Ecclesiastical & Heritage World issue No. 61 by DMMonline

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COVER STORY

CONTENTS Church lighting with a difference This issue’s front cover features the church known as ‘Pugin’s Gem’. It is the church of St Giles in Cheadle, Staffordshire which now benefits from a new, low-energy lighting system that shows off the master designer’s interior at its best. The new system was installed by Sutton Coldfield based church lighting specialists Lighting Dynamics UK.

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5 Reflections LEAD 9 11 12

Murdoch Awards 2014 showcase the very best in leadwork Scotland triumphs in the Murdoch Awards Hi-tech deterrent means churches can now be ‘shot’ of lead thieves

ROOFING 14 Roofing Awards 2015 – seeking award-winning heritage roofs 15 Roofing specialists look to Crusader church in bid for awards ‘double’ 17 Glory of church roof revealed 18 Restoring historic roofs with handmade clay tiles 19 Revealing the roofs other surveys cannot reach NEWS 21 23 24 25 26 27 28 28

These Angels receive their reward on earth Hidden 200 year-old Swiss Garden reveals its rare Regency treasures Dernier & Hamlyn enlightens Art Deco splendour at Claridge’s Purcell unveils Wallace Collection refurbishment Essex restoration builders reach 125th anniversary Churches benefit from landfill fund At Risk Register offers slight encouragement Two bronze medals and recognition as Master Blacksmiths

HEATING 29 DRU Kamara wall heaters provide comfort and efficiency to rural village church 31 The right heating system for the right church 33 Awards scheme warms the hearts of congregations across the country 33 Guidance helps to assess what’s needed 33 Heating firm offers a free boiler

CRE EXHIBITIONS 35 It’s a quick turn-round as CRE journeys to the South Coast 37 Best-seller opens the batting for CRE 37 Modern technology for traditional buildings 38 Speakers and performers take centre stage 38 A perfect sound system – the secret is in the detail 39 New lighting allows medieval gem to sparkle once more

WINDOWS 42 Window restorer’s expertise helps bring inventor’s farm back to life

LIME 44 45 45

Lime has a long tradition with modern applications Breathing life into old buildings Lime is part of life at heritage centre

BAFRA 46 47 48

The maintenance of standards is key to antique furniture restoration Military career leads to restoration skills Restorers cater for comfort

WWI CENTENARY PROJECTS 41 Funding helps villages remember the Great War 41 Pals to be subject of memorial square in Accrington

CHURCH & HERITAGE SUPPLIES 49 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. Printed in the UK by The Magazine Printing Company Plc www.magprint.co.uk

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‹ THIS COLUMN IS BEING written on the evening of Remembrance Sunday, when the whole nation came

together to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives in wars throughout the last century and into this. The emphasis was on the hosts of fallen in the First World War, whose centenary is currently being marked. As stated in previous pieces, monuments up and down the country are being refurbished, cleaned or just marked and recorded. Some major projects are being planned, such as the memorial square to the Accrington Pals, planned as part of that town’s refurbishment which has attracted a grant of £1.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund; others are on an altogether smaller scale, but no less important to their local communities for that. Two villages in Berkshire have been awarded just £3,900 by the HLF to help finance a project to unveil their own stories from the Great War, prompted by the discovery of John Masefield’s name on the village muster. It’s been a time of awards, with the Heritage Angel Awards being presented by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who founded them, and the Lead Contractors Association’s Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award being presented. Meanwhile the National Federation of Roofing Contractors has issued a call for entries for next year’s Roofing Awards. Unfortunately, the theft of metal from church roofs is a persistent problem. The passing of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act last year has resulted in some reductions in the crime. In addition, a number of methods of marking the metal not only allow stolen metal to be traced and recovered – with the culprits apprehended – they also act as a deterrent if the presence of the marker is advertised. One ingenious method devised by a former police officer involves the ‘shooting’ of the sheets of lead or other metal with microdots, each giving the sheets a unique and identifiable code. With a tearful eye Ecclesiastical and Heritage World bade farewell to the Christian Resources Exhibition in Manchester for the foreseeable future. No doubt we will see CRE at EventCity again but there are no set plans as yet. Presently the exhibition organisers, The Bible Society, are concentrating on two major initiatives: the oneday variation known as CRE On the Road – CRE South in Southampton on 27 November being the next such event – and the move from Sandown Park of the national show to London’s ExCel. In 1979 a number of graduates of West Dean College in West Sussex founded the British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association (BAFRA). That organisation now has some 85 accredited members as well as a number of overseas associates and trainees. BAFRA president Michael Barrington looks back at the history of the association and reflects on its role today. q

Chris Stokes

Editor, Ecclesiastical & Heritage World

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St Giles RC Church, Cheadle, Staffordshire

New lighting allows Pugin’s

‹ IN 1832 JOHN TALBOT, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury, made the

acquaintance of the architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, leading light of the Gothic Revival in building design. Pugin was the son of a French draughtsman who had fled the French Revolution. He had been trained by his father and became a highly influential architect and designer. He believed the Gothic to be the true Christian form of design. Although not yet a convert to Catholicism by 1832, he had rejected the austere Presbyterianism of his childhood. Talbot was a leading promoter of the Roman Catholic faith following the 1829 Emancipation Act. He commissioned Pugin to carry out work to his family seat at Alton Towers in Staffordshire. In 1840 he engaged him to design and build a Catholic church ‘that would have no rival’. To achieve that aim the Earl placed unlimited means at Pugin’s disposal. The result is St Giles’s Church in Cheadle, now Grade One listed and known as ‘Pugin’s Gem’.

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The church is the architect’s tribute to inner peace and serenity and a design wonder of the Gothic Revival. It was consecrated on 31 August 1846 and remains one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival church architecture in the world. Although considered to be a wonderful architect, and known as ‘God’s Architect’ to many, Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was also an outstanding interior designer. Unsurprisingly then, the level of detail at St Giles is an astounding riot of fine textures and rich colours. The roof beams, pews and rood screen are carved from the finest quality English oak; the ornate pillars, porch, altar and pulpit are intricately worked in alabaster and stone by master craftsmen; the walls, arches and pillars are sumptuously painted with a variety of decorative red, green and gold designs; the floor is laid with the finest Minton tiles; and ornate brass gates separate the Blessed Sacrament Chapel from the main body of the church.

masterpiece to shine forth

In recent years, however, the lighting system for this sumptuous interior had become increasingly expensive to run and was also extremely difficult to access and very costly to maintain. The church invited Gerry Browne, founder of Lighting Dynamics UK of Sutton Coldfield, to explore options to upgrade the old, high wattage system. Working closely with a team of architects from Brownhill Hayward Brown of Lichfield, representatives from the Diocese, the Historic Churches Committee, English Heritage and the Parish Priest, Gerry proposed a number of different lighting design options for the project. Eventually it was agreed by all concerned that an ‘all LED’ lighting design would be the most appropriate solution for this magnificent building. Specialist and bespoke linear LED modules were designed and supplied by Lighting Dynamics UK for the feature uplighting of the nave and chancel ceilings. In addition, bespoke LED projector luminaires were supplied and incorporated for the general lighting and the feature lighting of the numerous architectural features within the church – these include the chancel arch and rood screen, the pulpit, the painting over the chancel arch, the main altar, the font, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the sedilia and the Easter sepulchre, among many others. The existing iron chandeliers in the nave were also removed for refurbishment by a local blacksmith, who did an excellent job of rebuilding and restoring them. Further ‘supplementary’ lighting, by way of small specialist LED luminaires, was also supplied and incorporated by Lighting Dynamics UK within these chandeliers, to boost the general lighting levels in the nave. All of the new interior lighting has been designed to be operated via a large number of individual circuits, to allow for maximum flexibility in the everyday operation of the church and its liturgical activities. To this end an extremely sympathetic electrical installation has been carried

out by Lighting Dynamics UK’s nominated NIC EIC registered electrical contractors, A J Electrics (Coleshill) Ltd. Said Gerry Browne: “The new ‘all LED’ lighting upgrade at St Giles has really transformed the interior of this wonderful building, allowing a far greater visual impact of the magnificent interior which can now be viewed by all concerned, including the many daily visitors. The new lighting design has also resulted in significantly lower energy running costs and less on-going maintenance.” q

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Murdoch Awards 2014 showcasing the very best in leadwork

Overall winner was John Fulton (Plumbers) for 6-9 Water Row in Greater Govan and Glasgow Harbour (above left), with the ‘Sponsors Award’ going to D Blake & Co for Dumfries House in Cumnock (above right)

‹ THE 2014 MURDOCH AWARDS for quality in leadwork saw the continued sponsorship

ALM also supplied the lead for projects by finalists Conservation Leadwork Ltd (above) and Norfolk Sheet Lead (below)

by ALM and another increase in the number of entries over the previous year. Overall winner was John Fulton (Plumbers) who took the accolade for 6-9 Water Row, in Greater Govan and Glasgow Harbour. The impressive B-listed, red sandstone tenement building occupies a prominent site in the heart of Govan’s Conservation Area, having been built for the YMCA in 1897. The restoration, in keeping with best conservation practice, involved roofing, stonework, joinery, chimney and structural repairs, refurbishment of sash and case windows, overhauling of the tower and repointing. Because of its prominent location, the project was considered to be of high impact, enhancing the character of the Conservation Area, improving the streetscape and increasing confidence in Govan’s regeneration. ALM’s Andy Denham commented: “This project is another real time example of the material’s longevity and a perfect example of how lead continues to be pivotal to the restoration of historic buildings. In conjunction with Jamestown Metals in Glasgow, ALM is proud to be associated with such craftsmanship and awards which recognise the highest contracting standards.” The ‘Sponsors Award’ winner was another Scottish project, D Blake & Co.’s Dumfries House in Cumnock, Ayrshire. This has enjoyed a high media profile ever since Prince Charles invested £20million of his charitable foundation’s money and brokered a £45million deal to secure the house and its collection of Chippendale furniture. The leadwork package involved covering the tower roof of the newly built belvedere within the Queen Elizabeth walled garden. An extremely tight time frame was involved to coincide with the scheduled opening by Her Majesty the Queen on 2nd July. Just a two week window was available, entailing 12 hour shifts for the four installers involved. 3.5 tonnes of code 6 lead was supplied by Jamestown Metals and installed with a gutter at base level discharging through ornamental lead-cast dragons and a welted step section. 56 lead panels were then fitted to the tower onto a 22mm thick timber substrate with open gap boarding. Lead work was fitted in panels of up to 2m x 800mm, head-fixed with 3 rows of copper clout nails with the panels diminishing in size towards the top. Standard wood core rolls to the panels and a king roll at the hips were fitted with a separate welted cap. The panels were fitted with a concealed tie at the bottom edge via a lead welded tie to the lower panel. ALM supplied both of the winners as well as finalists Conservation Leadwork Ltd, Norfolk Sheet Lead (UK) Ltd, M W Leadworks Ltd and S J Baker & Sons Ltd. q • The Murdoch Awards are sponsored by ALM and you can find out more about them and Jamestown Metals, their sister company for the north of England and Scotland, at www.associatedlead.co.uk and www.jamestownmetals.co.uk. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Scotland triumphs in the Murdoch Awards ‹ COMING HOT ON THE heels of

