Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Issue No. 77

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COVER STORY

CONTENTS Tributes add to celebrations as lead industry hails its winners The medieval triforium of Westminster Abbey, hidden for over 700 years, is now accessible to the public and houses the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries. The galleries are reached via a new tower, the first major addition to the building in over two centuries. The Weston Tower is a glittering structure of glass and herringbone lead cladding.

That leadwork, by specialist leadwork company CEL, scooped this year’s prestigious Murdoch Award, presented by the Lead Contractors Association and sponsored by Associated Lead Mills.

The award is named in honour of the late Richard Murdoch.

Read the full story of the awards, and tributes to Richard Murdoch, from page 7

5 Reflections MURDOCH AWARDS 7 Tributes add to celebrations as lead

industry hails its winners 9 Smaller projects get chance to shine 9 Market leader services the UK 10 Essex’s finest enjoy a bumper year

of awards LEAD 11

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Midland Lead provide traditional materials for Scampston Hall LSTA appoints new general manager Leadworker training can lead to CSCS Card

ROOFING 15 Scotland crowns its top heritage roofers 15 Lewes landmarks get new roofs from

hard metal experts 16 Roofing restorations at York Minster

follow traditional design 17 New roof is a match for its predecessor NEWS 19 Major project planned for former

Morris home 19 Heritage at Risk Register marks two decades 21 The experts who spend summer

making your winter warmer 21 Armistice Day tribute sees ‘lost’

memorial displayed 21 Caernarfon to improve accessibility 22 Crowds flock to ‘Scotland’s first

design museum’ 23 Historic baths undergo award winning restoration 24 Methodist landmark is set for a rebirth 24 The public want to reclaim heritage 24 Going digital: Irish church has the

best of both worlds

LIGHTING 25 For new lighting or timely upgrades –

experience offers the best option VAT ON LISTED & CHURCH BUILDINGS 26 VAT campaign continues despite

Hammond’s lack of action 26 Opportunities already exist to save

on VAT IRONWORK & METALWORK 27 Families praise poignant memorial

sculpture by Derbyshire craftsmen 29 BathIRON’s flame will be rekindled

in the spring 29 Shropshire’s Iron Bridge shows off

its new (old) colour scheme

CHRISTIAN RESOURCES EXHIBITION 30 Sandown sees CRE back to its

‘buzzing’ self

CHURCH FURNITURE 32 Bespoke furniture complements worship DRONES 33 Drones: a useful tool, but use with caution 33 Drones find parch marks that reveal

Hidden Britain STAGING 35 Experts set the stage for an expanded

worship area

SOUND AND AV SYSTEMS 36 Getting the message across is

becoming ever-more sophisticated 36 Sound know-how helps clarify the message 37 Quality sound is simplicity for Kent church 38 Hear the voices of the Armistice 39 VR: the final frontier in AV presentation?

39 Wonderland church gets multi-zone

sound system INSULATION 40 Awards commendation for Icynene

insulated historic property LIME PLASTERING 42 Traditional plastering techniques

meet modern challenges 43 Lime render allows ancient farmhouse

to breathe again LIGHTNING PROTECTION 44 Firefighters rehearse the unthinkable

in Lincoln 44 From rods to cages: lightning

protection has an eminent progeny 44 Annual inspection of lightning

protection is a must, says diocese CARVING 46 Joinery expertise opens doors at

historic castle 47 Agrell acquisition showcases Merritt’s

continued expansion and commitment

to excellence STAINED GLASS 48 Metalwork to stained glass windows

– the forgotten fabric CHURCH & HERITAGE SUPPLIES 48 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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AT 11AM ON 11 NOVEMBER the nation came to a halt to commemorate the time, 100 years previously to the minute, when the striking of the hour marked the end of the most calamitous conflict the world had ever seen. As people across the globe stood in silence to remember the fallen, one company of craftspeople in York marked the occasion in a special way. Andrew G Podmore & Son are in the process of restoring a ‘lost’ memorial to railway workers from the North of England, and on Armistice Day reassembled the memorial to stand in their workshop, replete with poppy wreaths.

• The commemoration of the centenary did not end on 11 November. At the various sites of the Imperial War Museum exhibitions are ongoing well into next year. One such – at IWM London – uses immersive technology to bring to life the voices of those who lived through both the war and the Armistice. Visitors can hear those voices express their relief and sometimes bewilderment as the conflict came to an end.

• Another centenary being marked this year is of partial female emancipation. Not all women achieved the right to vote – that was still some years away – but it was a huge step. Coinciding with that centenary, two churches significant to female history have been placed on the Heritage at Risk Register by English Heritage. St Luke’s in Salford is where Emmeline Pankhurst was married and Holy Trinity in Coventry is where George Eliot worshipped.

This year also marks the 20th year of the Heritage at Risk Register itself. That such a document needs to exist at all is a sad testament, but one spark of light is that fewer and fewer buildings are appearing on it, as more buildings are being saved and cared for.

• One building that is having a great deal of care devoted to it is the country base of the Society of Antiquaries of London. That eminent body counts among its former Fellows the great 20th-century designer and social reformer William Morris, and it is his former home that the society has as its Oxfordshire base.

Now Kelmscott Manor is to be restored and an education centre added to it, enabling new generations to learn about Morris and his associates among arts and crafts aficionados and the Pre-Raphaelites. Planning permission has been secured and a grant of £4.3m made by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

• Back in London itself, this June saw the opening of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey. Access is via the newlybuilt Weston Tower, which is attracting plaudits from all corners of the design world. The tower boasts intricate lead cladding and that installation has been honoured with this year’s Murdoch Award by the Lead Contractors Association. It is that building that graces the front cover of this issue.

The award ceremony this year was tinged with sadness as it was the first since the passing of Richard Murdoch, after whom the awards are named. Richard was a leading figure in the lead sheet industry and will be sadly missed.

• October brought with it the Budget, and a chance for the Chancellor to rectify what many see as an injustice in the tax system – namely the imposition of VAT at 20% on essential repairs to listed and historic buildings. Alas, Mr Hammond failed to take the opportunity to reduce the rate to 5%, despite a vigorous campaign by the Listed Property Owners’ Club, the Heritage Alliance and Ecclesiastical Insurance.

There are, however, instances when it is possible to claim a reduced rate for some works on churches and ecclesiastical buildings.

One expert in the field offers some advice. q

Chris Stokes

Editor, Ecclesiastical & Heritage World

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COVER STORY

Tributes add to celebrations as lead industry hails its winners [

EACH YEAR the Lead Contractors Association (LCA) meets to honour the prizewinners of the Murdoch Awards and Murdoch Sponsors Awards. The event is always special to organisers, winners and sponsors alike – this year, however, the occasion was tinged with huge sadness following the passing of Richard Murdoch (right) in January.

At this year’s gala dinner – held at the Vineyard Hotel in Newbury, where the awards were announced and presented – tributes were paid to Richard by LCA secretary Ray Robertson and past chairmen Steve Hempstock and Peter Rutherford.

It is safe to say that without Richard Murdoch there would be no Lead Contractors Association: even if it did exist, it would certainly not be in its present form.

The Murdoch Awards were established in 1996 by the LCA to mark Richard’s retirement from the industry.

His passion for working with lead sheet began in 1973 when, after joining the Lead Development Association (now the Lead Sheet Association), he was responsible for working with architects and specifiers in helping with lead sheet detailing for their roof designs.

He quickly became recognised as the foremost technical authority on the design and specification of lead sheet for roofing and cladding.

That was in no small part due to the publication of his research, which resulted in the first single technical reference for leadwork – Lead Sheet in Building – in 1978.

Richard also played a huge part in solving a growing number of problems associated with the installation side of the industry. Working closely with roofing contractors who started to specialise in lead sheet, he recognised their potential and the value of having their own independent organisation. As a result, in 1984 the LCA was formed.

LCA general manager Nigel Johnston played host to the awards evening and was delighted to welcome Richard’s widow June, who presented the awards, as well as his daughter Linda.

Before the presentations took place, Alan Barker, national sales manager of awards sponsor Associated Lead Mills (ALM), gave a brief introduction to the awards. He handed over to specialist lead consultant Ian Harvey, who spoke about this year’s entries on behalf of the judges.

It was then down to LCA chairman Mike Hempstock to announce the awards, which June Murdoch came forward to present to the winners.

Following the presentation of the Murdoch Sponsors Awards, which are detailed on the following pages, Mike announced the winners of the Murdoch Awards themselves.

This year Richardson Roofing Ltd took third place for their work at the headquarters of Hampshire County Council’s architecture, design and property services department in Winchester.

Richardson’s commercial manager Andy North said: “The project included a total re-stripping and removal of the existing roof and a complete replacement of roof covering and substrate, due to a number of leaks attributed to design and installation failures.”

In all, 85 tonnes of Code 6 lead sheet from their own design was installed, supplied by Envirolead. It covered an area of 1300m2.

Andy continued: “The project involved replacement of lead on mansards, perimeter details and gutters. On completion it was fully

vetted by Ian Harvey, which enabled the project to qualify for the LCA 25-year insurance-backed and underwritten guarantee.”

Full Metal Jacket Ltd again featured in the awards – this time as runners-up for their work in the west end nave of Canterbury Cathedral. They replaced the traditional cast-lead roof and the standing-seam joints to their original design.

However, there was no doubt in the judges’ minds as to the overall winner: CEL Ltd, for their work on the Weston Tower at Westminster Abbey (right) – previously known by its working title of the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Tower. The first new build to the abbey in a lifetime and situated just outside Poet’s Corner, it displays stunning herringbone lead cladding to its pillars and roof.

CEL general manager Jonny Growcott said: “Our involvement, from design guidance and interpretation, through to completion over a 12-month period, was a journey that drew the best from everyone involved. Leadworkers, project managers and the entire CEL team at some time had their own input, which makes for such a gratifying feeling.

“We were supported by our preferred suppliers of lead, British Lead Mills. They must be thanked for making sure that every piece of the 50 tonnes of lead applied to the seven-storey polygonal structure – designed by Ptolemy Dean – was checked and double-checked. This meant that our leadworkers could then work confidently in producing our very best for Her Majesty.”

CEL Ltd receiving their winners award. Pictured left to right are Mike Hempstock (LCA chairman), June Murdoch, Simon Mawer (CEL Ltd) and Alan Barker (ALM) The 2018 winners have once again demonstrated the excellence consistently achieved in lead sheet roofing by LCA members – and attention is already turning to the 2019 awards. Any LCA member, client or architect that has used an LCA member, can enter a project by contacting the LCA on 01342 317888 or email info@leadcontractors.co.uk. The deadline for entries is the end of July. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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COVER STORY

Smaller projects get their chance to shine [ THE LCA’S MURDOCH AWARDS are now in their 22nd

year and since 2005 they have been sponsored by Associated Lead Mills (ALM). The following year ALM created the Murdoch Sponsors Awards.

At the awards ceremony, ALM’s managing director Barry Smith affirmed the company’s intention to continue with its sponsorship.

He declared: “As one of the UK’s leading distributors of rolled lead sheet we are glad to continue with our sponsorship of the Murdoch Awards, which do so much to enhance the profile of lead, along with those involved in its use and our industry as a whole.”

Prior to the presentation of the Murdoch Awards themselves, Richard Murdoch’s widow June presented the Murdoch Sponsors Awards – specially created for recognising smaller projects using less than five tonnes of lead. Awards were presented for the top three places.

Third place was awarded to Full Metal Jacket Ltd, whose name features regularly in the list of award winners. This year they were rewarded for their project at St Joseph’s School in Willesden in London, which involved the refurbishment of the tower base and dome of the school’s cupola.

Runners-up were Eastern Foundry Lead Ltd for their work at Pond House in Syleham roll ends. Because of how the sheet lengths worked out it would have been uneconomical to use bossed ends. It was a great project to work on for a fantastic customer, who was over the moon with how the roof turned out.”

It was the first year the company had entered the awards and they were delighted with their success, which added to a Royal Warrant in leadwork.

Said Luke: “We are very proud to be runners-up in the prestigious Murdoch Sponsors Award in our first entry year and congratulate the winners on their success. However, we will certainly be chasing both prizes next year!”

Third place went to Full Metal Jacket Ltd for the refurbished cupola at St Joseph’s School in Willesden Runners-up were Norfolk-based Eastern Foundry Lead Ltd, for their work at Pond House in Syleham. Their customer had asked for a glazed link to connect the outbuilding – used as an office – to the main house and the installation of a lead roof. Fittingly, the lead for the project was supplied by ALM through builders merchants Ridgeons.

