church having been founded by St Cedd of Lindisfarne as a monastery in AD 654. Following his death, 10 years later, he was buried beside the altar of the original church. The founding of St Mary’s was described by the Venerable Bede and some of the decoratively carved Lastingham Stones date from the 8th century.

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Beneath the church is possibly the most remarkable crypt in Britain. It is certainly the most complete and the only one that has its own nave, apse and side aisles. Originally, the light in the crypt came primarily from candles or ‘tea lights’ placed on a temporary basis on top of the pillar bases, capitals, altar and altar rail. However, in 2011 the PCC and the Friends of Lastingham Church embarked on a project to upgrade the interior and install a new lighting system. Specialist church lighting designers Lighting Dynamics UK, worked with York-based architect Peter Gaze Pace to produce a new lighting scheme for the crypt. The brief was to devise a “…totally new lighting design and installation that would enhance the architectural features of this magnificent and unique Grade One-listed structure, whilst also providing illumination for the various liturgical services and numerous daily visitors”. The crypt has an extremely low roof line and a damp environment, especially during winter months, so careful consideration had to be given to the selection of the most appropriate lighting equipment and light sources. Other major factors were the restricted spaces where luminaires could be placed and the likely problem of heat, as generally all the luminaires would be within easy reach of visitors. The Diocese also placed severe restrictions on cable routes and required minimal disruption to the floor sections. The project team came to the conclusion that miniature MR 16-style, exterior grade luminaires, rated to IP 67, were the most appropriate choice – mounted in concealed positions where possible. The luminaires were supplied in a bespoke, RAL colour finish to blend in with the interior of the existing stonework. The latest generation of low-energy, high output MR 16-style LED light sources was specified throughout, with an overall colour temperature appropriate for the interior. In addition, special colour filters were introduced to add further accent to the colour tone. High-quality dimmable remote drivers were housed in a specially designed IP-rated enclosure. This protected cabinet is located in a side area in the crypt. All of the lighting is operated via a unique wireless dimming/scene-setting system with selection via either a wall-mounted keypad or a hand-held controller. A variety of pre-programmed scene selections are available for the various lighting tasks, providing maximum flexibility. Electrical installation was completed by A J Electrics (Coleshill) Ltd. The result is a pleasingly illuminated crypt providing an uncluttered environment. The lighting has been installed with minimal disruption or interference to the fabric of this ancient building, requiring minimal ongoing maintenance. R

CRE North has everything your church needs – under one roof ‹ IN OCTOBER Christian Resources Exhibitions makes its periodic

pilgrimage to Manchester. The last CRE North was in 2012 and was the first show in Manchester for nine years. The event was such a success that the organisers had no hesitation in booking the same venue – EventCity in the Trafford Centre complex – for this year’s show on 8-9 October. Speaking or performing at the event will be a range of speakers and artists well known in various parts of the north, representing differing denominations. From the Bishop of Manchester, Rt Revd David Walker, to Bradford-based worship leader Lara Martin and from social activist Andy Hawthorne to Preston-born comedian Tony Vino, this year’s show at EventCity offers one of the strongest regional line ups ever. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford, Terence Brain, will open CRE North on 8 October at 10am. Born in Coventry in 1938, Bishop Brain was ordained to the priesthood in February 1964 and was ordained bishop in 1991, serving as an auxiliary in Birmingham before being installed as Bishop of Salford in 1997. Manchester comedian Tony Vino will perform his début showcase set in CRE North’s Hour of Entertainment and also compere the Spotlight stage. He will be joined by fellow comedian Paul Kerensa who, as well as being on tour constantly around churches and comedy clubs, is preparing for a show at the Edinburgh Festival in 2015. Leading worship will be Bradford-based singer/songwriter Lara Martin, who is best known for her songs God is Here, The Voice of Hope and Divine Exchange. Her more recent songs include Be With Me, Between Trapezes and Soothe – a song written following the loss of a baby through miscarriage and which features regularly at Saying Goodbye remembrance services in cathedrals across the UK. In a coup for the show, an exhibition depicting the Stations of the Cross, originally held at Manchester Cathedral, will be on display. Cheshire artist Rob Floyd spent two years creating 18 life size paintings, which he has donated to the cathedral. The largest of the artworks is the crucifixion, which measures 2.5m by 2m and was too big for Mr Floyd’s studio. In addition to all that celebrity activity, CRE North will offer its signature blend of wide-ranging exhibition stands, offering everything for the church to function – from seating to heating – and a thought-provoking

An exhibition depicting the Stations of the Cross, originally held at Manchester Cathedral, will be on display seminar programme. In fact, as the organisers of the show say: “No other event provides such a remarkable range of seminars, workshops, theatre and church resources – this event is truly an experience not to be missed.” q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Book helps make sense of the tragedy of war ‹ FOLLOWING ON FROM the sombre

commemoration of the events of August 1914 – and while our minds are focussed on the horrors of World War One – Bible Society will be at CRE North to introduce a book that can be used both personally and in any church service. Hear My Cry includes hymns, prayers and psalms suitable for religious and civic ceremonies as well as school lessons and assemblies. There are also poems by Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and others and personal stories from the time. Like today, the holiday season was in full swing 100 years ago as Europe teetered on the edge of tragedy. During the next few months many

churches will be commemorating those who lost their lives in the most tragic of wars. In his foreword to Hear My Cry, General the Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff, says: “To make sense of war we can do nothing better than place our hope and faith in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ. This publication is a timely guide to help to do just that.”

The book costs just £3.99 or £2.50 for orders of over 25 copies. They will be available from the CRE North bookshop. The book is just one of hundreds of resources available at EventCity. Some are connected with topical events while others will help in the day-to-day business of maintaining a Christian presence in local neighbourhoods. R

Christians say it in films ‹ CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE north are using films to motivate congregations and reach those outside the church with ‘significant impact’ – so reports Ray Horowitz, executive director of the UK Christian Film Festival (UKCFF), which continues its national tour at CRE North. Since it was last at EventCity in 2012, UKCFF has worked with an increasing number of churches, schools and other groups in the area. “Christians in the north west are fulfilling the vision by showing a range of relevant films in their communities,” says Ray. “In the modern world, films impact people in ways that books or conversations frequently don't.” UKCFF has compiled the largest catalogue of Christian films in the UK. They can now be licensed by groups to show multiple times in one year from as little as £35 – a significant discount on previous prices when a film frequently cost up to £200 to license for one public event. Winners from the 2014 Festival at CRE International in May will also be screened in Manchester, including the winner of Best Feature Film – I’m in Love With a Church Girl. R

Gopak furniture adding comfort and style to church community ‹ WESLEY METHODIST CHURCH required furniture that can be used by all members of the public for the activities it hosts in its community rooms. The church’s existing chairs had started to deteriorate and users were finding their existing chairs too low for their needs. The Methodist Church contacted Gopak who offered a cost effective furniture solution. Gopak Comfort upholstered folding chairs and Capel easy chairs gave the community areas of the church a new lease of life. All members of the community use the folding

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

chairs so it is important the furniture suited young and old. The folding chairs are made with comfort and good posture in mind. The chair has a deep radius back and seat, offering support and making it one of the most comfortable folding chairs on the market. Durable and lightweight, the folding chairs are ideal for frequent use at the church’s daily coffee mornings. Anne Lane, Ministerial CoWorker commented that “users at the church’s coffee mornings immediately commented on the softness and comfort of the new chairs.” The folding chairs can easily be moved due to their lightweight frame and can be stacked quickly to create more space in community areas. The easy chairs help create a relaxed setting at an economy price making them ideal for the quiet room at the Methodist Church where bible studies and small meetings take place. They come with a five year guarantee, are available in three colours and are perfect for rooms that have multiple uses.

