Ecclesiastical & Heritage World Issue 79

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COVER STORY

CONTENTS Fire guidance for churches and heritage buildings

The fire that destroyed the roof and spire of Notre Dame had a profound effect on all those charged with the care of precious buildings around the world. After the shock had abated many began to reflect on similar events here in the UK – York Minster came to mind – and to reassess what can be done to mitigate the effects of similar events.

In a timely overview, Ecclesiastical Insurance shares its own insight and guidance for reducing the risk of fires occurring in all heritage buildings.

Read the full story from page 6

5 Reflections NEWS 10 British oaks could help rebuild Notre Dame 10 St George’s is more common than

George and Dragon 10 CADW fools around with Welsh heritage 13 Listed premises can help business,

survey finds 13 Lottery grant means ‘full steam

ahead’ for station restoration 15 Royal gift goes on display 15 Museums show is free for all 17 Weighing up your options for new

seating? Then look no further than

the Eton Light from ICS Church Furniture

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19 Taxi designer’s church moves nearer

to restoration target 19 Couple sentenced for illegal

alterations to listed building 20 Betjeman Award: four shortlisted 21 Traditional oast construction catches

programme makers’ eye 22 Art collection to undergo

conservation work 23 Optimise your experience with

Fullers: they’re capable of so much more!

HERITAGE CRIME 24 How we are tackling the heritage criminals

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STAGING 35 The stage is set for Exeter to shine INSULATION 36 High performance spray foam

insulation for Grade 2-listed barn restoration LIGHTNING PROTECTION 38 New guidance published on

lightning protection

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Scotland sees launch of heritage crime initiative

CHURCH HEATING 25 It’s year-round activity for the church

heating specialist ROOFING 26 Church and heritage projects vie for

roofing success 26 Roof projects utilise Cornwall’s

famed slates – old and new 27 Authentic Dreadnought roof tiles

help transform an eyesore 29 Specifying clay tiles for ecclesiastical

and heritage projects LEAD 30 31

DRONES 40 How do you get the best from drone data?

41 Drone surveys help both insurers

and their clients IRONWORK & METALWORK 43 NHIG heads to the V&A to cap off

its year 43 Learn blacksmithing in a rural idyll 44 Golden Gates set to shine again CLERICAL CLOTHING 45 Clothing the clergy – in comfort SOUND AND AV SYSTEMS 47 VR installation brings industrial

heritage to life

Leadwork finalists announced Lead training body engages with wider roofing industry

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CRE North: the show that really did have All Kinds of Everything

Music museum plan includes major AV installation Worship in the New Forest has hidden depths

CHURCH & HERITAGE SUPPLIES 49 Classified Section

Richard Shepherd – Business Development Manager Advertising enquiries: Tel: 07429 516265 Email: richard@dmmonline.co.uk All other enquiries: Tel: 0161 710 3880 Fax: 0161 710 3879 • 61 Lower Hillgate, Stockport, Cheshire SK1 3AW Copyright Ecclesiastical & Heritage World. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Ecclesiastical & Heritage World. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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[MILLIONS OF WORDS have been written and published regarding the sense of loss following the Notre Dame fire, and no more are

probably needed. Nonetheless, it would also be churlish not to acknowledge the sharing of that sense.

Mercifully, no lives were lost that day in Paris; but what about the next time…and the next? We therefore make no apology for majoring in this issue on what can, should and must be done to protect churches and heritage buildings from the ravages of fire. Acknowledged experts in the field, including Ecclesiastical Insurance, have shared their expertise and insight with us.

• It is thought the Note Dame fire was caused by an electrical fault. That is not always the case: the cause of many fires in heritage buildings is arson. It is horrifying to think that anyone could put lives, irreplaceable artefacts and historic fabric at risk deliberately; but they do.

Heritage crime is now being tackled vigorously, with joint initiatives between the police and civil authorities being set up around the country.

Historic England’s head of heritage crime strategy concludes his examination of the issues involved, as Scotland launches its own joint body.

• An Act of God was long thought to be behind the cause of many church fires – in the form of lightning strike. These days precautions are taken against the effects of such strikes, which in modern buildings can devastate a whole panoply of electronic systems in addition to damaging fabric. In this country most storms happen in the summer, so Historic England’s timing for the publication of its latest guidance on lightning protection is apt.

• To the Norse, lightning was caused by the striking of Thor’s hammer. It was a reflection of the importance of the blacksmith in society that such an eminent deity should practice their craft. That respect continues to this day and the work of the blacksmith is universally admired.

Those who aspire to join the ranks producing such work as the balustrade being installed in Bath can try their hand at a series of courses in East Yorkshire.

• Another of the ancient metalworking trades is that of the leadworker. The skills involved have long been recognised by awards, the latest of which is the Leadworker of the Year, given by the Lead Sheet Training Academy. Two of the most accomplished practitioners in their field are waiting to see which of them will receive that accolade – as are we.

• The announcement of the Leadworker of the Year will take place at the UK Roofing Awards. Heritage projects have traditionally been to the fore at the awards and this year is no exception. Church restorations vie with public and heritage buildings in a number of categories – in addition to the Heritage Roofing category itself.

• Craftspeople and suppliers of all kinds in the ecclesiastical field returned in triumph to Manchester in March to attend the newly-reborn Christian Resources Exhibition North. While to many it was the first CRE they had been to, for others it was a welcome return. One of the latter was singing star Dana, whose Eurovision hit All Kinds of Everything has been adapted to become the CRE anthem.

• Continuing the positive tone, there was a chink of light in the gloom of the Paris fire: the generosity of people moved to help rebuild.

That mood was reflected by members of Historic Houses, who pledged thousands of mature oak trees from their estates to help rebuild the cathedral roof. The trees were planted by their ancestors, in some cases centuries ago. q

Chris Stokes

Editor, Ecclesiastical & Heritage World

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COVER STORY

The ecclesiastical and heritage community must learn lessons from Paris In the aftermath of events on the Ïle de la Cité, it is perhaps timely to consider good practice regarding fires in churches and heritage buildings. Such fires have a number of causes and can have devastating consequences: not only in terms of damage to property and loss of irreplaceable contents, but also as the cause of serious injury and even loss of life.

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THE Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires businesses, places of worship and the voluntary sector (excluding private dwellings in single occupation) to undertake a fire risk assessment to identify possible fire dangers and risks, people who may be at risk and to ensure adequate precautions are in place. Leading church insurer Ecclesiastical and the Fire Industry Association (FIA) offer advice on reducing the risk of a fire occurring and the response you should take if a fire occurs.

Churches Ecclesiastical Insurance has produced guidance for churches to help them undertake a risk assessment and to minimise the risk of fire in their buildings. The guidance identifies common causes of fires in churches and offers advice on steps to take to combat them.

Arson: The guidance suggests ways in which security can be improved to reduce the risk of being targeted. That includes creating the impression the building is visited regularly or occupied, carrying out criminal damage repairs quickly and locating waste bins in secure areas well away from buildings. A checklist is available to download with further tips.

Safe use of candles: With a few simple precautions, candles can be used safely and remain an important part of worship in many churches. Candles should be placed in metal holders on non-combustible surfaces, such as stone or brick.

Locking-up procedures need to include checks that all candles are fully extinguished.

Electrical wiring: Despite improving standards of installation, some church fires can be caused by defective electric wiring or apparatus.

A programme of inspection, testing and maintenance of electrical systems – including wiring, switchgear, any fixed machinery and portable electrical appliances – should be in place in order to reduce the risk of fires starting from that cause.

Church repairs and restoration: The risk of fire significantly increases when repair or restoration work is undertaken. It is essential during such work that there is appropriate supervision and inspection – both by the contractor and by the church.

Key areas of concern are smoking and electrical appliances, whether authorised or unauthorised.

Ecclesiastical’s website has useful guidance available to download, including a template risk assessment form for basic church activities and

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a series of guidance notes giving more detailed advice on relevant topics. Guidance includes advice on the installation of fire alarms, where professional support will be required before alarm selection and installation.

•For further information visit www.ecclesiastical.com/riskmanagement/church-fire-articles

Heritage buildings Heritage buildings offer a unique challenge to fire professionals.

As Graham Simons, former technical manager at the Fire Industry Association points out: “Historic buildings seldom have any significant fire engineering in them and are frequently used for a purpose completely different to their original intent. Often they are open to the public, which means we have to especially consider means of escape.”

In addition to the safety risks to staff and the visiting public there are also concerns over the often unique and irreplaceable nature of the buildings and the artefacts they contain. An example of that is the devastating fire at Clandon Park in April 2015. The 18th-century mansion in Surrey is a Grade One-listed building that has been managed by the National Trust since 1956.

A fire started in the basement of the building and quickly spread to the roof. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service attended with 16 fire engines and 80 personnel, but despite that the house was severely damaged when the roof collapsed, and most of the interior was destroyed. Only one room remains intact, but fortunately no one was injured in the incident.

Graham offers the following advice for those in charge of protecting such properties against fire, focusing on fire alarms, signs and emergency lighting.

Fire detection and alarms: Throughout the UK fire safety law requires us to ‘provide means for detecting fire and giving warning in case of fire’. Premises must be ‘equipped with appropriate fire detectors and alarms’, but legislation doesn’t tell us more. The diligent fire risk assessor will most probably refer to BS 5839-1 and recommend a ‘category’ of system.

This Code of Practice takes a general view approach and doesn’t give specific advice for heritage buildings. Neither the law nor the Codes of Practice say how fire detection and alarm systems can be installed and remain sensitive to the historic nature of these buildings.

lighting: ‘Emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity.’ As all escape routes require illumination, that could be very extensive and include corridors, stairs, final exit doors (those that lead immediately outside) and open areas where people may congregate.

It is worth bearing in mind that required emergency light levels have increased dramatically since the late 1990s. Regrettably, enforcers and installers were slow to realise this, which means that most emergency lighting systems in heritage building are lamentably poor.

Considering the vast numbers of people visiting heritage buildings, some of whom may have mobility problems and/or poor eyesight, it is important that escape routes, doors, signs and potential hazards such as stairways are clearly visible.

For emergency lighting to be implemented sensitively and not spoil the heritage environment, it is best integrated into the normal lighting at a design stage. If that cannot be done there are many light fittings on the market to help. There are very small light fittings with remote batteries or decorative fittings made of metal and glass. Spotlights may be used for large open spaces such as cathedrals. They can be mounted remotely from the area to be lit and, being relatively small, hidden away among the wall decoration. These solutions do not make fittings invisible, but would make them less obtrusive.

Signs: There are a variety of signs which can be fitted. The law says: ‘Emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs.’

It is crucial to determine where the escape routes are, as not every final exit is necessarily an emergency exit. A sign should be placed at every designated final exit; additional signs are then placed to lead people through the building to a place of relative safety and escape.

The design of the sign is governed by EU regulations, which require a green rectangle with white pictograms. There are two types you can use: British Standard and European Standard. The BS sign shows a figure running through an open door, a direction arrow showing the direction of travel and supplementary text saying ‘Exit’, ‘Fire exit’ or ‘Emergency exit’. Note that the text is all lower case except the first character.

The EU signs show a white rectangle representing a door, a figure apparently running towards the door and an arrow pointing at the exit. Either design is acceptable, but you should be consistent and only use one design throughout. Size is important: the bigger the viewing distance, the bigger the sign. Most suppliers can give good advice on that.

You have also probably seen what are known as ‘mandatory’ signs, which are blue circles with white symbols or text. The most common one says ‘Fire door keep shut’.

They are called ‘mandatory’ because they are giving a specific instruction, not for any REFLECTING ON THE EVENTS in Paris on 15 April, Mark Hews, Group Chief legal reason.