Contracts manager Luke Waller explained: “We used Code 5 lead on the project – and welded roll ends instead of the more traditional bossed

Market leader services the UK [

ASSOCIATED LEAD MILLS LTD (ALM) and its hard metals associate company ALM HM are leading UK distributors of rolled lead sheet and traditional hard metals. An unparalleled belief in customer service and delivering a quality product has enabled the group to become leaders in their field.

ALM sells rolled lead sheet manufactured to BSEN 12588 under its Envirolead brand. ALM HM holds substantial stocks of hard metals such as zinc, copper, stainless steel, steel and aluminium.

Through a depot network with outlets in Glasgow, Barnsley and Hoddesdon and a lead manufacturing facility in Ebbw Vale, they are able service the entire UK market. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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COVER STORY

Essex’s finest enjoy a bumper year of awards [

Saving the best until last, it was 2016 winners Celtic Leadwork who again took top honours: this time for their project at Hillesden Avenue in Barnes (above).

Delighted proprietor Chris Clarke said that the job was made so much easier by ALM delivering the correct lead promptly. The work was carried out on a residential loft extension, but Chris explained that his passion for lead goes much further than this type of build.

“I’ve been passionate about leadwork for as long as I can remember,” said Chris. “One of my main interests has been in Celtic artwork, which has led me to reading about and visiting all sorts of historical buildings – hence the name of my business.

But I’m equally interested in sandcasting and everything else in between: anything and everything that lead can create.”

Chris Clarke of Celtic Leadwork (2nd right) receiving the Murdoch Sponsors Award for their project at Hillesden Avenue in Barnes ALM’s national sales manager Alan Barker commented: “As the distributor of the rolled lead sheet chosen for the project, we took considerable pride in supplying the lead to Celtic Leadwork via their nominated merchant.”

He contrasted the small scale of the project with the amount of lead required for the construction of the Weston Tower at Westminster Abbey – the iconic structure giving access to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee art collection – which had won the Murdoch Award for CEL. “Ultimately, the quality of installation and material will play a pivotal part in securing the future of the two buildings.”

Alan concluded by observing: “The awards have also provided an ideal opportunity to thank the Lead Contractors Association for their continued support in co-ordinating the promotion of lead through their members, which has been invaluable to us and the industry as a whole.” q

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THE BRACE OF WINS in the Murdoch Awards for Essexbased Full Metal Jacket caps off a remarkable year of successes for the company. Their third place in the Murdoch Sponsors Award for St Joseph’s School in Willesden, and runners-up spot in the Murdoch Award itself for their work at Canterbury Cathedral (right), followed on from a clutch of accolades in the UK Roofing Awards.

That haul, in May, saw them scoop no fewer than three awards – including the top prize of Roof of the Year. The dazzling roof of the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate (below) brought them that honour – as well as success in the Fully Supported Metal category. The third award was for the British Museum’s Islamic Gallery in the Lead Roofing category.

At the time Associated Lead Mills – who, together with ALM Hard Metals, supplied the materials for all three projects – commented: “Congratulations all round; a positive partnership in action.”

The award-winning year got even better in November when their project at Temperate House, Kew Gardens won the Liquid Roofing Project of the Year for roofs over 1,000m2 at the LWRA Awards.

The firm was founded in 1996 by Paul Rawlinson, whose vision was to create a company that specialised in the use of lead and traditional hard metals in the building industry. Paul wanted to create a company that would not only return to traditional craftsmanship in the use of lead and copper, but would also incorporate new technology and design to bring an innovative and creative style.

The impressive haul of awards, culminating in this year’s series of successes, has shown that Paul has succeeded in that aim. q

Midland Lead provide traditional materials for Scampston Hall restoration [

NORTH YORKSHIRE-BASED AB Heritage Roofing worked closely with Midland Lead on a recent project to restore lead detailing work on Capability Brown’s Palladian Bridge at the 17th century Scampston Hall Estate.

Supported by Natural England, the Palladian Bridge restoration project took four months to complete and required each aspect of the bridge to be stripped, repaired, painted and restored ready for the thousands of visitors that head for the stately home and gardens each year.

Situated overlooking the lake at Scampston, the bridge itself is a classicallydesigned structure featuring Ionic columns and a detailed plinth. Each stage of the restoration process was done using materials and techniques sensitive to the age and heritage of the structure, and a key area was the lead work.

Midland Lead are experts at manufacturing traditional sandcast lead often used on heritage projects. The company regularly work with English Heritage and the National Trust as well as on a number of projects that require this traditional method of producing lead work for Sandcasting manufacturing – historical buildings. combining traditional skills with modern technology Contractor Adam Burnett from

AB Heritage Roofing explained what the work entailed: “We were tasked with replacing the lead cornices, lead ridges, hips and front pediment. These are important details, as they are key elements in retaining the building’s classic style.

“We had no hesitation in using Midland Lead to supply the one tonne of code six rolled lead we needed for this project. Their in-depth knowledge, competitive pricing and great customer service has never let us down. Also, their huge range of stock available means we can have whatever we need delivered in a short timescale – a must for this project.”

Chris Legard, owner of Scampston Hall, said: “We are so grateful to the support of Natural England which has enabled us to make such drastic improvements to the landscape here at Scampston, with both the lake and the Palladian Bridge.

We are hopeful that all our visitors will be able to appreciate Capability Brown’s vision for Scampston, restored to its original splendour. Through giving the bridge a little care and attention now, we hope that we will be able to preserve it for future generations.”

Now re-open to the public, the bridge has been returned to its former glory (above), and is ready to provide a stunning backdrop to those allimportant wedding photos. q

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LSTA appoints new general manager [THE Lead Sheet Training Academy

has announced the appointment of new general manager, Nick DuGard, who will be leading the organisation in its next phase of development.

Nick joins the organisation with a wealth of experience relevant to the construction training sector, having spent 15 years at City & Guilds as a regional business manager where he was responsible for the delivery of sales revenues, business solutions and the development of a broad range of qualification products throughout the UK. As well as an in-depth understanding of the work-based training sector, he also brings a breadth of knowledge in wider funding potential as he has worked as a business and fundraising consultant in the sports world.

On starting his role at the LSTA Nick said: “I am really looking forward to the challenge of growing what is already a very successful training operation.

“From basic to advanced courses within the specialist sector we are the sole provider of the CITB SAPs programme whilst also offering City & Guilds accredited lead and hard metal courses.

“Supporting experienced operatives through the delivery of OSAT Level 2 and Heritage Level 3 we have a unique offer for the roofing industry and I am passionate about getting the message about the benefits of training out to a wider audience.” q

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Leadworker training can lead to CSCS Card [THE National Construction Training Service (NCTS) is a training

provider specifically for the roofing industry, founded in 2016. Its training centre in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, is designed to offer skills and development across the many roofing disciplines and includes the Richard Murdoch Training Centre for Excellence.

It now offers training for those who carry out lead roofing work and need a CSCS Card. Its Basic Competency Programme (BCP) in Lead has been developed by lead battery recycler Envirowales and is the first step towards gaining a CSCS Blue Skilled Worker Card.

The BCP is a one-day, manufacturer-approved theory and practical training course, which is mapped to vocational qualifications.

Candidates who successfully complete the course can apply for a three-year Red Experienced Worker Card or a Trainee Card. Once candidates are issued with one of these cards they have 18 months to register for an NVQ Level 2 Lead Worker Qualification.

Envirowales, who have developed the course, recycle 96% of car batteries and the lead taken from those batteries – branded Envirolead – is specified by architects and stocked by merchants.

It is supplied by Associated Lead Mills (ALM) in Great Britain and

Jamestown Metals Ltd (JML) in Ireland.

The National Construction Training Service offers a range of industryrecognised qualifications for those working in the roofing industry – from beginners to experienced tradespeople – designed to inspire and educate and to fit with the individual’s needs, no matter their level of skill.

In May the NCTS became members of the Lead Contractors Association. Its operations director Jayne Fergusson commented: “We have the resources and experience to supply a new generation of roofers with the confidence, skills and qualifications to help their career flourish.

“The number of skilled workers throughout the construction industry is at a record low; therefore it is vital training services provided by companies such as NCTS are called upon to address that alarming trend.” q • For more information visit www.ncts.org.uk

The following leadworkers are listed on The Leadworker Register: M P Hare Ltd

T: 01732 842655 M: 07971 902631 E: marc@mphareheritageworks.com W: www.mphareheritageworks.com The Shaw, Kiln Barn Road, East Malling, Kent ME19 6BG

Black Dog Roofing

Nova Contracts Limited Nova Contracts specialise in heritage roofing work with a real focus on heritage leadwork Flat lead roofs, flashing repairs and welding all undertaken Nova Contracts are affiliated and approved by the Leadworkers Register with skill levels 1,2,3 and 4 obtained

T: 01249 321969 M: 07808 840491 E: blackdogroofing1@outlook.com

T: 01563 526942 M: 07739 750617 E: info@novacontracts.co.uk W: www.novacontracts.co.uk

Landsdowne Close, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 9DR

10 Leadhills Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire KA1 3UF

Glenbuild Roofing Contracts Limited

K & M Leadwork Ltd

21 Littlemill Road, Drongan, Ayrshire KA6 7BP

2 Lincoln Close, Standlake, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 7SJ

T: 01292 590440 E: glenbuildroofing@yahoo.co.uk W: www.glenbuild.com

T: 01865 301866 M: 07900 640046 E: info@kmleadwork.co.uk W: www.kmleadwork.co.uk

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Scotland crowns its top heritage roofers [ON 26 OCTOBER the winners were

announced in the NFRC Scottish Roofing Contractor of the Year Awards. Roofers from across Scotland gathered at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow, for the gala celebration, which was the best-attended since the awards were launched in 2008. The presentation was hosted by BBC Scotland’s news anchor Jackie Bird and featured 13 categories across all the roofing disciplines.

The winners were chosen by an independent expert panel, with the finalists chosen for exceptional standards of workmanship and technical expertise.

The Heritage Roofing category has become an established accolade in the awards, and this year was won by DM Roofing & Roughcasting Ltd for Pine House, a private dwelling. The judges described the competition as ‘extremely difficult’, given the number of stunning entries.

As often happens with such competitions, a number of ecclesiastical and heritage projects featured in other categories. DM Roofing & Roughcasting Ltd repeated their success with victory in the Roof Tiling category for Shettleston Parish Church – a project for which they also carried off the prize in the same category at the national UK Roofing Awards in May. What can be regarded as Scotland’s most remarkable new building in the heritage sector could not be excluded. The roof of V&A Dundee (pictured) won the Supplier of the Year award for Sika Sarnafil.

The judges commented: “Extensive use of the material on this

©HuftonCrow iconic project has been well and carefully executed. Sadly it will rarely be seen.”

Peter Treacy, chairman of NFRC Scotland, said: “Once again, we’ve had some fantastic entries that highlight the great work roofing contractors deliver across Scotland in all the roofing disciplines. It is, therefore, important that our industry comes together to celebrate these achievements and highlight the excellent work we provide to our customers and clients.” q

Lewes landmarks get new roofs from hard metal experts

[CANTERBURY-BASED Metal Roof Ltd are specialists in copper,

stainless steel, aluminium and zinc roofing and cladding. Two of their projects have involved properties in Lewes in Sussex.

A visitors’ centre has been built in the grounds of Lewes Castle (above) and the roof was required to have the appearance of a traditional ‘batten roll’ lead roof. Terne coated stainless steel was used so as to achieve the appearance of lead but without the harmful environmental effects.

The dramatically modern extension to a traditional church in the town (below) incorporates sweeping pitches with concave curves. VM Anthra zinc is used – it is nearly black in colour. The project has won the Friends of Lewes Best Building award and a ‘highly commended certificate’ for the Sussex Heritage Trust Awards. q

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Roofing restorations at York Minster follow [ traditional design

YORK MINSTER is Northern Europe’s second largest gothic cathedral and has a long and varied history dating back almost 1,500 years. Initially built with wood, the church has undergone numerous transformations over the centuries, including complete refurbishments and organised repairs – it has also survived two fires and William the Conqueror’s Harrying of the North!

Conservation and restoration is an on-going commitment and those in charge are dedicated to keeping the traditional architecture and heritage.

As a result, they utilise a combination of cutting-edge science and ancient craftsmanship when undertaking any remedial restorative work.

They recently called on the expertise and specialist knowledge of the professional roofing contractors at Leicester-based JTC Roofing, who were extremely proud to undertake the roofing restoration work.