Gopak has been designing, manufacturing and supplying high-quality, multi-functional furniture for over 50 years. R • Go to www.gopak.co.uk or call on 0845 7023216 to find out more.

Craftsmen come together to fashion a work of art ‹ CREATING BEAUTIFUL PIECES of furniture for churches and other

places of worship is the core business of Fullers Finer Furniture, so when they were asked to design a new font for the chapel at Bloxham School in Oxfordshire, it was a pleasure to be approached. It was also a slightly unusual commission as the piece was to be a collaboration between Fullers and wood sculptor Jonathan Hemingray. Jonathan’s main business is creating crafted wooden crosses for schools, colleges, places of worship and retreats, as well as for individuals.

After a site meeting at the school, a brief was formed to create a font with flowing lines which would incorporate some sculpted crosses, as well giving the impression of water and light. It was also to pick out features of the church architecture and the colours of the existing woods so the font would fit in with its surroundings. After a period of consultation with the school, a final design was agreed on and a faculty applied for. The final design incorporated a handmade slumped glass bowl, which was commissioned from Eligo Glass in Weston-super-Mare. It was placed into a top formed of 16 segments of solid oak, each cut as a wedge and scalloped on the outer edge. The oak top was created with concentric circles, giving the impression of a pebble dropping into water and creating a splash with circular ripples radiating outwards. The underframe of the font was made from black walnut and consists of four legs with the outer faces curved, which join four gothic arches. Centred on the arches are the four curved panels with the crosses created by Jonathan. Inside the walnut frame, four panels of toughened graduated blue glass were formed, continuing the water theme for the font. The final piece of the plan was to illuminate the glass from the inside using LED light strips, enhancing the glass and radiating up through the glass bowl. The final result was a beautiful bespoke piece of furniture with which the school is delighted and which Fullers Finer Furniture and Jonathan Hemigray are proud to have been able to create. q • To view other pieces by Fullers Finer Furniture visit their website at www.fullersfinerfurniture.co.uk.

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

TV brings the Word into the living room ‹ ON 8 OCT Jonathan Hulton, a former

Busy heating installer is awarded multiple commissions ‹ BACK IN 2012 Holy Trinity Church in

Knaresborough, North Yorkshire (pictured), was in need of a replacement for its central heating system. After the job had been put out to tender, church heating specialists Mellor and Mottram of Stoke-on-Trent were appointed to carry out the installation. The job went well and the new heating system has proven to be a reliable and efficient system for the church and its parishioners. The management team at Holy Trinity were so impressed with the professionalism of the team from Mellor and Mottram that, when the main Parish Church in Knaresborough – St John the Baptist – was due to have its heating system replaced, the choice of contractor was easy: Mellor and Mottram were due on site to start the installation at the end of July. Moreover, Holy Trinity have retained the firm to install the new system in its church hall, complete with three energy-efficient Rinnai gas heaters! The company have made the installation of heating systems in churches and associated buildings into a specialist activity.

Other contracts they currently have on-going include St Andrew's Church in the historic Fenland town of Whittlesey in Cambridgeshire, which is having its dated system replaced with a new gas fired condensing boiler. At the Church of St Peter and St John in Rugby, Warwickshire, Mellor and Mottram are fitting additional fan convectors in the main nave. The rear of the church has been converted into a hall, which has also had extra heating fitted. In addition to church projects, two educational establishments are currently having new systems installed by Mellor and Mottram. Leighton Academy in Crewe, Cheshire, is having five old boilers replaced with two more efficient Remeha boilers, while Hathersage Primary School in Derbyshire is having their dated boiler replaced with an efficient Quinta Pro boiler. Despite all this activity Mellor and Mottram will be maintaining its well-established practice of exhibiting at CRE. Visitors can meet the team and find out more about the various systems available at stand D1 of CRE North in Manchester. q

policeman from Manchester and now the head of ministry relations at GOD TV, will talk at CRE North about the vital partnership that is needed between Christian media and local churches. “I discovered GOD TV was available in every room at my hotel in Myanmar,” said Jonathan. “It is staggering to see the passion and hunger of our fellow believers.” GOD TV is building strong partnerships with local churches to establish a network of people who have agreed to open their living rooms to neighbours to share their Christian faith. “At GOD TV there is a passion to see media reach those who would never dream of going to church,” he said. “With the prevalence of TV, the internet, tablets and smartphones, there has never been such an opportunity to share our faith with so many people we cannot meet face-to-face. “The partnership between Christian media and the local church is vital. Christian media can take the Gospel where people can’t – into the homes of those least likely to enter a Christian setting.” q

CRE International heads for the capital ‹ AFTER 28 YEARS, CRE International reached the finishing post at Sandown Park racecourse in May. The exhibition, which regularly attracts 10,000 visitors to the four-day event, will move to ExCeL in London from May 2015 – the city’s largest events venue situated in the vibrant East End. “CRE is already Europe’s leading series of Christian exhibitions – it’s high time we put it centre stage,” explained event manager Bill Allen. “We have had a great run at Sandown Park, but the show will expand into a purpose-built venue with wonderful facilities – in the heart of one of the world’s greatest cities. We are growing the show into a truly international event with visitors and exhibitors reflecting the church worldwide.” Before then, CRE will be heading for the Westpoint Arena in Exeter on 10-11 February 2015 for CRE South West. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Hallé

Redundant church lives again as Hallé’s new rehearsal space ‹ THE HALLÉ RANKS AMONG the world’s foremost