the referendum vote, Scotland was once more the focus of attention at the Gala Dinner which traditionally concludes the Annual Conference of the Lead Contractors Association. The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the winners of the Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award – the ultimate accolade for those engaged in the historic craft of working with lead and whose skills remain so much in demand today. The 50 or so LCA members and guests Pictured above is Ewan Hay (right) of D Blake & Co receiving the Murdoch Sponsors Award from had already been treated to a pre-dinner Dick Murdoch (centre) and Rod Bexson of ALM whilst above right Dick Murdoch and LCA chairman preview of all the entries for this year’s Stuart Bailey (right) present the Murdoch Award to Alasdair White of John Fulton (Plumbers) award during a drinks reception, when were John Fulton (Plumbers) of Glasgow for their outstanding work on a gallery of photographs specially prepared for the event was on a difficult and extremely time-consuming restoration project in Govan. display. Fulton director Alasdair White stepped forward to receive the However, the real serious stuff came at the end of the dinner when Murdoch Award from Dick and LCA chairman Stuart Bailey. He chairman of the judging panel Dick Murdoch, after whom the awards thanked the judges for honouring John Fulton for the third time and are named, took his place at the rostrum to share his views on the paid tribute to his team on site, who had delivered such an eye2014 entries with the contractors in the audience hanging on his catching project. It had been extremely technically demanding and he every word. was delighted to see that acknowledged by the judges in their decision. ‘Mr Lead’ has always had a special relationship with the Lead Graham Hudson, managing director of Associated Lead Mills noted Contractors Association and indeed during his time as the senior that this was the first time both awards had gone north of the border technical officer of the Lead Sheet Association (or Lead Development and looked forward to the English, Welsh and Irish LCA members Association as it was then) was instrumental in setting up an taking up the challenge for the 2015 competitions. q independent lead contractors trade association in 1984. Now, 30 years later, Dick paid tribute to the LCA’s on-going and uncompromising stance on quality standards – but then proceeded to berate his audience at length because such a high standard demanded constant vigilance on site by everyone involved. In particular Dick cautioned the site supervisors and managers who took the overall responsibility for making sure the work was right, reminding them that even the smallest incorrect detail could cause the roof to fail. This year hollow roll ends on flat and pitched roofs had come to the fore and Dick spent several minutes considering what had been seen on some sites compared to the recommendations in the Lead Sheet Manual. Continuing the quality standards theme, Dick thanked Associated Lead Mills, who had done so much to raise the profile of the competition since agreeing to sponsor it in 2005 and then creating the Murdoch Sponsors Award a year later. Finally Dick turned to the main event of the evening – the finalists and winners of the awards. He commended the excellent standard of workmanship to be seen on all of the three finalists of the Murdoch Sponsors Award – which is for projects of less than five tonnes – and it had been difficult to choose a winner from Conservation Leadwork (small flat roof area with pitched roof to three sides of a skylight), S J Baker & Sons (turret and weather vane in Hammersmith) and D Blake & Co (leadwork to a small tower roof at Dumfries House in Scotland). However, after much discussion the judges eventually decided the winner of the 2014 Murdoch Sponsors Award was D Blake & Co for their work at Dumfries House. Ewan Hay stepped forward on behalf of the company to receive the Murdoch Sponsors Award from Rod Bexson of Associated Lead Mills. In considering the Murdoch Award, Dick was pleased to see new members MW Leadwork of Basingstoke as a finalist in the 2014 competition for their project in Reading, but noted they faced tough competition from John Fulton (Plumbers) – twice winners of the Murdoch Award in 2006 and 2009 – and Norfolk Sheet Lead, who won the Sponsors Award in 2008. The judges decided that the winners of the 2014 Murdoch Award www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

Trace-in-Metal director John Minary (left) and Ripley Castle owner Sir Thomas Ingilby, Bt at the national launch of the revolutionary new product

Hi-tech deterrent means churches can now be ‘shot’ of lead thieves ‹ INSTANCES OF METAL THEFT – in particular theft of lead from

churches – have seen a reduction from the levels of only a couple of years ago, thanks in great part to the combination of more proactive policing across the country and the introduction of the Scrap Metal Dealers (SMD) Act in October last year. Unfortunately, that will be of little comfort to the congregations and PCCs of churches across the country who have recently fallen victim to the crime, which seems to happen in clusters. In the space of under a fortnight, between 21 September and 5 October, four churches in Norfolk and one over the border in Suffolk were targeted – two in the pilgrimage centre of Walsingham. The thefts happened just days after delegates from almost every diocese in England had met in Norwich for the national church buildings conference, which discussed that very issue among others. They followed a similar spate in the two counties at the end of August and in early September when one church a week had been plundered. Those cases, together with instances up and down the country, serve to highlight the fact that there are still thieves motivated enough to steal the lead and that there are also unscrupulous scrap metal dealers who are willing to buy the metal. The fact that the offences are still taking place after the introduction of the new law shows that there are still problems with metal theft and the recycling industry. Scottish churches are also not immune. Saint Salvador’s Church in Dundee was recently attacked twice within a short period of time. The BBC reported that thousands of pounds worth of damage had been caused to the ornate interior of the church and the Rector, Rev Clive Clapson, said the thieves were “…stealing from some of the poorest people in Scotland.” The SMD Act does not apply in Scotland, and there is some evidence of cross-border activity to both steal and dispose of the metals. The Scottish and Northern Ireland administrations are to follow Westminster in the introduction of similar legislation, but the timescales involved are as yet unknown.

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To some, the crime may appear victimless but that is far from the truth, as the vicar of another target of the thieves – St Mary’s in Maryport – explained. “They might think that it is fine – we can get insurance,” said Rev Susan McKendrey. “But every time something like this happens our insurance premiums go up. Like many churches we struggle and this just makes life harder for all of us.” Those involved in the business of protecting churches from such thefts know that the new legislation was never going to be a complete solution, although there is no doubt that it has had a positive impact. The causes of crime and the motivation of offenders are known to be complex issues, with no easy answers. A governing factor, however, is the ability of the thieves to dispose of the stolen lead – quite simply, if they cannot sell it they won't steal it! Lead is a highly recyclable material and at some stage all stolen lead must pass into the legitimate market. There is a constant challenge, therefore, to equip the legitimate traders with the means to easily identify stolen lead. Now, a revolutionary invention, developed with the help of ballistics experts, enables just such a process of identification. Trace-in-Metal, which has been designed by a former West Yorkshire police detective, fires thousands of microdots into the lead sheets – ‘marking’ them with a unique identifying code. In addition to being impregnated into the metal, the dots – which are almost invisible to the naked eye – are also painted on to each sheet using an all-weather lacquer that shows up under ultra-violet light. Such is the science behind Trace-in-Metal that even the smelting process cannot destroy the nickel dots and their unique tags. At the national launch of the product at Ripley Castle, Trace-inMetal director John Minary said: “We have been developing this unique anti-theft device for a number of years, and after successfully trialling it on a church in Huddersfield, we are now launching it nationwide.

“I’m proud to say it is a Yorkshire invention that utilises Swedish innovation and ballistics expertise. It is totally unique and we believe it will revolutionise the way valuable metal, in particular lead, is protected from thieves. “Metal theft is big business and the Home Office estimates it costs the UK economy around £220m a year. With resourcing being an on-going problem for police forces, anything that helps in preventing crime and saving police time must be welcomed. We see Trace-in-Metal as a valuable weapon in the crime prevention arsenal, and one that will help protect historic buildings around the country.” Mr Minary added that in addition to its anti-theft qualities, Trace-in-Metal is working with a large national insurer to provide improved insurance terms for buildings where the system is installed. Ripley Castle owner Sir Thomas Ingilby, Bt runs the Stately Home Hotline, which correlates and disseminates security intelligence to over 1,500 UK heritage properties. He said: “Lead theft is a constant source of concern to every owner of a historic building, be they stately homes, boarding schools, public buildings or churches. Not only is lead very expensive to replace, the damage that can be caused by a theft can be incalculable. Often the insurance will not cover the costs of repairs and replacement, and the owners are left badly out of pocket. “Trace-in-Metal is a very clever answer to an old problem and one I’m sure that will be looked at seriously by the owners of historic buildings up and down the country.” Marking lead with Trace-in-Metal means both thief and potential receiver know that the lead can be traced throughout the recycling process. If the legitimate trader knows it is stolen they won’t buy it and that puts downward pressure on unscrupulous traders and thieves. Until that process becomes commonplace, lead from church roofs will unfortunately continue to be stolen, and congregations will continue to foot ever increasing bills to keep their precious lead on the roof. R

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Seeking award-winning heritage roofs ‹ ENTRIES ARE NOW BEING accepted for the UK Roofing

Awards 2015. The awards, which recognise and reward outstanding levels of workmanship and safety among competent roofing contractors, are open to those companies who are members of one of the supporting trade associations, including the National Federation of Roofing Contractors. Submissions from

Roofing Awards 2014 finalist project, Newark Castle in Port Glasgow, undertaken by Archibald McCorquodale & Son Ltd manufacturers, architects and specifiers are also welcome. Arguably one of the most prestigious categories, and always hotly contested, is that for Heritage Roofing. Over the years the judges have faced the difficult challenge of selecting a winner from some remarkable projects all over the UK – from calf sheds to 15th century castles. If you have a heritage roofing project that has been completed, or set to be between 1st December 2013 and 31st December 2014, download and complete an entry form today to be recognised for your outstanding work and secure a competitive edge over your peers. Entry is free and you can submit as many projects as you wish. q • For more information regarding the awards and to download the entry forms go to www.nfrc.co.uk.

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Roofing specialists look to Crusader church in bid for awards ‘double’ ‹ ONE OF THE many iconic church

buildings in Cambridge is the 12th century Round Church – or Church of the Holy Sepulchre, as it should be known. Dating from around 1130, it is one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge and was founded by the Norman Fraternity of the Holy Sepulchre who arrived in England with William the Conqueror. It was modelled on the early Romanesque style of churches in the Holy Land, epitomised by the 4th century Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built by the Emperor Constantine. The design was brought to Europe following the First Crusade at the end of the 11th century. The Cambridge Round Church is one of just four surviving medieval churches in that style in Britain. Following substantial additions – in particular a heavy 15th century tower which subsequently threatened to collapse – the church was extensively restored to its earlier Romanesque style in the 19th century. Central to the original form is the conical roof with its beautiful stone ‘slates’, whose slight irregular texture and colour enhance the attractive and picturesque look of the building. Originally the church was covered in Collyweston slate, as are a lot of historic religious and university buildings in Cambridge, but in the 1960s those slates were removed and because of a shortage of Collyweston slate (which is actually a limestone) the dry-bedded Oxfordshire slate, or Stonesfield, was used as a replacement. This is another Jurassic limestone that has the same visual appeal as Collyweston slate and is more readily available. When the decision was made to replace the roof last year, David Joy of JGP Architects in Cambridge approached specialist heritage roofers Claude N Smith Ltd to tender for this project. Director Nigel Smith takes up the story: “The information and knowledge we were able to provide in fitting this slate was a great help to the architect as he was not familiar with it and the potential difficulties faced. We were successful in our tender and work started in December 2013 to erect scaffolding and to assess more closely the condition of the roof slates, which was worse than first specified.” Generally the woodwork and underslaters felt was in good condition and was therefore left in place with wood treatment applied. Scaffold was erected to gain access to the higher, cone shaped part of the roof, which measures eight slater’s square (the traditional unit of measurement) or 72m2. The battens were secured with stainless-steel screws and the slates themselves with stainless-steel washered screws. When the conical roof was complete all of the salvaged slate was used, but there was a shortfall for the lower roof. Extra slates were purchased from Winchcombe Reclamation in Gloucestershire. Finally, all the gutters were repaired and painted and the snow guards replaced. One of the features of the project was the attention to detail regarding health and safety. All the necessary risk assessments were carried out and even with the large number of members of the public entering and leaving the church while the work took place, there were no accidents or incidents. Another issue revolved around the notorious difficulty in parking in Cambridge. To solve the problem a brick boundary wall was partly removed so the contractors could park in the church grounds. The wall was reinstated on completion of the work. Nigel Smith concluded: “We think the final result is stunning, as do the client and architect. We have also had much praise and complimentary words from passers-by, both local to Cambridge and tourists visiting the area.” So pleased are the company with the job, they have entered it into the Heritage Roofing category of the 2015 Roofing Awards – an award they won this year for a private house in Peterborough. R www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Glory of church roof revealed