The project involved replacing the north parapet gutter of the nave roof, using terne coated stainless steel. The old lead was laid in very long lengths which contravenes all of today’s codes of practice and so had to be replaced. This is because lead expands slightly over time and, as a result, if laid too largely can creep and crack. Stainless steel, on the other hand, has a much lower thermal expansion rate, making it a much more suitable material.

The work entailed opening up the lead eaves to the roof and inserting the newly formed terne coated stainless steel pans of 0.5mm material thickness. The stainless steel arrived in coil form, requiring careful marking and forming up using dog ears at the step lines. The formed pans may then have the fronts formed and soldered (hot work out of place where possible) so as to form a drop into the sump outlets.

The lead then required careful re-dressing and lead welding wherever it had split. Also, the laps to the main lead roof sheets on the steep pitch were opened and re-nailed using 25mm annular ring shank stainless steel nails. Sand cast lead clipping tags were also lead welded on to the sheet to then restrain the centres of the laps in the sheets.

York Minster, and the adjoining school which JTC Roofing also worked out, is a fantastic example how the company use their specialist historic renovation experience to perform superior standard roofing work, paying attention to the heritage and craftsmanship.

The team’s huge efforts, top quality workmanship and care to detail ensured the finished roofing restoration was completed to the best possible standard and in line with York Minster’s traditional design. q

The following companies are listed on The National Heritage Roofing Contractors Register: Exeter Roofing Ltd

Martin-Brooks (Roofing Specialists) Ltd

18 School Lane, Tedburn St. Mary, Exeter, Devon EX6 6AA

Ross Street, Darnall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 4PU

T: 01392 243000 E: exeterroofing@gmail.com W: www.exeterroofingltd.com

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T: 0114 244 7720 E: mb@allroofing.co.uk W: www.martin-brooks.co.uk

New roof is a match for its predecessor [THE Church of St Mary in Bushbury,

Wolverhampton, is a Grade Two*-listed building dating back as far as the 14th century. The building displays two different characters: the chancel and tower are of somewhat irregular medieval fabric, whereas the nave, north and south aisles and the organ chamber were rebuilt in the 1850s by the architect Edward Banks and are of a more typically precise Victorian fabric.

This year saw a major project to reroof the church carried out by Four Oaks Conservation Ltd of Sutton Coldfield, under the direction of accredited conservation architect Bryan Martin. The project involved the re-roofing of the 56o roofs on the nave, the south aisle, the chancel and the organ chamber with Staffordshire blue plain and ornamental fishtail tiles made by specialist brick The south aisle and the chancel of St Mary’s in Bushbury manufacturer Dreadnought.

The roofs were previously covered with blue clay plain tiles, typical of the area, satisfaction of the church with the project: “Everybody associated with the fitted in the 1850s, and were in need of replacement. The tiles had restoration is delighted with the result. It looks fantastic and we very much been bedded in lime mortar, with no nailing whatsoever, and most of hope it will give a further 200 years of service to the Bushbury community.” the bedding had fallen away, along with many of the tiles, which had The project has also attracted national attention. It has been shortlisted caused considerable water ingress. in two categories at the inaugural Pitched Roofing Awards: Commercial The irregularity of the chancel building, due to its age, also presented property application using roof tiles and Roof tile application for a challenges for the team. The removal of the old tiles revealed old lath and heritage roof. q plaster beneath, and fixing battens to that would have destroyed it. Fixing two-by-two counter battens and then two-by-one tile battens created a void above the old lath and plaster and that effectively raised the height of the tiles against the coping stones on the gable ends.

Architect Bryan Martin commented: “Four Oaks went to great lengths to set and pack our new counter battens, so that the very characterful undulations were preserved.”

The new height of the tiles made it difficult to fix flashing beneath the tiles as well as up and beneath the coping stones. Instead, the tiling was terminated short of the gable end, leaving a small gap to create an extremely neat lead-lined secret gutter at the parapet abutment.

Decaying parapet coping stones were also replaced and re-bedded.

Instead of nailing the new tiles, which would have damaged the old plaster inside the church, tiles were fixed to the battens using screws.

Bryan Martin decided to re-roof with tiles that matched the original as closely as possible – laid in alternating four-course bands of plain and fishtail tiles, as before. Dreadnought were able to provide tiles that were an extremely close match. It seems likely that the originals came from a very similar source, and perhaps could even have been Dreadnoughts.

The shape and colour of Dreadnought's tiles have not changed over the years and the authentic Staffordshire blue colour has always been obtained by control of the kiln atmosphere, which turns the iron content in the clay to blue. A total of 14,250 fishtail and 32,000 plain Staffordshire blue Dreadnought tiles were used, as well as two matching bat access tiles and approximately 140 300mm angle ridges. In addition, all of the old tiles were carefully sorted and the best were reused on the roof of the organ chamber. As none of the old tiles had nailing holes, each had slots carefully cut in to allow it to be fixed to the batten.

Bryan Martin explained: “Four Oaks also carried out the meticulous repair of a batch of the ornate, crested 1850s ridge tiles for the organ chamber roof, combining the best of the base tiles with the best of the cresting.

Needless to say, we are all extremely pleased with this roof too.

“It is notable on the whole project that the tiles are extremely evenly laid, very carefully set out, and the coursing is nicely managed at abutments to avoid narrow cuts. However, this was by no means a straightforward job.”

The Rector of the Parish of Bushbury, Rev Dr Ian Poole, expressed the www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Heritage at Risk Register marks two decades

[ON 8 NOVEMBER Historic England published the 2018 Heritage

at Risk Register, the annual snapshot of the health of England’s historic places. It marked the 20th of year of the register.

This year there are 5,160 entries listed, 94 less than last year; 318 entries have been removed from the register, while 242 have been added – a welcome downward trend. In fact, two-thirds of the entries in the original register of 1998 have since been removed.

In the year marking the centenary of partial female suffrage, new sites added include the church in Salford where Emmeline Pankhurst was married – the George Gilbert Scott-designed St Luke’s in Weaste – and Holy Trinity in Coventry, the church where George Eliot worshipped.

Historic England’s chief executive Duncan Wilson commented: “Over the past 20 years we have used the Heritage at Risk Register to highlight places in need of care and attention. We have dedicated time, expertise and money to bring these special but threatened places back into use, and we are proud to have played our part in saving them from neglect.” q

Major project planned for former Morris home [

PLANNING PERMISSION has been granted for the repair and restoration of Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire, the country base of the Society of Antiquaries of London and former home of William Morris, together with the construction of a new education centre. The project has also attracted a grant of £4.3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Announcing the HLF funding, the society’s general secretary, John S C Lewis FSA, said: “The grant, together with over £700,000 raised through donations by Fellows, supporters and funders, will secure Kelmscott Manor and its internationally-important collections for future generations. This represents the largest single injection of funding into the society in its history.

“The construction of a new thatched learning building will provide us with, for the first time, the facilities to reach out to school and community groups and engage them with the society’s mission to conserve and explore the remains of the past.”

Kelmscott Manor is a Grade One-listed limestone manor house that dates from 1570, in the Cotswolds village of Kelmscott. William Morris – the leading founder of the Arts and Crafts movement – lived there from 1871 until his death in 1896.

The architecture, history, landscape, flora and fauna of Kelmscott inspired many of his most important designs and writings and influenced his ideas on conservation for both the built and natural environments.

Planning permission was secured on behalf of the society by Carter Jonas, the national property consultancy, who also negotiated with a neighbouring landowner to rent a small area of land for a new car park.

Nicky Brock, a partner at the practice, commented: “It is a privilege to work on an architectural treasure with such a strong design heritage.” q

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The experts who spend summer making your winter warmer [WHILE THE COUNTRY was basking in the heatwave of the

summer, church heating specialists Mellor and Mottram were busy preparing a number of churches for the forthcoming winter months. One of the installations the company carried out was at St Bartholomew’s in Norton-le-Moors, situated in the countryside surrounding Mellor and Mottram’s Stoke-on-Trent base.

The church had had a biomass boiler installed, looking to reduce the environmental impact of their heating system. However, the nature of the church building – it was built in 1737 and substantially rebuilt in 1905 – meant that the level of damp caused the boiler to ‘clog up’. Mellor and Mottram have now installed a more conventional gas-fired condensing boiler.

Other churches that have had new heating installed by the company in recent months include the parish church at Kingstone, near Uttoxeter – also in Staffordshire. That was an oil-fired installation.

Further afield, the team at Mellor and Mottram have installed new gas-fired boilers in the Church of St Peter in Norbiton, a district of Kingstone upon Thames in London. The church celebrated its 175th

anniversary by raising the funds for the installation, which will help to continue offering a warm welcome to worshippers.

Even farther afield is the Channel port of Folkestone and the parish of Saltwood. The parish church there is a Grade Two*-listed Norman church dedicated to St Peter and St Paul. Over the summer Mellor and Mottram carried out the installation of a new oil-fired heating system in this sensitive structure – a task they are well versed in.

While a new heating system is being installed in a church or any other public building it is important that day-to-day activities continue.

For that to happen a temporary heating system can prove a boon, and Mellor and Mottram have the solution to that, too. A number of portable boilers have been specially constructed for the company which act as temporary systems during the installation of new heating.

The company are now making these temporary installations available for hire. Either gas or oil-fired units are available, up to 1.2mW. They are either trailer-mounted or can be craned into a site. q • For further information call 0880 644 6240 or visit the website at www.mellorandmottram.com

Armistice Day tribute sees ‘lost’ memorial displayed [OVER THE WEEKEND of Armistice

Day – when all minds were focused on the centenary of the end the First World War – furniture restorers Andrew G Podmore & Son in York marked the occasion by temporarily erecting in its workshop the memorial to workers of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway it is currently restoring. Traditional poppy wreaths were put in place and the workshop was silent on the 11th.

After World War One the workers at the L&YR’s carriage and wagon department decided to create a war memorial and immortalise their 117 fallen comrades, as well as recording the names of all those in the department who served.

Made of solid teak the 8.5m-long Palladian-style memorial, with its pillars, pediments and entablatures, was erected in the company’s Newton Heath Carriage Works, where most of the men had worked.

When the carriage works closed in 1928 the memorial was re-erected in Newton Heath Town Hall. When the town hall closed it disappeared from record until the 1990s, when it was found in the undercroft at Manchester Piccadilly station.

David Podmore and his team at Andrew G Podmore & Son were tasked with restoring it and returning it to as near to its original home as possible. Northern Rail rapidly agreed to re-erect the memorial in its depot at Newton Heath, near the site of the original works.

Much of the damage to the original entablature panels has now been repaired and some of the new moulding sections

reconstructed. It is planned to have all the work complete for the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June next year.

Anyone wishing to see the progress of the restoration over the coming months is welcome to contact David with the possibility of viewing the work at his workshops in Poppleton. q

Caernarfon to improve accessibility [CADW HAS ANNOUNCED plans to enhance the visitor experience at Caernarfon Castle

World Heritage Site, having secured funding of £3.3m from Visit Wales’s Tourism Attractor Destination programme.

The proposals for the King’s Gate entrance include increasing accessibility and creating a state-of-the-art immersive experience.

Accessibility improvements will involve the first-ever level access to the upper battlements, a lightweight, glazed lift to gain access throughout King’s Gate – leading to a new viewing deck – and provision of accessible toilet facilities.

The Welsh Government’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Lord ElisThomas, said: “Caernarfon Castle is a hugely-significant attraction. We want to drive up visitor numbers for the monument and, of course, Caernarfon town by making it more accessible to a much wider audience.

“If we are genuinely to break down barriers, our sites need to be more accessible, relevant and enjoyable. We must continue work on maximising access for those with mobility difficulties.

“We have made great progress with the access bridges at Caernarfon and Harlech – we now want to build on this by providing better access to the higher levels of some of our castles, such as Caernarfon; but in a way that is sympathetic to their historic character. Our proposals here absolutely support that.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Crowds flock to ‘Scotland’s first design museum’ [

WHEN V&A DUNDEE opened its doors for the first time on 15 September, it was seen as a historic occasion for Dundee and Scotland.

It was also a historic day for the V&A: it marked the first manifestation of the establishment outside London.

Not even its most fervent advocates, however, could have dreamed that by 8 October the museum would be welcoming its 100,000th visitor. But when Sheila Harkness and her daughter and grandchildren passed through the doors, that is exactly what happened.

The museum’s director Philip Long declared: “I’m very proud and delighted that in just over three weeks 100,000 people have already visited the museum. The feedback we have received from visitors has been fantastic and means so much to all of the team here at V&A Dundee.

“It’s been a joy to see people enjoying the galleries, exhibitions and learning activities as well as exploring the wonderful building designed by our architect Kengo Kuma and enjoying all it offers. We are very much looking forward to welcoming even more visitors to Scotland’s first design museum.”