symphonic ensembles. Based in Manchester – and since 1996 at the iconic Bridgewater Hall – it is now in its 155th season and has long held an ambition to have a permanent base for rehearsal, recording and education activities. Sited in the Ancoats area of the city, St Peter’s Church was built in 1859 in a Romanesque style. It has a basilica-type plan and is constructed of brick with ornate cast-iron columns supporting clerestory arches between nave and aisles. Following World War Two and the relocation of the population away from the city centre its congregation declined, leading to its closure in 1960 and final abandonment in the early 1990s. By that time the building had received Grade Two-listed status as part of the designation of the Ancoats Conservation Area. Architects MBLA – now part of Buttress – were appointed by the North West Development Agency in February 2009 to work on a feasibility study for the potential conversion of St Peter’s Church into a rehearsal base and intimate performance venue for The Hallé. The condition of the building envelope was good prior to the project, having been safeguarded by restoration and holding repairs undertaken by the Ancoats Buildings Preservation Trust in the mid-1990s. The accommodation requirements for the Hallé were relatively simple: a large flexible space to accommodate choirs and orchestras of varying sizes for a range of rehearsals and performances as well as outreach programmes. Suitable welfare facilities and full access within the listed building were also needed. A new raised timber floor was inserted and exposed brickwork retained. Secondary glazing was added to the windows and a number of permanent and flexible elements were designed. Key to the client brief, though, were the acoustic and lighting design strategies within the remodelled space. The acoustic performance of the space needs to be dry and analytical for rehearsals, so that the musicians can hear themselves, and ‘wetter’ and more reverberant for recitals. A flexible solution was sought to meet those needs within the budget and listed building parameters. Specialist consultants Sound Space Design and Anne Minors Performance Consultants were tasked with delivering that solution. The lighting design is driven by the needs of the musicians and choristers, who spend long hours studying sheet music. As the project architect remarked: “In our client briefing we were informed that in some rehearsal spaces with inadequate lighting the musicians have resorted to wearing head torches, a compromise we were keen to avoid. The lighting is easily adjustable for rehearsal and performance levels and has been made a feature in the designs.” The development of the new resource was completed last year and now provides rehearsal and recording facilities for the main orchestra as well as a base for the Hallé Choir, Youth Orchestra, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir. It forms the first phase of an ambitious project that will involve the creation of an extension onto an adjoining site to provide workshop, archive and other facilities. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Specialist designers put the musicians centre stage

‹

THE HALLÉ’S NEW rehearsal base at St Peter’s required a purpose-built demountable stage to match the ecclesiastical setting. Doncaster-based CPS were enlisted to design and supply the equipment. The stage consisted of Alu Combi platforms used in conjunction with Alu Rapids, where bespoke platforms were needed to fit around pillars. It was fitted with a high-quality, durable Karndean floor which blended in with the surroundings. CPS are leading manufacturers and suppliers of seating and staging systems which have been professionally designed, developed, tried and tested. The project was one of a number of prestigious projects CPS have recently completed. q

Acoustic alchemy turns leaden surfaces into musical gold

‹ THE HISTORY AND stories to be found in heritage buildings have long provided

inspiration for musicians and performers alike. However, modern standards of acoustics and technical systems demand that these spaces are upgraded. Such was the case at St Peter’s. In the first phase of the project Sound Space Design (SSD) led a collaborative process to test the feasibility of converting the church to a permanent rehearsal venue with space to accommodate the largest ensembles of over 100 musicians and to include an audio monitoring room, acoustically isolated from the main space for professional quality recording. SSD worked with The Hallé on a number of preliminary uses to test various options for the acoustics and orchestra layouts. One project was particularly exciting, for a television recording for BBC 4’s documentary programme Symphony (pictured). The Hallé wanted to improve the clarity of sound, both for the orchestra ensemble playing and for the quality of the recording. The solution was to provide sound reflecting surfaces close to the orchestra, below the high nave ceiling of the church, and to reduce the reverberation of the space to an appropriate level. Any acoustics treatment had to be non-invasive, with no material effect on the building fabric, so SSD and Anne Minors Performance Consultants (AMPC) designed and built a series of sound reflecting ‘SoundSails’. Constructed of specially chosen and tested fabric, the SoundSails went on to become a key part of the acoustic solution and architectural statement for St Peter’s. SSD guided the architects to use the existing qualities of the church for acoustical benefit, for instance the retention of the raw brickwork inside to provide acoustical warmth. With a city centre location and an increasing number of apartment buildings springing up around the site, noise intrusion was a concern. Secondary glazing was installed, along with acoustically treated passive ventilation ducts. Together those elements silence the sound of traffic from outside so that every delicate note is heard clearly with no disruptions. q

Teamwork makes the most of a shared space ‹ ACROSS THE ATLANTIC in Toronto, the world-renowned

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Choir have for decades shared Trinity St Paul’s Church with the local congregation. Tafelmusik approached SSD and AMPC to see what improvements could be made for music performance, acoustics, staging and sightlines. Constrained by a very tight budget, a holistic concept was developed with the church and orchestra leaders through careful briefing sessions and attendance at concerts, rehearsals and church services – thereby building understanding of the priorities for religious and performance uses. As experienced musicians and churchgoers themselves, Anne Minors and Robert Essert of AMPC and SSD guided improvements both for performers and audiences, with AMPC supplementing the acoustic concept with designs for new seating and pews to improve sightlines, and a new stage that would lessen the time and workload involved in changing from church to performance use, and with better acoustical response for the musicians. Last year momentum was finally behind the project and a first phase of improvements was carried out with local heritage architects ERA. Tafelmusik is overjoyed at the improved acoustics for their orchestra and choir, and Trinity St Paul’s enjoys improvements to their choir sound and congregational singing, as well as a close and flexible relationship between clergy and congregation. As was the case with the Hallé St Peter’s project, the close relationship with the musicians and building operators has resulted in exceptional acoustic, technical and practical improvements, while the time invested in understanding the historic architecture in both projects has resulted in designs which are particularly sensitive to the existing structure. The AMPC/SSD team currently has renovation projects under construction at the Grade Two-listed Friends’ Meeting House in Euston, London and the Grade Two*-listed, Basil Spencedesigned Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts at the University of Sussex. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

RESTORATION

CONSERVATION

JG Restorations are traditional builders who provide a top quality heritage build and restoration service. Our highly skilled, specialist team take real pride in delivering a finish that is second-to-none, so you can be assured that we can confidently undertake your project with the utmost experience and expertise. Y CHURCH & ECCLESIASTICAL Y HERITAGE CLEANING Y STONEWORK Y LISTED & HISTORIC BUILDINGS Y BARN CONVERSIONS Y CONSERVATION & REPAIRS

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Call now on 01793 781213 or 07879 475867

HERITAGE HERITA T GE BUILD AND RESTORAT TA RESTORATION A ION SPECIALISTS AT 50

T: 01793 781213 E: info@jgrestorations.co.uk www.jgrestorations.co.uk jgrestorations.co.uk

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

‘The Spire’