Executive of Ecclesiastical Insurance, commented: “It was absolutely heartbreaking to see So, do you need them on every fire door? such a beautiful, spiritually and historically significant cathedral engulfed in flames. Our Broadly speaking, it is a good idea because thoughts are with the people of France as they come to terms with the damage to such an it provides a reminder to everyone to keep iconic building. the door closed. If a door is aesthetically or “As a long-established specialist insurer of churches and listed heritage, we have a historically very sensitive, it may be prudent wealth of knowledge and expertise in the restoration of these very special and complex not to stick a mandatory sign on it. That buildings. We stand ready to join others in providing as much help as we reasonably can would be perfectly acceptable, providing you to support the restoration. To that end, in conjunction with our parent charity Allchurches take reasonable measures – such as staff Trust, we have offered to provide significant practical assistance and advice to Notre Dame training, written instructions and periodic during this difficult time. Further details will follow. inspections – to ensure the door is closed “In the UK, Ecclesiastical are trusted to insure much of Britain’s irreplaceable heritage, when not in use. and helping our customers to identify and reduce risk is a fundamental part of our Fire safety equipment should be easily business. Our in-house risk managers regularly run sessions on fire safety: in fact, we accessible, which means that signs are very are currently running a series of specialist fire training sessions with our cathedral and often required. For example, fire alarm call greater church customers across the UK, in addition to the regular risk management advice points that are tucked away out of sight provided to all our church customers. should have signs indicating where they While major fires like this are rare, we have unfortunately seen a number of significant are. Interestingly, the law says that any nonlosses in UK churches over the years. In the vast majority of cases these buildings have automatic fire-fighting equipment should been fully restored, despite substantial damage. We hope that brings some degree of be easily accessible, simple to use and comfort to the people of Paris.” q indicated by signs. This implies that every fire

We clearly don’t want red cables or conduit visible on lovely facades and wireless systems offer an obvious solution. Early criticisms citing problems with reliability and battery life do not apply to contemporary systems. However, wireless systems are not invisible; call points, by their nature, have to be clearly visible, but there is no reason why detectors and alarm devices shouldn’t be virtually invisible.

A point type smoke detector in the middle of a ceiling would not look out of place in a modern building, but would be totally out of place in a heritage building – particularly one with ornate ceilings. Some companies are able to provide elaborate customisation of detectors, with patterns and colour matching, so that they will be more discrete and merge into the decor. Low-profile virtual chamber smoke detectors also offer a more discrete solution.

Two other solutions spring to mind: aspirating detection and beam-type smoke detection. With an aspirating system the detector can be remote from the protected area and connected to a sampling point by a small-diameter pipe. The sampling point can be a small hole concealed among the ceiling decoration, while the pipe can be run in floor or roof voids and the detector positioned where the public don’t go.

A beam-type smoke detector consists of an infrared transmitter and a light sensor receiver. The sensor measures the light level from the transmitter. In some cases they are combined in a single unit with just a reflector on the opposite wall. These have a proven track record in big open spaces. The transmitters and receivers are quite small and can often be concealed in galleries and decorative coving.

Audible alarms (bells and sounders) are usually red or white, but there are no rules which say they must be. Audible alarms can be provided in a variety of colours but, just as importantly, care in placing them should make them unobtrusive, if not invisible.

When providing fire alarm signals it will also be necessary to consider that some members of the public may be deaf or hard of hearing. If the emergency evacuation procedure requires the use of visual alarm devices then they must be compliant to EN 54-23.

There are alternatives to fitting them throughout the building, such as providing members of the public with tactile devices to alert them to a fire. Some parts of the building, such as a toilet, are probably less aesthetically sensitive, while more likely for visitors to be left alone, so that may be a site requiring a visual alarm device.

Emergency lighting: The law is quite clear about emergency

Ready and willing to help [

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COVER STORY

Leading manufacturer offers advice [ LEADING FIRE SYSTEMS MANUFACTURER Advanced

extinguisher should have a sign, which begs the question: if you can’t see a big red extinguisher, how are you going to see the sign?

Operators of heritage buildings are often tempted to put extinguishers out of sight. Most people see extinguishers every day in workplaces and public buildings and, for the most part, develop a blind spot to them. If you’re tempted to hide them, you must still indicate their location with signs. Suppliers often incorporate information about the extinguisher and its uses with the equipment sign. While this information is not mandatory, it is useful; it is far easier to read the sign on the wall than the information on the side of the extinguisher.

Furthermore, it is a legal requirement to provide information to employees and others about procedures to be followed in an emergency. The easiest way to do that is with what is commonly referred to as a ‘Fire Action’ notice. These are often placed near fire alarm call points, where they are readily accessible and visible. If you can find an alternative way of ensuring that the relevant people get the information, there is no legal reason for having the notices.

One alternative may be to locate the notices in staff rest rooms and/ or toilets, or provide the same information in staff handbooks and rehearse the procedures during staff training.

There are also ‘hazard warning’ and ‘prohibition’ signs that, along with other signs and notices, need to be visible – which probably means further emergency lighting. It is worth mentioning luminous and photo-luminescent signs: they are not a substitute for emergency lighting – be wary of salespeople who say that they are.

The fire industry understands the sensitivity needed to preserve the aesthetics of historical buildings and has provided solutions compatible with those environments. Above all, it is most important that heritage premises, like any other commercial building, comply with UK fire safety law to protect the staff, visitors and structure itself from fire. q • For further information visit www.fia.uk.com

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has published a valuable guide to fire protection for historic and heritage sites. The brochure is designed to help key stakeholders understand some of the solutions available for the challenges they face. It addresses many common problems in ensuring adequate active fire protection, tackling the challenges of minimising aesthetic impact, quick, safe evacuation and eliminating unwanted alarms – among many more.

Advanced has a global reputation for excellence in the sector and its systems are protecting some of the most famous, valuable and most visited sites in the world.

The company’s head of marketing, Aston Bowles, commented: “Historic structures present unique challenges for the fire system industry, but innovation is delivering significant choice and performance gains for end users, specifiers and responsible people in the sector. The new brochure aims to offer an insight into the sector and the solutions that can be used.”

In particular, Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

Copies of the Historic Sites brochure are available from marketing@advancedco.com.

Among the historic sites to benefit from their expertise recently is Jedburgh Abbey (pictured). The 12th century Augustinian abbey in the Scottish Borders selected Advanced’s MxPro 5 panel to protect the rich heritage of treasures on display in its visitor centre.

Founded by King David I nearly 1,000 years ago and famed for its unusual architecture, Jedburgh Abbey is one of the four great abbeys established in the Scottish Borders. The abbey’s museum houses some of the famous works of art associated with the early history of the site and some of the artefacts discovered during excavations.

Advanced were specified by the team at SAFE Services, who were appointed to design, install and commission a replacement fire system in the abbey’s visitor centre, gift shop, staff rooms and offices, utilising existing cable runs and containments to avoid exposed wiring.

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multi-protocol fire system solution. It offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in singleloop, single-panel format or easily configured into high-speed, multiloop panels in 200-node networks covering huge areas. MxPro’s legendary ease of installation and configuration and wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application.

Advanced has an impressive pedigree in historic and heritage site protection. Notable installations across the globe include the World Heritage Sites at Durham Cathedral, Iona Abbey – Scotland’s most sacred site – and Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia. That is in addition to landmark buildings such as the Royal Albert Hall and London’s Natural History Museum. q

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British oaks could help rebuild Notre Dame [OAK TREES FROM some of the UK’s most

famous estates could contribute towards the rebuilding of Notre Dame de Paris, following an offer from members of Historic Houses – the association for independently-owned historic houses and gardens.

So far more than 100 donor estates, including Belvoir Castle (pictured), Hutton-in-the-Forest, Scone Palace, Castle Howard, Holkham Hall, Powderham Castle and Firle Place (named after the Anglo-Saxon word for ‘oak woodland’) have volunteered valuable trees – planted for timber centuries ago – as a gift from the UK to France for the restoration of the iconic landmark’s roof.

Given that the construction of the original roof in the 12th century is estimated to have required 1,300 mature oaks, the donors are well aware that their contribution could only provide a fraction of what’s needed, but they hope the gesture will inspire others.

James Birch is the owner of Doddington Hall – one of the estates that have pledged timber – and the president of Historic Houses.

He commented: “The fire at Notre Dame is a terrible tragedy. It is also a reminder of how our great buildings provide a cultural backdrop to

St George’s is more common than George and Dragon [

LATEST FIGURES from the National Churches Trust show that there are now more churches in the UK than pubs. There are around 40,300 church buildings in the UK open to the public and being used for worship, according to research carried out for the trust by The Brierley Consultancy.

On the other hand, there are around 39,000 pubs in the UK, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, with more than 11,000 pubs having closed in the UK in the last decade – a fall of almost a quarter.

The Brierley Consultancy’s chief executive Peter Brierley explained: “Although some Anglican, Roman Catholic and Methodist church buildings have closed in recent years, this loss has been outweighed by the growth of new Evangelical and Pentecostal church congregations.”

In addition to being used for worship, an increasing number of churches in the UK are becoming local ‘community hubs’, hosting children’s nurseries, senior citizen lunch clubs, concerts and exhibitions. Some even house post-offices, GP surgeries and farmers’ markets.

Rev Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s Church, Piccadilly, and a trustee of the National Churches Trust, declared: “Church buildings are a tremendous national asset for the UK. Many of them are historic buildings, a vital part of our national heritage.

"As well as being places of worship, church buildings also play a vital role in activities for the benefit of the wider community. It is estimated that nearly 90% of churches are used for community purposes such as playgroups and lunch clubs and for social and cultural activities including concerts and exhibitions.”

Peter Brierley concluded: “Although much has been written about the decline in church going in recent years, the number of Christian congregations and church buildings in the UK has remained remarkably stable.” q

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everyday life that is often only recognised when they are threatened. Some of our members have first-hand experience of the damage and destruction of catastrophic fires. It’s fitting that we would offer to help restore such an important part of the world’s heritage.”

The trees, from sustainable forestry and already destined for use as commercial timber, are estimated to have a combined market value of well over £100,000. But the donors are keen to emphasise that the timbers used in buildings like Notre Dame are about something that money alone can’t buy.

“Anyone who lives in an old building knows there’s something special about the way it was built and the materials used,” said the Duke of Rutland, who first suggested the idea to his fellow members.

“The trees in the original roof at Notre Dame probably started growing over a thousand years ago. We’re able to donate replacements because my great-great-grandfather had the foresight to plant trees that would only be valuable long after he died. And in turn we’ll replant every tree we fell – someone will need them for something in another few hundred years. It’s a reminder of how important it is to both look after and renew our heritage resources. In our business you have to plan in centuries, not years.”

It’s not the first time Britain’s great houses have rallied round to help with a major heritage restoration project. After the devastating York Minster fire in 1984 more than 40 Historic Houses member places pledged 80 oak trees for the reconstruction efforts, joining donations from the Queen and the Prince of Wales. q

CADW fools around with Welsh heritage

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ON 1 APRIL the heritage community in Wales awoke to the scandalous news that CADW had put its Grade One-listed Plas Mawr, in Conwy, up for sale!

A picture of ‘the finest Elizabethan town house in Britain’ displayed in the window of local estate agent Fletcher & Poole carried a price tag of £200,000 – presumably reflecting the lack of basic amenities such as running water and central heating, while a lack of power points would mean that ‘food may need to be initially preserved through the process of salting’. Or it could have been the ‘swarm of resident ghosts’.

It was, of course, a spoof: the real giveaway being a quote from Fletcher & Poole’s ‘spokeswoman’ April Ffwl!

Sadly, the agents reported that there had been no enquiries for the property, although a few people had called in off the street to congratulate them on the joke. q

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Listed premises can help business, survey finds [

BUSINESS OWNERS and operators based in listed buildings say they benefit from their historic premises. That was the finding of the Survey of Listed Building Owners 2018, which polled more than 500 businesses from across the country. The survey, sponsored by Ecclesiastical, was carried out for Historic England.

The results revealed that 85% of businesses operating in historic buildings express satisfaction with where they work.

Moreover, nearly two thirds of respondents felt trading from a listed building enhanced the business, with those in the hospitality sector the most positive at 71%. They were also most likely to cite a direct commercial impact derived from operating out of historic buildings.

The sample spanned those who own and rent premises, and chains as well as independent businesses.

The value of characterful buildings The external appearance of the listed building and its local context were cited as the top benefits of trading from a historic building. Owners and operators said their listed buildings provide an attractive exterior that gives a positive first impression to their clients and customers.

The responses show businesses also appreciate how a historic streetscape with a unique local character can attract customers and boost footfall. They understand the valuable role their own individual building plays as part of the wider environment.

One business operator summed up the common view: “…people come down this street, they come to Whitby, they come to the area because of the history, the heritage; it’s all wrapped up in a bigger parcel; it’s not so much the shop.”

Many respondents to the survey cited the strong sense of community that exists amongst businesses who sense they work in a well-loved spot, with added advantages linked to the fact that these special places are often found in the most central locations.

Challenges of trading from a listed building While for most the positives for working out of a historical building outweigh the negatives, businesses did identify some drawbacks.

Nearly half of the sample identified restrictions on extending their listed premises as an issue.

Some also highlighted their concerns around disabled access. Many

Church Street in Whitby: its heritage is why people visit. expressed their desire to facilitate better access but had found the nature of their building, and in some cases planning restrictions, a frustration. Many (40%) of the sample highlighted poor disabled access as a major issue.