V&A Dundee’s construction and fit-out took three-and-a-half years to complete and it stands at the centre of the £1bn transformation of the Dundee waterfront, once part of the city’s docklands.

At the heart of the museum the Scottish Design Galleries feature 300 exhibits drawn from the V&A’s rich collections of Scottish design, as well as from museums and private collections across Scotland and the world. And at the centre of those galleries stands the magnificent Charles Rennie Mackintosh Oak Room, meticulously restored,

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©HuftonCrow conserved and reconstructed through a partnership between V&A Dundee, Glasgow Museums and Dundee City Council.

Visitors to the museum can experience once again Mackintosh’s extraordinary talent in designing the room, lost to view for nearly 50 years.

Architect Kengo Kuma explained: “The big idea for V&A Dundee was bringing together nature and architecture, to create a new living room for the city. I’m truly in love with the Scottish landscape and nature. I was inspired by the cliffs of North-Eastern Scotland – it’s as if the earth and water had a long conversation and finally created this stunning shape.

"It is also fitting that the restored Oak Room by Charles Rennie Mackintosh is at the heart of this building as I have greatly admired his designs since I was a student. In the Oak Room, people will feel his sensibility and respect for nature, and hopefully connect it with our design for V&A Dundee.” q

Historic baths undergo award-winning restoration [IN 2017 Historic England awarded both its

Best Rescue of a Historic Building and Historic England Followers’ & Telegraph Readers’ awards to the restoration and conversion of the former White Rock Baths in Hastings.

White Rock Baths were originally constructed around 1870 as a health spa. They were then extensively re-modelled by borough engineer Sydney Little in the 1930s as part of a 2.2km-long seafront development, using in-situ reinforced concrete under a promenade and road. This reconstruction – in the Moderne style – did not completely obliterate some of the earlier Victorian fabric, although it was mostly concealed.

The building operated as a swimming complex until 1978, when it was closed and converted into a roller skating and ice-skating venue. However, the whole complex was finally closed in 1997 and remained unused until a project began to restore and convert it for a very modern use.

Work has now been completed to turn the derelict former baths into a world-class, underground BMX and skateboard park – the largest of its kind in the world – employing 30 people and run by SourceBMX. The restoration was part funded by the government’s Regional Growth Fund, East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council, the Coastal Communities Fund and SourceBMX. Hastings Borough Council commissioned Saville Jones Consultants to provide a full design team for the project. Unused for over 17 years, the building fabric had deteriorated because of the corrosive nature of the original swimming pool use, the seafront location and water ingress.

The building is unique because of its seafront location, being underground and the early use of reinforced concrete. Many of the floors and walls are lined with terrazzo, which has been retained in part.

White Rock Baths in its heyday

The challenge of re-opening the building to the general public and changing its use to a very active kinetic activity – incorporating a fluid series of ramps and bowls – was an exercise in sympathetic adaptation, controlling water ingress and project management. All that was undertaken by Saville Jones Consultants.

Following specialist investigation work, essential repairs were required to the reinforced concrete structure. All the repairs and additions were carried out in a manner sympathetic to the building’s heritage and design, but without seeking to hide the repairs. That approach suited the building and the urban nature of the activity which was to become its future.

The design philosophy built on the ideas of urban archaeology, allowing visitors to journey through the building and discover the hidden spaces and facilities – of which there are many.

The old large pool hall now houses the main skatepark – a unique example of rideable and skateable architecture. The ramps, manufactured and installed by 9C Solutions, are equally suitable for BMX, skateboard or inline scooters and are sunk into the former pool tank.

The original balcony, which was stripped back to raw concrete, provides 360o views of the action below for up to 600 spectators.

Located on the balcony is a café-bar (right) with arcade machines, including a seaside grab machine full of BMX parts.

To maximise the available space for riding and skateboarding, the former ice rink false floor was removed and reinstated at the base of the pool tank. That enabled much of the deck area to be pushed outwards, beneath the viewing gallery – increasing the rideable areas but also keeping the main area free from visual obstruction. The clear height gained allows professional riders to compete and improves the overall circulation.

The park includes a mixture of transition and street features and the large bowl extends the full depth from the pool base to the viewing gallery.

The space is designed so that the entire park can be ridden or skated as one when quiet, or for events, but then passively subdivided during busy times. It now hosts an annual international BMX event – The Battle of Hastings – in addition to open sessions, coaching, film screenings and Olympic training.

On the east side of the building the original smaller teaching pool now contains a plaza and foam-pit. A skateboarders’ dream, the plaza is accessed from an external open courtyard.

Ledges, rails and banks were all created from the pool floor after a reinforced concreted vaulted ceiling had been removed to add height.

The space is intense and requires real boarding skills to negotiate.

Centrally located and crucial to the viable business plan is the retail area. Located in what was originally a lounge/smoking room, the shop sells BMX and skateboarding goods and acts as the offices and mail-order hub for SourceBMX’s international business. The rooflights that were originally planned had to be replaced with mock lanterns due to a lack of funding, but the ambience remains the same.

The scheme built on Saville Jones’s experience in creating church and community facilities in existing buildings and urban environments, such as The Link in Thamesmead. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Methodist landmark The public want to reclaim heritage is set for a rebirth [

[

BRISTOL'S ICONIC Whitfield Tabernacle – one of the most ‘at risk’ Grade One-listed buildings in the UK – has taken a big step towards being saved, thanks to a partnership between West Country developer Crossman Homes and the Whitfield Tabernacle Trust. The building, in the Kingswood area of the city, dates back to 1741 and is widely regarded as the birthplace of the Methodist movement. Under plans that have now been put forward, it will be renovated and redeveloped as a community space.

The site has lain dormant for many years, due to its challenging layout, complicated planning issues and viability concerns. Crossman Homes bought the land alongside the Tabernacle in May and is planning to convert the existing Masters Church into 19 apartments and erect three new-build homes.

The company has further pledged to assist in the renovation and rebuilding of the derelict, burnt-out shell of the Whitfield Tabernacle itself, working closely with the trust which was formed in October 2017.

Speaking after a recent meeting convened by Chris Skidmore, the local MP for Kingswood, Simon Ellis of Crossman Homes said: “We’re delighted to be part of this exciting development, working closely with the trust, Chris Skidmore MP and South Gloucestershire Council. Our involvement provides the first realistic proposition that this 'at risk’ Grade One-listed building can be saved from collapse, bringing it back into good use for the community.

We’re well placed to tackle this challenging site following our recent successful redevelopment of the Wesleyan Chapel in Kingswood.”

Crossman Homes is working closely with South Gloucestershire Council planners to unlock the constraints of the complicated site.

Alongside the 19 apartments within the Masters Church conversion and three new houses, the plan provides for a new public park, which Crossman Homes will gift back to the council for locals to use and enjoy.

Chris Skidmore MP commented: “I was delighted to bring both Crossman Homes and the Whitfield Tabernacle Trust together for the first time, in order to begin a dialogue about how to best progress the Tabernacle’s restoration. Already Crossman Homes is working on a plan for the Master’s Church and the wider site, which should help transform this unloved part of Kingswood; but I am extremely keen that we get a viable plan for restoring the Tabernacle that will have the support of the trust and the local community, so that we can finally end the situation of a worldwide historic site simply rotting away.”

Cllr Toby Savage, leader of South Gloucestershire Council, added: “I’ve been really impressed with Crossman Homes’ work on other sites locally, which bodes well for finally unlocking the potential of the Whitfield Tabernacle site to contribute towards an exciting future for Kingswood’s town centre. As a council, we look forward to examining the specific planning proposals being submitted for this site.” q • For more information visit www.crossmanhomes.co.uk

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RESEARCH CARRIED OUT by Oaksmore ISA – an FCA-regulated alternative investment fund manager – has revealed the discontent among the British public about the upkeep of the UK’s heritage sites and historic buildings.

According to the findings, 32% want their local council to be doing more to protect nearby heritage sites and one in four think the public should take responsibility for preserving the UK’s landmark buildings and sites.

Reuben Skelton of Oaksmore ISA commented: “It’s clear from our research that the public feel very passionately about their history and the landmark sites that tell the tales of historic Britain. The research has highlighted a real desire amongst the public to protect and restore the UK’s heritage sites.

“The public can and should get on board with protecting their local sites. Some easy ways to do this include writing to your local MP to propose a restoration campaign or coming together as a community to support the site with fundraisers and awareness campaigns.

“Another great way that the public can contribute to the upkeep of their local site is to donate or invest money directly into it. That can be as simple as visiting the site and paying a small entry fee, donating a sum to those responsible for the site’s upkeep, or investing directly into a restoration fund.” q

Going digital: Irish church has the best of both worlds

[

BELLTRON UK AND IRELAND, in the persona of Co Downbased distributor Gunning and Kavanagh, have recently completed work on the bells at St Maeldoid’s Church in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.

The church has eight bell tubes and a single cast bell, none of which had been rung for many years. The company automated the complete system, installing its P400 hammers to the tubes, with their respectively weighted hammer heads, and a P900 striking hammer for the cast bell.

The parish also decided that they would like to have the Belltron DMC870A digital bell system, so Gunning and Kavanagh were able to supply a system that not only provides digital bells, but also activates the hammers on the bell tubes and cast bell.

The result was yet another very happy customer. q

For new lighting or timely upgrades – experience offers the best option [FOR MANY YEARS Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd have been

designing and installing lighting systems in churches, and during that period they have built excellent relationships with churches of all denominations and sizes.

That has usually resulted in on-going maintenance being carried out on an ‘as-and-when-required’ basis, in many instances with the replacement and upgrade of fittings as the original outlets have been phased out of production, or better options have become available.

It is common knowledge that the impact and use of LED lighting has been swift – to such an extent that in all church installations an LED solution is now always the best option.

The LED marketplace is a minefield, however. It is awash with many lesser-known manufacturers and suppliers providing unproven statistics and inferior quality of light, plus – worst of all – warranties which are not worth the paper they are written on: all of which can lead to costly mistakes being made.

Che Polley of Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd explained: “We have found quite a number of our previous clients returning to us and asking for an overall appraisal of what we may have installed 20-plus years previously. In many instances the ability to provide easily-dimmable products has also been complemented by the implementation of a scene-setting system that is easy to operate and alter.

“Of course, in those circumstances most churches do not wish to replace the wiring system – which is relatively young – and may not be able to afford the work to be carried out in a single phase, so options for the installation of any improvements over a period of time may be required.”

One church with which the company have maintained a good working relationship for over 20 years is St Mary Magdalene on the Royal Estate at Sandringham. They were invited back late last year to specify and implement some proposals for suitable LED upgrades to many of the original low-voltage and high-frequency fluorescent lighting outlets.

Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd are a relatively small business and 90% of their workload consists of designing and installing lighting and wiring systems within churches, together with other ecclesiastical and architecturally-interesting buildings. This has allowed them to build up a great deal of experience regarding what could be described as ‘normal’ expectations and requirements for most projects.

Having said that, they realise that every solution needs to be tailored to meet the precise requirements of the building itself, the congregation and, in most instances, the wider community, especially as the use of most church buildings has now diversified.

The control of new lighting is even more important to the end users in the churches, and advances in LED solutions have made that even more achievable – although most churches still desire the solution to be easily understandable, and more importantly, capable of being fully utilised and adapted by church officers.

Simplicity in use is of major importance to Anthony J Smith (Glos) Ltd, who believe in specifying control systems which provide all the features that are needed – but no additional facilities which may never be required. Over-specified control systems are normally more expensive and may require revisits by a third party to carry out even the simplest of alterations or additions.

While being only a relatively small company, they are able to deploy a directly-employed workforce, who are experienced enough to tackle almost any problem that these complex and difficult buildings may offer. That is an excellent starting point when dealing with DACs, PCCs, architects and other regulatory bodies who have control over the work carried out in what are some of the country’s finest buildings.

They have found that, increasingly, they are receiving enquiries from churches who wish them to investigate and give quotations for high-level cleaning of many years of accumulated dust, cobwebs and the like.

Che Polley added: “We have provided high-level cleaning services to a number of churches, even where we are not installing new lighting, and we are happy to assist whatever the requirement may be. I believe the experience of our staff in working safely at height, with the care and attention needed for those special buildings, is an advantage that has been gained over very many years. This was demonstrated recently during a cleaning project at Malmesbury Abbey, which is a building that we have been fortunate to be involved with for nearly 25 years.” q • For further information visit the website at www.anthonyjsmith.co.uk or call 01453 825 130. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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VAT campaign continues despite Hammond’s lack of action [

DESPITE LOBBYING by a broad cross-section of the heritage sector, in his autumn Budget Chancellor Philip Hammond declined to announce a reduction of VAT to 5% on repairs and approved alterations to listed buildings.