‹ IN A PUSH TO complete the last phase

of its re-tiling project, St. Michael’s Church at Tilehurst has finished the current round of refurbishment work commemorating the 150th anniversary of its reconstruction by G. E. Street. The project specification originally called for handmade tiles from a well-known local manufacturer, however the ones that were supplied varied widely in their size and shape, with many being up to 10mm longer along the top edge than the bottom. Although these technically met the new European Standard, had they been used they would have left gaps that exceeded the maximum stated in the British Standard for roofing practice, and so a decision was taken to reject them. It was not an easy one to make given that the contractor was on site by then and much of the scaffolding had been erected. In addition, many of the old tiles had been taken off and stacked ready for re-sale. An urgent search ensued to identify a new source of clay tiles that were immediately available for delivery and matched the character of the ones described in the faculty. In the end, with the blessing of the Oxford DAC, a decision was taken to use the Polish-made Ashbury Orange tile because it met the design criteria and was capable of resisting a harsh English winter – temperatures in Poland are on average six degrees lower than those in London, and can often fall to -35ºC.

The original plan was to salvage and re-use half of the old tiles but in the end the parish raised additional funds so the percentage of new tiles could be increased. Unusually, the new tiles were put on the outside slopes even though this is normally discouraged by conservation experts. It was nonetheless felt that the new tiles were better able to resist the strong prevailing winds and also meant that the congregation would have the pleasure of seeing the fruits of their fundraising as they approached the church. As a result, the new roof glows in the autumn sunshine and draws attention to the church in much the same way that its tall spire does. Moreover, the decision meant that the reused tiles could be fixed in the more accessible

valleys, making it easier to replace them at the end of their shorter lifespan. During the early stages of the project the top of the eastern gable was found to be loose, with the Sanctuary Cross rocking on the flint wall beneath. This was taken off for restoration before being re-bedded and the gable tied back across the chancel roof. Capping stones were also restored and cleaned, and large panels of flints repaired. The work was undertaken by J G Restorations of Swindon, who restored much of the church interior two years before. It was completed under the direction of the church’s architect Andrew Plumridge. To celebrate its completion the Bishop of Reading will bless the freshly tiled roof during a topping-out service in November. q

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Restoring historic roofs with

handmade clay tiles ‹ A NATURALLY AGED roofscape made

from handmade clay roof tiles can be visually stunning. With no two tiles the same, each roof has a character of its own. However, the characterful roofs found on old churches and other heritage properties deteriorate over time and may need repairing or replacing entirely. It is therefore important to choose high quality, historically authentic clay plain or peg tiles that will match the architecture of the building and help restore the roof to all of its former beauty. Furthermore, planning regulations will often insist on the use of like-for-like or, at the very least, visually sympathetic materials and workmanship.

Peg tiles of the past Back in the 12th and 13th centuries, handmade clay peg tiles were a popular feature of historic country houses, barns, farm buildings and churches across the south east of England. Named after the wooden pegs by which they were originally attached to the timber laths or battens, their distinctive appearance was characterised by their variation in texture, camber and colour. In those days, every town and village would have had its own kiln and tile-maker and, depending on the local clay, the firing temperature and the skill of the local or travelling tile maker, the colours could range from pale orange to a dark red. By the mid nineteenth century, peg tiles had evolved into the ‘plain’ clay tiles with nibs (or projections) on the underside of the top edge for hooking onto the timber battens. They were also slightly longer and wider.

Historical authenticity When restoring a period or listed property, it is important to look for handmade peg and plain tiles with a truly time weathered and ‘olde world’ look consistent with the originals. Genuine handmade tiles have an appearance which is well suited to period properties and cannot be replicated by cheaper, more uniform machine made tiles. Furthermore, second hand reclaim tiles are often in short supply and expensive to source, so new handmade peg and plain tiles can offer a perfectly compatible and cost effective alternative – particularly when replacing large areas of roof. At Kent based Tudor Roof Tiles they take particular care to produce peg and plain tiles in natural mellow tones, with variable textures and gently undulating cambers, which replicate the quirky, idiosyncratic character of older roofs.

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In order to achieve this, the company combines age-old, traditional skills and craftsmanship with modern firing techniques. This produces characterful sand-faced tiles that not only have an individual and instant-aged, faded rustic look, but also meet today’s performance standards. They are available with square or round peg holes or with nibs on the underside, making them suitable for both ancient and modern building methods as appropriate.

Non-standard sizes As planners in conservation areas often insist on ‘like for like’ handmade

replacements, it is important not only to pay attention to the tone and texture of the clay roof tiles, but also their historic sizing. Regular 10” x 6” (255mm x 150mm) sizes are very much a modern phenomenon. The reality is that, despite the Royal Charter of 1477 decreeing that peg tiles should be 10½” x 6¼”, historic plain and peg tiles continued to vary across the country. When restoring a roof, it is important to realise that even the slightest change from the original size can damage the overall appearance. For this reason Tudor offers bespoke sizes, which also help architects and conservationists replicate and preserve the character of the original roofs. Tudor Roof Tiles is one of the last remaining independent English manufacturers of traditional handmade clay roof tiles. Over the years, its typically English peg and plain tiles have been used in numerous barn and oast conversions, Grade II listed properties, churches and historic town centres as well as residential homes located in conservation areas. q • Tudor Roof Tiles are available from leading roofing and builders merchants. For more information, contact Tudor Roof Tile Co. Ltd, Dengemarsh Road, Lydd, Kent, TN29 9JH. Tel 01797 320202, fax 01797 320700, e-mail info@tudorrooftiles.co.uk or visit the website at www.tudorrooftiles.co.uk. For more information about how Tudor’s range of handmade peg and plain clay tiles can help restore your roof download ‘Restoring Historic Roofs’ from the site under Latest News.

Revealing the roofs

other surveys cannot reach ‹ TUFFIN FERRABY TAYLOR (TFT), a leading independent

property and construction consultancy, has used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a roof inspection survey of two historic buildings in Windsor for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. TFT faced the challenge of providing a comprehensive roof survey of the listed Guildhall and Theatre Royal but roof access was limited by normal means. With the Changing of the Guard parade for close-by Windsor Castle passing the buildings daily, closing the road to allow access for a hydraulic platform to view the roofs was not possible in the timescale and inspection from roof hatches was limited. The UAV’s on-board cameras provide crystal-clear imagery which can be sent directly to a local phone or tablet device for a real-time view, or even streamed real time online to view anywhere in the world if needed. Seth Love-Jones, partner at TFT, said:“Our UAV’s inspection relayed high quality footage of every inch of the roofs. Its ability to peer into previously inaccessible areas has enabled TFT to comment on their condition, highlight areas of concern and provide a complete report for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. “This information will provide the council with the information to ensure that these landmark buildings are properly maintained, that future issues are planned for and funded and that important public buildings in the borough have a future. “Incorporating UAV footage into survey reports is an example of TFT’s innovative approach. Our adoption of new and emerging technologies enhances our ability to provide clients with expert, wide-ranging reporting, to help them to manage risk and take informed decisions.” q

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These Angels receive their reward on earth and the winners are...

‹ A HOST OF people interested in the

nation’s heritage flocked to the Palace Theatre in London’s West End on 3 November for the final of the English Heritage Angel Awards. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who founded the awards in 2011, was joined by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid to hail local people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to rescue historic buildings and sites of all kinds that would otherwise be lost to ruin and decay. Addressing the packed audience, Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “I’m thrilled to be on stage presenting awards for heritage rescues. This is the fourth year of the Angel Awards, which I founded to bring public attention to all the amazing people who dedicate themselves to saving heritage at risk. “I applaud our winners and indeed everyone who enters the Angels Awards – there are hundreds of unsung heritage heroes out there. It takes courage, tenacity and perseverance to tackle historic buildings at risk but the results make this country a better place for all of us.” Judges George Clarke – TV’s Restoration Man – award-winning author, historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes and Emma Bridgewater, the famous pottery manufacturer, announced the winners and presented the awards. Sajid Javid and art historian Phillip Mould also presented awards. Culture Secretary Sajid Javid declared: “I want to add my thanks and appreciation to the huge effort and commitment of people in their communities, along with those that look after our historic buildings to save and protect our unique heritage. These awards pay testament to their excellent work and I want to congratulate everyone shortlisted for an award for the real difference they are making on a daily basis. I also want to thank Andrew Lloyd Webber for generously supporting these awards and also the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards which will start next year.” Co-presenter Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: “Bringing life back to heritage at risk benefits the economy, provides jobs, training and opportunity for local communities and gives this country its deep and lasting advantage as a place to live, work and visit. Heritage organisations are here to champion, advise and guide, but the hard work at the coal face is done by people like our Angels here tonight: local volunteers, owners, craftsmen and women. They are a true source of inspiration to us all.” q