Other concerns relate to operating in city or town centre locations where access and parking is often restricted. Some businesses appealed to local authorities to consider their needs when setting parking arrangements. Businesses also cited the challenge of quirky internal layouts, and highlighted how important a supportive landlord is when it comes to proactive maintenance, with local authority landlords coming in for some criticism.

Listed Building Consent There was positive news from the responses of the around 30% of the sample who had sought Listed Building Consent. Over half of those respondents felt the listed building consent process helped them make changes and avoid damaging the significance of the building.

However, responses revealed that businesses would value more help from local authorities, clear language and consistent advice. q Picture © Photoeverywhere, courtesy of Freeimageslive

Lottery grant means ‘full steam ahead’ for station restoration [

THE WENSLEYDALE RAILWAY in North Yorkshire has secured a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £368,000 for the restoration of its Victorian station building at Leeming Bar, near Bedale. The secondround grant will also fund the delivery of an education and community engagement programme and provision of heritage-themed activities at the restored station.

Leeming Bar Station dates from 1848, when the line was built, and features a classical portico entrance facing the old Great North Road.

Passenger services ended in 1954 and freight shortly after. Threatened with demolition in the 1960s, the station was listed Grade Two, protecting it from destruction.

The current project focuses on restoring the station house to how it would have looked in the 1920s, with waiting rooms, a booking and parcels office and stationmaster’s quarters on the ground floor, telling the story of the Wensleydale Railway from its creation in 1848 to the present day.

A wide range of heritage-based activities will be delivered, where the public can discover and experience life at a busy country station in the inter-war period, along with specialist programmes for schools and community groups.

The Wensleydale Railway is a tourist and heritage line starting at the county town of Northallerton and running to Redmire on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, passing through the Georgian market town of Bedale and the Dales market town of Leyburn.

Commenting on the award, Wensleydale Railway Association (Trust) chairman Ken Monkman, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support, thanks to National Lottery players, and we are confident that the project will provide a fantastic resource for the Wensleydale Railway and the communities it serves as well as being a fitting gateway to the line and the Yorkshire Dales.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Royal gift goes on display [ TEXTILE SPECIALISTS are starting conservation work on a

17th-century Goan bedspread, a thank you gift from King James II to a loyal family, at the National Trust’s Sizergh Castle in Cumbria.

The magnificent bedspread has recently gone on display at the castle for the first time in more than 30 years.

The bedspread is made from satin, with gold thread stitched into an intricate design of mythical creatures, and was gifted to the Strickland family of Sizergh in the 1600s in thanks for their loyalty.

Sir Thomas and Winifred Strickland, prominent Catholic royalists, were considered close friends of the King and Queen.

They accompanied them into exile in France in 1688, with Lady Strickland serving as acting governess of the Prince of Wales.

It took seven National Trust staff three hours to painstakingly unroll the 3m x 2.5m counterpane and prepare it for display as part of the castle’s new The Sizergh Silk Road: From Goa to Antwerp exhibition, which runs until 27 October.

Jane Clarke, House Steward, said: “The bedspread had been in storage for more than 30 years, so we didn’t know what to expect.

We had to work incredibly slowly to support it and prevent any

A detail from the bedspread showing a bird

National Trust staff carefully unroll the bedspread stretch or tension, which could cause irreparable damage to the fabric. Finally seeing it unrolled, its intricate details and colours still vibrant, was fabulous.”

The centrepiece of the bedspread is a double-headed eagle surrounded by flowers, butterflies and birds, while the corners feature unidentified creatures, possibly stylised leopards or lions.

Jane continued: “There were some very beautiful textiles coming out of Goa, then a Portuguese colony, in the 17th-century, and this is a particularly wonderful example with spectacular imagery. Our best guess is that the eagle on it is a Hindu mythical beast, but if visitors know more, we would love to hear their ideas.”

The bedspread includes a number of different stitches and techniques including basket weave, ‘laid couching’ to outline motifs and satin stitch worked in unspun silk.

The exhibition allows visitors to learn more about how the delicate fabric at Sizergh is cared for and they will be able to see a specialist textile conservator working on the bedspread at selected times over the coming months. q Images by Rod Kirkpatrick, © National Trust

Museums show is free for all [THIS YEAR’S Museums and Heritage Show will be taking

place at London’s Olympia West on 15 and 16 May. It is the UK’s largest free museums trade exhibition and this year will feature more than 50 free talks around eight themes.

One of them, the New Trends theme, will see freelance museums data specialist James Morley talking about his extraordinarily successful WWI legacy project, A Street Near You. Philip Long, director of V&A Dundee, will give a talk on designing what was the UK’s largest museum opening of 2018, which has welcomed 500,000 visitors since September.

There will also be important talks from sector bodies including a session with Arts Council England’s Isabel Churcher on Funding the Next Ten Years and The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Fiona Talbott will explain what its new funding framework means for museums.

As well as the seminar programme and networking sessions, there will be an exhibition of more than 160 supplier and expert exhibitors showcasing new products.

“We aim to provide this sector with a melting pot of ideas, inspiration and practical advice, enabling our visitors to arrive with questions and to leave with answers,” said show manager Sara Bowen. “For two days of the year the show opens its doors to everyone working in this sector, inviting them to come along and tap into the wealth of knowledge of more than 160 exhibitors and more than 90 expert speakers.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Weighing up your options for new seating?

Then look no further than the Eton Light from ICS Church Furniture [

THE EXPERIENCE and knowledge of over 50 years designing and manufacturing church furniture has brought about another new design from ICS Furniture. This new chair has all the strength you would expect from their designs but less of the weight.

Designed to sit comfortably in any building, both modern or traditional, this sleek modern chair offers a winning combination of comfort, flexibility, light weight and visual appeal. Following on from the success of the ICON 40 chair, the company has introduced this lighter sister chair. The Eton Light has been designed for the future, without

compromise on style or functionality, and weighs only 4.9kg – making it their lightest chair yet.

Superior comfort Made from the highest quality materials throughout – from oak veneers to the oak frames – the Eton Light chair has been designed with comfort in mind using a three-dimensional formed seat and back with the front of the seat having a waterfall curve. The seat can also be upholstered to add further comfort. All fabrics are easy care, stain resistant and antibacterial.

Innovative design Every element of the chair has been designed with the end user in mind. Its structure, weight, strength and durability, makes this chair stand out in the crowd.

The Eton Light can be enhanced with • Carvings – such as crest, cross or symbol • Bookshelves • Upholstered seat • Custom designed links to allow straight or • curved formations

Stackability The innovative design enables the chair to be stacked up to 12 high, allowing for easy transport and maximising storage space. If storage is an issue, why not check out their ICON 40 chair which stacks 40 high. q • For further details call 020 8906 6878 or visit www.icsfurniture.com www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Taxi designer’s church moves nearer to restoration target [

ST WILFRID’S RC CHURCH in Ripon and the first taxi cab have a surprising attribute in common: they share the same designer.

Joseph Hansom, creator of the famous Hansom cab so favoured by Sherlock Holmes, was also designer of the historically-significant church in Yorkshire – together with a figure more familiar as an architect, Edward Pugin.

Now, while the Hansom cab fell out of fashion with the invention of the automobile, St Wilfrid’s is set to remain at the heart of its community for many generations to come, thanks to a grant of £6,000 from Allchurches Trust.

The grant takes the Grade Two-listed church, which opened in 1862, closer to reaching its £363,000 fundraising target. The figure stands at £285,000, with almost a quarter of a million pounds raised by the congregation and the wider community. They hope to start work in the autumn.

Barrie Price, chairman of the St Wilfrid’s RC Church Ripon Restoration Committee, said: “As the Catholic community in Ripon, we are proud to be the custodians of this building and committed to caring for this precious part of our city’s heritage.

“After the restoration, the church will be open to the public – not only as part of the St Wilfrid’s tourist trail from Fountains Abbey to Ripon

Cathedral, but also as a venue for concerts, events and visits. It will be fantastic to open up its treasures for more people to appreciate and enjoy.”

The church chancel's design is unique in England, rising to a great height within an octagonal tower and casting light upon the collection of glass, mosaics and carvings in the sanctuary, many of which are by some of the best craftsmen of the late 19th century. A stone reredos, designed by Pugin and carved by Farmer & Brindley, is a highlight of the space, while the windows are by John Hungerford Pollen, curator of the South Kensington Museum – now the V&A. Following the restoration, visual and audio aids will be added to improve the visitor experience and schools will be invited in for activities and learning opportunities. There will also be ‘Education for All’ opportunities for adults, including talks and lectures.

Paul Playford, grants officer at Allchurches Trust, commented: “The sensitive renovation will restore many of the building's exquisite features and ensure these previously hidden treasures are brought back to life and preserved for future generations. This exciting project will enable people of all ages in the local community and visitors from all over the world to learn about and enjoy the colourful history of the church, which tells a rich history of the Catholic faith in the area.” q

Couple sentenced for illegal alterations to listed building [

A MARRIED COUPLE and a joiner have been prosecuted by the Peak District National Park Authority after making unauthorised alterations to a building that dates back to the 17th century.

Christopher and Sarah Gillott pleaded guilty at Chesterfield Magistrates Court to five charges relating to their former home, The Lodge – a Grade Two-listed building within the conservation area of Winster. Joiner Simon Mcloughlin, from the nearby village of Wirksworth, also admitted five charges.

Magistrates heard that, between September 2007 and December 2016, a cruck truss ‘of highly significant historic and architectural interest’ was removed from the attic of The Lodge and replaced with a modern A-frame. Oak ceiling beams and purlins, also likely to have dated from the 17th or early 18th centuries, were removed and replaced with ‘inappropriate, non-traditional, utilitarian’ alternatives, while floor and ceiling heights were altered.

The Peak District National Park Authority became aware of the changes in December 2016, when it received an enquiry relating to windows and doors from the current owner of The Lodge.

Nina Pindham, representing the Peak District National Park Authority, said Mr and Mrs Gillott would have known they needed listed building consent for alterations after previously being given permission for works and approval of a grant for roof repairs.

She told the court: “It is accepted that elements of the property

required repair. There are, however, well-established conservation techniques.”

She added: “With a listed building, you cannot just do what you wish.

You are a custodian of that building not just for this, but for subsequent, generations.”

John Wilford, representing Mr and Mrs Gillott and Mr Mcloughlin, accepted that historic value had been lost as a result of the alterations.

He said Mr and Mrs Gillott had bought The Lodge as a ‘project’ and had planned to convert it into bed and breakfast accommodation. He said expense had been a factor in the work carried out, but conceded that the Peak District National Park Authority should have been consulted.

Because of the seriousness of the offences, magistrates passed the case for sentencing to Crown Court, which can impose a higher penalty.

After the hearing, the Peak District National Park Authority’s director of conservation and planning, John Scott, said: “We have a statutory duty to preserve the special character and architecture of listed buildings. This case sends out a clear message that we will not tolerate reckless alterations of historic buildings.

“It is a criminal offence to carry out works – or to instruct others to carry out work – to alter a listed building in a way which harms its historic character. Historic buildings and their features are irreplaceable records of our history and, once lost, are gone forever.” q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Betjeman Award: four shortlisted [

A SHORTLIST of four projects has been announced for the 2019 John Betjeman Award for excellence in conservation at places of worship of all denominations and faiths in England and Wales.

The award is presented by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and is named in honour of writer, conservation campaigner and SPAB committee member Sir John Betjeman.

Importantly, the award is always made to the building rather than to an individual, so it is a chance for a whole community to celebrate the quality of work completed in its building. The award takes the form of a certificate featuring an image of Inglesham Church in Wiltshire, a favourite church of Betjeman and the subject of an early SPAB campaign by the society’s founder, William Morris.

Last year the award went to the Death Reawakened Project (pictured) to research and conserve wall paintings at the Guild Chapel of the Holy Cross in Stratford-upon-Avon.

This year’s award drew 23 entries from around the country and saw the Roman Catholic Church, the United Reformed Church and the Church in Wales represented.

The four shortlisted buildings are tower repairs at St Oswald’s

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in Grasmere, Cumbria; stone conservation in the Greenway Chapel at St Peter’s in Tiverton, Devon; carpentry repairs to the wagon roof at All Saints in Dodington, Somerset; and tower repairs at St Nicholas’s in West Lexham, Norfolk.

The 23 submissions illustrated a broad cross-section of projects caring for faith buildings – from repair of structural and decorative stonework and sculpture to conservation of funerary monuments and other memorials, stained glass, wall paintings and internal furnishings such as screens.

Announcing the shortlist, SPAB said: “As in previous years, a number of projects focused on repairing damage caused by damp, insects, dry rot and vandals. Others addressed the need to keep buildings wind and weathertight, including roof repairs in a range of traditional materials: lead, stone slate and tile. This year’s entries were eloquent testimony to the importance of these buildings in their locality and community, how they are valued and shared by those who care for them and, in a number of cases, how crucial a well-timed conservation project has been to keeping the building open and in use.”