The campaign, initiated by he Listed Property Owners’ Club (LPOC) and supported by a coalition of heritage bodies – including the Heritage Alliance and Ecclesiastical Insurance – is also the subject of a petition that closes in January.

Following the Budget, Faith Kitchen, heritage director at Ecclesiastical, commented: “We’re disappointed the government hasn’t considered reducing VAT on repairs and approved alterations to listed buildings in the Budget.

“We strongly support organisations such as the Heritage Alliance and the Listed Property Owners’ Club which have argued the VAT on repairs gives an unfair tax advantage to developers and penalises owners of historic buildings, many of whom are private individuals, who are facing higher repair and maintenance costs.

“As the UK’s leading insurer of Grade One-listed properties and with over 130 years experience, we are passionate about protecting the country’s historic and iconic buildings and structures. Reducing VAT is vital to help organisations and owners of listed properties protect such an important part of the nation’s heritage.

“We need to do more to support the custodians of Britain’s heritage properties, and while unfortunately this hasn’t been addressed in today’s Budget, we urge the government to reconsider reducing VAT to

5% on repairs and approved alterations to listed buildings.”

Following the Budget, HM treasury responded to the LPOC petition by stating: “The government has no plans to change the VAT treatment of renovations and repairs at this time.”

Introducing a reduced rate is estimated to cost the exchequer at least £2.5bn a year and would have to be balanced by increased taxes elsewhere, reductions in government spending, or borrowing.

The LPOC launched the petition in July this year and already has amassed more than a third of the 10,000 signatures it needs to force the government to respond.

Organiser Martin Anslow said: “The more names on the petition the louder our voice and the less excuse the government has to dismiss our powerful argument that the Treasury’s decision in 2012 to impose VAT for pre-authorised alterations was a blow to owners and a blow to the UK’s heritage.”

“There are 1.5 million listed property owners in the UK. This petition is an opportunity to demonstrate that they make up a powerful group of voters who can have a significant impact at the next election.” q

Opportunities already exist to save on VAT [

THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES when churches can benefit from reduced VAT for certain work. One expert who can advise on those circumstances is Les Howard of vatadvice.org.

Les explained: “We speak to many church leaders and treasurers about VAT, and we frequently make them smile when we explain that VAT can, in some cases, be mitigated on construction and alteration works to church buildings. So, whether you are spending £5,000 or £5m, it is worth addressing the question of VAT. “Although the basic rule of VAT is that most goods or services are charged at 20%, there are a number of provisions that reduce the VAT applicable for certain works to church buildings.”

Les listed a number of those applications, many of which apply to work to improve facilities for disabled people.

“Accessibility works: if you are constructing a wheelchair ramp or widening doorways or corridors, ask the building contractor to zero rate his invoices. Also, works to improve existing or create new toilet facilities for disabled people are zero rated.”

The rules are not always straightforward.

“Where you create a charitable ‘annexe’, its construction can be zero rated.” Les explained. “This often proves to be a challenging issue, as the conditions for zero rating are complex. We often advise an at early stage to improve the opportunity for zero rating.”

He also pointed out two other important sources to investigate. One is the Listed Places of Worship Scheme (LPWS), which currently runs to 31 March 2020.

“This grant scheme allows a church to recover VAT incurred on works to its building,” said Les. “That includes professional fees as well as work to the fabric of the building. As you would expect, there are various restrictions.

“We also remind churches that gas and electricity supplied to churches should be at 5%, not 20%. Where a utility company has incorrectly charged VAT at 20%, it should refund the difference.” q • The team at vatadvice.org can help you navigate the VAT maze! They have experience with Churches of all sizes and flavours. Do follow this link and find out more visit http://vatadvice.org/church-building-projects

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Families praise poignant memorial sculpture by Derbyshire craftsmen

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ALL STEEL FABRICATIONS, a Derbyshire company that builds steel sculptures, has been praised for a ‘deeply moving’ memorial built to mark the centenary of one of Britain’s worst wartime civilian disasters.

The explosion in July 1918, at the National Shell Filling Factory in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire claimed 134 lives. The remains of the victims rest in the graveyard of St Mary’s in Attenborough and the church wanted to pay tribute to the courage of those who worked at the factory by commissioning a new memorial.

All Steel Fabrications, which is based in Long Eaton, was called in to

build the two-metre-high memorial using weathered steel for the cross and stainless steel for a sword, with the design based on a drawing provided by the church.

Peter Elliott, managing director of All Steel Fabrications, said it was an ‘honour’ to be commissioned to work on a sculpture that was so significant to the community.

“It was fascinating work, and it was quite moving to be part of a project in which people who live in the area today are creating something dedicated to people who were born and grew up here themselves,” he said.

Mr Elliott said that the weathered cross is intended to represent the harshness of the tragedy, while the stainless steel sword reflected the bravery of those who gave their lives.

Rev Jonathan Smithurst of St Mary’s Church praised the work and said that the families of those who lost their lives had given ‘hugely positive feedback’.

He said: “The cross now stands proud on a raised gravel bed and is a focal point for the site. It is a deeply moving piece of work that captures both the brutality of war and the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave their lives.”

The exact cause of the explosion remains unexplained, but it is thought to have been a combination of lax safety standards and warm weather causing the explosive compound TNT to become unstable. Winston Churchill, then Minister of Munitions, sent a telegram lauding the ‘courage and spirit’ of the factory workers who lost their lives and those survivors who continued production the next day.

All Steel Fabrications work on projects across the country and has been involved in a number of high profile local projects. In 1988 the company was commissioned to replace the crown on the roof of the historic Royal Crown Derby porcelain factory. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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BathIRON’s flame will be rekindled in the spring Shropshire’s Iron Bridge shows off its new (old) colour scheme

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WHEN THE FLAMES died down at the site of the inaugural BathIRON festival, the legacy of the event sparked into life. That legacy will see its culmination on 26 May next year, with a celebration marking the opening of the bandstand balustrade takes place in Bath’s Parade Gardens.

FireFOLK will be a family-friendly evening event featuring local folk bands and fiery fun for all. It will salute the new hand-crafted balustrade, which is due to be installed in April.

The creation of the new balustrade has been made possible by the donations of people who have sponsored a note, a treble clef or a stave on the installation’s ‘musical score’ decoration (pictured). There was also the opportunity to sponsor one of the unique master’s panels in memory of someone close or to celebrate a wedding or anniversary.

Although the ‘sponsor a note’ crowdfunding appeal has now closed, it is still possible to make donations to the appeal via the website of the National Heritage Ironwork Group at nhig.org.uk. q

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WORK IS NOW COMPLETE on restoring the Iron Bridge in Shropshire, and the scaffolding is coming down. Project Iron Bridge has been English Heritage’s largest conservation project, taking a year to complete at a cost of £3.6m.

One of the striking features of the project is the return of the structure to its original red colour, from the blue-grey most people associate it with. For most of the course of the project the bridge was shrouded in plastic, but it remained open to pedestrians and a walkway was installed during this summer to allow people to view progress. That walkway was removed in September to allow the scaffolding to be dismantled.

Residents and visitors alike can now watch the bridge being revealed as the day for the official unveiling draws near.

To help fund the project English Heritage embarked on its first crowdfunding campaign. The campaign raised £47,545 from more than 900 donors, exceeding the initial target of £25,000.

The bridge was the first in the world to be constructed from cast iron. It was erected between 1777 and 1781 to a design by Thomas Pritchard. Pritchard had previously designed bridges from wood and a number of joints derived from working in wood were incorporated into the novel structure. q Image courtesy of English Heritage

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Sandown sees CRE back

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to its ‘buzzing’ self

[ THE BUZZ IS BACK! That was the exclamation heard many

times at CRE 2018 in October, as 3,710 visitors and 671 exhibitor staff poured through the doors of Sandown Park in Surrey to interact with the 200-plus organisations exhibiting there.

Most importantly, however, pre-registration statistics revealed that over a quarter were visiting the exhibition for the very first time! Owner and managing director Steve Goddard explained: “It encouraged us to believe there are still thousands of church-goers yet to find out about us.”

Such was the impact that, in a few short weeks, 111 stands for CRE 2019, to be staged from 15-17 October – again at Sandown Park – have already been booked.

The organisers’ attention is now very much on CRE North, scheduled for 13-14 March next year at Manchester’s Event City (below). It is the show’s first visit to the North since 2014. Almost 90% of the floor space has already been booked, thanks in part to the backing of the Bishop of Manchester, Rt Rev David Walker.

“Event City offers great transport links and thousands of free parking places in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere,” explained CRE event director Brett Pitchfork. “And its location next to the Trafford Centre makes it easy to find.”

CRE North will be opened by Irish Eurovision star and former MEP Dana, who also opened CRE’s ‘homecoming’ to Sandown Park in 2017. q • For more information on booking a stand at CRE North contact sales director Carol Malpass on 0161 250 2467 or email carol@creonline.co.uk

“Manchester is world famous as a place where the best is showcased and creative ideas and technologies are quickly adopted,” said the bishop. “Dozens of organisations will bring their skills, services, ideas and resources back to the North West, for members of all church traditions to come and draw inspiration from them. We look forward to welcoming CRE again.”

Everything from computers to communion wine and from chair manufacturers to children's charities are expected to be on display at Event City. A series of seminars, led by both regional and national experts, will cover issues of vital concern to local church leaders and members of all kinds – from parish magazine editors to treasurers, youth workers to worship leaders. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Bespoke furniture complements worship [

DISS METHODIST CHURCH exists to reflect God’s love and to encourage people in the life of faith – through teaching and caring, services, evangelism and worship. That is achieved through Sunday services and regular weekly activities for people of all ages.

The church was built in 1964 and has been extended on a number of occasions to meet changing requirements. Earlier this year it was decided that the church was in need of new sanctuary furniture. The church contacted wellknown manufacturer Fullers Finer Furniture and business owner Paul Fuller visited the church to advise, discuss and evaluate.

Fullers Finer Furniture have been around for over 30 years and have the experience and expertise to provide beautiful church furniture and fittings, to facilitate activities in all areas of a place of worship. That could be furniture for the sanctuary, to accommodate sound equipment, provide a welcoming servery area or a complete church re-fit.

In the case of Diss Methodist Church the requirement was for sanctuary furniture: lecterns, a communion table and a flower stand. The exact specification for the table and York lectern was determined at the site meeting.

Subsequently, drawings of the proposed stick lectern and flower stand were sent for consideration and approval by the church. As most items of furniture made by Fullers Finer Furniture are truly bespoke, this is standard procedure and allows the relevant people to see exactly what is proposed and for any necessary amendments or revisions to be incorporated.

The first item – one of Fullers’ renowned height-adjustable lecterns – was supplied in a natural oak finish. Castors for easy manoeuvrability and a useful shelf are included as standard; and in this case, tablet lipping on the lectern desk and a monitor were also required. A second height-adjustable stick lectern was supplied to go alongside the York lectern.

The third piece supplied was a matching communion table, made with a solid-oak top and corners shaped at 45o for both aesthetic and safety reasons. The table was also fitted with four castors for ease of movement.

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As with the lectern, locks on the castors ensure there are no unplanned manoeuvres. The table has a central column with a shelf at the rear and is decorated with a cross on the front.

The final piece of furniture was a matching flower stand. That was fitted with a removable Perspex, oak-framed top cover to protect the top surface of the column. Fullers recognise that a piece of furniture needs to be practical as well as beautiful!

The furniture was delivered in September: bespoke, beautiful furniture – hand-crafted with care to be versatile and practical and to serve the church community for many years to come. q

Drones: a useful tool, but use with caution [

ACCORDING TO Historic England, drones provide “a useful low-level aerial platform for recording historic buildings, monuments, archaeological sites and landscapes”.

Historic England itself has been using droneacquired imagery since 2008 and has built up long experience of using such platforms.

As its research paper explains: “They can carry a wide variety of sensors, including cameras, multi/hyperspectral imaging units and even laser scanners. Drones can provide dramatic illustrative photographs of sites, but can also be used to create metrically accurate records for survey and conservation work. However, care needs to be taken to ensure drones are used in a way that is safe to both people and the historic fabric being recorded.”

In an issue of its online Research digest, Historic England describes the latest techniques for interpreting the data and creating field surveys – a technique known as structure-from-motion (SfM).