Redundant church takes on a new role in the community

‹ STANDING FORLORN, neglected and

decaying, the Church of St Peter at Ufton Nervet, a small hamlet in West Berkshire, was one of the many redundant churches throughout the country. It had been built in 1862 on the site of an earlier medieval church, through the instigation of the then rector James Frazer (one-time Bishop of Manchester) and the generosity of Richard Benyon, ancestor of the present custodian of the nearby Englefield Estate. In 2002 a small group of local people formed the St Peter’s Ufton Charitable Trust, with overwhelming local support. They set out to rescue the building and create a vibrant cultural community centre to provide leisure and entertainment for the surrounding area. Spurred on by a generous grant, the trustees embarked on a programme of works entailing repairs to the roof and engaging the services of a specialist stained glass window restorer. The latter was to repair the ravages caused to the northern windows by teenagers hurling bricks at them. Said chairman of the trustees, P H Newall: “Our restorer, Barry Davis of Leadcraft Reading, did a magnificent job of restoration and the windows are a particularly attractive retained feature.” In November 2012 the charity finally secured the freehold of St Peter’s and the trustees were able to proceed with all the design and tendering and local authority consents. By March this year all was in place and creation of The Spire – the name chosen for the centre – was ready to move forward. After the trustees had viewed the work done at St Michael’s Church in Tilehurst, the contract

was awarded to J G Restorations Ltd under the experienced leadership of Michael Bartoletti. Mr Newall continued: “A project like this one requires rather more of the chosen contractor and his clients than a formal business project might do: it requires the people concerned to share the vision and dream of what they are trying to create. Happily, that has been a special part of our relationship with Michael and J G Restorations. The trustees are confident the end result will be a truly magnificent venue, provoking a big WOW! factor in all those who enter.” The centre will comprise a main auditorium, performance area, changing room for performers and a heritage area. A kitchen and cloakroom facilities are also included. The large ledger stones that had been laid in the floor have been lifted, and are now fixed vertically to the wall so that visitors can see them – provoking in some the wish that they had studied Latin at school! “When polished they will look stunning and will show dates, a detail that seems to interest most people,” commented P H Newall. “In general, the trustees are keen to retain as many of the historical artefacts as possible, and Major John Steeds and David Pearse have volunteered to organise the heritage area as one of special interest to visitors.” One of the safety requirements was for a second door as a means of escape in emergency. The trustees decided to have a door that matches the style of the existing front door, which is very special in character. Samuel MacArthur of Ramsbury Stonemasons was chosen to do the work, along with the cleaning of the internal

stonework and the moving of the ledger stones. Several generous people and organisations have helped with funding for The Spire, however such a building is a hungry beast. Nevertheless, it is hoped that by the end of November the work will be completed and additional funds to equip it will have been secured. Mr Newall explained: “We are not quite there yet, so any contributions to help us fit out The Spire will be most gratefully received and acknowledged. Donations can be made most effectively through the Greenham Trust Matched Funding scheme. Doners can go to findmeagrant. org and follow the links to our reference: WB10646 under Berkshire.” Looking towards the day when the centre opens, events manager Duncan Highet has taken on the responsibility for organising all kinds of events, including old time music hall, plays, concerts and films. Said Duncan: “We hope to arrange all kinds of anniversary and commemorative parties there. We will invite businesses to use the venue for sales conferences and ‘away days’, providing their employees with a unique and inspiring venue. Our minds race away with ideas whenever we talk about what events to hold, so we are champing at the bit as we work on towards completion.” Chairman Newall summed up the anticipatory feeling: “Our very strong board of trustees and the volunteers forming our operations committee look forward greatly to welcoming visitors to the centre when it is opened. Watch this space for further news!” R www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

St Peter’s Church – Winchester A worthy lighting solution by Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd ‹ THE ROMAN CATHOLIC

Church of St Peter in Winchester is a Grade Two-listed building dating from 1926. It was built in the Gothic revival style to replace a chapel built in 1792 by Dr John Milner, which is believed to have been the first Catholic church to be consecrated since the Reformation. Now known as Milner Hall, it acts as a church hall. In the 1990s the lighting in the church was replaced and with further alterations being added in 2003 St Peter’s was left with a variety of spotlights and floodlights that did not provide an adequate level of lighting. Jenny Robinson, the property and finance administrator, remarked: “Over recent years this had become more of a problem with increasing numbers of complaints from the parishioners and clergy alike.” Finally, in 2012, the property committee agreed that a solution to the problem had to be found. They turned to Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd.

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

The Roman Catholic Church of St Peter in Winchester Jenny Robinson continued: “When we started investigating a good long-term solution to our problems we contacted several potential suppliers and felt that Anthony and his team understood and interpreted our desires exactly. Being a listed church we were required to gain a Faculty through the Historic Churches Committee and having Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd on board certainly helped with the process, as they are well respected by the HCC.” Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd have a long-established reputation for providing tailored solutions for church buildings of all denominations and their installation teams have a wealth of experience in the careful and considerate installation of cabling in these most challenging and important buildings. The company’s Neil Blake explained: “As with all of our clients, energy efficiency and length of lamp life, together with flexibility in use, were at the top of the concerns at St Peters, together with needing to provide a solution that sat comfortable within the architecture. The only option was a bespoke solution meeting the exacting needs of both the congregation and the individuality of the architecture. ‘’The wiring in the main nave of the church, including the aisles, chapels, chancel and sanctuary were unsuitable to be adapted further, so a new installation of fireproof cabling was carried out, as was the installation of a new mains distribution system. Other areas, such as the narthex, sacristies and tower also required updated lighting to be installed, although for these spaces the wiring was tested and deemed suitable for re-use.” Outside the church the lighting of the entrance steps had fallen into disrepair, so a series of Victorian-style lamps on period posts was installed that now light up the whole of the piazza. Jenny Robinson commented: “The finished result not only provides the right quality and quantity of light, but also the flexibility of the new system means that the ambiance and feel of the interior can be modified to suit all sorts of occasions.” Canon Paul Townsend, the parish priest, added: “The finished result is fabulous – the lighting is so in keeping with the rest of the interior that in some ways we have already forgotten how poor the previous lighting was.” q

Dernier & Hamlyn goes back to the future

‹ 1888 WAS A VERY significant year with the establishment of at least

three august organisations that continue to thrive today. The National Geographic Society was formed in Washington DC, whilst in London both the English Football League was established and bespoke lighting specialist Dernier & Hamlyn set up business. Since that time Dernier & Hamlyn has designed and manufactured thousands of light fittings for palaces, cathedrals, churches and other historic buildings both in the UK and overseas. When it comes to ecclesiastical and heritage sites the company is an acknowledged expert and holds a Royal Warrant for both the manufacture and restoration of bespoke lighting. Their London-based team of craftsmen has restored some of the most

important and architecturally significant light fittings that feature in her Majesty the Queen’s residences as well as other iconic buildings including St Paul’s Cathedral, St Martin-in-the-Fields and famous Downing Street properties. Working in significant buildings such as these requires not only excellence in technical and craft skills, but also a depth of knowledge about the lighting of the past. So that when fittings are renovated to meet building regulations or to incorporate energy efficient or emergency lighting they also remain historically accurate. Over its 120 plus years of operation, Dernier & Hamlyn has built up a significant archive of drawings, specifications and photographs along with some 10,000 patterns that are constantly referred to not only by the people who work at the company, but also by the designers and building managers who commission them to produce light fittings. Anyone with an interest is welcome to access this invaluable resource to help inform their research and designs. Interestingly it is often this reference to the past that inspires contemporary light fittings too. Whether it is for hotels, luxury homes or super yachts what appears to be ‘of the moment’ frequently includes significant nods to the past. It is not often that one thinks of historical reference material as beautiful, but amongst the Dernier & Hamlyn archive are some stunning watercolours that were used to present lighting concepts to clients in the past. Artists were commissioned to paint light fittings to show off proposed designs and colours and then, following feedback, they would repaint them, often many times, until the client was entirely happy and they could be manufactured. Nowadays designs are discussed and technical drawings and specifications drawn up on computers before a rendered image is produced. Clearly, this makes the process much quicker, easier and less labour intensive, although leafing through the delicate watercolour paintings – such as the one pictured – makes some argue that taking the artists’ skills out of the equation loses something. Clearly times have changed and the way that lighting is designed and manufactured has changed. However, at Dernier & Hamlyn many traditional production methods have been retained to work alongside more modern techniques – meaning that whether it’s a completely new design, a replication of a historic chandelier or updating the technology contained within a fitting, the same degree of quality for which the company is known is always retained. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Draughty stately homes can have heat pumps, too! ‹ ONE OF THE arguments often used against heat pump installations is that