The winner will be announced, and the award presented, at the SPAB members’ meeting at Boxley Abbey on 13 July. q

Traditional oast construction catches programme makers’ eye

[

THE PEOPLE AT Channel 4 television love a good oast house construction with its familiar cowl – and the team at Dude and Arnette are just the people to make it happen for them.

Back in 2017 the company was featured in the Village of the Year series, showcasing the history of oast cowls and Kent peg tiles. This spring a crew has been filming the construction of an oast house from start to finish. It will form part of a series showcasing different types of traditional buildings, each one being different and unique – such as a church or a windmill.

Darren Hole of Dude and Arnette explained: “They were particularly interested in watching us build the two oast house roundels that form the roof and the two oast cowls. As highly-trained craftsmen and a fourth-generation family business, we know the process very well. We restore and rebuild oast houses and oast cowls from scratch, and over the years we have worked on all types of oast houses across the country, including buildings listed with local heritage departments.”

Construction starts with the pitching of the two oast roundels. They then used Tyvek – a material made from flash-spun high-density polyethylene fibres – to weather each kiln.

After that, counter battens are fitted up each rafter, so that when the kiln is ‘lathed’ the tile nails are held away from the Tyvek, preventing holes. The team then had to work out where every row of tiles had to go, so they were evenly spread up the kiln. After that the lath is added.

Said Darren: “That is wood that is run out really thin and which therefore gives us an opportunity to bend it and pin it around the roof. The lath also serves as a base for the tiles. We used tapered and square tiles as, due to their shape, they’re able to go around the roof without running downhill.”

Once the tiles were installed and leaded the top was ready for the oast cowl. Adding the cowls was the last step of the process, completed on 9 April.

As Darren blogged, all the team had to do then was sit back and wait for the programme to be aired towards the end of this year.

Darren concluded: “Whether you’re interested in oast construction, installation or kiln roof maintenance, get in touch with our specialist oast cowl build team for a clear, honest and concise quote and we will organise a visit to your oast house at a time that suits you.” q

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Art collection to undergo conservation work

[THE Methodist Modern Art Collection – one of Britain's most

important collections of modern religious art – will be removed from public display for several months after its next exhibition, for major rejuvenation work.

The unique collection has toured the UK since its inception more than 50 years ago. The 55 works in the collection mostly depict scenes from the life and teaching of Christ and are by world-class artists such as Graham Sutherland, Elisabeth Frink, William Roberts, Patrick Heron and Maggi Hambling.

The planned conservation work will return the paintings to their full glory and ensure that they are framed and have suitable travelling cases to protect them for when touring recommences. The cost of the conservation of the collection will be met by its owners, the Methodist Church, with a donation from the Gibbs Trust.

After the work is complete the collection will be kept in high-quality, professional storage where the works can be fully condition-surveyed

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between exhibitions. Discussions are being undertaken to find a new permanent home for the collection when it is not touring.

Ann Sumner, chair of the Methodist Modern Art Collection management committee, commented: “We must care for the collection to the highest possible standards, preserving it for future generations and ensuring it plays a key role in the missional life of the Methodist Church. We have ambitions to see it fully researched and interpreted, so that the widest audiences have the opportunity to engage with it. When we re-launch the collection in 2020, it will be in the very best of condition.”

The final exhibition of the collection before the conservation work starts will take place in Leicester and runs from 2 May until 9 June at venues across the city. Titled Wondering Soul, the exhibition is a joint project between Anglican churches, including Leicester Cathedral, and the Methodist Church.

The photos show preparatory work for conservation underway prior to the Leicester exhibition. q

Optimise your experience with Fullers: they’re capable of so much more!

[THE NAME Fullers Finer Furniture is rightly associated with finely-crafted, bespoke, heightadjustable lecterns. Indeed, Fullers have been supplying their lecterns to churches and public buildings for many years. They have been modernised to keep up with new technology and styles, and are still as popular today as they ever were.

However, having been in the business for over 30 years, Fullers Finer Furniture have the skills and experience to do much, much more to optimise a public building.

Understanding the aim Owner Paul Fuller understands that furniture and fittings must be hardwearing, practical and compliant with safety legislation, while at the same time must fit seamlessly with the style and age of the building they grace. Fullers also understand that undertaking such projects can seem daunting and they are happy to assist throughout what can be a painstaking process.

They understand the need to ensure that all interested parties are as informed and involved in any project as possible. To that end Fullers are happy to visit your building, give a presentation, make suggestions if required and advise on ideas. Drawings can be supplied with quotes or budgeted costs; the drawings and design ideas can then be amended as required to optimise satisfaction.

Major projects With the capability to undertake major projects involving a complete church refit, Fullers are happy to project-manage your scheme, or are

Fullers re-fitted a vestry at a church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne equally happy to work together with your chosen contractors. Church sanctuary furniture, serveries, AV cabinets, staging, restoration work or a combination are no problem.

Fullers recently completed a large project at Swaffham Methodist Church. The major project involved the supply of two lecterns, a communion table, an AV cabinet and a backlit cross, together with the provision of a servery area, bespoke cupboards for storage, wall panelling and skirting boards, and finally restoration work involving pews and entrance doors. Another example was a complete re-fit of a vestry at a church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

These projects are good examples of the depth and breadth of skill and experience that can be accessed at Fullers.

Minor projects The knowledge and experience attributed to major projects is applied with equal enthusiasm to those smaller projects such as table-top lecterns, flower stands, hymn boards and display cabinets. The same consultation, design process and attention to detail are evident. One recent example was an adjustableheight, table-top lectern supplied to a church in Merseyside. The lectern was made in light oak with chrome legs and supplied with a light fitting.

Care and consideration Having agreed a suitable date, customers can rest assured that the work on site or the furniture delivery will be carried out with care and consideration.

Inconvenience will be minimised and the work area will be left clean and tidy.

If you are considering a project for your church or public building, get in touch with Fullers Finer Furniture; their expertise, experience and commitment to excellent customer care ensures that you will receive quality advice and craftsmanship, from first contact to completion. q This height-adjustable table-top lectern for a church in Merseyside has chrome legs and a light fitting

• For more information visit the website at www.fullersfinerfurniture.co.uk www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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How we are tackling the heritage criminals In the last issue, MARK HARRISON, Head of Heritage Crime Strategy at Historic England, outlined the problems of heritage crime and described some of the initiatives underway to address the issue. In this second article he describes in more detail some of the practical steps being taken to challenge the criminals.

[ A MAJORITY OF POLICE SERVICES have identified officers

threat of heritage crime. Within their local areas they report any suspicious activities to the police. Heritage Watch schemes are now to act as single points of contact for matters relating to heritage active in Kent, the City of York, Hertfordshire, Essex and Cheshire. and cultural property crime. Their function is often aligned to the Our understanding of the extent and scale of the problem will investigation of offences within the rural and natural environment. continue to develop. As the intelligence gathering and assessment This network of specialist officers, police staff and support process matures and adopts the full range of quantitative and qualitative volunteers is helping to provide an effective and efficient response research methodologies, high-risk locations will be identified. to heritage crime and has been supported by the publication of An increased level of understanding will allow the implementation Heritage Crime: A Guide for Law Enforcement Officers. In January of the appropriate preventative and enforcement activities, to last year, Historic England commissioned the first heritage crime reduce heritage and cultural property crime. Where offences do textbook, which is anticipated to be published this summer. occur, it will allow identification of those responsible and to bring In parallel, the Crown Prosecution Service has identified specialist them to justice. prosecutors to act as Heritage and Wildlife Crime Co-ordinators. An In February 2016 the Sentencing Council published new increasing number of community safety partnerships, together with sentencing guidelines for theft offences which now include the theft, local and National Park authorities, have added their signatures to handling and disposal of stolen heritage assets. Courts will now be the associated Memorandum of Understanding, and many others able to take account of the special nature of heritage and cultural have highlighted their intention to engage in the process. property when sentencing offenders.

Our knowledge and understanding of the threats posed to The value of our built and cultural heritage cannot be judged in heritage sites, buildings and cultural property continues to improve pounds and pence alone. The impact of theft from historic buildings through the provision of a bi-annual strategic threat assessment. and archaeological sites, including those situated in the maritime The current assessment, published in July 2017, identifies seven environment, has far-reaching consequences over and above the types of crime and anti-social behaviour as the most prevalent: financial cost of what has been stolen.

• Architectural theft – in particular the theft of metal and stone When thieves steal metal from a church roof or artefacts from a • Criminal damage – vandalism, graffiti and in particular historic wreck or archaeological deposit, they are stealing from all • damage caused by fire of us and damaging something which is often irreplaceable. The • Unlawful metal detecting – sometimes referred to as new guidelines will help the courts identify all the relevant factors •‘nighthawking’ to include and consider when making their sentencing decisions in • Unlawful disturbance and salvage of historic maritime sites relation to heritage and cultural property crime. q • Anti-social behaviour – in particular fly-tipping and off-road Image copyright Historic England • driving or riding • Unauthorised works to a listed • building or scheduled monument • Illicit trade in cultural objects As a result of the assessment's findings the working group has launched a series of national campaigns designed to target specific heritage crime threats.

Operation Chronos is intended to combat unlawful metal detecting, while Operation Crucible is targeting the theft of metal from protected historic sites and buildings. Offshore, Operation Birdie is addressing the issue of unlawful interference and salvage from historic wreck sites.

Across the country, local history and archaeological societies, subaqua and metal detecting clubs and Neighbourhood Watch groups (including Heritage Watch) have been encouraged Bronze Age axe seized by Kent Police – Operation Chronos to be more aware and vigilant of the

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It’s year-round activity Scotland sees launch of heritage for the church heating specialists crime initiative [WITH SUMMER JUST around the corner most people will not be

[ A NEW PARTNERSHIP to tackle heritage crime in Scotland was

launched on 18 April. The Scottish Heritage Crime Group (SHCG) brings together representatives from Historic Environment Scotland, Police Scotland, Treasure Trove, City of Edinburgh Council and the Association of Planning Enforcement Officers.

The group will work collaboratively to reduce the damage, impact and cost of heritage crime throughout Scotland, by raising awareness of the impacts of criminal damage and strengthening information-sharing between partners.

The announcement came on World Heritage Day, the annual event celebrated across the globe to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and preserving cultural heritage.

In partnership with the SHCG, Crimestoppers – the independent charity that supports the police in solving crimes – is launching a new campaign encouraging members of the public to speak up anonymously about damage to Scotland’s historic buildings and monuments.

Heritage crime is also identified as a key strand of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime national rural crime strategy.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, said: “I am very pleased that the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime is the first in the UK to recognise heritage crime as a priority area in its new rural crime strategy. Scotland is home to a wealth of cultural property and heritage, generating economic benefits of around £4.2bn in 2017, supporting over 60,000 full time jobs and attracting over 18 million visitors in that year alone.

“As guardians of Scotland’s heritage, it is our responsibility to protect it from those who would seek to harm and degrade it through theft, vandalism or other forms of criminality.”

Inspector Alan Dron, Rural Crime Co-ordinator at Police Scotland and chair of the SHCG, added: “Scotland is rich in cultural property and heritage dating back thousands of years. Our heritage is diverse in nature, ranging from neolithic standing stones to medieval castles.

"Heritage crime robs us of our history, and its cost and impact on communities is enormous – not just in monetary value but also in social costs. Any damage caused denies future generations the opportunity to enjoy our heritage, and this is why the Scottish Heritage Crime Group, working as a sub group of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, has been formed. It will play a vital role in protecting and preserving Scotland’s heritage for generations to come.” q

giving too much thought to their church’s heating system, but for Midlandsbased specialists Mellor and Mottram installing and refurbishing church heating systems is a year-round occupation.

The company has recently completed work on a number of projects, including the brand new system at Trentham Parish Church – just a stone’s throw from their headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent and nestling on the edge of the famous Trentham Gardens.

The project has taken close to a year and involved the installation of a number of Jaga Mini radiators to replace the old cast-iron radiators, together with a number of Dunham-Bush convector heaters.

At Saltwood in Kent, the Church of St Peter and St Paul has seen its heating system undergo a comprehensive upgrade. A new boiler has been installed, together with new controls and a new flue. Mellor and Mottram completed the job with a total flush-out of the pipework and radiators.

Just approaching completion is a major new system at St Peter’s in Norbiton, Surrey. Three new boilers have been installed to replace the old units, together with new flues. The heating controls have been reconfigured and a new pressure unit fitted.