“Images taken by cameras mounted on small unmanned aircraft may now be photogrammetrically processed without

requiring access to expensive software and specialised hardware. Such techniques have enormous potential for the visualisation of landscapes, sites and monuments and are being applied in a number of ways by Historic England’s Imaging and Visualisation Team.”

The author issues a note of caution, however: “Detailed and highly flexible threedimensional imagery is a tremendous tool, but interpretations derived from it must still be informed by an experienced eye if they are to be robust. From the surveyor's perspective, the most valuable parts of the process are the site visit before the flight, which helps develop a good understanding prior to mapping the patterns observed from the air, and the detailed reassessment of the SfM-derived plan once it has been taken back on site.” q

Drones find parch marks that reveal Hidden Britain [

IN THE last issue of Ecclesiastical and Heritage World we reported on the wealth of new archaeological detail that was exposed by the drying of the ground during the long summer. A large part of the survey work that revealed that detail was carried out using UAVs, or drones.

In fact, in what proved to be a fortuitous coincidence, the second series of Channel 4’s Hidden Britain by Drone series with Sir Tony Robinson was filmed during the heatwave – and even included a ‘Heatwave Special’.

Sir Tony joined a team from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), with its drones and cameras, to investigate parch marks at Fulham Palace and Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire.

The use of drones, together with infrared and thermal cameras, allowed unprecedented accuracy in mapping the sites.

As the MOLA blog explained: “The technology we have at our fingertips is fantastic because it allows this information to be produced more rapidly than traditional methods, whilst still maintaining accuracy. It also allows archaeological sites to be viewed from angles which previously would have not been available – without chartering a plane!”

At Clumber Park, in particular, an infrared survey picked out the layout of what had once been Clumber House. Built in 1768, the house was devastated by fire in 1938. q

Airborne Imagery Solutions T: 07812 163028 E: contact@web-ais.co.uk E: www.web-ais.co.uk

Arlington House, 7 Hunters Walk, Witherley, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 3SU

Unmanned Imagery

T: 07445 798595 E: contact@unmannedimagery.co.uk E: www.unmannedimagery.co.uk Ariston House, Albert Terrace, Middlesbrough TS1 3BP

Sky Revolutions Ltd

T: 01778 560929 E: hello@skyrevolutions.co.uk E: www.skyrevolutions.co.uk 23 King Street Industrial Estate, Langtoft, Peterborough PE6 9NF

Skynamite

T: 07469 978098 E: info@skynamite.co.uk E: www.skynamite.co.uk 43 Lambrok Close, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 9HH

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Experts set the stage for an expanded worship area [ DURING THE LATTER part of the 19th century the city of Salisbury was expanding

northwards and there was a need for a new church in the newly-occupied area. In 1899 the district chapelry of St Mark was formed out of the northern part of another parish – that of St Martin’s.

Two temporary churches had been built during the 1880s, but in 1892 the building of a permanent church began – at the junction of St Mark’s Avenue and London Road.

The architect was J A Reeve, and in 1894 the first phrase was opened, consisting of the chancel, Lady Chapel, transepts and one bay of the nave. The church was consecrated in 1899 and further expansion work was completed in 1915 and 1922.

Fast forward almost 100 years and specialist staging supplier CPS Manufacturing Co were approached by the current vicar and churchwarden of St Mark’s to supply and install a bespoke demountable staging system, with a removable communion rail. The main purpose of the project was to extend the chancel into the nave of the church to form a warm and welcoming dais.

The stage had to be carefully designed with tremendous precision, to bridge the chancel steps and fit perfectly around the pillars of the church. Seven standard Alu Rapid platforms, along with eight bespoke special platforms, were subsequently manufactured and later installed by the CPS team.

The stage itself was supplemented by two bespoke Alu Rapid ramps, timber steps manufactured from oak hardwood nosing and tread plus oak veneered risers, and oak veneered fascia boards.

Additional hardwood nosing was utilised to give the stage a high-quality feel and finish that was aesthetically pleasing and in line with the architecture and fabric of the church.

The main surface area of the stage, along with the second step, was finished in a Heckmondwike Supacord carpet, which fitted perfectly around the socket boxes that were incorporated into the platforms.

Following completion of the project, CPS received a glowing testimonial from churchwarden Charles Dew Jones who said: “We have quite a complicated arrangement of steps and pillars, requiring a lot of careful measuring and craftsmanship to create a new high-quality dais/staging area in our church. We are delighted with the outcome CPS achieved, and although it’s technically demountable it’s not going to be moved any time soon!”

The bespoke staging service offered by CPS comes with the technical ability, know-how and many years experience to be able to create platforms of any size, height or shape. The company is willing to tackle the most demanding project, no matter how complicated it may be, and will gladly advise on how any space will benefit from a professional seating or staging system.

CPS has been transforming the appearance of spaces since 1966 and has gained significant experience and knowledge of delivering successful projects in many well-known religious buildings, such as St Paul’s Cathedral and York Minster. Their underlying expertise is to take concepts from their clients and meticulously follow all projects through to completion, working very closely with key members of fabric committees to ensure a smooth process. q

• For further information about their staging and seating products or a no-obligation quote and free product demonstration, please contact the friendly CPS team on 01302 741888 or visit www.cpsmanufacturingco.com to view examples of their work.

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Getting the message across is becoming evermore sophisticated [AS WE HAVE SEEN in features in previous issues, churches and heritage buildings are increasingly aware of the need to use modern technology to present their message clearly and attractively. Gone are the days of dimly-lit churches offering echoing and unintelligible sermons. Modern church services can be heard clearly by everyone.

That includes those with hearing problems, as loop systems are now a requirement.

There is more to a sound and audio-visual system than just the equipment. Buildings – particularly old building – are akin to living entities and have their particular personalities.

As can be seen from the following pages, specialist companies can analyse the acoustic properties of a building and adjust it appropriately by installing acoustic panelling. They can also install systems that vary in different parts of a building, according to those acoustic properties. Different elements can be brought into play for different applications.

However, no system is any use if no-one can use it, so controls are becoming more and more sophisticated to take the burden off the individual. Modern sound systems more-or-less operate themselves, according to pre-programming.

Finally, we take look at emerging technology: virtual reality is making it possible to immerse ourselves in the environment of museum exhibits. Whether it’s falling through space or walking through the streets of ancient cities, with a VR headset we can be transported there. q

Sound know-how helps clarify the message [

WOOTTON NEW LIFE CHURCH is a growing and lively Methodist church at the heart of the village of Wootton in Bedfordshire.

For many years the traditional rectangular church building had a suspended ceiling, which had begun to look tired; so the church decided to open up the whole space and redecorate. Unfortunately, that would mean removing the main source of sound absorption in the building and lead to an increase in reverberation time – making speech intelligibility poor and their modern worship style fatiguing.

Specialist sound and acoustics company APi Communications were contacted to help resolve the problem. APi calculated that, in order to reduce the reverberation time from the 2.2 seconds that was current to around 1.2 seconds – halfway between ideal speech and ideal amplified music recommendations – the church required around 60m2 of additional absorption.

The solution was to use 25mm-thick acoustic panels fixed to the walls.

They are available in many colours, sizes and shapes to fit in with the decor of the church. Most of the panels were placed along the rear wall and between the windows on the front wall, with the remainder above the entrance door and on the wall with the cross.

Dave Goodson, steward of Wootton New Life Church, said of the result: “It took us a few weeks to get used to, as we were so used to the sound bouncing back to us; but it has made a significant impact.

“The service from APi Communications throughout was efficient and positive; the product is just right for what we needed. The team that carried out the installation were clean, tidy and efficient and actually completed the job ahead of schedule.” q

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Quality sound is simplicity for Kent church

By DANIEL CUNNINGS MInstSCE, business development manager at Cunnings Recording Associates

[DOES A SOUND SYSTEM have to be complicated? This is a

question I get asked frequently in many different ways by churches who are looking to upgrade their audio system – but the answer isn’t always obvious.

For churches of all sizes it can often be difficult to find volunteers to operate the sound system for Sunday services and harder still for midweek meetings and events. Especially in smaller churches it is often the minister who has to set up the sound system on top of their other responsibilities.

This is true for Fr David Gibbons, parish priest at St Joseph’s Church in the Kent village of Borough Green. St Joseph’s is the newest of four churches in the parish, built on the site of an old hall, and Fr David has responsibility for each one.

When I met with Fr David to discuss the new sound system his requirements were clear – microphones for clergy, service leaders and readers, loudspeakers to provide good quality sound for the congregation, an induction loop system for hearing aid users and, most importantly, a system which could be located in the sacristy without needing someone sitting next to it making adjustments through the service.

There is often a misconception that good results can be achieved with a basic mixer amplifier – but this still needs someone to operate it as leaving every microphone channel live will only lead to feedback. At the other end of the spectrum, simply spending lots of money on a system isn’t the answer unless you know what you’re doing. Getting the basics right is clearly important – good quality speakers and microphones can

make a big difference – but even the best system is useless if no one knows how to use it.

So, does a sound system have to be complicated? For Fr David we recommended a system which is based around a comprehensive audio processor. All of the microphone levels, equalisation and routing to the various loudspeakers was set up and programmed by our installation engineers.

The end result – the sound system simply needs to be switched on for it to work well. All the system settings are recalled when the system turns on and the automatic microphone mixer switches between microphone inputs and manages volume levels automatically without any necessity for an operator. There’s a control panel on the wall so that the volume can be turned up for large services but no other adjustments are necessary for the system to work well. The equipment is necessarily sophisticated but the end result is simplicity. q

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Hear the voices of the Armistice [WHEN, at 11am on 11 November, 1918 an Armistice was declared

and the First World War came to an end, it marked a pivotal moment for an entire generation. People experienced and reacted to it in many different ways: those who were on the battlefields; those back in Britain; men, women and children.

Now IWM London is bringing the voices of the people who experienced the Armistice back to life. I Was There: Room of Voices is an immersive sound installation in which 32 people who fought and lived through the First World War share their own personal stories of the occasion.

Using recordings from IWM’s extensive sound archive that have never been exhibited before, I Was There: Room of Voices explores the moment that marks the boundary between war and peace and its immediate aftermath.

Voices include that of Dolly Shepherd, a 31-year-old driver mechanic with the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps in Calais, France when the Armistice was declared: “…strangely enough, we wept, because the silence was so awful. You see, we’d been used to the noise of guns all day long, all day long, all day long…it was so strange, to have silence.”

In contrast, Clara Thompson – a 13-year-old school girl at the time – remembered the celebrations that followed the ceasefire: “… they brought out a piano into the street, and they set up tables all down the middle of the road…and everybody danced and sang and, oh! it was amazing…”

I Was There: Room of Voices is part of Making a New World, a season of innovative exhibitions, installations and immersive experiences taking place across IWM London and IWM North until 31 March. q

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VR: the final frontier in AV presentation? [

ONE OF THE MORE noteworthy meetings of technology and the ecclesiastical world happened this autumn when Peterborough Cathedral hosted the Science Museum’s touring exhibition of the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft in which British astronaut Tim Peake returned to Earth following his stint at the International Space Station.

The display of the iconic craft was accompanied by Space Descent VR, a 360o virtual reality experience narrated by Tim Peake himself and using Samsung Gear VR technology. Space Descent VR recreates the experience of making the incredible 250-mile journey back down to Earth inside the Soyuz capsule.

Peterborough Cathedral won a national competition to be the sixth venue on the national tour of the spacecraft, during which it is travelling to eight cities across the UK. It is the only non-museum venue on the tour and the visit coincided with the 900th anniversary of the cathedral.

One of the lesser known facts about the building is that it hosts a memorial to one of the most prolific and respected amateur comet and nova hunters of all time: Peterborough-based George Alcock MBE. Space Descent VR is a dramatic example of the way in which the technology of virtual reality is being deployed at heritage sites to aid interpretation and – as proved to be the case in Peterborough – boost visitor numbers, particularly among the young.

The Virtual Reality Society is a body formed to explore and promote the technology. It says of the use of VR in heritage settings: “There has

Image ©ESA NASA

been a move away from the traditional type of experience associated with museums, galleries and visitor centres.

“Interactive displays form a large part of many exhibitions and particularly appeal to children. Children are often difficult to attract to a museum or gallery as they tend to see this as a boring experience.

But the use of interactive technologies such as virtual reality has changed that perception and opened up these spaces to a new audience.” q

Wonderland church gets multi-zone sound system

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CHESHIRE-BASED ISCE members Kirkpatrick Sound Engineering have installed a multi-zone audio system at All Saints Church in Daresbury.