• Best rescue or repair of a historic place of worship: Brian Cooke for the • rescue of All Saints, Leamington Hastings. Following an arson attack that came shortly after the repair of the tower, the parishioners of All Saints, led by church warden Brian Cooke, set about restoring it again. Just as the restoration was complete in August last year – the final part being the restoration of the historic organ – lead was stolen from the roof, resulting in the organ being damaged again. Brian Cooke stepped in once more and the organ was used again for the first time at Easter this year. • Best rescue of a historic industrial building or site: The Renewable • Heritage Trust for the rescue of Howsham Mill, York. Howsham Mill stopped grinding corn in 1947 and quickly fell into disrepair. However, following a first phase of restoration, the water wheel was adapted to produce electricity and began to supply the National Grid in 2006. Phase Two was finally completed in August last year and the mill now functions as an environmental education centre. • Best craftsmanship by a trainee or apprentice employed on a heritage • rescue: Adam Wilcockson for craftsmanship at Lincoln Cathedral, south • west turret Adam Wilcockson began his stonemasonry apprenticeship with Lincoln Cathedral Works Department in January 2011. In 2013 he achieved NVQ Level 3 in Stonemasonry. Within the cathedral team Adam has moved to Improver Mason status and will spend two further years training in house, developing the advance skills necessary to become a fully qualified cathedrgal stonemason. • Best rescue of any other historic building or site: Inayat Omarji for the • rescue of All Souls' Church, Bolton. When Inayat was shown around the building he was inspired to take action to turn this amazing church back into a space that could be used and shared by the community – as a space for all souls. Since then, Inayat, along with the other All Souls Bolton trustees, has been working to provide a new lease of life to the church to kick start regeneration in this economically deprived area and to create a shared space for local heritage, enterprise and community activity. • Most votes from English Heritage followers and Telegraph readers: • Oldland Mill Trust volunteers for the rescue of Oldland Windmill, • Hassocks. Oldland Windmill is a wooden post mill, built in about 1700 by the Turner family and rented to a succession of local millers. It ceased working in about 1912. The Hassocks Amenity Association (HAA) obtained the lease of the mill in 1980 and took responsibility for the restoration. Restoration is now nearly complete, the external engine drive that was installed in about 1880 to enable a steam engine to drive the mill stones being the last major item that is still being reconstructed. • More information on the winners is available at the English Heritage website at www.english-heritage.org.uk where short videos of all 16 of the shortlisted candidates, including the winners, can also be seen. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Hidden 200 year-old Swiss Garden reveals its rare Regency treasures ‹ A LITTLE-KNOWN Swiss Garden created

in the heart of Bedfordshire in the early 1800s has been saved from decay thanks to a £2.8m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant, which has funded the vital restoration. Looking as though it has stepped off the pages of a European children’s storybook, its quirky buildings, bridges and ornamental structures act as focal points on a magical journey along woodland paths, through grassy glades and past tumbling water. Its makeover has transported the nine-acre garden back to its Regency appearance when its creator, Lord Robert Henley Ongley, dropped this ‘alpine’ landscape into its unlikely Bedfordshire setting close to Biggleswade.

Previously hidden behind the hangars of the Shuttleworth Collection aviation museum, the Swiss Garden re-opened on 31 July after its extensive makeover. The garden’s 13 listed buildings and structures – including six listed at Grade II* – have undergone careful conservation using traditional materials and techniques where possible. Its two-storey centrepiece, the Swiss Cottage, has been re-thatched using water reed from Norfolk, its finials re-gilded with 23 carat gold leaf and missing or broken rustic decoration replaced using slices of Monterey Pine cones and hazel and willow twigs. Almost 4,300 panes of glass in the Grotto and Fernery have been replaced with hand-cut handmade cylinder glass and rosette detailing replaced on the Pond Cascade Bridge. Over 25,600 shrubs and 8,400 bulbs have been planted in 53 beds and 340 metres of path laid using 300 tons of gravel. With the original layout of the Swiss Garden so intact, it is the best surviving Regency garden in the country and a unique example of the ‘Swiss Picturesque’ style. Located close to Lord Ongley’s mansion within the park – which was a fraction of his 2,000-plus acre Old Warden Estate – it took eight years to create and was completed in the 1820s. It is not known if he created it after visiting Switzerland as part of a ‘Grand Tour’ or if he was influenced by the fashion for rustic, Swiss-style architecture popularised by the Prince Regent. With his fortunes waning, Lord Ongley sold the estate to industrialist Joseph Shuttleworth in 1872, who set about ‘improving’ the garden, which was by then in decline. He re-worked some of its features, introduced new plants and created a formal terrace and broadwalk to host elaborate garden parties and pageants. These Victorian features have also been restored, including some of the artificial Pulhamite rockwork he introduced, although he retained the ‘essence’ of the original Regency garden, including its layout and buildings.

His grandson Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth inherited the Old Warden Estate on his 23rd birthday but was killed in a flying accident in 1940 at the age of 31. Four years later his mother Dorothy Shuttleworth founded the Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth Remembrance Trust as a permanent memorial to him. After the Second World War, the garden gradually fell into a perilous state of disrepair. In 1976 a partnership was formed between the Shuttleworth Trust and Bedfordshire County Council, who took over the lease and undertook some repair and restoration work, although the Shuttleworth Trust is responsible for the garden’s day-to-day management. The garden and its buildings, along with the surrounding landscape of Old Warden Park, were placed on the Heritage At Risk Register. The restoration works now mean that the Trust can request English Heritage to take the garden off the register. Una Watts, Shuttleworth Trust general manager, said: ”Thanks to the HLF grant, we have been able to reverse the fortunes of this remarkably rare garden and with the help of local volunteers and apprentices, we aim to keep it looking pristine. With its magical charm and lovely natural setting we expect it to become as much of a draw as the aircraft museum and to be enjoyed by many thousands as these two sides of the Shuttleworth story combine to make a great day out for both aviation and garden enthusiasts.” There is a new more prominent entrance to the Swiss Garden, located beside the main visitor reception. A sculpture trail has also been added through the woodland, created by chainsaw sculptor Patrick Brown, inspired by ideas suggested by children from seven local schools based on the garden and its history. q • For more information call 01767 627927 or visit www.shuttleworth.org. Photos – Andy Marshall Photography

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Dernier & Hamlyn enlightens Art Deco splendour at Claridge’s ‹ CLARIDGE’S IS RECOGNISED AS

the finest art deco hotel in London. Having started life as a magnificent private house, it was re-established as a hotel and then purpose built on the current site in 1898. It quickly became a favourite of European royalty and heads of state. Much of the art deco design and features added through the 1920s and 1930s remains in place and has been enhanced over the years. Just before the end of the 20th century, an ongoing project commenced to embark on a major design restoration that would An image unearthed of the pendant from Dernier & Hamlyn’s extensive archive (left) and the finished result in situ at Claridge’s see art deco styling increasingly evidenced throughout the hotel’s public areas and patterns and products built up since the company was formed in London rooms. Bespoke lighting manufacturer Dernier & Hamlyn, working with in 1888. It’s a fascinating insight into lighting over the years and is interior designer Guy Oliver (owner and principal of Oliver Laws), has used to inform the manufacture, replication and repair of all sorts of been involved in much of the work bringing in various aspects of the lights. It even contains watercolours that were the CAD renders of their experience and skills they have assimilated over the company’s 126 time. Beautiful to look at, they are a reminder of the painstaking way year history to recreate light fittings that are beautiful, practical and in which images had to be repeatedly drawn and redrawn until clients’ historically accurate. requirements were met before the advent of computers in the design Guy Oliver recently produced designs to update the hotel’s restaurant process. A thorough trawl through materials from the 1930s by Dernier and called on Dernier & Hamlyn to use its extensive lighting archive to & Hamlyn’s Jeremy Quantrill unearthed the gorgeous pendant (pictured research appropriate styling that would be both visually stunning and above) priced at the princely sum of £44 in 1935. complement the architectural integrity. Guy Oliver was thrilled by this unique find and specified that the The lighting archive comprises thousands of drawings, photographs, new pendants which this photograph inspired should be cast in solid brass, hand finished in bronze and completed with white opal glass. Additional flourishes and geometric layers were added to emphasise the styling of the period and the final flourish was the use of antique metal chains to fix it to the ceiling. The chains were reclaimed from a shipyard to give added authenticity. The results are wonderful with tungsten lamps softly spreading light from inside the fitting and halogen down lighters providing practical light levels beneath. Inspired by the newel posts spotted on the magnificent staircases at another 1930s building and architectural details in the hotel, Guy Oliver also designed the pedestal lamps that sit atop the marble counters of the serving stations in the restaurant and in the cocktail bar. They feature strong, streamlined shapes, typical of this glamorous epoch, including chevrons finished in polished nickel to emulate the desire for shiny materials akin to chrome – a brand new material of the time. Guy Oliver said: “My working relationship with Claridge’s goes back almost 20 years and I love the hotel and its history. I am always conscious to retain or reintroduce period details where they have been lost, or, where appropriate, introduce historically inspired additions (in a contemporary way) to preserve and enhance the character of the hotel.” q

Claridge’s private dining room (left) and an image of the bar lights (right)

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Purcell unveils Wallace Collection refurbishment Two-year project to restore the Great Gallery brings natural light to the Old Masters

‹ THE WALLACE COLLECTION has re-

opened the stunning Great Gallery after a twoyear rebuilding programme led by architects, Purcell. The Great Gallery was originally built by Sir Richard Wallace between 1872-5 as part of his major extension of Hertford House to accommodate his collection’s move from Paris to London. As was typical for great private residences, the Gallery was positioned behind the private living quarters in order to create a magnificent impact at the culmination of any visit. Constructed over what had originally been a mews behind the house, the vast space would have been hugely impressive to the small groups of guests who were privileged enough to be shown the collection. It is now hugely impressive, once again. Described as ‘the greatest picture gallery in Europe’ by art historian Kenneth Clark, the Great Gallery has a collection including many familiar works. The display features some of art history’s most famous sights, including Hals’ The Laughing Cavalier, Rubens’ The Rainbow Landscape, Poussin’s A Dance to the Music of Time and Velázquez’ The Lady with a Fan. The intricate construction work, now completed, was carried out while the building remained open to the public, and has involved almost a complete reconstruction of the Gallery within the retained external walls. This part of the building had been subject to many alterations since the late nineteenth century and the current work has stripped away more recent insertions but re-used the original curved steel structural members around which the roof is formed.

The ceiling has been entirely renewed to reintroduce natural daylight (which is carefully conservation-controlled) and incorporate the environmental control in a much more visually sensitive manner than when it was first introduced in the late 1970s. This has also allowed the architects to reference the original coved form of the ceiling with its delicate trellis plasterwork ornamentation in the new design. In developing the scheme for the Great Gallery, Purcell collaborated with John O'Connell of Dublin, with whom they have successfully worked on over a dozen previous gallery refurbishments at the Wallace Collection. The careful structural insertions were designed by the Morton Partnership and the services reconfigured by Project Design Services. The sensitively implemented combination of natural and artificial lighting, involving LED technology and a series of automatic blinds and louvres, was designed by Sutton Vane Associates. The Pompeian red silk was specially woven by Prelle of Lyon to a historically appropriate pattern researched from the weavers’ huge archive. The pattern can be read clearly between each painting and the use of a brocatelle gives a sculptural quality to the surface of the silk hanging. The wainscoting is also used to sculptural effect, and has been gilded to increase the sense of monumentality of the gallery. It also provides a grounding for the paintings, allowing them to be hung at different heights in a way not previously possible. The gallery’s two doors were moved during the refurbishment and instead of being close to the corners of the room, creating a dead space

in the angle, they have been moved closer together allowing room to hang large pictures on either side of them. During the course of the work, the opportunity was taken to make other less visible improvements, such as insulating the walls and roof and providing the opportunity for incorporation of sustainable technologies. Constructing the reconfigured gallery was challenging and the contractor, Coniston, was required to work to unusually fine tolerances that were necessary to ensure co-ordination of the original structure, new steelwork and fibrous plaster finishes around the new glazed lay-light. The trellis pattern on the mitred and coved sections of ceiling meant that any setting out or construction inaccuracies would have been easily detectable in the finished work. Mark Hammond, partner of Purcell and head of the practice’s cultural sector work, commented: “The members of the design and contracting team have enjoyed long working relationships, both with each other and with the knowledgeable staff of the Wallace Collection, built up over several previous projects. The stunning work now being revealed in the Great Gallery stands as a testament to that excellent teamwork employed to complete the project to an extremely high standard. “The ambience and lighting in the gallery, despite its size, encourages an intimate relationship with the artworks, and the richness of the architectural finishes and detailing is an appropriate setting for these internationally significant works. We are delighted that this has already been recognised by the art critics benefiting from recent early viewings, who have been pleased to go into print with their praise.” q Images copyright: The Wallace Collection