In order to separate the gas supply to the church from that of the church hall, a new gas feed has been installed.

Currently underway is a project to repair and replace parts of the piping at St Clement’s Church in Urmston, Manchester. St Clement’s is notable for its stained glass windows, some of which were designed and made by the notable manufacturers Shrigley and Hunt. It also has an unusual rose window, in that it is mullioned.

The repair work is not as easy a task as it seems as, unusually, the pipes are square in section. Mellor and Mottram director Stuart Mottram explained that the only way to achieve the repair is to cut out sections of the pipe and box weld new sections into the gap. The old section is then re-installed over the new (pictured) to prevent leaks.

There will be no let-up over the summer for the team at Mellor and Mottram. In May work begins on a new system at Barrow-on-Soar Methodist Church in Leicestershire. The company will be installing two new boilers, together with new controls, to create three heating zones. Dunham-Bush convectors will provide heat in the main worship area, while the radiators in the hall will have a low surface temperature for safety reasons.

The new system is part of a £300,000 refurbishment project at the church, which will enhance its accessibility and promote greater use by the local community. q • For further information call 0800 644 6240 or visit the website at www.mellorandmottram.com www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Church and heritage projects vie for roofing success [

ON 7 MARCH the list of finalists in the 2019 UK Roofing Awards was announced. Hosted by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), the UK Roofing Awards have become an industrywide event that recognises and rewards outstanding standards of workmanship and safety within the UK roofing industry.

Now entering its 12th year, the competition showcases the very best projects from across the roofing industry in 14 discipline categories.

Winners will be announced at a gala awards luncheon on 10 May at the new surroundings of the InterContinental London – The O2. The awards’ host will be TV presenter Sarah Beeny.

This year, as in previous years, a number of notable buildings in both the heritage and ecclesiastical sectors feature among the shortlisted projects. Although there is a specific category for Heritage Roofing, the other categories are liberally seeded with both new and replacement roofs on churches, museums and historic buildings.

The Heritage Roofing category itself has four contenders: 13-16 Village Road, The Great Pagoda at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ballater Old Royal Station and The Orangery at the Longleat Estate.

Lead is a roofing material often associated with churches and three out of the four finalists in the Lead Roofing category are for ecclesiastical projects. They are the refurbishment of McArthur Hall at the Methodist College in Belfast, the Canterbury Journey Project at Canterbury Cathedral by Full Metal Jacket Limited (pictured) and the reroofing of St Mark’s Church in the Home Counties.

Another cathedral figures in the shortlists in the shape of the North

Courtyard of St Paul’s Cathedral in London – in the Mastic Asphalt category.

Other historic buildings include the ‘BSK’ at Clifton College in Bristol in the Roof Slating category, the historic No 1 Court at the All England Club in Wimbledon in the Sheeting and Cladding/Rainscreen category and the Grade Two*-listed Battersea Arts Centre – also for Roof Slating.

A number of smaller but nonetheless noteworthy projects include an octagonal tower on a private dwelling and the lychgate of a church – both in the Small Scale Project (under £25K) category itself, plus an old vicarage and Old Leylands, a private dwelling, in the Roof Tiling category.

Richard Gilbert Scott’s 1960s masterpiece, Our Lady Help of Christians RC Church in Birmingham, sits alongside the new Museum of Liverpool in the Liquid Applied Waterproofing & Hot-Melt category, while two new buildings in a historic setting – the Grange Park Opera House and associated Lavatorium Rotundum – take their place in the shortlist of the Reinforced Bitumen Membranes category.

A number of considerations were taken into account in the selection process, including the degree of difficulty, workmanship, problem solving, contribution to the built environment, environmental qualities and the aesthetics of the build.

All the shortlisted entries qualified for a public vote to decide the Industry Choice Award – an online poll that closed on 29 March. The winner of that award will also be announced at the awards ceremony on 10 May. q

Roof projects utilise Cornwall’s famed slates – old and new [

SLATES FROM WHAT is believed to be the oldest working slate quarry in the world have been used in a recent re-roofing project by Cornwall-based Marnick Roofing Ltd. Delabole natural slate from the county’s world-famous quarry were installed on the roof of the 18th-century Wendron Church in Helston. The new slates were traditionally fixed using copper nails.

Marnick Roofing also refixed salvaged Delabole slates on the roof of a Grade Two-listed former Coach House on the Clowance Estate near Truro (pictured).

They also renewed all the leadwork on the old bell tower and added six new Code 5 lead bat tiles. q

Marnick Roofing

Specialist Roofing Contractor Marnick Roofing is one of the largest pitched and flat roofing contractors in Cornwall – offering quality and reliability to the commercial, construction and heritage roofing markets.

Martin-Brooks (Roofing Specialists) Ltd T: 0114 244 7720 E: mb@allroofing.co.uk W: www.martin-brooks.co.uk

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

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• Grass Roofs • Concrete Tile • Leadwork • Natural Slate • Single Ply • Shingles

T: 01326 370023 M: 07791 729764 E: paul@marnickroofing.com W: www.marnickroofing.co.uk

The Old Highways Depot, Tregoniggie Ind Est, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4SN

Authentic Dreadnought roof tiles help transform an eyesore

[

THE RESTORATION OF two chapels at Lye and Wollascote Cemetery in Stourbridge has won the Victorian Society’s Birmingham & West Midlands 2018 Conservation Award, as well as being a Regional Finalist in the 2018 Civic Trust AABC Conservation Awards and Highly Commended in the Community Benefit category of the RICS Awards for 2017.

The restoration utilised Staffordshire blue plain and ornamental spade tiles from manufacturer Dreadnought, alongside slotted ridges and bespoke handmade inserts.

The historically-important neo-Gothic brick building was at risk until West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, in conjunction with Dudley Council, managed to secure the necessary funding from various sources – including the Heritage Lottery Fund – to breathe new life into the chapels, which had been derelict for some time and were considered an eyesore.

To make the project sustainable they required a new use that would benefit the local community. The scheme, designed and delivered by conservation architects Brownhill Hayward Brown, has transformed the chapels into one building, now known as the Thomas Robinson Building. By completely re-versioning the space inside, they have created both Stourbridge Registry Office and a venue for civil ceremonies.

The work was meticulously carried out by Croft Building and Conservation and the overriding philosophy for the entire project was to retain as much as possible of the original fabric of the building.

The chapels, which date back to 1879, are built in red and blue brick with limestone windows and a Staffordshire blue plain clay tile roof, embellished with bands of ornamental spade tiles and a decorative ornamental ridge.

It was very important to find a good authentic match for the existing roofing materials. Matt Davis, of Croft Building and Conservation, explained: “We have used Dreadnought tiles on previous projects, and from looking at their samples we could see that their tiles were an authentic match to the originals. They were also able to hand-make the bespoke ridges that we needed.”

A total of 1,300 Dreadnought Staffordshire blue plain tiles were used to refurbish the roof – as well as 475 eaves and 500 ornamental spade tiles, together with 25 slotted ridges and 50 bespoke inserts. The new tiles provided such a good match to the old that the architect decided to mix them in rather than use them on separate elevations. Because of all the trees surrounding the building, it is anticipated that the new tiles will weather fairly quickly and blend in with the existing roof.

This was a project where the local community was encouraged to get involved, with local schools and colleges, as well as conservation volunteers, all playing a role. Dreadnought took part in an Open

Day at the site, organised by Croft, where a range of specialist crafts involved in the project were demonstrated to enthusiastic visitors.

Dreadnought showed their skills in hand-making roofing fittings and visitors were encouraged to give it a go themselves!

As a result the project has been a great success, as Sue Whitehouse of West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, explained.

“This building was once considered a problem and an eyesore, but is now at the heart of the community and a great local landmark,” she said. q Images courtesy of Brownhill Hayward Brown

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Specifying clay tiles for ecclesiastical and heritage projects

By MICHAEL JOHNSON, areas sales manager at Marley

[TRADITIONAL CLAY ROOFS are an important feature of many

of Britain’s oldest towns and villages, playing a key role in the rural landscape. Yet, specifying clay roof tiles for ecclesiastical, heritage and conservation projects brings its own set of challenges. Not only do designers and architects need to choose a clay tile that stays true to the original aesthetics of a roof but they also need to ensure the whole pitched roof system complies with the necessary ventilation and security standards.

So how can specifiers balance the aesthetic needs of a project with modern day building standards?

Involve an experienced clay roofing manufacturer at the early stages At Marley, we have a team of area sales managers and technical experts who can add valuable roofing expertise from the very early stages of a project – including feasibility, product samples, wind loadings, ventilation, NBS specifications and much more. Our aim is to help heritage and ecclesiastical projects achieve the desired aesthetics and planning stipulations, while meeting modern standards as discretely as possible.

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Hand-made tiles In many heritage and ecclesiastical projects, only a genuine hand-made tile will do. As a roofing manufacturer that has been around for over 100 years, we use our experience to offer a range of clay tiles for the heritage market. Our Canterbury tiles are hand-made from the finest Etruria marl, in the traditional way, at our specialist clay facility in Keele – ensuring each tile is as unique as the hands that make them. The tiles come in a distinctive range of three colours, which can also be mixed together on the roof to create your own personal blend.

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Hand-crafted tiles If you’re working within a strict budget, hand-crafted tiles can also be an option for heritage projects. Much cheaper than a hand-made tile, hand-crafted clay plain tiles are machine-made right up until just before the tiles are fired, then they are finished by hand to produce an authentic rustic texture. Available in two colours, our Ashdowne hand-crafted tile has a mellow appearance and granular texture, which provide natural irregularities, giving each tile a unique character.

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Specialist fittings With heritage clay roofs, getting the detailing right is critical to the overall aesthetic. At Marley, we offer a range of specialist clay fittings to

complement our hand-made and hand-crafted ranges, including arris hips, cloak verges and feature tiles. We also provide a made-to-order service for decorative fittings, such as ball top, dragon, falcon or Fleur de Lys finials and Cockscomb crested ridges.

Fixing specifications Even when you are using clay plain tiles, it is important to get a new fixing specification for every project, as this will take account of differences in wind loading and roof pitch. You can quickly get a free fixing specification via our website at www.marley.co.uk/specifying

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Special exceptions for heritage projects Although BS 5534 bans the use of mortar as the sole means of fixing ridge and hip tiles, with some listed and historic buildings it can be difficult to find a practical, or acceptable aesthetic, way to fix the tiles mechanically. Last year, BS 5534 was revised to clarify this situation and the Standard now states that in these exceptional cases, it is now recommended to consult with the local planning authority or appropriate conservation organisation.

For those heritage and ecclesiastical projects that do need to comply with modern fixing standards, as well as our dry fix range, we also offer a mechanical fixing kit for mortarbedded tiles. This gives heritage projects security, without compromising on the aesthetics of the original roof.

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Discreet ventilation Just as with new houses, condensation is still an issue in heritage builds. Our technical experts can help you comply with the requirements of BS 5250, while ensuring that ventilation is discreet and won’t compromise on aesthetics. For example, our Canterbury hand-made range has matching in-line tile vents, which are almost invisible from ground level.

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Consider choosing a full roof system from one manufacturer Choosing a full roof system from one manufacturer – including roof tiles, underlay, battens, fittings and accessories – can ensure that all components have been designed and tested to work together and meet British Standards. We are the only UK manufacturer offering all of these elements as one roof system, backed up with our technical expertise and a 15 year guarantee. q

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• For technical support, NBS and fixings specifications and free samples, visit www.marley.co.uk or call 01283 722588. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Leadwork finalists announced [

TWO OUTSTANDING YOUNG TALENTS in the leadwork field will be going head-to-head in this year’s Lead Sheet Training Academy (LSTA) Leadworker of the Year competition – the winner to be announced at the UK Roofing Awards on 10 May. The finalists are Shane White of SW Leadworks in Somerset and Ashley Saxton of Saxton Specialist Leadwork in London.

Ashley has worked in the sector for around seven years and has always valued opportunities to expand his skillset. He started a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations in 2013 and is currently studying for a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills at the LSTA: skills that he believes will set him up for life.

Shane studied carpentry at college, but soon made the switch to leadwork – initially working with family. With his grandfather being a blacksmith and his uncle having worked with lead, metalwork is something that he feels ‘almost runs in my blood’. He now runs his own business and has a true passion for lead roofing.

The pair emerged as the top two from a shortlist of seven invited to compete in a tough two-day practical assessment at the LSTA’s Training Centre in East Peckham – Shane is pictured 3rd from left and Ashley far right. The competitors were required to complete a series of tasks over identical model roof sections, all under the watchful eye of a panel of expert judges.