The whole ‘front end’ of the system consists of a Symetrix Symnet Cobra programmable digital unit that takes care of microphone switching and sound shaping together with feedback suppression and zone control. SoundTube loudspeakers sit high up in the arches and are almost invisible under normal church lighting conditions.

Proprietor Roy Kirkpatrick MinstCSE said: “This was a demanding project to provide a modern flexible multi-area sound system in a church with complex spaces and steeped in historical significance due to its association with the writer Lewis Carroll.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Awards commendation for Icynene-insulated historic property [

THE SUCCESSFUL INSULATION of a 250-year-old farmhouse in rural Aberdeenshire has received a Commendation in the Scottish Energy Efficiency Awards, which took place in Glasgow this summer.

Bogendollo House, an early 19th century category C listed building at Fettercairn near Aberdeen, was the subject of an extended trial to assess the viability of high performance spray foam insulation as a means of preventing heat loss in architecturally significant buildings.

The initial trial was completed seven years ago and was followed by two years of monitoring the hydrothermal performance of the insulated space. The building received further improvement in 2017 when the entire structure was insulated and airtightness addressed at walls and around openings.

This additional improvement was then assessed through energy consumption monitoring and revealed striking results.

The work was funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Scottish Government’s SEEKIT programme under the Construction Improvement Club (CIC) scheme.

The project was undertaken as a collaboration between academics at Robert Gordon University's Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment

Bogendollo House, an early 19th century category C listed building at Fettercairn near Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and industry partners Icynene, suppliers of the insulation system, in association with locally based Conservation Contractors, Kishorn Ltd. The Bogendollo project was led by Dr Amar Bennadji, principal investigator and lecturer in architecture at Robert Gordon University.

He explained: “Scotland has a rich heritage of architecturally significant properties, many of them built when little thought was given to heat retention. We wanted to show that heatloss mitigation measures can be introduced to these buildings without compromising

Icynene FoamLite is an ‘open cell’ system that expands gently, putting little pressure on the fragile inner walls

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delicate internal finishes which often influence their elevation to listed status as much as their external structure.”

He continued: “At Bogendollo, many period internal features were still intact and our over riding objective was to bring the building up to modern standards of thermal performance without damaging these delicate and irreplaceable features.”

Bogandollo House falls squarely into the category of ‘hard to treat’ in terms of its ability to receive insulation. Built of solid 500mm thick masonry, with a soft, lath-andplaster internal skin bearing period dado

Injection of the foam insulation into the narrow void between the external walls and the lath-and-plaster lining

rails and architraves, the building raised significant challenges to the team.

The process devised by Dr Bennadji involved the injection of the foam insulation into the narrow void between the external walls and the lath-and-plaster lining. The methodology was tested at the workshops of Kishorn Insulation then refined on site by a team of 16 collaborators from four countries, including the CEO of spray foam insulation supplier Icynene who travelled from his base in Canada to attend the trial.

The foam system used was Icynene FoamLite, an ‘open cell’ system that expands gently when applied, sealing all gaps, service holes and hard to reach spaces and puts little pressure on the fragile inner walls.

Unlike the urethane foams of 20 years ago, modern spray foams such as Icynene use water as the blowing agent. This means that the reaction between its chemical components produces CO2 which causes the foam to expand. Cells of the foam burst and the CO2 is replaced by air.

This open cell foam provides outstanding insulation but still allows the building to breathe naturally. According to Icynene, the material has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1 and an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of zero. Nor does it emit any harmful gases once cured.

Analysis of the results of the various stages of trials showed that energy consumption for heating had fallen 56%.

Exposed lath-and-plaster lining This suggests that Bogendollo House would require 5% less energy input than a comparable structure built to current Building Regulations standards.

The successful use of high-tech insulation materials on important heritage buildings is of great significance both in Scotland and the rest of the UK. Under European regulations, around 400,000 historic buildings are required to be insulated to a standard that will achieve appropriate energy and carbon savings.

In conclusion, Amar Bennadji said: “There is obviously a delicate balance between reducing energy consumption and preserving our built heritage. This project has clearly established that energy consumption can be

reduced with no impact on the aesthetics of the building. We believe this opens the door for both historic buildings and older domestic properties to finally retain warmth, reduce their energy bills and contribute towards efforts to curb global warming.”

The Scottish Regional Energy Efficiency Awards were launched in September 2016 following the changes in government energy efficiency policy. Previously known as the Scotland Regional Green Deal & ECO Awards, they were set up to help recognise the work being carried out by the energy efficiency sector in Scotland in their delivery of the Green Deal Finance Initiative and Energy Company Obligation Scheme.

The awards ceremony took place in Glasgow in June 2018 and Bogendollo was Highly Commended in the Small-Scale Project of the Year category. q • For more information on Icynene spray applied insulation products visit the website at www.icynene.co.uk and watch the youtube video at https://youtu.be/xn4ZHQJLWHM

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Traditional plastering techniques meet modern challenges

[

RUN BY ESTABLISHED craftsman Mike Rickards, Suffolk-based Rickards Period Plastering provides a professional application of traditional plastering techniques throughout East Anglia. Whether working within the precious historic environment, or on a unique architecturally-designed new build, they endeavour to provide a skill set and finished product of the highest quality.

Mike Rickards is from a previous restoration background and established the company in 2012. His experience has derived from undertaking projects that others may shy away from: whether due to material use, design, access or other site-specific challenges.

Mike explained: “We enjoy a challenge and relish the unique and unusual projects, so that when finished we can take a step back and say: ’we did that’.”

The company’s roots in East Anglia have allowed Mike and his team

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to acquire a particular expertise.

Mike continued: “Our extensive knowledge of local construction and the built environment, along with familiarity of the complexities of period property housing, means we can provide appropriate material applications for the delicate building fabric and unique build materials of East Anglia – whether these are timber frame, clay construction, hemp, flint or soft red brickwork.

“Through the many contacts built up over the years, we have a network of capable trade professionals, including framers, carpenters, decorators, masons and bricklayers: all able to complement a project’s requirements.”

That expertise was employed to good effect in 2014, when the company undertook plaster repairs at the Grade One-listed St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds – one of the largest parish churches in the country – following relocation of the cenotaph and the Suffolk Regiment memorials by Universal Stone.

The company has also taken traditional plastering techniques in new directions. Said Mike: “The establishment of Rickards Period Plastering Ltd allowed us to expand our traditional skill set as an experienced exponent of the vernacular, haired chalk mix, along with an innovative and pioneering approach, and extend into the eco-market – where modern and unique building materials such as wood fibre insulation board and hemp construction require a similar sympathetic approach.” q

Lime render allows ancient farmhouse to breathe again

[

GALLANTS FARM, in Little Maplestead, is a Grade Two-listed, 16thcentury farmhouse set in the Essex countryside close to the Suffolk border.

Little Maplestead is known for its round parish church, built by the Knights Hospitaller – the Knights of the Order of St John – and dedicated to St John the Baptist. It is one of only four surviving round churches in England and is the destination of an annual procession of the knights in their ceremonial robes.

As is so typical for this type of building, Gallants Farm has been altered and added to over the centuries; but repairs carried out to it during the mid to late 20th century were the ones causing the most problems.

Although no doubt done with good intention, the modern cement render was causing all-too-common damp problems and damage to the timber frame, weakening the very fabric of the building. But that was not all; when contractors KML Plastering removed the cement render they found metal mesh and roofing felt in the walls – all contributing to the decay of the building. More delving revealed evidence of previous repairs to the timber frame; plus, excitingly, original mullion windows were exposed.

KML began by repairing the timber frame: 25mm Savolit wood wool insulation board was installed, along with Thermafleece insulation. Applied together the two materials provide effective insulation that is breathable – crucial for the integrity of the building.

For the render, two coats of the Anglia Lime Company’s Thermalime were applied. This lime-based render has the benefit of a natural insulating property; so not only does it ensure breathability, it also adds to the insulating capabilities of the building.

The past 25 years have seen the use of building limes develop from what was regarded as a quaint eccentricity to an understanding that they are a central element of building conservation. It has also become obvious that building with lime is of key relevance to current environmental concerns.

Since 1993, when Anglia Lime Company pioneered the use of lime in East Anglia through training courses and the distribution of lime materials, that new awareness has brought about an ever-increasing use of lime in both old and new buildings. In turn, that has led to the development of lime-based products and systems that make the use of lime more efficient and convenient, while retaining the beneficial properties of lime. q

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Firefighters rehearse the unthinkable in Lincoln [THE PEOPLE TASKED with protecting the country’s most treasured

church buildings from the effects of lightning strikes and subsequent fires – the fire and rescue services – are constantly updating their expertise and practical knowledge of the buildings by staging exercises.

One such exercise was organised at Lincoln Cathedral in November, when Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue staged Operation Lightning – a drill designed to help firefighters deal with the unique nature of the historic building.

Speaking prior to the exercise, crew manager Richard Pullen explained: “A fire at Lincoln Cathedral would create some unique problems for firefighters due to the nature of the building, so it is vital

we are aware of these difficulties.

There are many nooks and crannies and little rooms and areas that the public don’t see within the cathedral structure.

“I have been with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue for 14 years, so I have practised responding to incidents at the cathedral many times. But there are many firefighters and new starters who have not and this exercise will massively help them understand the lay-out of the building, and the problems a fire here could cause.”

The exercise was designed around the possibility of a lightning strike causing a fire in the cathedral roof space. q

From rods to cages: lightning protection has an eminent progeny [ IN A PREVIOUS FEATURE in this series on the role of

lightning protection in churches and other heritage buildings, we offered a potted view of the role of Benjamin Franklin as the ‘father of lightning protection’.

Annual inspection of lightning protection is a must, says diocese [ IN ITS GUIDANCE on lightning protection, the Diocese of London addresses the call from some quarters for the inspection of systems to be carried out less often than annually.

“Some people argue,” the guidance states, “that it may be appropriate to reduce the frequency of testing to once every two and a half years or perhaps every five years to coincide with the quinquennial inspection report, but this is not advisable as the results of lightning strikes and static discharge can be devastating. Testing is important as the air termination rod is a ‘capture mechanism’ which attracts the lightning.”

The document goes on to describe the risk of ‘flash-over’ to other metals if the lightning protection system is defective.

“This can take place even without a direct strike, as all lightning conductors pick up static even if the storm is four miles distant. For this reason, all metal bell frames and other metal within or on the structure should be bonded to the lightning conductor system to prevent this ‘flash-over’ taking place.”

The guidance carries the traditional counsel for churches to ensure the contractor carrying out the inspection is appropriately qualified and certified. q

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While many churches still sport the traditional Franklin rod atop their towers or spires, modern advances have brought about the introduction of the more sophisticated Faraday cage.

The Faraday cage is a comprehensive system aimed at protecting a complete building from the electromagnetic forces unleashed by a lightning strike. That includes insulating the now-common arrays of electronic equipment used by most churches.

The development of the Faraday cage owes its name to one of this country’s most eminent Victorian scientists.

In 1843 Michael Faraday was already well known as a chemist and pioneer of electromagnetism when he performed his famous ‘ice pail’ experiment.

The experiment demonstrated what Faraday had already observed: that an electromagnetic charge can be deflected by a mesh around the object to be protected.

Although the cage effect has been attributed to Michael Faraday’s ice pail experiments, Benjamin Franklin observed the effect in 1755, by lowering an uncharged cork ball suspended on a silk thread through an opening in an electrically charged metal can.

In his words: “The cork was not attracted to the inside of the can as it would have been to the outside, and though it touched the bottom, yet when drawn out it was not found to be electrified (charged) by that touch, as it would have been by touching the outside. The fact is singular.”

So, although we attribute the development of lightning protection to a series of successors of Franklin, the trail leads back to the man who flew kites in a thunderstorm. q

The following companies are all specialists in Lightning Protection Systems: Wiltshire Steeplejacks

MDS Consulting Limited

and Lightning Conductor Engineers

T: 07833 785257 E: enquiries@mdsconsulting.co.uk W: www.mdsconsulting.co.uk 143 Pembury Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 2JL

Cuttings

T: 020 8371 0001 E: info@cuttings.london W: cuttings.london 10-12 Arcadia Avenue, Finchley Central, London N3 2JU

Trading for over 40 years, we specialise in: • Lightning protection systems • BS EN 62305 & BS 6651 • Earthing and resistivity testing • High maintenance work • Bird control • All rope access work • Full architectural surveys & cover meter surveys T: 01225 761330 M: 07973 397770 E: wiltssteeplejack@aol.com W: www.wiltshiresteeplejacks.co.uk The Coach House, 5 Court Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8BR

A C Wallbridge & Co Ltd

Lightning Protection Services

Steeplejacks and Lightning Conductor Engineers

North(Head office): 01461 800323 South: 01582 511036 N.E: 01914 661145 E: info@lightningconductor.co.uk W: www.lightningconductor.co.uk

Design, installation and maintenance of lightning proctection systems, utilising rope access systems for safe access.