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Essex restoration builders reach 125th anniversary ‹ NOW RUN BY THE fourth

developers and one-off houses were less common. To compensate for this generation of the family, E May & Son change, E May and Son expanded Ltd was established in 1889 by James what had until then been a small part May who, with his two sons Edward of the business – that of working as and Joseph, served the building needs an approved contractor to the local of the local area until his retirement council. in 1930. At this point James May and To this end, the emphasis of the Son became May Brothers as James work changed to repair, maintenance handed the business over to his sons. and improvement in schools, libraries In those days the business world and other public buildings. At this was somewhat different and contracts time also, the need to provide were often based upon a handshake proper facilities for the diasabled and mutual trust. Edward’s son Robin was beginning to be recognised followed the family tradition of taking and improvement work in this area an apprenticeship as a carpenter and became an important aspect of the joiner. Again, in the tradition of the E May & Son Ltd was established by James May back in 1889 company’s portfolio. However, by day, he left the family business to work the end of the eighties, changes in the budgetry systems of local authorities for other builders gaining a wider range of knowledge. meant there was less public utility work. With the outbreak of war Robin found himself directed to defence works Over the last fifteen years or so the area of renovation and refurbishment, building pillboxes, before eventually arriving in the East End of London particularly of older and historically significant properties, has come to play where he worked on bomb damage repairs and the famous Mulberry an increasingly more important part in the development of the business. Harbours. At the end of hostilities he returned and once again the business Specialised and bespoke joinery has proved to be particularly important had a change of name, becoming E. May and Son. and this is especially true in the area of replacement items such as box Post war building was difficult as materials, fuel and vehicles were hard to casements, one-off doors and bespoke staircases. obtain. However the fifties and sixties saw a growth in housing – an architect Now in the 21st century, brothers Philip and David May are in charge designed house was a sign of status and the firm built many homes in and in keeping with today’s needs the company is now Limited. However, Colchester and the surrounding villages. the family aspect remains constant and the work force is small but highly Edward took a lesser role until his death in 1958. At this point Robin competent, backed up by sub-contractors known and trusted for their looked to developing markets and moderninsing the business. Toward individual skills over many years of association. q the end of the sixties the housing market became dominated by large

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Churches benefit from landfill fund ‹ IT HAS BEEN announced that 11 historic churches in

England are to benefit from £470,000 of repair funding from the WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental) Heritage Fund following recommendations made by the National Churches Trust. The WREN Heritage Fund awards grants to community, conservation and heritage projects located within 10 miles of landfill sites, from funds donated by UK waste and resource management company FCC Environment to the Landfill Communities Fund. Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust said: “Churches contribute so much to serving local people, but often lack the resources to repair and maintain their buildings. That’s why the National Churches Trust is delighted to be working with Waste Recycling Environmental as their adviser on places of worship. “This successful partnership has ensured that, over the past four years, more than £1m has gone to help fund the repair of 28 churches in England that open regularly St Cecilia’s in Adstock, Bucks is a medieval church with an aisle-less nave for public worship and other activities. Based on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust, WREN’s The grants range from £20,000 to £75,000 and beneficiaries include latest funding of £470,000 will help 11 more churches restore their the 14th century Gatehouse Shrine at Worksop Abbey; St Cecilia’s in architectural heritage and remain at the heart of their local community.” Adstock, Bucks, a medieval church with an aisle-less nave; St Margaret’s Kristian Dales, sales and marketing director at FCC Environment in Somersby, Lincolnshire, the baptism church of Alfred Lord Tennyson; said: “Working with WREN we make a significant difference to people’s and St Peter’s in Rugby, reputed to be the first public building in England lives by awarding grants to community, environmental and heritage to be lit by gas. projects across the UK. We believe that it’s very important to maintain Another beneficiary, St Wulfram’s in Grantham, Lincolnshire, boasts and protect historical sites such as the churches awarded funding this a 282 ft high spire, described by National Trust chairman Sir Simon year. Buildings like this are part of the country’s rich history and we must Jenkins as ‘the finest steeple in England’. q ensure they remain intact for future generations.”

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At Risk Register offers slight encouragement ‹ ON 23 OCTOBER English Heritage

announced its annual Heritage at Risk Register. Across England a number of historically rich places have been added to the register as being in need of rescue. Sadly, they include some of our most significant industrial sites, including Geevor Tin Mine in Cornwall (pictured) – built in the 18th century and still operational until 1991 it is the largest and most complete surviving tin mine in Europe. Also listed were Bedlam Furnaces in the Ironbridge Gorge, where the nearby world famous bridge was forged. Other additions are Eastbourne Pier in Sussex, ravaged by fire this summer, and the wreck of the Hazardous, an 18th century British warship beached in Bracklesham Bay, Sussex during a storm in 1706. More encouragingly, a number of sites have been rescued in the past year and are now off the Register. They include Langham Airfield Dome in Norfolk, built in 1942 to train antiaircraft gunners, Newman Brothers Coffin Works in Birmingham, which supplied coffins for the funerals of Sir Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain and the London tomb of Emile Blondin, most famous for crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope. The wreck of the submarine Holland No 5, discovered off the South East coast in September 2000, the only surviving example of its class, has also been saved. More than 15 years on from the first Heritage at Risk Register, English Heritage has identified five more entrenched cases that have been on the register for more than a decade, where seemingly there is no way forward. Those buildings include four Grade II* listed buildings. They are the Police and Fire Station on London Road, Manchester, the Price and Kensington Teapot Works in Stoke on Trent, the Carriage Works in Bristol and State Cinema, in Thurrock, Essex. The fifth building is the Grade II listed Pump House at Abbey Mills (Station B), London. Nationally, 4% of Grade I and II* listed buildings (excluding places of worship) are on the register. This year 100 buildings or structures have been removed from the register because their futures have been secured and 72 have been added. Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: “The next few years will be crucial for at-risk sites. Although there has been a reduction in the number of sites on the register, more than a third of buildings that were on the register when it first began in 1999 are still there now. “We can’t give up on all these incredibly important historic buildings. Getting them back in use will lift the blight from historic areas, bringing

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back in to use really important buildings and giving people a sense of pride in where they live. As the economy starts to improve and the

demand for development increases, we need to push these buildings forward and find a future for them.” For the first time a comprehensive review has been conducted of all listed places of worship in England, showing that just 6% of places of worship are at-risk. The review was completed in association with organisations and bodies who look after places of worship, including the Church of England, which is responsible for more than 90% of the country’s listed places of worship. q

Two bronze medals and recognition as Master Blacksmiths ‹ NORTH YORKSHIRE BASED architectural

metalworkers Topp & Co. are proud to announce that two of their blacksmiths, Baptiste Deleau (left) and Arek Kropidlowski (right), have been awarded bronze medals from the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. They were presented with their awards at a ceremony in the Painter’s Hall, London in October and are both now officially recognised as Master Blacksmiths. This is an honour awarded only to blacksmiths who attain a very high level of skill and professionalism in the craft and their work is judged by other Master Blacksmiths. Managing director Chris Topp said: “Both Baptiste and Arek have been with Topp & Co. for over 10 years and we hope that they have many years in front of them as members of our skilled team, where they can share their skills and work towards attaining the silver and gold medals. To put this in perspective there are only six gold medal winners, four of whom are sadly deceased.” q Photo courtesy of www.michaelosullivan.co.uk

DRU Kamara wall heaters provide comfort and efficiency to rural village church ‹ ST PETER’S ANGLICAN CHURCH is in the

picturesque rural village of Stoke Lyne, near Bicester, Oxfordshire. It dates back to Norman times and still has several 12th century features. These include a priest’s doorway in the chancel, a chancel arch, three small lancet windows and the main south doorway. The church has undergone many alterations and updates over the ensuing centuries, but still retains its unique charm and historical appearance. Services are held twice weekly and it hosts many other regular village activities. The church committee recently embarked on a phased replacement of its Calor LPG-powered heating system. The existing heaters were over 15 years old and lacked the capacity and energy efficiency of more modern appliances. After considerable research, the committee opted for DRU Kamara 16 powered flue wall heaters from Drugasar. These models have a substantial 16 kW heat output, forced air convection and a 92% efficiency rating. They also perform equally well on mains gas or LPG. An additional benefit is that they can heat up the building in less than two hours prior to a service or community meeting. So, unlike a wet central heating system, they don’t have to be run continuously. Air is drawn from outside the building for combustion through an unobtrusive flue which is inserted through the outside wall. This means that there is no depletion of the air inside the church, resulting in comfortable as well as efficient heating. Although only two of the existing heaters have so far been replaced, early indications would suggest that there is a significant reduction in LPG consumption. This can only improve once all of the new heaters are in place. The installation was carried out by DRU approved heating engineer Martyn Bentley of Burntwood, Staffordshire, who is a specialist church

St Peter’s Church dates from the 12th century heating contractor. Chris Poole, joint churchwarden of St Peter’s expressed the church’s satisfaction with the project and the quality of workmanship shown by Martyn and his team. q • For further information visit www.drugasar.com or www.stokelyne.org.

A new DRU Kamara heater in the church www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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The right heating system for the right church Iglesia Ni Cristo – St Michaels and All Angels, Birmingham

‹ THE CHURCH OF St Michael and All

Angels at Langley Green closed in 2007 and the building was sold to the Philippines-based church Iglesia Ni Cristo at the beginning of April 2014. The church is currently swarming with builders as it undergoes an internal transformation that will leave a very simple interior to suit their style of worship and belief. All stained glass, tablets and the WW1 memorial cross have been removed. The church has had new roof works, electrics, windows and flooring as well as being repainted. Most importantly, the right sort of heating system was needed. Damien Bradbury of Manchester based church heating specialists HeatinGlobal told Ecclesiastical & Heritage World: “The new owners had heard of the number one church heating company in the UK and contacted us to advise on the best way forward. The system needed to be simple to use with cheap running costs and fast warm up times.

“It was decided to install new fan assisted radiators in the main church and normal radiators in the side rooms along with the new toilet and wash rooms. The church was completely stripped out back to the bear walls and all brand new pipes, controls and electrical supplies were installed. There were many new walls and storage rooms, so much of the new system needed to be installed in stages. The

new boilers consisted of a pair of wall hung condensing boilers complete with new circulation pumps, filter controls and thermostats. The second fix of the church heating system was then completed and fully commissioned to provide a nice warm welcoming church for all to enjoy.” Project manager, Gary Saunders commented: “All we can say is it was the best advice from the best of companies – a fantastic job well done!” R

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Awards scheme warms the hearts of congregations across the country ‹ GONE ARE THE days when cold and

draughty churches were the expected norm for faithful congregations. Not only do services need to provide a comfortable environment, but the wealth of other activities taking place in churches and church halls need to offer a warm surrounding. Providing that warmth can be a difficult and expensive business, especially when the church heating is old and on its last legs. Replacements are expensive, although modern systems are considerably more efficient and cheaper to run. Churches therefore have to turn to sources of finance in addition to their own fundraising efforts. One source that has come about thanks to environmental legislation is the landfill tax credit system, whereby a proportion of landfill tax liability can be donated by companies to charities and community projects. Biffa Award is one such scheme – a multimillion-pound fund which awards grants to community and environmental projects across the UK using tax credits from Biffa Group. The fund is managed by the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.