Commenting on the standard of the competition this year, the LSTA’s general manager Nick DuGard said: “We were delighted to stage the LSTA Leadworker of the Year competition this year and the response from entrants was fantastic. The skills test over the two days was exacting, but the standard of work was extremely high.

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“The first test included bossing an outlet and on the second day the competition ramped up with a test to deliver a piece of work with double-break corners.”

As well as gaining industry recognition, the victor collect will a clutch of prizes, including a free week of training at the LSTA, a new set of tools and a copy of the Rolled Lead Sheet Manual. The runner up will receive a copy of the manual and a three-day personalised training course at the LSTA. q

Lead training body engages with wider roofing industry [

IN FEBRUARY the Lead Sheet Training Academy (LSTA) announced it had become a member of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors – the UK’s largest roofing trade association.

General manager of the LSTA, Nick DuGard, met with members of the NFRC team at Roofing House to cement its membership of the organisation.

Following the meeting, Nick DuGard (pictured, far right) said: “As a leading training provider in the roofing sector the LSTA is delighted to link up with the NFRC as a member and we look forward to working with them at such an important time for the industry.”

The Lead Sheet Training Academy is at the forefront of training for those using lead or hard metals in the construction industry. With a wide range of basic, intermediate and advanced courses accredited

by CITB and City & Guilds the academy can help contractors develop much needed skills for their teams.

The LSTA is also able to offer Specialist Applied-skills Programmes (SAP) and Lead and Hard Metals NVQ Level 2 and Heritage NVQ Level 3. q

Has your leadworker got the right stuff? [ THE Lead Sheet Training Academy is at

the forefront of training for those using lead or hard metals in the construction industry.

It is the one-stop-shop for information on courses and qualifications in lead and hard metals, listing those qualified to a range of standards.

While many qualified leadworkers are employed by larger contractors, many others provide their own bespoke services.

The businesses below all meet the rigorous standards for heritage work set by the LSTA. q

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

Saxton Specialist Leadwork

Landsdowne Close, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 9DR

101 Oakley Drive, New Eltham, London SE9 2HH

Glenbuild Roofing Contracts Limited

S W Leadworks

21 Littlemill Road, Drongan, Ayrshire KA6 7BP

Oakhampton Lodge, Wiveilscombe, Taunton, Somerset TA4 2RW

T: 01249 321969 M: 07808 840491 E: blackdogroofing1@outlook.com W: www.blackdogroofing.co.uk

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

T: 07960 898614 E: saxtonleadwork@gmail.com FB: @saxtonspecialistleadwork

T: 01984 248501 M: 07475 528001 E: swleadworks@gmail.com W: swleadworks.com

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CRE North: the show that really ‘What a wonderful exhibition – we have discovered so much here.

Please, please, please come back to Manchester soon!’ [ THAT WAS THE OVERWHELMING feedback from visitors to

CRE North in Manchester in March. In fact, such was the warmth of the welcome as the show returned to the city that it isn’t a question of if, but when, the exhibition will be heading north again, according to the organisers.

A concerted marketing campaign across a range of media – including peak viewing coverage on BBC’s North West Tonight – paid dividends, as over 2,300 visitors joined 450 exhibitor staff to push attendance figures past the number who attended the last CRE North by around 300. And, of those who pre-registered, one in two were visiting their first-ever CRE.

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did have All Kinds of Everything

Some of the exhibitors appearing at CRE North this year A highlight of the event was a performance of what has become the ‘CRE Song’, All Kinds of Everything, by 50 children from St Leonard’s C of E Primary School in Padiham, near Burnley. They performed the song in front of Dana herself, who won the Eurovision Song Contest with the original version all those years ago.

After the performance they spent the day visiting the rest of the exhibition, which included a special puppet show. There were also tours of the Compassion Experience and Embassy Bus for rough sleepers, packing food with Feed the Hungry, games in Scripture Union's football cage and simulated flights at the Mission Aviation Fellowship stand.

“They had the day of their lives,” said head teacher Bev Holmes.

True to its own proposition of ‘innovation and inspiration for the whole congregation’, CRE introduced several new ideas for the Manchester show, including an inflatable theatre – which deadened the noise spilling onto the show floor – and two open-access seminar areas with those attending wearing ‘silent disco’ headsets.

For the first time there was a Study Zone, where eight theological colleges came together to promote the benefits of further learning.

Plus, as might have been expected, the most attended seminar was Bridging the Brexit Divide, after which visitors were invited to post their prayers on a Brexit Prayer Wall!

In all, over 150 exhibitors made CRE North one of the most colourful and interactive events to date.

The CRE juggernaut now moves back to Sandown Park for CRE National on 15-17 Oct. More than three quarters of the stands have already sold, so organisers Steve Goddard and Brett Pitchfork are urging potential exhibitors to book soon to avoid disappointment.

The next regional show will be CRE Midlands, at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry on 4-5 March next year. q • For more information and to book stands, contact Carol on 0161 250 2467 or James on 0161 250 2306. www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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The stage is set for Exeter to shine

[ THE BEAUTIFUL medieval cathedral in the vibrant city of Exeter dates back more than 900 years. It is one of the oldest buildings where staging specialists CPS Manufacturing have worked their particular magic during their 52-year history.

CPS were first contacted by Rev Canon Carl Turner in January 2013, after he received a recommendation from Peterborough Cathedral. CPS had supplied some staging products there which were similar to those required at Exeter.

Following on from that initial contact a meeting was arranged and a CPS representative met up with the cathedral’s Fabric Advisory Committee in early February of the same year, where the finer details of the proposed project were discussed at length.

The team at CPS worked closely with Camilla Finlay, who is the

well-respected architect of the cathedral and a director at Acanthus Clews Architects. Together they created staging platforms for the nave altar, lectern podium and bishop’s seating.

The bespoke manufactured platforms were decked in 22mm Junckers solid-oak hardwood flooring, which is suitable for spanning over joists to form a structural base. That unique property of Junckers flooring has enabled CPS to supply stage platforms with a flush-fitting solid-oak floor to complement the aesthetics of the grand building.

The wonderful bespoke products were also installed by CPS – they have taken pride of place in the spiritual home of the city, where a very warm welcome is extended to its many thousands of visitors throughout the year. q

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High performance spray foam insulation for Grade 2-listed barn restoration Contractors restoring and converting an architecturally significant barn complex in the Hertfordshire village of Standon were faced with a difficult challenge in bringing the 300-year-old structure up to modern thermal performance standards, without compromising the unique and highly original, internal timber frame and external boarded facades.

[ OLD MILL BARN is a Grade 2-listed building, situated close

to the River Rib in the conservation area of Standon Village. The owners were granted permission to convert the L-shaped single and two-story structure into a two-bed home and engaged Hertfordshire based conservation contractors Datum Point Construction to undertake the work.

The barn, which is one of the oldest buildings in the village and thought to date back to the 17th century, had up until recently been used as a storage facility. Much of the original timber frame and external horizontal timber-boarded exterior were still in place and in relatively good condition.

The visual appeal of the barn and its contribution to the village setting were influential in its listed status – so bringing the building back into use, insulating it to modern standards and restoring its fabric in a sensitive and sustainable way, were priorities for Datum Point Construction.

The barn comprises a traditional internal frame of rough-hewn timbers with an external skin of dark painted weatherboard, set on a low brick plinth. Roofs are pitched, with clay plain tiles and half hips to all gables.

Paul Adams, construction director and project manager for Datum Point Construction, takes up the story. “We’ve worked on a number of historic building restoration projects and know the challenges that old structures bring. Hardly anything is square, there are gaps all over the place and most of the original timbers were hand cut and variable in dimension.

“These factors took us down the route of a spray foam insulation solution rather than using conventional, rigid board material which would be difficult to fit and almost impossible to make the building anywhere near air tight.”

Because of the sensitive nature of the project, Datum Point Construction worked closely with Hertfordshire-based building control and spray foam insulation specialists Icynene, to come up with the most appropriate material to insulate the building.

Clive Phillips, building control officer in charge, explains: “Working with Icynene’s technical team, it was quickly obvious that an open-cell foam insulation was best for the job, as it gave outstanding thermal insulation but still allowed the building to breathe, so there was no risk of internal condensation.”

Insulation subcontractor Foam Insulations Ltd applied Icynene’s Foam Lite LDC 50 to a thickness of 100mm to all walls and 125mm to the pitched roof areas (left), achieving U-values of 0.32 and 0.29 respectively.

Foam Insulations completed the spraying in one day – fitting in with the tight construction programme required for the wider restoration work.

Icynene is an open-cell foam with outstanding thermal insulation which allows the building to breathe (Library image)

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To satisfy the conservation officer’s requirements, Datum Point Construction stapled a physical breather membrane to the inside of the timber frame and original posts (below), so that if any repairs are needed to the structure at a later date, it will be easier to remove the foam.

Icynene Foam Lite is a spray applied system that expands instantly on application. It is specifically designed to get into difficult-to-fill areas where traditional insulation materials just don’t work. It closes off gaps and holes, reducing air leakage; but because it has a soft, yielding texture, it puts only minimal pressure on the building structure.

According to Icynene, air leakage is responsible for up to 40% of a building’s heat loss and the system’s ability to close off small structural gaps and service holes, creating a near ‘sealed box’ environment, makes it one of the most efficient and cost-effective means of heat-loss mitigation in a building.

Icynene also points out that, unlike urethane foams of 20 years ago, modern spray foams like Foam Lite use water as the blowing agent. The reaction between the chemical components produces CO2 which causes the foam to expand. As the foam expands the cells burst and the CO2 is replaced by air.

As a result, Foam Lite has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1 and an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of 0. Furthermore, Icynene does not emit any harmful gasses once cured and is completely inert.

Restoration work on Old Mill Barn began in September 2018, under the direction of Richard Pedlar Architects of Ware in Hertfordshire, and followed a year-long consultation process to achieve the necessary approvals.

According to Paul Adams of Datum Point Construction: “The sensitive and detailed restoration of Old Mill Barn generated a huge amount of attention – so much so that the project has been nominated by Hertfordshire Building Control for the LABC Excellence Awards, competing in the ‘Best change of use of an existing building or conversion’ category.”

The LABC Awards will be presented at the Guildhall, London In May 2019. q • For more information on Icynene Spray Applied insulation visit the website at www.icynene.co.uk

www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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New guidance published on lightning protection [ ON 9 APRIL Historic England published its

latest guidance on protecting historic buildings from the effects of lightning strikes.

Lightning Protection: Design and Installation for Historic Buildings was prepared by Geraldine O’ Farrell-Wallum and updates guidance previously issued by the organisation in conjunction with the insurers Ecclesiastical. It is designed to provide advice on the design, installation and maintenance of lightning protection systems for architects, surveyors, engineers and others involved in the care of historic buildings. In particular it provides a comprehensive overview of the British Standard BS EN 62305.

Introducing the new document, Historic England states: “Historic England recommends that lightning protection is considered for all churches, and tall or prominent historic buildings. However, there is no system that will give absolute protection, and the significance of a building needs to be balanced against providing an acceptable level of protection.”

In short, Historic England’s guidelines are:

Direct Strike

Lightning Protection and Earthing Solutions • Lightning Protection • Height Safety & Fall Arrest Systems • BSEN 62305:2011 • Consultancy & Design Services • Supply & Installation • Earthing Systems • Inspection & Maintenance • Surge Protection

Head Office: 01461 337951 Rep of Ireland: +353 45 913 129

E: enquiries@directstrike.co.uk W: www.directstrike.co.uk 18 Canberra Road, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, Scotland DG16 5DP

Bailey International

Steeplejacks & Lightning Conductor Engineers We undertake a wide range of lightning protection, maintenance and repair works on churches, listed buildings and other structures where access is particularly difficult.

T: 01625 576243 E: enquiries@baileysteeplejacks.com W: www.baileysteeplejacks.com Bailey Business Park, Grimshaw Lane, Bollington, Cheshire SK10 5NY

MDS Consulting Limited

• A risk assessment should be carried out • Proper consultation with the appropriate • authorities or denominational bodies is essential • Archaeological supervision of ground-disturbing • work may be needed • A tower-only system is likely to provide • acceptable protection in most cases • The aesthetic appearance of the lightning • protection system needs to be carefully considered Lightning protection, Historic England says, is specialist work and requires expert design and installation. Systems need to be professionally designed, installed and maintained.

In its introduction the guidance states: “Although lightning protection is not a legal requirement, insurance companies may require churches and prominent historic buildings to have lightning and surge protection.”