they only work in buildings that are well insulated. The Heat Pump Association, however, has reported on a recent installation which dispels this myth. Soulton Hall in Shropshire demonstrates that even properties with high heat loss factors through low levels of insulation can benefit from the installation of heat pumps. Soulton Hall is a Grade One-listed Elizabethan manor house that is also used as a venue for wedding parties. Its listing means its thermal integrity cannot be substantially changed, such as via the application of wall insulation or changes to the leaky single multi-paned leaded windows. The roof was insulated during a refurbishment as it is out of sight. Before having a ground source heat pump system installed it consumed £20,000 worth of oil per year, yet even then not all areas were adequately heated and comfortable. Following the installation of the GSHP system annual fuel bills have dropped to £10,000, providing a seven-year payback without any incentive support from RHI. q

Striking the right balance may involve fan assistance ‹ THE BALANCE BETWEEN comfort and energy efficiency when it

comes to heating large spaces such as churches, church halls and other public buildings is a delicate one and can easily be upset. There are no universal space heating solutions, but if the application requires intermittent heat then powered flue fan-assisted gas heaters are an excellent option because they have no pilot light – and the pilot light can account for up to 50% of the gas used, according to gas heater specialists Vulcana. Powered flue fan-assisted gas heaters feature closed combustion with added forced air assistance. One benefit of closed combustion is that it saves fuel by preventing the heater from taking air that has already been heated for combustion. Optimum efficiency is achieved through the fan control. Thus, they are able to heat large workspaces rapidly, effectively and evenly. In addition, powered flue fan-assisted heaters do not take air from the interior to support combustion so they provide long-lasting, efficient and comfortable heating without reducing room air quality. An important consideration in ancient buildings is that the physical changes required in a building in order to install the heating system are significantly reduced with a powered flue fan-assisted gas heater. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Industry group mounts fightback against plastic ‹ IN 2007 A GROUP of leading

manufacturers, installers and component suppliers for timber windows and doors came together to form the Wood Window Alliance. One of the group’s main campaigning platforms is to combat the increase in the replacement of windows and doors in period buildings – particularly in Conservation Areas – with PVCu. In its campaigning literature the group quotes a number of papers highlighting the problem. In particular it quotes the 2006 English House Condition Survey (2006), carried out by the Department for Communities and Local Government, which found that more than 40% of houses built between 1850 and 1899 now have PVCu double-glazed windows, adding: “...all the evidence suggests that the proportion of historic houses with PVCu windows will continue to rise significantly.” In its information booklet, Replacing windows in Conservation Areas, the alliance states: “The visual character of Conservation Areas is under threat from unsympathetic replacement windows and doors. In most Conservation

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Areas nothing is done to stop the tide of PVCu replacement windows, while elsewhere conservation officers and building inspectors argue over the authenticity of single-glazing versus the energy and acoustic efficiency of new high-performance wooden windows.” The theme is continued elsewhere. In the English Heritage publication Heritage at Risk: Conservation Areas, top of the list of threats facing Conservation Areas is ‘unsympathetic replacement doors and windows’. The sentiment is echoed in a survey published in December 2013 by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Number one on its list of the top 10 crimes against period homes is: “Replacing original good quality sash windows with inappropriate modern aluminium or PVC-u casements and stripping out original period doors.” According to the Wood Window Alliance: “The report points out that there are over four million Victorian and Edwardian houses in the UK and many are crying out for some serious care and repair work.” In Replacing windows in Conservation Areas

the alliance has developed a three-point policy in the treatment of windows in period buildings: repair, replicate, replace – in that order. “For historic or listed buildings, where restrictions prevent the use of correctly detailed modern replacement timber windows, consider repair.” Where replacement is necessary: “In historic or listed buildings, it will be necessary to replicate the existing windows using single (putty) glazing, matched mouldings and historic glass.” Replacement with a factory-made timber window can be considered for Conservation Area properties which are not listed. PVCu should never be used, says the alliance. R

Golcar vicarage receives vital revamp ‹ THE SODDEN SASH WINDOWS at Golcar Vicarage in West Yorkshire

have crucially been replaced by period window specialist Ventrolla. The property, occupied by the local vicar and his wife, sits within the grounds of the Golcar parish. Following an inspection of the late 19th century building the windows were deemed too rotten for repair. Craftsmen from period window specialists Ventrolla were given the go ahead and carefully removed the sash windows, retaining the original features by using traditional methods of carpentry. With repairs and renovations done to the casements and sashes, the new windows were then installed. Installation of secondary glazing and the Sash Removal System (SRS) means the vicar’s windows will now protect him against dreadful draughts as well as being easier to maintain. Kevin Smith, property manager for the Diocese of Wakefield, said: “With the windows in a poor state of repair, and advice from the council that like for like windows would be required, we decided to go with Ventrolla. The service was excellent, restoring the vicarage to its former glory and finishing the project earlier than expected.” With over 30 years experience, Ventrolla offers a tailored range of period window solutions. Their unique service includes draught-proofing with the Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS) and fitting replacement doubleglazed sashes that incorporate the patented Sash Removal System (SRS) for easy painting and future maintenance. Ventrolla also offer complete new timber windows, secondary glazing solutions and a wide range of window hardware. The company has its head office in Harrogate, North Yorkshire and regional offices located throughout the UK and Ireland. q • For further information call 0800 0277 454 or visit www.ventrolla.co.uk.

Scottish Laird finds it Ecoeasy! ‹ IT’S NO EASY task draught proofing an 800 year old Scottish

castle – but incumbent Laird Simon Craufurd believes he’s found a way! Simon, owner of the the A-Listed Craufurdland Castle, near Kilmarnock in Ayreshire, took delivery of a number of Ecoease secondary glazing panels in late 2013 and they are already proving their worth and paying their way. Simon explained: “Draughts were an issue around large windows in several rooms in the castle as well as cottages on the estate and due to the restrictions on installing double glazing in listed properties, I opted for secondary glazing panels which I installed myself. “The installation process was easy. They fix to the inside of the window frames using a magnetic strip and take just a few minutes to erect. It couldn’t be simpler. “Now the rooms are so much warmer and more comfortable. The glazing panels are incredibly discrete. No one spots them and there is no condensation any more to mop up in the mornings. “I’d definitely recommend Ecoease secondary glazing. It’s more than paid for itself already and has contributed significantly to a more comfortable living space,” added Simon, a former naval architect and direct descendant of William Wallace, who moved into the house with his wife Adity and two daughters three years ago. The property has been in the family since 1245 and is currently divided into two apartments – The Laird’s House where Simon and his family reside and The Tower House, a luxury self catering venue for up to 16 people.