Biffa Award has been awarding grants since 1997 and to date has awarded more than £150m to thousands of worthy projects from nature reserves to new community buildings, including a number of heating system for churches and church halls. Indeed, a heating system installed at the Grade B listed Dalziel St Andrew’s Parish Church in Motherwell (pictured) with a £50,000 grant won the Community Building Award in the 2013 Biffa Awards. So far this year the scheme has seen a new

Guidance helps to assess what’s needed ‹ HEATING THE BUILDING is one of the biggest challenges facing any church

in the UK today. Heating it in an energy-efficient way is a moral as well as a financial obligation. As a blog posted by gas heater manufacturer and installer Vulcana says: “It’s every churchwarden’s worst nightmare when the church heating system packs up and congregations are subjected to a cold and uncomfortable Sunday service.” As well as making for uncomfortable services, the breakdown of a church’s heating system can have a long-lasting and damaging effect on a building’s fabric and contents. The blog points out that there is guidance available from the Church of England Church Care organisation, published last year. Choosing the Right Heating System, say the publishers, is intended to guide those considering upgrading an existing heating system or installing a new one through the planning and decision making processes involved. According to the Vulcana blog: “The guide outlines the principles involved in providing heat in a church; a list of actions and questions to consider; key facts about different energy sources and heat emitters; and a comprehensive list of further reading. With so much for decision makers to consider, when it comes to heating places of worship it’s advisable to consult a church heating specialist.” Companies such as Vulcana are able to conduct a full survey to assess and recommend the best heating system to suit a church’s heating requirements. They also provide after-care, which includes a programme of heating servicing and maintenance. q

system being installed at Pelsall Methodist Church in Walsall, which held a coffee morning to mark the unveiling, made possible thanks to a £47,900 grant. Earlier this year St Peter’s Church in Stafford secured a £4,626 grant. The church’s Warming the Community project has replaced the old unreliable heaters with a modern timercontrolled, energy-efficient heating system which will reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. In June the Forward Group at Longton Methodist Central Hall in Stoke-on-Trent was awarded £50,000 to replace the 40 year old gas boilers which failed on several occasions last winter, while back in February community groups who meet in an old church hall in Wallasey, Merseyside, celebrated the installation of their new system, thanks to a Biffa Award grant of £22,202. It’s not just old church buildings that need heating systems upgrading. Cornerstone Baptist Church in Bromley Cross, Bolton, was only built in 1984, but last year a new system was installed in time for Christmas, thanks to a Biffa Award grant. q

Heating firm offers a free boiler ‹ MANY CHURCHES STRUGGLE to heat

their church and find it an impossible burden to replace a worn out system. While there are many grant schemes available, the competition is fierce and applications may take many months or even years to be processed. Now, there is an opportunity for one church to win a brand new heating boiler worth £10,000 absolutely free. Manchester-based HeatinGlobal is offering the prize in a unique competition, which closes on 31 January. All entrants have to do is say, in less than 500 words, why their church is most deserving of the prize. The entry form is on the company’s website at www.churchheatingspecialist.co.uk. According to the company: “On an almost daily basis we hear of churches that are in desperate need of having their heating system repaired or replaced, but simply can’t afford it. They try to raise the funds by holding special events, but the reality is it is extremely difficult to raise the money. “So many churches are forced to close because they cannot afford to fix the heating, and if we can help our church community by preventing this from happening to just one church in need, we’ll be as happy as they are.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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It’s a quick turn-round as CRE journeys to the South Coast

‹ IN WHAT COULD BE one of the quickest ‘out-and-ins’ in its history, the Christian

Resources Exhibition bade farewell to Manchester last month and headed south to make ready for its next appearance just over six weeks later. CRE North was the second to be staged at Manchester’s EventCity and was hailed by exhibitors as a great success. From its opening by the Bishop of Salford, Rt Rev Terence Brain, on 8 October to its conclusion the following evening the show attracted a tide of visitors from across the North West, seeking inspiration and practical advice on matters spiritual and very temporal. Among the exhibitors offering solutions to practical questions was Fuller’s Finer Furniture, who travelled from Weston-super-Mare to demonstrate a range of specialist church furnishing. The company’s managing director Paul Fuller told Ecclesiastical and Heritage World the show was a success and said: “It was a great opportunity to have good conversations with existing and new customers.” Meanwhile, Damien Bradbury of Manchester-based church heating specialists HeatinGlobal tweeted: “Great day at CRE NW! Met some lovely people and finally put faces to names.” Company founder of Lighting Dynamics UK, Gerry Browne, similarly commented: “It was an excellent two days at CRE North and provided the opportunity to talk to a number of potential clients and to be able to put some faces to names, whilst also meeting up with some existing customers.” All three companies were part of a comprehensive presence of church fabric and equipment suppliers and consultants at the show. They exhibited alongside those offering resources for ministry and a host of speakers and performers. 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, the show at EventCity provided one of the strongest regional line-ups ever. The exhibition organisers are now heading off to Southampton for CRE South at the Ageas Bowl, home to Hampshire Cricket Club, on 27 November. It is the second in the new series of ‘CRE On the Road’ events, launched in Cardiff earlier this year. CRE On the Road is a slimmeddown, one-day version of the show featuring just 64 key organisations. It will be the first time a CRE has ever been staged in Southampton. “We are hopeful that the event will attract people from the surrounding areas of Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Winchester and Brighton – many of whom will never have visited a traditional CRE,” said event manager Bill Allen. “The south coast region has a very strong church tradition, heavily over-represented in terms of Christians as a proportion of the population.” CRE On the Road will feature many of the familiar organisations already known by CRE visitors and a stream of seminars relevant to churches in the area. It is being organised in partnership with Love Southampton, an initiative being developed by a wide range of Christian organisations co-operating with each other to foster partnerships to love and serve the city. “We are delighted to be closely associated with Love Southampton – a network of churches working together in the area,” explained Bill Allen. “Bringing CRE to the city fits in with Love Southampton’s aim to join together to love God and love our neighbour.” The staging of the show in Southampton also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the granting of city status. CRE South is the final exhibition of 2014, the busiest year in the event’s history. Next year will kick off in Exeter in February before its debut at London’s ExCel for CRE International in May. q

Pictured exhibiting at CRE North are:

Paul Fuller of Fullers Finer Furniture

Damien Bradbury from HeatinGlobal

Gerry Browne of Lighting Dynamics UK www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Best-selling author Jeff Lucas (right) and senior pastor of Southampton’s Above Bar church Paul Webber

Best-seller opens the batting for CRE ‹ AT NOON ON 27 November the Ageas

Bowl in Southampton – home to Hampshire Cricket – will see the opening of the second CRE On the Road. The opener, so to speak, will be best-selling author Jeff Lucas. Over 60 stands will offer the full range of resources for Christian ministry and a programme of seminars and events will be taking place. Jeff himself will be joined by Searchlight Theatre Company at 1.15pm in the Robin Smith Suite for chat and live theatre based on his new book, Faith in the Fog. In the book Lucas explores the pain and fear many Christians feel when walking through a spiritual fog and doubts undermine the joy of belief.

“After the Resurrection – when the disciples found themselves on the fog bank of unresolved shame, failure and confusion – what Jesus did and didn't do to help them is both enlightening and inspirational,” said Lucas. “In Faith in the Fog I have focussed on the person of Jesus and the way he approaches those who are worn out when life is tough.” Lucas suggests that who Jesus really is – rather than the way we instinctively perceive him emotionally and theologically – is what will make the difference and help clear the fog. Faith in the Fog tackles the feelings of failure, uselessness and shame – often the underlying causes of depression and burnout among Christians. Searchlight Theatre Company will be

performing a blend of comedy, stories and some hard hitting reflections from the book as part of a touring show with Jeff. The company commented: “Our styles have complemented each other well in the past and we feel sure you will feel the same with this new presentation.” • Jeff Lucas is the author of 22 books and also broadcasts weekly radio shows throughout Europe on Premier and UCB Radio in Australasia, as well as a weekly television programme, Life with Lucas Everyday on Revelation TV. He holds a teaching post at Timberline Church, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. Last year he toured the UK with Adrian Pass with the Seriously Funny Tour. q

Modern technology for traditional buildings

‹ EXHIBITING AT CRE Southampton are Cunnings (incorporating Keith Monks Sound Systems). Cunnings have been supplying and installing audio and visual systems since 1977 and are experts at integrating these facilities into churches. Their systems are tailored to suit each individual building from modern new-builds to traditional and listed buildings. Their 37 years experience allows them to use modern technology to overcome the constraints of different buildings, including the use of LCD glass projection screens - a unique technology ideal for churches where traditional projection solutions cannot be used. You can speak to one of their friendly team for great advice on choosing the best audio and visual and induction loop products for your system or to arrange a survey at your church by visiting them at Stand P17. q

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Speakers and performers take centre stage ‹ THE ROBIN SMITH SUITE at the Agias

Bowl will be playing host to a full programme of seminars, praise and worship sessions, and entertainment. In addition to Jeff Lucas with the Searchlight Theatre Company, there will shows by the UK Christian Film Festival, GodTV and a number of local speakers and performers, including Paul Webber. Paul is senior pastor of Southampton’s Above Bar church and a

key speaker at CRE South. His theme is unity in diversity under the title We are one church here. “Whilst we are not uniform in our church backgrounds, cultures and sizes we are united around the death and resurrection of Jesus,” said Webber. “We are not perfect and there are still differing church networks in the city but we are seeking to embrace the breadth of the body of Christ and have made changes in the

rhythm of the Southampton Christians Network in the past few years to enable this to happen.” Meanwhile, throughout the day there will be Paul Webber interviews and music on the Spotlight Stage in the Big Mission Café. That event will be hosted by Paul Kerensa, one of the writers of Miranda and Not Going Out. q

A perfect sound system – the secret is in the detail ‹ EVERY YEAR, THE TEAM from Surrey based Sound Analysts Ltd

attend trade events where literally hundreds of manufacturers are keen to show off new product ranges and innovations. Every now and then they come across some real gems that stand out from the rest. For example, a few years back, they were introduced to a new UK based loudspeaker manufacturer, EM Acoustics. Sound Analysts’ director Andy Callin takes up the story: “We were very impressed with their products but even more so with the company’s passion, knowledge and commitment. Last year, they beat off the competition at the highest level. Our team, in conjunction with EM Acoustics, designed and installed a new system for Sound By Design at London’s Royal Albert Hall. This project went on to win Best Permanent Installation Project of the Year at the recent Pro Sound News awards for both the manufacturer and our client.