• Cathedrals • Churches • Towers • Sports Centres

Horizon Specialist Contracting Ltd T: 0115 965 7400 E: sales@horizonsc.co.uk W: www.horizonsc.co.uk

• High Rise Office Blocks • High Rise Residential Blocks • Schools • Hospitals

Unit 7, Burma Road, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire NG21 0RT

T: 01722 322750 E: mail@wallbridge.co.uk W: www.wallbridge.co.uk

South West Lightning Protection

G & S Steeplejacks Ltd

Airport Business Centre, 10 Thornbury Road, Estover, Plymouth PL6 7PP

Unit 3, Bath Business Park, Peasedown St John, Somerset BA2 8SF

Osborne Delta Lightning Conductors Ltd

Lightning Strike Ltd

30 Greenacres Road, Oldham, Lancs OL4 1HB

Unit 3, Pottery Court, Pottery Way, Nottingham NG8 8YM

Lightning Protection Services

Harrison Lightning Protection & Earthing Ltd

Unit 7, Centre One, Lysander Way, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6BU

T: 07807 334441 E: south@lightningconductor.org W: www.lightningconductor.org

T: 01761 437796 M: 07974 184449 E: graham@gnssteeplejacks.co.uk W: www.gnssteeplejacks.co.uk

T: 0161 785 4940 F: 0161 785 4950 E: info@osbornedelta.co.uk W: www.osbornedelta.co.uk

T: 0113 248 8026 M: 07899 700138 E: lpservices@live.co.uk W: www.lightningprotectionleeds.co.uk 10, Oak Tree Drive, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 3LJ

TESTING & DESIGN SPECIALISTS

T: 01158 752686 M: 07581 266493 E: info@lightningstrikeltd.co.uk W: www.lightningstrikeltd.co.uk

T: 01325 337111 E: contact@harrisonlp.co.uk W: www.harrisonlp.co.uk

2 Lakeland Estate, Faverdale North, Darlington, County Durham DL3 0PX

Bailey International (Steeplejacks & Lightning Conductor Engineers)

Direct Strike

Bailey Business Park, Grimshaw Lane, Bollington, Cheshire SK10 5NY

18 Canberra Road, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Scotland DG16 5DP

T: 01625 576243 E: enquiries@baileysteeplejacks.com W: www.baileysteeplejacks.com

T: 01461 337951 E: enquiries@directstrike.co.uk W: www.directstrike.co.uk

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Joinery expertise opens doors at historic castle [ RECENTLY, bespoke joiners and woodcarvers Houghtons of York had the pleasure

of being asked to travel to the Holy Island in Northumberland to examine one of the doors at Lindisfarne Castle and return it to their workshop for repair.

Following a very early start the joinery team reached site at 8:30am where they were met by the National Trust property’s building surveyor. The methods of repair were discussed and agreed, as usual care would be taken to retain as much of the existing as possible whilst providing a long-lasting repair. Following this the team were asked to examine another door, from which it was decided they would remove the lock for refurbishment back in York.

Once the door was removed and transported to the workshop, the process of repair could begin. The craftsmen at Houghtons carefully removed the existing rotten front bottom rail and bottom of both stiles, then manufactured replacements.

In order to encourage water to run off the new bottom rail (rather than seeping behind as it had done) the rail was set back into the back-bottom rail. The bottom rail and stiles have been joined using traditional mortice and tenon joints. The door was then returned to its home.

In time the repairs will begin to weather and blend in with the rest of the door and everyone is looking forward to seeing it in a few years’ time once the repairs have aged q

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Agrell acquisition showcases Merritt’s continued expansion and commitment to excellence [MERRITT, AN OHIO-BASED

Merritt is a family-owned and managed company. Started by George A. Merritt in 1967, international interior solutions firm, has the company has grown with Merritt’s sons Michael acquired Agrell Architectural Carving, one and Keith currently at the helm to employ more of the world’s pre-eminent ornamental than 300 people in five US offices, in addition woodcarving companies. to the UK office and a project management and Agrell, with offices in the UK and US, provides engineering office in Germany. exquisite, classical hand-carved ornamentation Merritt maintains a team of highly skilled and for architecture, luxury interiors and furniture passionate architects, engineers, 3D modelers, around the globe. Merritt’s acquisition of Agrell project managers, cabinetmakers, finishers, furthers the company’s mission to be a complete machinists and carpenters. Computer-assisted interiors solution with all traditionally outsourced design and management, climate-controlled crafts under one roof. shops and vehicles, the most advanced equipment Independently, Agrell and Merritt have earned and judicious use of automation ensure faultless reputations for precision and innovation that accuracy and timeliness, while minimising waste. have resulted in close collaborations with many Paneling, marquetry and veneering are crafted of the world’s most renowned architects and in-house on some of the largest-scale equipment interior designers. Together, their highly regarded in the industry by artisans who have perfected approaches ensure seamless execution, delivered extraordinarily painstaking hand procedures on time and on budget. to achieve fits and finishes that mechanisation Agrell, led by Ian Agrell and his daughter Kate cannot possibly duplicate. The result is perfectly Agrell, along with director Adam Thorpe, designs exemplified by the art of hand carving, where and hand-carves the finest-quality moldings, An example of a Merritt – Agrell project. A panel corbels, capitals, decorative panels, doors, fire being hand-carved for a substantial and accurately detail and quality are unmatched by any machine carving process. surrounds, and furniture in all period styles. They reproduced French Louis XVI room Merritt’s work is found in exclusive enclaves, such employ traditional hand-carving techniques for as Greenwich, The Hamptons, Palm Beach, Aspen, Bel Air, Lake Tahoe and private residences, religious structures and public buildings. In addition, Malibu, as well as in penthouses in Manhattan, Miami, Washington DC and they produce cast ornamentation in bronze and other materials. Their work San Francisco. q includes such high-profile commissions as a throne for Saint John Paul II, the award-winning Fulham Palace in London, the Cathedral of St. Paul in Minnesota and dozens of luxurious private residences.

Both Agrell and Thorpe are members of the prestigious Master Carvers Association, an organisation dedicated to exceptional wood- and stonecarvers with the highest quality work. They are two of fewer than 30 English masters alive today and possess encyclopedic knowledge of carving technique and history. Bringing the ancient skill of hand carving into the modern age of design and architecture has been a lifelong passion for both. Merritt’s already talented team of 15 carvers is pleased to have Agrell’s expertise and industry leadership on board to further refine this critical part of the Merritt interiors process.

Merritt and Agrell’s first collaboration was in 1999 and since that time they have executed 300,000 hours of carving together. When clients request period correct designs, they have the rare ability to deliver rooms in full alignment with the history, executed as it was in the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, literally recreating Versailles.

“True English master carving is an art, a craft and a religion and because of the painstaking process and vast amount of knowledge required, it is very costly,” says CEO Michael Merritt. “Folding this talented group into ours only makes good sense – it allows for cost saving and total control over the finished product. We have long been proud of our affiliation with Agrell and are now very pleased to call them part of the Merritt family.”

“We have collaborated with Merritt many times over the years,” said Ian Agrell. “Our integration into the company has been a welcomed and seamless transition that allows us to be even more effective in our endeavor to increase awareness of the beauty and value of traditional hand carving.”

As a $50 million interiors firm, Merritt boasts a half century of history as an ultra-high-end woodworking company. While the core of the company remains with unsurpassed architectural woodwork and joinery, Merritt’s current boundary-breaking operational capacity now allows it to take responsibility for bringing to completion the entire interior architecture of an estate or superyacht. With an unparalleled collection of capabilities under its umbrella, Merritt now manages the entire process from design concept to project delivery, ensuring an exacting and uncompromised finished product delivered anywhere in the world. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Metalwork to stained glass windows – the forgotten fabric

By JAMIE MOORE, Recclesia Stained Glass

[

ANYONE WHO HAS ever been up close to an enormous stained glass window and gasped in breathless horror at the condition of the metalwork holding it in place will not be surprised to hear that we are often asked to replace rather than repair this historic fabric without a second thought. But very often we find that despite initial appearances, much of this metalwork can be rescued and retained with some expertise and creativity.

Stained glass, and their less grand but equally lovely counterparts leaded lights, are fitted into buildings in a variety of different ways. In some cases, we find epic feats of ironwork supporting windows as if the maker spent his weekends wandering around town jabbering about the end of the world, and made every preparation for it in his work. Conversely, we come across just as many quite giant windows with barely a piece of supporting metalwork in sight, some of which we’ve arrived to see moving around in a breeze. Whilst many a congregation may have wished for a gust to cause the inevitable during a very long sermon, nobody wants to see a good window ruined.

In most cases, stained glass is held into masonry or brickwork with a series of horizontal iron saddle-bars which sit into cavities cut into the reveals or mullions. These can be on the internal or external face and are attached to the lead net with either copper wire or lead ribbon ties, which are soldered to the leadwork then simply wrapped or twisted around the saddle-bar. Whilst this detail might send a wind-loading calculator into spasm, it is surprisingly

robust and has clearly stood the test of time. The causes of failure are in line with any other architectural ironwork, but the consequences of a gradual weakening of the only support to fragile glass artwork can be catastrophic.

Whilst superficial corrosion deposits and degradation of the profile of the exposed body of the metal are an obvious indicator of condition, the principal point of saddle-bar failure is at the intersection with the masonry and inside the cavity into which it sits. The mechanism of decay is the same, but corrosion within and around the cavity is often significantly more pronounced; and the effects of expansion and rust jacking are more likely to cause damage at these points because there is simply no room for it, causing masonry to crack, and in extreme cases blow the stonework apart entirely. We see this problem in almost every window we survey to a varying extent.

Whilst it is clear remedial work must be undertaken, the retention of this metalwork is often overlooked in favour of the glass and masonry, which are traditionally seen to hold more value in the oft-intangible hierarchy of fabric significance. So what can be done? For a start, the ironwork needs to be viewed as being of equal status to other fabric around it so that it is afforded proper assessment by someone who knows what they are looking at. Where bars are causing a problem to the masonry, trials should be commissioned to expose the ends of the metalwork to see what the condition is really like inside. It doesn’t take much corrosion to split stonework, so it is likely that the bars are perfectly capable of greater lifespan going forward.

Next, explore remedial options fully. Could the bars simply be refurbished and coated using a robust paint system and reinstated? Could a revised detail to the cavity, such as a bronze or nylon socket, allow for reinstatement of ironwork which might previously have been condemned? Is there a more passive method of repair which might allow for even a proportion of the original metalwork to be retained, such as superimposing additional saddlebars or adding support armature to the existing?

You may not be able to answer these questions yourself, but a specialist will certainly be able to help you to better understand the materials, their condition, and the remedial and conservation options available for consideration, which can only result in a better outcome for any historic building. It is fair to say that most of us involved in conservation work are happy to have our brains picked, so if you do come across things you’re unsure of or problems you’ve not seen before, get in touch! q • A full version of this article is available at the website www.recclesiastainedglass.co.uk. Recclesia are a multi-disciplined historic building conservation specialist with expertise in stonemasonry, stained glass, metalwork and joinery.

Jamie Moore is managing director at Recclesia and has been working in conservation since the 1990s alongside his father Geoff Moore who has been doing the same since the 1960s. Recclesia has workshops and glass studios in Chester and Manchester.

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ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION

BAFRA

ARCHIVE STORAGE BOXES

ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTANTS

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BELLS

BUILDING SERVICES

BOOK & PAPER CONSERVATION

CARVERS – MASTER CARVERS ASSOCIATION

BUILDING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION

CHURCH HEATING & INSULATION

CLOCKS

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GILDERS

DISABLED ACCESS

HYMNODY

DISASTER RECOVERY

JOINERY

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

EXHUMATION SERVICES LANDSCAPING

FURNITURE

LEADED LIGHTS

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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LEADWORK

LCA

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LIGHTING & SOUND

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LIME & LIME PLASTERERS

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METALWORK

PAINT STRIPPERS

METAL THEFT PREVENTION

PEST CONTROL

ORGANS

RAINWATER SYSTEMS

PAINTING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION ROOFING

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FTMRC

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SOUND, AUDIO VISUAL & LOOP SYSTEMS

ISCE

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STAINED GLASS

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STONE & STONE SUPPLY

TERRACOTTA & FAIENCE

TRAINING

TRANSPORT & STORAGE

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