Founded in 2010, Ecoease has established an easy-to-use online presence that allows customers to order bespoke sized polyester (PET) panels with a measured 2 fit (M2F) option that makes installation even easier. Between 15% and 25% of heat escapes through windows and secondary glazing panels provide a proven route towards cheaper energy bills. Priced at around £55 per square metre, Ecoease secondary glazing is available in either M2F or DIY options. q • Ecoease secondary glazing panels can be ordered online at www.ecoease.co.uk or through a number of partner retail sites. For further information call 0845 519 3230. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

OXFORDSHIRE FOCUS

Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0

Oxfordshire – the heart of England’s heritage tradition ‹ IN THE HEART of England there is a county that seems to

embody the classic view of the country’s heritage. Oxfordshire blends rural idyll with academic tradition. The ‘dreaming spires’ in the centre of Oxford itself are visible from vantage points designated ‘viewing cones’ in the surrounding countryside. What figures less in the public imagination is that Oxford is also an industrial centre. The district of Cowley for a long time gave its name to

a model of car – and last year celebrated a century of car production. The university itself is at the cutting edge of research in many fields, but it also contains numerous world-ranking museums, including the world’s first public museum. Elsewhere in the county there is a plethora of rural cottages, many of them listed such as that described by Martin Hall in this feature. Others are in the care of the Oxfordshire Buildings Trust. R

Public are invited to nominate their heritage ‘assets’ ‹ HERITAGE ASSETS CAN BE described as those parts of our

surroundings that are of value to us, particularly for their historic, archaeological, artistic and architectural interest. While many can be protected by law – either as scheduled monuments or as listed buildings – many do not enjoy that protection. Such is the case with Oxford. Oxford City council is running four pilot studies in the city with a view to compiling a register of locally valued heritage assets so that they can be managed by way of planning policies and the council can promote understanding of the things that make them valuable. The four areas are West Oxford, East Oxford, Summertown and Blackbird Leys. The council is also inviting members of the public to nominate ‘assets’ they think should be included on the register. The council’s website includes a criteria sheet for nomination. According to the council: “The City Council will consider whether sites or buildings could qualify for inclusion on the Heritage Assets Register as part of their consideration of planning applications. A number of sites and buildings have been identified in the past as having potential for inclusion on the Register of Heritage Assets or the list of Buildings of Local Interest but have not been assessed against the adopted criteria. “Others have been nominated by members of the public either within or outside the study areas we have prioritised and are awaiting consideration in due course.” Nominations can also be made in the case of buildings that contribute to the character of the area. In those cases the council has this to say: “If the special significance of your heritage asset is mostly its contribution to the character and appearance of the area, you will need to document the qualities of the wider area in a street character statement, which you can prepare using the Oxford Character Assessment Toolkit.” R

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Applauded design forges a link between new and old MARTIN HALL, RICS-accredited conservation surveyor and director of Hall & Ensom Ltd, describes the process involved in bringing a listed building into modern habitation.

â&#x20AC;š SOME TIME AGO I was fortunate enough

to be asked to undertake a building condition survey for a prospective purchaser of a listed house in Oxfordshire. The Grade Two* detached house turned out to date from the 14th century and to have been originally constructed with no chimneys â&#x20AC;&#x201C; making for an interesting case study. Chimneys were added when the house was extended in the late 16th century. But the roof timbers still had smoke blackening from the central floor hearth and one could see where the chimney insertions had cut through the original roof line. The house had no central heating and was untouched for the last half-century but in basically sound condition considering its age. There were, however, no gutters. That is very common for thatched houses but very uncommon for stone slates and clay tiles, which was the case here. After the survey I was asked to put together a package of repair works, based on my survey recommendations, and to install central heating. As the house was listed, the conservation officer

Before and After

The garage and house before work began (below) and the interior and rear of the completed link and garage (top to bottom, right)

was concerned about losing any historic fabric in the process. We agreed the runs of all pipework by walking round the house and subsequently marked these on a plan for approval. At the same time various structural works were undertaken including repairing an area of timber framing. The repair work was carried out by local firm Boshers of Cholsey and the central heating by Thompson Heating & Plumbing of Charlbury, who were both very careful to ensure all work was carried out with due respect to the age of the house. With the heating in place the clients asked if we could carry out a feasibility study for replacing the dilapidated garage and then linking it to the side of the house. We put forward three schemes which each had an oak framed garage next to the side of the house. Two had traditional stone extensions linking the house and one was a glass link box. Given the listed status of the property I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too confident of a good reaction from the conservation officer and English Heritage if the

glass box link was chosen by the client which, predictably, it was! An application was drawn up and duly submitted to the local council. Fortunately it received a good response from the conservation officer and the English Heritage representative also supported the concept. Having won listed building consent and planning consent the structure design had to be finalised and constructed. The glass walls are Pilkington planar panels, double-glazed to a good U-value standard and tinted to cut down solar gain. They are supported internally on an independent steel tubular frame on stainless steel pins bolted through the glass. The frame also supports the roof. The stairs linking the first floor are concrete tiled with a glass balustrade. A specialist Pilkington-approved contractor, Birchdale Ltd, designed the glass envelope and installed it to tight tolerances. The steel frame was erected by the main contractor, Alfred Groves of Milton-under-Wychwood, who carried out all the other preparation and finishing works. Prime Oak fabricated and erected the garage on the prepared site. The glass was on 16 weeks delivery from sign off so the project had a protracted lead-in, not helped by the awful weather in January and February. Now the project has been completed it certainly looks stunning and complements the historic house without compromising its setting or character. q

Martin Hall FRICS IHBC PG Dip Conservation Historic Buildings RICS Accredited Building Conservation martin@hallandensom.co.uk Tel: 01993 774995 Cotswolds and surrounding area

David Ensom BSc MRICS david@hallandensom.co.uk Tel: 01256 889851 Thames Valley and Southern England

www.hallandensom.co.uk www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Museum bids to keep Iron Age mirror ‹ THE OXFORDSHIRE MUSEUM is making a bid for a rare bronze

Iron Age mirror discovered near Didcot and is urging the public to help raise the funds to keep it in the country. The mirror dates from the first century BC and is decorated with a highly unusual and beautiful curvilinear La Tène-style pattern. Those particular mirrors are unique to Britain and only 18 complete ones are known to exist. The mirror, the only one to have been found in Oxfordshire, was discovered near Didcot some years ago by a metal detector user and was recently sold to an anonymous bidder from outside the UK. Following appeal a temporary export bar was issued and the Oxfordshire Museums Service given the opportunity to raise the £33,000 needed to keep it in the country. The V&A Purchase Grant Fund has now agreed to contribute £10,000 and the local appeal organised by the Friends of the Museum has drawn a great response. The Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum, a registered charity, have until 12 September to raise the local funds that will be needed to keep the mirror in the country and to put it on display in Oxfordshire. “We now have only four weeks left to raise the remaining £8,000,” said Trevor Hendy, chair of the Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum. “The people of Oxfordshire have a strong tradition of supporting their heritage and I am confident that with their support we will reach our target and be able to keep the mirror in this country so that it can be enjoyed not only by the people of Oxfordshire, but also by visitors from across the country and the world. Even the smallest contribution can make a difference.” q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