Pictured at the Pro Sound News awards (L to R) Stephen Hughes (Sound By Design), Andy Callin (Sound Analysts), Ed Kinsella and Mike Wheeler (EM Acoustics) “But back to reality! This month, we demonstrated a pair of EM Acoustics’ speakers to a church near Oxted in Surrey. One of the most rewarding experiences as a professional sound person is being able to demonstrate how the right equipment, properly set up, can make a real difference to someone’s listening experience. A sound system that really adds to the quality of worship and preaching and can be heard clearly by everyone, no matter where they’re sitting. The secret is absolute attention to detail – in everything between the microphone and the loudspeaker. “This year, we’ve seen some very interesting trends in digital technology that will really benefit smaller churches. The most frequent comments

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we receive from the more traditional churches are the need for simplicity of operation, secure and tamperproof equipment and the flexibility to control a system within the nave without having equipment on show. Tablet control via local WiFi is now commonplace and a new generation of products is making the technology well suited to even the most modest of installations. “At Sound Analysts we are passionate about sound, knowledgeable and committed,” Andy concluded. “We’d love to share it with you!” q

New lighting allows medieval gem to sparkle once more ‹ ST PETER’S IN DIDDLEBURY, Shropshire, is one of a number of stunning medieval churches to be found in the area of Wenlock Edge – the world-famous limestone escarpment near to the border with Wales. The church dates from around AD1010 and contains extensive Anglo-Saxon remnants – particularly in the north wall, which has an unusual combination of herringbone masonry on the inside and squared masonry on the outside. The lighting and electrical system in the church had become increasingly inefficient and difficult to maintain. In January 2013, after a number of unsuccessful trials with a lighting manufacturer and a local contractor, the PCC invited church lighting design and installation specialists Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd to assist in finding a solution. A new system was specified and presented to the PCC and members of Hereford Diocesan Advisory Committee during an onsite demonstration. The system is based on the combination of energy efficient light sources with flexible switching and dimming. The faculty application was given the goahead, the church and local community launched a successful fundraising appeal and Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd was tasked with the rewiring and relighting of the church. The installation was carried out by the company’s own experienced engineers, with minimal disruption to the church and services carrying on as normal. The original installation had used a conduit system that had impaired many of the features of the church, visually taking over the west wall

The stunning St Peter’s medieval church in Diddlebury – the location of another successful project by Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd

of the nave. It was replaced with a wiring system that is disguised in the fabric of the building so it is virtually undetectable, allowing the medieval architecture to come to the fore once again. New bespoke pendants were installed in the nave and side aisle. They are fitted with energyefficient, compact fluorescent lamps combined with dimmable high frequency electronic control gear, allowing them to be dimmed smoothly to 10% of maximum output. The pendants were installed alongside new uplighting in the nave and chancel, while new lighting for the choir, high altar and chapel now allows maximum flexibility in lighting levels and ambiance. A number of the latest generation LED spotlights have also been installed to illuminate the liturgical focal points of the church. These low-energy options can provide visitors with a tranquil environment in which to explore its history. The company was also asked to explore the possibility of improving the heating in the church. As the building is all-electric, a system was designed using under-pew heaters that can be controlled in zones to provide localised comfort without the need to heat the entire church. Commenting on behalf of the PCC, church warden Richard Hughes said: “We have been extremely pleased with the work carried out. The work became necessary due to the age and condition of the wiring and fittings and at the start we had no idea how our beautiful church, with its Saxon origins, should be properly lit. After some unsatisfactory initial investigations we came across Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd and from start to finish of the project they have

always given us very good advice and carried out the work to the highest standards. ”All of the new wiring has been cleverly concealed and disguised where necessary and the original and unsightly conduit has been carefully removed. Our church is now beautifully illuminated and heated, allowing the congregation and our visitors to appreciate and use it to its full potential. “The staff of Anthony J Smith (Gloucester) Ltd have been polite and thorough and have always worked around any functions being held in the church. We have found that using a single company for the design and installation has allowed the project to run without any unnecessary complications. All in all we cannot recommend them highly enough.” R • For more information call 01453 825130, email enquiries@anthonyjsmith.co.uk or visit the website at www.anthonyjsmith.co.uk. CRE South Stand P12

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Funding helps villages remember the Great War ‹ A LOCAL HISTORY GROUP in Berkshire has been awarded £3,900 from the

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a specific project, Remembering the Astons during the First World War. Awarded through HLF’s First World War: then and now programme, the project will focus on restoring the war memorial for two connected villages, Aston Tirrold and Aston Upthorpe, and hosting a community exhibition to tell the story of the community during the First World War. The project is registered with the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War project and will help villagers understand and commemorate the lives of all those from the community affected by the war. As well as the names on the war memorial, the group has researched many of the 81 men remembered on the villages’ Muster Roll. The discovery of John Masefield’s name on the Muster Roll led the local history group to research and explore the life of the poet, author and writer, who lived at Lollingdon Farm near Aston Tirrold from 1914 to 1917. Research has centred on his poetry and writings during the years 1914-1918. His poetry has been linked to the lives of the soldiers, and to those who stayed behind but who were also deeply affected by the war years and their legacy. Also explored were The Robert Moon diaries: the transcriptions of a unique and unpublished series of diaries from Dr Robert Moon who lived in Aston Tirrold and was a serving doctor in France, Serbia and Salonica during the First World War. His diaries, letters and postcards will be on display for the first time at the exhibition. On 29 October the group posted a message on Twitter thanking the HLF and showing the newly-cleaned war memorial. q

Pals to be subject of memorial square in Accrington ‹ ON 1 JULY 1916, the fateful first day of the Battle of the Somme,

severe losses and over 600 casualties were suffered by one army unit, leaving their community back home shattered and hardly anyone unaffected. Now, a new town centre square to commemorate the sacrifice and bravery of the Accrington Pals, their families and comrades will be the centrepiece of a project which will also see the restoration of some of Accrington’s historic retail and commercial buildings. A £1.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been announced to allow restoration of shop fronts and building repairs to be carried out to key properties in the town and create a new public square in front of the Market Hall and Town Hall to commemorate the Accrington Pals. Hyndburn Borough Council is investing an additional £1.2m into the project, which will see essential work carried out in the heart of the town centre. The Townscape Heritage project aims to restore the majestic, historical buildings and help bring vacant and underused premises back into use, giving the local economy a vital shot in the arm. Cllr Clare Cleary said: “This is fantastic news. Accrington is a town with a strong and proud heritage and its fine legacy of mid to late 19th and early 20th century buildings are key to its distinct identity. “These works will improve the town centre’s economic vitality and viability, complementing the development of Accrington Railway Station, the proposed bus station and the transformation of Accrington Market Hall.” Leader of the council, Miles Parkinson, added: “The council is committed to securing the future of Accrington town centre and this initiative will see the improvement of many attractive buildings along one of its arterial routes and the development of a public realm scheme commemorating the Accrington Pals. Recognising that the square is in the heart of Accrington, the council will be working with local people and a

variety of organisations, including the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, to ensure that these works provide a fitting remembrance of the bravery and sacrifice of the Pals.” The Accrington Pals were part of a network of locally-recruited army units drawn from the streets of towns and cities around the country. The aim was to evoke a feeling of comradeship; however, in many cases the scale of losses suffered almost destroyed whole communities. The fate suffered by the people of Accrington on that fateful day was poignantly expressed in an eponymous 1981 play by Peter Whelan and the memorial erected to the unit on the Somme is a tragic reminder of their fate. q

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Window restorer’s expertise helps bring inventor’s farm back to life

‹ HIGH UP IN THE Northumberland

fells, close to the Scottish Borders and on the banks of the River Coquet, is Rothbury. A little downstream is the settlement that is Cragend Farm. The farm borders on the Cragside estate of the first Baron Armstrong – a well-known Tyneside industrialist and engineer – which is now in the keeping of the National Trust. Armstrong was a noted inventor, specialising in hydraulics, and at Cragend Farm he installed an experimental hydraulic silo, which is now a Grade II* listed building. The farm suffered many years of neglect until, in 2011, the settlement was bought by a farmer and his family from the area, who set about restoring it to ‘somewhere near its former glory’ and creating an environmentally-friendly business

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supplying wood for biomass boilers as well as providing a number of holiday lets. At a very early stage, in October 2011, specialist sash window restorer and repairer David Humble – who is based in nearby Morpeth – was called in to begin the restoration of the sash windows in one of the cottages on the farm. The new owner, Shaun Renwick, posted at the time: “Almost all of the windows were painted shut when we arrived. The windows were originally made from fine wood with some very nice simple details of the day; just stripping off the paint makes them look great. “Any rotten wood is being replaced, new sills fitted where needed and Slimlite double glazing installed throughout.”

David also added a perimeter sealing system for draughtproofing and a sash removal system for easier maintenance in the future. The restoration of the East Cottage was to prove the beginning of a long project for David. His principal line of work is the restoration of the beautiful sashes that adorn many of the Victorian and Georgian buildings in this country. At Cragend, however, in addition to restoring the windows – or, in truth, creating replicas from scratch – he was tasked with recreating all the doors to fit the openings so they appeared to close directly onto the stonework. Moreover, each of the windows and doors on the farm is unique, so every replacement is a bespoke item.

In one case a window has been created from what was once a door. It is in the former hayloft, which had a traditional door at an elevated level. That is now a bedroom and sports a new window made from a single pane of glass filling what was the door. Moreover, the installation of shutters allows the appearance of a door to be maintained. The doors posed problems of their own. In one case David was tasked with recreating a bi-fold stable door – a folding door with separate upper and lower sections. Moreover, it needed to be draughtproof and weatherproof as well. “I had to think about that one for a while before I attempted to make it,” said David. There is still much work yet to be done. A number of outbuildings, including the barn, have yet to see David’s workmanship. The listed silo is another project yet to be tackled. The windows are very much part of the character of the farm buildings and are in a wide variety of styles. Mr and Mrs Renwick were keen to ensure that character was maintained and found in David Humble someone who is ‘sensitive to what an unusual project needs’. The progress of the whole restoration project can be followed in a blog posted by the Renwicks at www.cragendfarm.co.uk. R • To learn more about David Humble’s sash window restoration service visit www.davidhumble.co.uk.

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Lime has a long tradition with modern applications ‹ LIME HAS BEEN USED as a building material for thousands of

years and was the principal binder for mortars and plasters until the formulation of Portland cement in the 19th century. In China the lime was mixed with ‘sticky rice’ to add durability and modern developments have seen the addition of industrial wastes as pozzolanic materials to replace the volcanic pozzolana used by the Romans. Lime was first used in plaster for floors around 8,000BC and examples from the Neolithic period have been found in Turkey and the Levant. The ancient Greeks knew how to produce the material, although it was in the Roman era that it flourished. An oft-cited example is the ceiling of the Pantheon in Rome. The popularity of Portland cement for use in concrete is based on its perceived superior durability; however, researchers in Israel found that a lime cement floor in the Neolithic settlement of Yiftahel had a strength that ‘equals that of a high-quality modern cement’. The recent emphasis on using authentic materials for building restoration has brought the use of lime back into the spotlight and led to the establishment of a number of companies specialising in the use of lime. Most also run courses on its use. One such is the Scottish Lime Centre Trust, based in Glasgow. According to the trust: “The increased use of cement in the construction industry resulted in the loss of knowledge and skills required to correctly and appropriately specify and use lime mortars. Through the later part of last century we increasingly saw the damage that was being caused by overly hard cement mortars, but the products, knowledge and Lime rendering to St Mark’s Church at Whiteley Village, Hersham, Surrey by Robert McGregor of RJM Heritage Ltd skills were not available to transition back to the use of lime mortars, and this is where we come in.” There has also been a great deal of interest in lime because of its ‘green’ credentials. It requires much lower temperatures in its production, thus cutting greenhouse gas emissions. It also absorbs carbon dioxide during curing, a process is known as ‘sequestration’. In an interview with the BBC last year, Dr Alan Forster of Heriot-Watt University’s School of the Built Environment said: “A lime mortar will not really set hard without the reintroduction of carbon dioxide; and carbon dioxide sequestration is obviously on everybody's environmental agenda at the moment.” The national organisation established to bring together those involved or interested in the use of lime in building is the Building Limes Forum (BLF). Based in Edinburgh, the BLF is a charitable organisation with over 350 members. According to the BLF: “The Building Limes Forum facilitates the exchange of experience, information and opinion amongst its members. Members form a community of lime enthusiasts and practitioners, many of whom are producers, suppliers, specifiers or users of lime. “Membership provides access to this wide body of accumulated experience and expertise and an opportunity to share your own knowledge.” Next year’s Annual Conference and Gathering of the BLF will be held on 18-20 September at the historic Clare College, Cambridge, and the general theme will be Lime in East Anglia. As well as visits within Cambridge, there will be excursions to Ely and Saffron Walden to see the wealth of lime in that part of England. q Restoration of a Gothik fan vaulted ceiling from the now demolished Leigh Priory by Philip Gaches – using lime to match the original work

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• You can find a local lime expert in the classified section of this magazine – from page 54 ‘Church & Heritage Supplies’.