The authors go on to observe that climate change makes the incidence of storms more likely in the UK, with the accompanying greater risk of lightning strikes on churches and other historic buildings. And although most strikes cause only minor direct damage, even that can be an expensive business if high-level access

Cuttings

The UK’s largest independent Lightning Protection & Earthing contractor Design, installation and maintenance • Lightning Protection • Specialist Protection • Earthing Services

• Height Safety Services

• Surge Protection

• Full Support Service

T: 020 8371 0001 E: info@cuttings.london W: cuttings.london

10-12 Arcadia Avenue, Finchley Central, London N3 2JU

Horizon Specialist Contracting Ltd

With over 25 years experience our in-house design team are trained and certified to the current British & European Standards BS EN 62305:2011 for Lightning Protection Systems and BS 7430:2011 for Earthing.

• Lightning Protection Systems and Surge Protection Design • Testing and Inspection surveys • Steeplejack maintenance • Fall arrest safety systems

T: 0115 965 7400 E: sales@horizonsc.co.uk W: www.horizonsc.co.uk Unit 7, Burma Road, Blidworth, Nottinghamshire NG21 0RT

Lightning Protection Services

143 Pembury Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 2JL

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

South West Lightning Protection

Lightning Protection Services

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

10, Oak Tree Drive, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 3LJ

T: 07833 785257 E: enquiries@mdsconsulting.co.uk W: www.mdsconsulting.co.uk

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

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T: 0113 248 8026 M: 07899 700138 E: lpservices@live.co.uk W: www.lightningprotectionleeds.co.uk

TESTING & DESIGN SPECIALISTS

is required – such as in the case of a church steeple. Moreover, damage in such cases is often worse where the fabric of the tower is in poor repair – possibly as a result of the ‘sonic boom’ effect caused by the rapid vaporisation of moisture in the surrounding air.

One of the primary protections against lightning damage, then, is good maintenance.

The main standard addressed by the document is BS EN 62305: Protection against lightning. Physical damage to structures and life hazard and specifically the application of the current 2011 edition to churches and other historic buildings.

A major part of BS EN 62305 is the risk assessment, which must be carried out by a qualified and competent person. In the case of historic buildings a significant element of that risk assessment is the risk of loss of cultural heritage.

The guidance states: “The architectural and historic importance of the building and its contents needs to be included in the risk assessment. The consultant or installer should be fully briefed and given details, such as the listed building or scheduled monument entry, statement of significance, value and types of contents.

“Important buildings such as cathedrals are likely to need higher levels of protection.”

Interestingly, in addition to describing the different parts of a protection system and the different types of system, the guidance explains the methods used for determining a ‘lightning protection zone’.

Another major development in the standard is the need to protect against electrical surge damage. The guidance also offers advice on

the installation of surge protection devices, which is governed by the IET Wiring Regulations.

The main thrust of the advice in the document, however, is to stress the absolute need to use an appropriately qualified and experienced professional to carry out any work – from initial risk assessment, through the design and installation of a system, and to its maintenance.

The guidance was produced with the advice of a number of bodies, including ATLAS, the industry body for lightning protection, whose president John Jolly is a leading figure in the field. q • The companies on these pages are all specialists in lightning protection systems

Wiltshire Steeplejacks

and Lightning Conductor Engineers 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

Rafferty Lightning Protection

A C Wallbridge & Co Ltd

• Surveys • Risk Assessments • Design and Installation to BSEN 62305 • Specialist Earthing • Annual Testing, Inspection & Maintenance • Surge Protection

Providing lightning protection services since 1978 Installation, maintenance and testing of lightning protection systems, utilising rope access systems for safe access.

70 years experience in the steeplejack and lightning protection industries

T: 01782 834567 E: enquiries@rafferty1949.com W: www.rafferty-steeplejacks.com Nash Peake Works, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent ST6 5BT

Dawson Steeplejacks Specialising in all areas of working at height

Specialising in all areas of working at height, from restoration of ancient buildings through to the repair and installation of lightning conductors • Lightning Conductors • Restoration • Weather Vanes • HVI Lightning Protection Systems • Surge Protection

T: 01934 876665 E: dawson@dawsonsteeplejacks.co.uk W: dawsonsteeplejacks.co.uk The Stable, Wick Lane, Hewish, North Somerset BS24 6RR

Steeplejacks and Lightning Conductor Engineers

• Cathedrals • Churches • Towers • Sports Centres

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

T: 01722 322750 E: mail@wallbridge.co.uk W: www.wallbridge.co.uk Unit 7, Centre One, Lysander Way, Old Sarum, Salisbury SP4 6BU

Lightning Strike Ltd Lightning Protection and Earthing Specialist for Churches and Historic Properties • Lightning Conductor Testing • Earthing Systems • Earthing System Testing • Surge Protection • Safe Strike ESE Systems • Soil Resistivity Testing

T: 01158 752686 M: 07581 266493 E: info@lightningstrikeltd.co.uk W: www.lightningstrikeltd.co.uk Unit 3, Pottery Court, Pottery Way, Nottingham NG8 8YM

Harrison Lightning Protection & Earthing Ltd T: 01325 337111 E: contact@harrisonlp.co.uk W: www.harrisonlp.co.uk

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

Osborne Delta Lightning Conductors Ltd T: 0161 785 4940 F: 0161 785 4950 E: info@osbornedelta.co.uk W: www.osbornedelta.co.uk

30 Greenacres Road, Oldham, Lancs OL4 1HB

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How do you get the best from drone data? [

WITH THE USE of small unmanned aircraft – SUAs, UAVs or drones – to collect data increasing rapidly in recent years, the need for those tasked with interpreting the data to keep up with the technology is crucial.

That includes not only surveyors, but also engineers, archaeologists, environmentalists, conservationists and numerous other disciplines who are exploiting the advantage of data collected by a small, agile, airborne platform.

That need for professionals to have the skills and knowledge to plan and process drone imagery – in order to obtain quality survey output and a professional edge for their business and clients – has led The Survey School to develop a two-day course in SUA Photogrammetry. The Survey School is the education arm of The Survey Association.

The two-day course, which takes place on 16-17 July, is packed with advice on how to maximise the impact of data collected by SUAs. It will cover flight planning for optimum coverage and processing hints to ensure accurate data delivery. Led by a highly experienced tutor, students will explore the art of the possible using theory, workflows and case studies.

This course is lecture room based, with a maximum of 12 students to maintain a level of intimacy and interaction. It involves a mixture of presentations and software demonstrations.

Using SUAs for the aerial survey of smaller sites is a fraction of the cost of conventional aircraft and the newer software algorithms are perfect

for the analysis of the many smaller and more randomly distributed images taken on an SUA project.

The course covers: Digital imaging – The quality of the raw data is fundamental to a successful project. This section will focus on the requirements for producing the highest-quality imagery and will include discussion on camera settings, lenses, field of view, resolution, distortion, ground sampling distance, coverage/ overlap and photo-control.

Photogrammetry theory and practice – A brief background to place today’s advances in context, and a little theory to explain how the process works, are the subjects of the session. It will include an explanation of the perspective effect of a camera’s central projection and how 3D data is produced from an orientated and overlapping series of 2D images, both for stereo mapping and the modern multi-image software products.

Workflow and outputs – With the emphasis on flight planning, field checking and quality control at each stage of the process, the survey outputs available to the SUA user will be explained. They include photogrammetric point clouds, triangular surface meshes, textured 3D models, raster digital elevation models for GIS, orthophotography and 3D vector data collection.

Software demonstration and case studies – Active demonstration of parts of the workflow using one or more software suites will help to crystallise the information learned from the previous sessions. It will include a discussion of the settings available to improve the output, observation of control points for geo-referencing and a brief look at vector data collection in 3D. Case studies will be shown, some of which may stray outside of the SUA realm to demonstrate the flexibility of photogrammetry in supplementing the airborne data using terrestrial imagery. q • More information is available from office@surveyschool.org.uk

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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Drone surveys help both insurers and their clients [ST HILDA’S CHURCH in Halifax and Worcester Cathedral (pictured)

are two sites that have taken part in a trial using drones to carry out surveys by specialist insurer Ecclesiastical.

Best known for its expertise in the heritage, faith and charity sectors, Ecclesiastical has one of the UK’s largest in-house insurance risk management teams. Using drones to provide aerial imagery of otherwise inaccessible parts of buildings, the technology will give the insurer fresh insight and accurate data about the churches it insures, which will enable it to provide better and more specific advice to its church customers.

The surveys were carried out by Yorkshire-based Drones on Demand, which has particular experience in such work, together with full licensing from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Ecclesiastical also shared the drone imagery with the customers who participated in the trial. That has allowed the PCC at St Hilda’s to use the images in an application to source funding for a maintenance grant.

Vicar at St Hilda’s, Rev Caroline Greenwood, explained: “We’ve known about issues with the church’s guttering for some time but haven’t been able to get up to the roof to inspect them properly. Now we have really clear pictures of the problem and we can submit the photos as part of our grant application and hopefully that will strengthen our case.”

Another of the trials took place at Worcester Cathedral. The use of drone technology to inspect the cathedral’s tower means that the cathedral will not have to pay for costly scaffolding and can now plan the work that is needed.

“We were conscious that parts of the tower needed to be inspected but the costs and logistical challenges of doing this meant we had not been able to do so,” explained the cathedral’s chief operating officer Val Floy. “The imagery captured by the drone will enable us to do an initial assessment so we can prioritise future work and inspections.”

Mark Matthews, risk management director at Ecclesiastical, commented: “Heritage structures present unique access and maintenance challenges.

The use of drone technology provides access to high-quality imagery and very accurate data, which can be difficult to obtain via traditional surveying methods. We can then apply our own knowledge and expertise to the results to assess the risks and provide specialist advice on how to manage these, in addition to providing an accurate building valuation.”

The data gathered from the drones will also enable Ecclesiastical to calculate reinstatement or restoration values with more certainty reducing the risk of underinsurance for its customers.

Mark continued: “From the trials we’ve been running it’s clear that drone technology will complement the expertise of our risk management

team and strengthen the service we provide to our customers.”

Regarding the decision to share the data, he said: “The information we have gathered through these surveys has proved incredibly valuable to our church customers, too, and we are excited to see what else this technology can bring.” q

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NHIG heads to the V&A to cap off its year [THE INAUGURAL Annual Conference of the National Heritage

Ironwork Group (NHIG) will take place on 19 November and be hosted by the Victoria & Albert Museum. The conference – Forged & Cast at V&A: Saving the Nation’s Ironwork – will celebrate historic ironwork in all its glory and inspire a deeper understanding of its care and conservation.

In particular, the event will aim to stimulate discussion, bring about the sharing of knowledge and promote engagement among the historic ironwork community – whether they are practitioners, consultants, academics or students in the field. All are welcome to go come along and participate, connect and learn.

The Victorian era saw an explosion of ironwork in this country as Britain became the foremost industrialised country in the world. It’s apt, then, that the museum that bears the name Victoria & Albert should hold the first Annual Conference of the NHIG.

The choir screen from Hereford Cathedral by George Gilbert Scott, courtesy V&A

The museum is home to a wealth of historic ironwork, including two notable works by George Gilbert Scott: chancel gates from Salisbury Cathedral and the magnificent iron, copper and brass choir screen from Hereford Cathedral.

The conference will bring to a close a busy year in the affairs of the NHIG and ironwork generally. A number of workshops and learning events have already taken place at West Dean and Flaxmill Maltings in Shrewsbury. They will be added to in June with Pigs, Puddlers & Patterns – a one-day course at the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron offering an introduction to the history, manufacture and repair of cast iron.

The ‘early bird’ period for reduced price booking has passed, but at the time of writing there were still places available via the website at www.nhig.org.uk.

Prior to that, the culmination of all the effort and activity surrounding BathIRON will take place with the installation of the bandstand balustrade in the city’s Parade Gardens in May. One of the original pieces The installation will be the from the BathIRON balustrade, centrepiece of a series of events, revealed in its final colour including FireFOLK, a familyfriendly folk festival featuring some of the best local folk bands from Bath and the surrounding area. There will be a bar, food stalls and a celebration of the traditional craft of the artist blacksmith, with live forging demonstrations throughout the evening.

In March the NHIG revealed a ‘sneak preview’ of the balustrade, with its final colours, prior to its installation. q

Learn blacksmithing in a rural idyll [FOR ANYONE LOOKING to learn the ancient craft of

blacksmithing, there couldn’t be a better location than the pretty East Yorkshire village of Burton Agnes, close to the imposing Elizabethan country pile that is Burton Agnes Hall and the even more ancient Manor House.

The village is also home to the forge operated by David Cooper Blacksmiths. David is a Fellow of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths and a holder of its Silver and Bronze Medals. His company are specialists in the conservation, restoration and reproduction of period architectural wrought iron and designers of new and contemporary styles of forged metalwork, using traditional blacksmithing techniques and jointing methods.