City’s ageless vista to be re-assessed ‹

TO MANY PEOPLE, speak of Oxford and the image of its 'dreaming spires' is conjured up, marking the major city and academic landmarks. Because of the topography of the area the myriad of spires and towers is visible for miles around. As the city council itself says: “The opportunity to walk into and through Oxford's countryside setting and look back on the city’s domes, towers and spires from the green valley or hillsides is valued by its residents and visitors as a rich inheritance that should be carefully managed for future generations to enjoy.” A ‘views policy’ was first introduced in 1962, which has served the city for 50 years in successive development plans. Now, Oxford City Council, Oxford Preservation Trust and English Heritage have collaborated to produce an Assessment of the Oxford View Cones to “help address the challenges of meeting the needs of a developing city”. The assessment is “seeking to provide an evidence base that examines the significance of each of the Oxford View Cones as a part of Oxford's heritage, using a robust methodology in order to better understand how they can be most effectively managed in the future”. As part of that process the council carried out a public consultation, which ended on 25 July. q

University’s museums get on-going funding

Noel Coward telegram found in Agatha Christie Bureau ‹ OXFORDSHIRE FURNITURE RESTORER Clive Payne made a

unique discovery whilst restoring an early 18th century bureau which had been bought from the estate of Agatha Christie. The bureau, which had been brought in by a private client, had been sitting in Clive’s workshop for 3 years before he began work on it. Removing the back from the bureau revealed two folded pieces of paper which were nearly discarded. Glancing at the papers, Clive realised that one was a telegram from Noel Coward to Agatha Christie, dated September 1957, reluctantly congratulating her on The Mousetrap breaking the record for the longest run of a play in the West End. The bureau dates from approximately 1710 and is walnut veneer on a pine carcass. It features 3 secret drawers and a well, which is probably where the papers were originally filed away for safekeeping. The discovery backed up the information provided with the bureau which had been purchased from a sale in Exeter in 2006, listed as a sale of surplus furniture from ‘Greenways’, Agatha Christie’s home on the river Dart. The property is now owned by The National Trust. Hidden away with the telegram was a receipt from ‘Miss Elliot’ shop in London, purveyor of ‘Model Lingerie, House Gowns, Dressing Gowns and Bed Jackets’ and addressed to Mrs Mallowan, the surname of Christie’s second husband. The bill details charges of £24 13s 6d dated January 1st 1952. q

‹ IN JULY IT WAS announced that Oxford University Museums – the

group comprising the Ashmolean Museum, the Museum of the History of Science, the Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum – has been awarded £1.45m per year over the next three years by Arts Council England to support a wide range of activities and programmes. The group is one of 21 ‘Major Partner Museums’ across England to be granted funding from 2015 onwards under the Arts Council’s Renaissance programme. Offering free admission, the four museums together see around two million visitors each year. Since it launched in April 2012, the Renaissance programme has provided £22.6m to groups of Major Partner Museums across the regions. At the Oxford University Museums the funding enables a rich programme of activities for the public, including educational visits for schools, activities for families and lifelong learners, and community outreach programmes. Last year the museums provided education sessions to almost 90,000 school students and engaged 40,000 children and 85,000 adults, both inside the museums and out in the community. Arts Council funding also supports important behind-the-scenes activity that underpins the museums’ public work – including conservation, collections care, loans and technical services. In addition, it has enabled the development of digital resources that make the collections available to students, scholars and the public across the world. Professor Paul Smith, director of the Museum of Natural History – which reopened in January following a major restoration of its roof – said: “Over the years, Renaissance funding has transformed the way that the university museums interact with the public. The new funding will enable us to continue innovating and to provide exciting and novel programmes for visitors.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Trust keeps countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

heritage alive

â&#x20AC;š THE OXFORDSHIRE BUILDINGS TRUST, which was set up in

1981, has restored or helped restore a number of historic buildings. It also offers grant aid and advice, and campaigns on heritage and conservation issues. The Trust has made numerous grants to aid conservation work in Oxfordshire. These include Nuffield Place, the windmills at Wheatley and Great Haseley, the Martyrs Memorial in Oxford, Abingdon County Hall and Dorchester Abbey. Those eligible for grants will normally be non-profit making organisations with heritage projects which provide a public benefit. Among examples of buildings saved by the Trust is Swalcliffe Barn (above and left), six miles west of Banbury. It was acquired by the Trust in 1990 and is one of the finest medieval barns in the country, having been constructed by New College in the early 15th century. The County Museum Service uses the barn to display agricultural and trade vehicles from Oxfordshire. The Friends of Swalcliffe Barn also have an exhibition of Swalcliffe history and open the barn to the public between Easter and October. Ascott Park near Stadhampton (below) has also been a major focus of activity. It is an attractive area of parkland that once formed the centre of a great estate run by the Dormer family. The Trust has researched the history and carried out an excavation to locate the long-lost house and gardens associated with the Dormers. Anyone looking for a good short walk can follow the historical trail set up by the Trust and ponder the many mysteries this fascinating stretch of countryside has to offer. q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Ancient building material still has many uses ‹ ONE OF THE universal building

materials prior to the end of the 19th century was lime. Lime was present in various forms in almost every building, from limewash on the walls of cattle byres and cottages to the mortar used on cathedral and castle walls. According to the British Lime Association (BLA), lime was burnt as early as the 4th century BC, when it was first used as a building material. Today, the universal term ‘lime’ includes quicklime, hydrated lime, milk of lime and dolomitic lime. Nowadays, says the BLA: “Lime is one of those usually unseen products that have a profound effect on our daily lives. It is used in many important industrial processes such as steel manufacture, the building/construction industry, in food production processes, agriculture and many environmental applications.... to name just a few.” In recent years there has been a blossoming of the use of lime in the repair and restoration of ancient buildings – often putting right the disasters caused by illadvised repairs in the past using cement. The BLA website outlines number of uses of lime in traditional building:

Limewash

putty are therefore all used for the restoration of our built heritage. The restoration of these buildings is often important for surrounding communities, providing them with lasting historical and cultural heritage, prolonging the buildings use as a tourist attraction, and often even increasing the aesthetic appeal of the local area. q

Limewash is a traditional method of painting walls with a colour base that allows the masonry to breathe, providing both protection and aesthetic appeal. Limewash is also widely used in agricultural buildings, due to its germicidal qualities coupled with its extreme ease of application and low cost.

Conservation

• For more information visit the BLA website at www.britishlime.org.

Buildings pre-1900 would not have been built with cement but with a lime mortar. Therefore, in order to conserve these buildings it is essential to use similar materials when doing so. To introduce cement or cementitious mortar would cause decaying due to the difference in chemical composition of cement and would inevitably result in irreversible damage. Hydraulic lime mortars, hydraulic lime plasters and renders and lime

A selection of the country’s leading specialists in the use of lime in the restoration of heritage properties can be found from page 70 in our ‘Church & Heritage Supplies’ section.