Breathing life into old buildings

‹ THIS FORMER AGRICULTURAL building was restored using breathing wall techniques by Cornwall

based lime masons Muddy Mortars. The building dates back roughly 150 years and was suffering from a number of inappropriate cement repairs. Its breathability had been severely compromised by the use of incorrect materials, and it was a sad shadow of its former self. Although physically very small, the restoration encompassed a great range of techniques, such as three coat lime rendering, lime pointing, the use of breathable insulation and the creation of new openings in the cob. The cob removed to make the openings was then reused to create an open fire based on the Rumford principals. Before work started, the building was a mass of uneven levels, jagged lines and dirty stonework. In order to correct this and create an aesthetically pleasing space, the walls had to be built out with as many as five coats of lime in places before the cork based insulation was trowelled on. The stonework was polished with a needle gun to bring up its true colours. The team at Muddy Mortars believe passionately in the importance of using traditional and contemporary breathing wall techniques in both historic and modern buildings. They usually work on restorations of cob and stone buildings within Cornwall but will also consider interesting projects further afield. q • For further information please visit www.muddymortars.com.

Lime is part of life at heritage centre

‹ ONE PLACE WHERE THE public can see historic lime kilns

is Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre near Arundel in West Sussex. The 18 kilns were built in 1905 to a Belgian design by Hippolyte De Witt to burn chalk with coal to create lime. Unfortunately, the design was not successful and by 1910 all but two kilns had been converted to traditional English bottle kilns. Over the years the heat inside the kilns caused them to distort, making them structurally unsafe. Two of the De Witt chambers still remain, however. A prominent feature of the kilns is the railway platform on each side of the block, allowing the transfer of lime direct from the kiln chambers into railway wagons. An award of nearly £400,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund allowed the Museum to restore the kilns, improve public access to them and provide a new exhibition called Life and Lime at Amberley. They were officially opened by the president of the museum, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, in May 2011. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

The maintenance of standards is key to antique furniture restoration By Michael Barrington, BAFRA president

‹ THE BRITISH ANTIQUE Furniture Restorers’ Association (BAFRA) is

now in its 35th year, having been founded in 1979 by a group of students of Furniture Restoration at West Dean College near Chichester, West Sussex. Their aim was to uphold the interests of owners and buyers of antique furniture and the antiques trade, as well as safeguarding the reputations of qualified and experienced furniture conservators and restorers. The founding team were fortunate in obtaining the backing of the British Antique Dealers Association (BADA), who were serious promoters of West Dean College and the Edward James Foundation which owned it. The team consisted very largely of retiring armed servicemen supported by their wives, who bravely and very effectively took on the secretarial and publicity side. To get the word ‘British’ into BAFRA’s official and registered title was a vast achievement in its own right. One of the motivations for the founding team was the burgeoning success and size of the antique furniture trade at the time and an accompanying increase in the number of furniture restorers taking advantage of the phenomenon – which was to last and, indeed, maintain its growth. A combination of the growth of the antique furniture trade and a depressingly low standard of ‘restorers’ across the country took its toll on the antique furniture in circulation and large amounts of furniture were being damaged, often irreversibly. The restorers were by no means the only culprits. A large part of the trader community was ‘promoting’ the damage by commissioning and

This late 18th century yew and elm chair was sent over from America to be restored by BAFRA member Clive Payne

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often demanding cheap and therefore often very poor restoration, and also giving extremely poor and ignorant instructions to the ‘craftsmen restorers’. The top end of the antique trade was, and still is, strongly and ethically controlled by such trade organisations as the BADA and LAPADA (The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers), but their membership has always been small compared with the number of dealers in the market. Looking forward some 30 years to today’s antiques trade, the ‘survivors’ of the trade’s downturn tend to be the members of the above organisations and some regional organisations with very similar membership standards and demands. Over the years both the BADA and LAPADA have been very supportive of BAFRA’s development and we certainly could not have achieved our professional status today without their valuable support and encouragement. The BAFRA membership system covers a wide range of interests: • Full-time members in the UK, known as the accredited members, of • which there are today 85 • Associate members in America, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, • Switzerland and Malta • A group of associate trainees, who join while at college and progress • towards full accredited membership

Military career leads to restoration skills ‹ MICHAEL BARRINGTON BEGAN work as a furniture

This George III carved giltwood armchair was restored by BAFRA member Ray Dudman of W Thomas Restorations Ltd

restorer and conservator on leaving the army in 1983. From 1970 he had done work for a very successful antique furniture dealer in Hartley Wintney in Hampshire, who had come into the antique dealing profession quite late in life from Éire. His knowledge of ‘old furniture’ was enormous and much of it was enhanced by dedicated members of his staff. Michael recalls: “I worked for him out of my garage workshop in nearby Arborfield, some 7 miles from his shop in Hartley Wintney High Street. He had quite a large staff at his workshop in the village from whom I learned a huge amount; but a very large part of my education came from him, often travelling in his van to meet different dealers all over the country, as well as furniture collectors and craftsmen. When I left the army I continued to work for him for a total of 11 years, until he sold his business and retired to Guernsey.” Michael joined BAFRA in 1984, having bought a rather dilapidated old rectory whose resurrection tested his hand skills and, indeed, knowledge. The leader of the BAFRA founders team Jock Brazier and his wife Helen came to his base to assess him, backed by team leader John Kitchin who was head of the furniture conservation department at the V&A. Jock himself had been an airborne ‘sapper’, or Royal Engineer. q

• A group of Life Members who are awarded the life membership • category for the work they have done in promoting and running the • association For all its members BAFRA runs a training scheme superior to any which the few remaining colleges are in a position to offer. We also have a very strong group of ‘Friends of BAFRA’, who join to widen their interest and passion for antique furniture and related items of the moveable heritage. BAFRA accreditation is purposely very difficult to attain and has been described as old fashioned, which it probably is; but any suggestion of making it easier has always been strongly resisted both by BAFRA and, perhaps more importantly, by the public. Assessment for accreditation A strong and widely admired feature of BAFRA is the very wide range of examines not just the applicant’s bench and design skills, but also their skills practised by the membership, which covers every aspect of furniture artistic and business skills and integrity, historical knowledge of design, design and conservation, historic interior woodwork, clocks, barometers, detailed constructional techniques and conservation disciplines. mechanical music, keyboard instruments, organs, marble and stone, textile Many people ask: “What is conservation?” Conservation is very closely allied to restoration and for the most part the skills of each go hand-in-hand. The key discipline in conservation is ‘maintenance of object integrity’ – i.e. the object’s purpose and evidence of origin and natural ageing, both of which must be retained and protected. The core discipline of conservation was founded by the museum world and since the early 1980s has been a central element of heritage discipline around the world. Each year BAFRA publishes its own Members’ Yearbook, containing details of every accredited member’s skills and experience. This Yearbook is designed to be retained as reference material for anyone interested in furniture and the moveable heritage. Copies can be These before and after pictures show an early 19th century mahogany Biedermeier cylinder bureau cabinet obtained from BAFRA head office with a fully fitted birch interior. Large areas of shrinkage to the carcases had occurred, there were loose and and annual subscriptions are missing mouldings to both sections and missing birch veneers to the interior. The existing finish was lightly available. cleaned and bees waxed polished by BAFRA member Clive Beardall www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

This unusually long medieval coffer was conserved by BAFRA member Hugh Haley of Phoenix Conservation conservation, leather, upholstery, metalwork, as well as every furniture decorative process such as carving, gilding, Japanning and oriental lacquer, and many more. A most important part of the development of all skills is the process of continuous professional development (CPD), which is required of all accredited members on a three-yearly basis.

Finally, the number of teaching organisations covering heritage matters and particularly those related to conservation has diminished hugely over the past 10 years, partly because of a decline in numbers of those wishing to pursue the subject and a consequent lack of funding. One fundamental principle of ‘hands-on’ conservation is natural, inborn talent in design and artistic ability. Like it or not, they are inborn talents and cannot be taught – only developed. The ability to use one’s hands and thus handle tools is inborn or inherited. Such natural creative skills are developed largely through adoption of hobbies as a child and encouragement within families and communities. Sadly, schools and teaching organisations naturally find this fact very difficult to accept. R • For further information visit www.bafra.org.uk.

Restorers cater for comfort ‹ AS PART OF the

refurbishment project at St Michael’s Church in Tilehurst, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of its reconstruction by George Edmund Street, major repairs were needed to the choir stalls after some of their structural frames had been cut to accommodate heating pipes. The work was completed by local furniture restorer and BAFRA member, Morrisen Restoration, who also adjusted the width and heght of the seats so that they were more comfortable for the lady members of the choir. R

Look for the BAFRA logo in our ‘Church & Heritage Supplies’ classified listings 48

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ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION

BAFRA

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ARCHIVE STORAGE BOXES

ASBESTOS

BELLS

BUILDING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION

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CHURCH HEATING

BUILDING SERVICES

CANDLES

CHURCH SUPPLIES

CARVERS

MASTER CARVERS ASSOCIATION

CLOCKS

DAMP PROOFING

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DISABLED ACCESS

GLAZING SUPPLIES ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

EXHUMATION SERVICES

JOINERY

FENCING

LANDSCAPING

LEADED LIGHTS FIREPLACES

FURNITURE

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LEADWORK

LIGHTING & SOUND

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LIGHTNING PROTECTION

LIME

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ORGANS

PAINT STRIPPERS

METAL SUPPLIES

PAINTING CONSERVATION

NOTICE BOARDS

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PLASTERERS

ROOFING

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ROOF TILES

SECONDARY GLAZING

SECURITY

SOUND & AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEMS

STONE

STAINED GLASS

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TESTING AND CONSULTANCY

TRANSPORT & STORAGE

TREE SURGERY & CONSULTANCY

STONE SUPPLY

SURVEYS WEB DESIGN

TERRACOTTA