David and his team are also keen to pass on their skills and knowledge to students of the craft and run a number of short courses at the forge.

• Blacksmithing first experience day: A one-day course designed for newcomers to the craft. No previous experience is necessary, so the course is an ideal opportunity to try your hand at the traditional coke-fired forge. Students will make some small projects to take away with them. Course cost: £150.

• Basic introduction to blacksmithing: The two-day course is a

unique opportunity to spend two days in the working environment of the artist blacksmith. Students use a traditional coke-fired forge on a series of small projects that they can take away and cherish.

Students use a hand hammer, blacksmiths tongs and associated forging tools throughout the day. Course cost: £275.

• Forge your own blacksmithing tools: For those wishing to get to grips with the forging of blacksmiths tools David offers an actionpacked two-day course in which students have the opportunity to forge a number of items: blacksmith’s flat bit tongs, hot cut chisel, slot punch and round punch, and a pair of pliers if time permits!

Previous experience is highly recommended as it is quite intensive work. Course cost: £275.

• Functional forge-work skills (hardware hinges etc): Quite a fun forge day during which students can turn their hand to forging various traditional items the village smith would make on a daily basis, such as a pair of strap hinges and pintles, and a simple flip latch with holdback hook – items that are typically found on village barns and stable doors. Course cost: £295.

• For more information visit http://www.dcblacksmiths.co.uk/ blacksmithing-courses www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Golden Gates set to shine again [

ONE OF THE case studies to be examined at the NHIG’s Pigs, Puddlers & Patterns event at Coalbrookdale will be the restoration project currently underway on Warrington’s famous ‘Golden Gates’.

The gates in front of Warrington Town Hall were made in 1862 for display at the Great Exhibition and are a Grade Two*-listed structure – along with their associated gate piers and lamps.

The last restoration was carried out in 1978 and has lasted four decades. At that time the gates were partially dismantled and refurbished for re-painting. Having long been almost entirely black, they acquired extensive gilding, which led to them becoming known as Warrington's 'Golden Gates'.

When the gates were inspected in 2017 they were found to be in poor condition, with some applied castings having fallen off or been removed for safety. Ramboll, engineering consultants with long experience in conservation work, was appointed to assist Warrington Borough Council scope, procure and manage a suitable repair contract. A programme of initial research and recording work was undertaken, including laser scanning to accurately record the structure.

The decision was taken that, because the fixings were so corroded, the gates needed to be dismantled for a major refurbishment. Tenders

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were sought from specialist contractors and NHIG member Hall Conservation Ltd was appointed for the work.

Warrington Borough Council’s executive board member for culture and partnerships, Cllr Dan Price, said: “The Golden Gates are an iconic symbol of Warrington. They are truly unique, with none others like them in the world. It’s vital that we protect this key part of our cultural heritage – and that’s why this work is so important.

“We are taking a conservationbased approach to ensure that the proposed work complies with national and local planning policy as well as nationally recognised conservation guidance. This ensures that not only will the work not harm the gates but that it will preserve and enhance them, ensuring them many more years as a much-loved symbol of Warrington’s civic pride.”

The gates were carefully dismantled last October and have since been undergoing painstaking paint removal, cleaning and a variety of repair techniques. A number of new castings have been commissioned for missing or irreparable elements, involving three different forges in the UK and France. The components were then painted, assembled into larger components and gilded before being taken back to Warrington. q

Clothing the clergy – in comfort ALAN BUCKWELL explains the story behind his company, B&H Shirts and Collars

[FOR ME, it all began in 1995. I was living and working as a

photographer in Germany and every Thursday evening I played chess with the then-owner of a company manufacturing clergy clothing.

This one evening he passed over a letter for me to translate, written by a member of the English clergy, asking where in Britain could he purchase the wonderful cloth collars which he had obtained on a trip to Florence: this clever Rev ‘B’ had noted the German address.

My chess partner said: “Hey! His church is not far from your mother; why don’t you visit him and take some collars on the next visit to your mother?” Cutting a long story short, I did exactly that; my mother and I went for tea and cake with the vicar.

Several years later, on the vicar’s suggestion – to be exact it was April 1999 – I drove over from Germany with a very large van full of shirts and collars to set up in Caister in Norfolk at the Annual Retreat Conference.

There was much interest in the 100% cotton shirts and even more interest in the cloth clergy collars, which do not need starching and were the ideal alternative to the ghastly plastic versions. It also

seems that, back then, the majority of the clergy shirts available were polycotton. I actually sold, to my surprise, 150 shirts and over 70 collars in less than five days!

From then on, a new clergy shirt and collar business was formed.

I attended many retreats and sold more clergy shirts and collars.

I adopted the name B&H Shirts and Collars, knowing that the German company name would be a bit of a mouthful, and it’s the name I still trade under today.

I was one of the first, if not the first, to sell on the internet with an online presence, initially allowing clients to order via email or telephone and then moving on to my first online shop, now called eCommerce or eShop. I have also supplied several other companies with shirts and collars over the years: we actually made shirts under the Royal Warrant for one company. Many of the companies are still around today, but some are sadly gone.

I was able to assist the company owner in designing and adapting his products for the British market, which he in turn used for his clients, making use of the feedback given by the members of the clergy. A whole range of different styles and colours of clerical shirts and collars is available, including tonsure shirts, cloth collar bands, tabs and inserts – even the cloth tonsure shirt collar as opposed to the plastic version.

I have operated B&H Shirts and Collars from Germany, Spain, Devon and now in Norfolk. While moving around I sometimes adopted a system of asking the company to send out orders on my behalf: today that is known as ‘drop shipping’. Looking back, it was a steep learning curve and a very busy, interesting but very quickpassing 20 years.

One thing I did manage is this – there are many more members of the clergy wearing comfortable cloth collars than there were 20 years ago – and not just in Britain, but globally. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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VR installation brings industrial heritage to life [

MARCH SAW THE unveiling of a brandnew, 360º virtual reality experience at the world-renowned Blaenavon World Heritage Site. The new interactive experience allows users to experience life as it was at the site during the 19th and 20th centuries. The project was St Peter’s School realised by Torfaen County Borough Council in partnership with Big Pit National Coal Museum.

Featuring real characters from Blaenavon’s industrial past, the Time Travel in the Blaenavon World Heritage Site experience uses audio storytelling and 3D technology to display the town’s rich industrial history through three virtual-reality films showcasing life at Big Pit, the town’s primary school and the home of a local family in Blaenavon Heritage Town.

Using smart devices, the immersive content can be viewed at three iconic locations across the internationally-celebrated region: Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon World Heritage Centre and Blaenavon Heritage Town – which all feature in the films.

From experiencing the hardship of working life at Big Pit with local miner Henry Underwood to celebrating the opening of St Peter’s School – built by Sarah Hopkins in remembrance of her brother and ironmaster, Samuel Hopkins – users can watch in real-time as modernday Blaenavon landmarks and buildings return to a momentous time gone by.

The films can be viewed with or without an accompanying VR headset, which are available to borrow from Big Pit National Coal Museum or Blaenavon World Heritage Centre. Plus, visitors can revisit

Big Pit

the on-site experience and view the digital package at home using a desktop browser.

In addition to the new digital package, Torfaen County Borough Council and Big Pit National Coal Museum have unveiled three bespoke Time Travellers’ benches to support the project – with a different bench design located at each site for visitors to use while enjoying the VR films.

Created by Welsh artist Rubin Eynon, each bench has been designed to commemorate Blaenavon’s rich heritage and forged out of local materials to represent the area’s coal and mining industries.

Internationally recognised as the world’s major producer of iron and coal during the 19th century, Blaenavon World Heritage Site is an exceptional testimony to the dynamic forces that drove the Industrial Revolution, and it is hoped that the new immersive experience and Time Travellers’ benches will encourage visitors to further engage and take an interest in Blaenavon’s rich heritage.

Speaking at the launch of the installation on 25 March, Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism Lord Elis-Thomas said: “In order to enhance the visitor experience, it is vital that Wales’s rich cultural heritage attractions are relevant to the modern day and provide a uniquely Welsh experience. This project has done exactly that – and is an excellent way to discover more about Wales’s past during our Year of Discovery.”

Maddie Watkins, aged 8, from Ysgol Bryn Onnen, was among the first to trial the VR experience. Maddie commented: “The Time Travel experience is amazing! It was really interesting to hear the stories of real people who lived and worked in Blaenavon and I think it will help lots of people to learn more about its history.

“My favourite part of the VR films was watching the buildings right in front of my eyes transform into how they looked all those years ago.” q

Music museum plan includes major AV installation [A SOPHISTICATED audio-visual presentation is part of the long term

aspiration for a proposed Rhondda Music Museum in Wales – one of the ambitions of the Lewis Merthyr Band.

According to the band: “At present, no single archive exists of the history of Lewis Merthyr Band, or music in Rhondda Cynon Taf. There is also no tourist attraction dedicated to music in Rhondda, which has been the home base of so many iconic musical organisations for over 150 years.”

That musical heritage includes the famous rugby anthem Cwm Rhondda – composed in Trehopcyn in 1905 – and the Welsh national anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, composed by Evan James and James James in Pontypridd in 1856.

It is envisaged that the new Rhondda Music Museum will become a central tourist attraction for visitors to the region with an interest in music, the arts and cultural heritage of the area, and an enhanced

addition to the current Rhondda Heritage Park visitor experience.

In the long term it is proposed that the band, in conjunction with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, will apply for a Heritage Lottery grant to enhance the visitor facility and experience.

That would include new audio-visual panels, incorporating audio and video footage of both the band and other musical groups from across Rhondda Cynon Taf, plus a central projection unit where vistors can be seated in the rehearsal space and view a selection of short films outlining the history of music in Rhondda Cynon Taf. The concept is based on the highly-successful visitor experience at the Palau de la Musica Catalana, Barcelona, where the rehearsal space of the amateur choir based at the Palau is the centrepiece of the visitor experience, undertaken ahead of the main tour of the adjoining concert hall. q www.ecclesiasticalandheritageworld.co.uk

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Worship in the New Forest has hidden depths [ ALL SAINTS CHURCH is a beautiful

Grade One-listed building serving the parish of Milford-on-Sea in the New Forest. It presents a traditional church appearance – but parishioners can remove the communion rails, the forward communion table and even the pulpit (honest!) to erect a stage and create an interesting and exciting space.

To further improve and enhance that modern style of worship APi Communications were asked to supply and install three projection screens across the width of the nave, in such a fashion that the screens could be concealed when not required.

Alison Flack of APi Communications described the project: “We installed our own design of electric boom arm for the main screen, that swings out from the nave wall behind the front crossing arch.

Two smaller side-aisle screens ascend to disappear behind the Norman arches in the north and south aisles. We even piggy-backed one of them for music groups to have their own images close at hand! The

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projectors are located at high level behind the rear arches of the crossing, again out of sight from the rear of the church.”

A simple button-panel controller provides colour-coded source selection and control over individual projectors.

Alison continued: “We also replaced the current mixing desk with a rack-mounted digital desk that can be operated wirelessly from an iPad or iPhone. It can be controlled by the full professional app which gives detailed access to all areas of the mixing desk, just as you would expect from a traditional desk.”

The desk can even be operated by a simple, customisable app, which can be configured to allow only the controls required for basic operation to be displayed in a simple-to-access arrangement.

A further app allows band members to control their own monitor mix. The mixer has its own built-in touch screen for back-up operation, plus comprehensive recording functions.

In all, APi Communications have enhanced worship at All Saints; however, if you visit the partly Norman church you will find the overall aesthetic to be undisturbed. q

ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION

ARCHIVE STORAGE BOXES

BAFRA

ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTANTS

BELLS

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CARVERS – MASTER CARVERS ASSOCIATION

BOOK & PAPER CONSERVATION

BUILDING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION

CHURCH HEATING & INSULATION

BUILDING SERVICES

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CLOCKS

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

EXHUMATION SERVICES

FURNITURE

HYMNODY

JOINERY

DISABLED ACCESS

DISASTER RECOVERY

LANDSCAPING

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LEADED LIGHTS

LEADWORK

LCA

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LIGHTING & SOUND

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LIME & LIME PLASTERERS

METALWORK

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METAL THEFT PREVENTION

ORGANS

RAINWATER SYSTEMS

ROOFING

PAINTING CONSERVATION & RESTORATION

PAINT STRIPPERS

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FTMRC

ROOF TILES

SOUND, AUDIO VISUAL & LOOP SYSTEMS

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ISCE

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STAINED GLASS

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STONE & STONE SUPPLY

TRAINING

TRANSPORT & STORAGE

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