Church roof repair uses old-fashioned skills ‹ A GOOD EXAMPLE OF the application of lime mortar and plaster to a church roof was carried out by Devon based Sublime Renovations. St Peters in Thornbury, north Devon was built in the 14th century. It had been added to and remodelled over the following 200 years and by the beginning of this century was in a bad state of neglect and needed restoring. With lottery funding, and in conjunction with the Historic Churches Trust and the church architects, the roof was replaced and re-slated. On the inside of the roof all the old lathes were torn down and replaced with new oak ones. Before any plastering could take place the beams were covered to protect them from staining; then the rafters were coated with two coats of protective sealant, which would then be peeled off once the job was finished. Next, a coat of haired lime mortar was put on to bond with the lathes. That took a considerable time to dry, after which a second coat, this time of unhaired lime mortar, was applied. After that had dried the final top coat of fine lime plaster was applied and trowelled smooth. Lastly, the lime plaster was painted with two coats of distemper. The time-consuming task of removing the protective coating from the rafters was then completed, leaving the original timbers in perfect condition and making the ceiling look like it had been there for years. Sublime Renovations is a well-established company which carries out projects nationwide from its base in the picturesque village of Ottery St Mary in Devon. They specialise in the renovation, repair and conservation of ancient buildings. All the team have in common an appreciation and understanding of the craftsmen of the past and a desire to keep their skills alive. As the company itself says, what better way to do that than to maintain and repair ancient buildings to their former glory using those same traditional skills that were used to build them? q • For further information visit www.sublimerenovations.co.uk. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Half a lifetime repairing like with like – lime with lime In 2002 Bob Bennett was awarded an MBE for services to conservation and the maintenance of historic buildings. He has been a passionate advocate of the use of traditional lime in the repair of ancient buildings for nearly four decades. Here he tells the story of his career and his role in the creation of the National Armed Forces Memorial.

‹ I WAS CONSCRIPTED into RAF Fighter

Command just as World War Two was ending. Upon demobilisation I worked as an irrigation engineer for several years before changing course and working on historic buildings. I had spent a part of my life in the building industry but I had never really taken lime mortar seriously until 1977-8, when I spent two years in Somerset cleaning masonry. I also worked on that most stunning piece of Gothic architecture, the West Front of Wells Cathedral. The cleaning was just part of a major 12-year project to restore the stonework and conserve the 300 original medieval statues. During the course of that work I learned a great deal from the other members of the team and at the end of the job the architect asked me to carry out repairs to a row of stone cottages close to the cathedral and built at about the same time. By now I was a total convert to the use of lime mortar, because of its self-healing qualities and its ability to outperform modern cement in durability and even in strength – although that is seldom an issue.

In common with many of my colleagues in the business of caring for historic buildings, I recognised the need to repair like with like. If it was built with lime then lime is the best repair option. After all, Wells Cathedral was built with lime mortar and is still in splendid condition after 750 years of exposure to the elements. My next move was to open the first Lime Centre in the UK, at Morestead near Winchester. I was now able to supply a range of appropriate materials, including lime putty and hydraulic lime products of varying strengths and performance. Having now spent 25 years caring for historic buildings I have come to appreciate the environmental advantages of using lime. When burnt lime is used as the binder in bedding mortar, plaster and render, it absorbs back a large proportion of the carbon dioxide given off in the manufacturing process. Once exposed to the atmosphere as a mortar, it starts to cure by absorbing carbon dioxide and converting back to limestone. I once heard an enthusiast describe it as ‘building with liquid limestone’.

One particular project that I was asked to advise on was the new Armed Forces Memorial at Alrewas, designed by Liam O’Connor Architects. The concept called for a highly skilled team of masons and in order to ensure that the project was successful from the outset I was asked to work with the building team. The first section of the main curved stone wall was built in my workshop. I was particularly pleased to see the tradesmen who built the memorial at Alweras being honoured at the Stone Federation Awards held at Lord’s Cricket Ground. We also have an obligation to build using sustainable materials for the future of the planet. That can be achieved by reducing ‘greenhouse’ gas emissions and providing better insulated buildings. I am encouraged to find an increase in the number of building companies asking for help in training their staff to work with lime and the associated improved insulation. The forerunners have been the old traditional building firms that employ a range of tradesmen with a profound knowledge of their trade. R

Scottish guide to lime is of universal value ‹

HISTORIC SCOTLAND HAS published a short guide: Lime Mortars in Traditional Buildings, which is aimed at building professionals who deal with issues relating to the maintenance and repair of traditional and historic buildings and structures. However, it is equally of use to contractors, homeowners and students with an interest in lime mortars and finishes, traditional materials and historic building maintenance strategies. According to the introduction to the guide: “The process of preparing and using lime mortars in building work is an essential skill for all those working on traditional buildings. Traditional buildings, defined by the Scottish House Condition Survey as buildings constructed before 1919 of solid masonry, make up around 20% of the existing housing stock in Scotland and therefore the skills required to maintain such buildings should not be considered ‘specialist’.” The aim of the guide is ‘…to provide the reader with a background to the history and use of lime mortars in traditional building, the sourcing of raw materials, preparation of lime mortars for repairs, and how to recognise and reduce the risk of failure.’ This guide provides advice on the specification of lime mortars; however, it states, it does not offer exact mixes, which are always site specific. “Where specification of lime mortar is required for conservation work,” it says, “or where there is uncertainty about the correct specification to use, the reader is encouraged to employ the skills of a buildings consultant experienced in the specification, application and maintenance of lime mortars and finishes.” Lime Mortars in Traditional Buildings, together with a number of other guides and publications, is available free of charge from Historic Scotland – visit the website at www.historic-scotland.gov.uk. R

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION

BELLS

BUILDING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION

ARCHIVE STORAGE BOXES

ASBESTOS

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

BUILDING SERVICES

CANDLES

CARVERS

MASTER CARVERS ASSOCIATION

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

CHURCH HEATING

CONSERVATION STORAGE

DAMP PROOFING

DISABLED ACCESS

CHURCH SUPPLIES

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

EXHUMATION SERVICES

FENCING CLOCKS

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

FIREPLACES

FURNITURE

LEADWORK

GLAZING SUPPLIES

LANDSCAPING

LEADED LIGHTS

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

LIGHTING & SOUND

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

LIME

LIGHTNING PROTECTION

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

METAL SUPPLIES

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

NOTICE BOARDS

ORGANS

ROOFING

PAINT STRIPPERS

PAINTING CONSERVATION

PLASTERERS

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

SECONDARY GLAZING

SECURITY

SIGNS

SOUND & AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEMS

ROOF TILES STAINED GLASS

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

STONE SUPPLY

STONE

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

SURVEYS

TRANSPORT & STORAGE

TERRACOTTA TREE SURGERY & CONSULTANCY

TESTING AND CONSULTANCY