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Richard Shepherd – Business Development Manager Tel: 07429 516265 Email: richard@dmmonline.co.uk

All other enquiries: Tel: 0161 710 3880 Fax: 0161 710 387961 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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9Features...ROOFING11 S.O.S.–SaveOurSpecialists!12 ClarkgrantRoofingcompleteworkatB-listedFinnart OilTerminal13 RoofingAwards–thefinalistsareannounced13 Municipalbuildingsportsnewroof15 RoofersgoforGoldonsafety15 GoldawardcelebratedbyIBiSRoofing15 Martin-Brookssupportssolarrevolution16 Hardwick’sfurryresidentsdriveMartin-Brooksbatty17 Rooffundsendsvicar‘overthetop’17 PV’sbringarayofsunshinetotheinnercity17 Clearingguttersisbetterthanpayingforanewroof

ASBESTOS19 Asbestos–anunholyproblem?

LIME & STONE20 TarmacBuildingProducts’LimeliteRenovatingPlaster22 Feeltheburnatalimekilndemo22 Heritagebuiltonlimemortar23 What’sinaname?Why,everythingtheydo25 Chatsworthrestorationusesoveratonneoflime25 Howblueismyvalley!27 Limedissidentshowshowit’sdone

PROJECTS30 Hiddenwarmemorialrestoredtoformerglory36 GradusprovidesWetherbyMethodistChurchwitha divineflooringsolution

LIGHTING32 Latesttrendsinresidentialperiodlighting32 Changingabulbcouldsavetheplanet33 LightingDynamicscompleteanotherstunningchurch lightingproject

WINDOWS34 Diocesegoesgreenerwithrecycledwindowdecision34 VentrollagracesLiverpoolDocklands35 Traditionalboxsashwindowsaremakinga comeback35 Boxfordwindow‘oldestincountry’35 Anyoldiron?Notanymore

In this issue...

6 Rosehill–stillreaching newheights,after30 years!

7 Heritagesectorunitesto opposeVAThike

7 SPABannouncessuccessor toFiM

9 Titanictalksaccompany exhibition

9 Greatbedhascome home!

9 Blingingheck!Govtart goesondisplay

29 Tradebodylaunchesnew grouptotackleknotweed problem

30

Classified Section p37

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COVER STORY:NationalTreasure–Modernexpertiselightstheway– Page 4

4

National TreasureModern expertise lights the way

5

National TreasureModern expertise lights the way

10 Murdock Road, Bicester, Oxon OX26 4PP • Phone: 0207 856 2085 Email: sales@madsonblack.com

w w w . m a d s o n b l a c k . c o m

Windsor castle is the oldest – andlargest – occupied castle in the worldand has been the site of a royal

fortress for almost a millennium. Inside, in theLower Ward, is the College of St George withits famous chapel. The college was founded byEdward III, along with the Order of the Garter,the highest chivalric award in Britain.

Thomas Cromwell, Earl Kitchener, WinstonChurchill and Margaret Thatcher are amongthe legion of past and present members andSt George’s Chapel remains the ceremonialhome of the order.

The chapel itself is a pre-eminent exampleof perpendicular Gothic architecture. It hasbeen an almost organic structure throughoutits long history and is no stranger tomodifications and rebuilding. Extensive work inthe 15th and 16th centuries, commissioned byEdward IV following success in the Wars of theRoses, and extensive repairs at the conclusionof the Civil War and following the restorationof the monarchy have been expanded uponever since.

Royal interments date back centuries andinclude Edward IV himself, as well as HenryVIII and his third wife Jane Seymour. Charles Iwas laid to rest in an unmarked grave withinthe chapel following his execution. Thebuilding was restored heavily in the 18thcentury and a vault which now housesnumerous other royal tombs was added.

A further major restoration project wasbegun in 2004, to ensure the continuation ofthe chapel as a national monument into the21st century. One particular project – severalyears in the making – has defined exactly whatit is to try and preserve the nation’s heritagewhile bringing use of the building into themodern age.

The chapel’s west steps are synonymous withthe annual service for members of the Orderof the Garter and their procession throughthe castle grounds. Sir George Gilbert Scottinstalled them to give a sense of grandeur tothe west elevation, at the same time as hisreworking of the adjacent Horseshoe Cloisterin 1871, and they are instantly recognisable.

Over a century later, that area of the LowerWard had established a reputation for beingdark. The welfare of the lay clerks who areresident in the cloister was a concern, alongwith the safety of any occupants of the chapelwho needed to evacuate the building duringan emergency.

Two carriage lamps were installed as atemporary solution while the current Surveyorof the Fabric, Martin Ashley, began to developa more permanent solution. He approachedJames Hall, a historic lighting consultant andmanaging director of Madson Black Ltd, andtogether they began to address the multitudeof issues which would arise in modernisingthe west steps by mounting lamps on thebalustrades, while remaining faithful to theexemplary architecture and historic nature ofthe original building.

Firstly, the illuminance of the new lampswas of great importance – that is, the amountof light that falls on a given area of surface.During an on-site trial a lamp was selectedthat would not only require little maintenance,but also gave a high quality of colourrendering, providing a warm, natural light.Once installed, it was decided that the lampswould be cloaked by storm shades in order togain a soft, lamp-like effect from the modernand highly energy efficient lightbulbs.

Beginning with the surveyor’s sketches, MrAshley’s ideas for the lamps themselves wereadapted and refined, in part according toJames Hall’s advice, in order to be workedinto computer-aided designs. No smallamount of effort was put into ensuring thatthe new fittings would harmonise with theirsurroundings. The Ogee on top of eachindividual lamp replicates leadwork from theroof of St George’s, while castellated sections

also replicate architectural features of thechapel. The gilded crown embellishments werenot designed freehand, but based on a choseninterpretation of Edward’s crown, to try andremain faithful to their environment.

Once the design was finalised, individuallycarved wooden mock-ups were producedto be taken to the site and their appearanceassessed on the steps themselves. Thatwas followed by yet more tests using castprototypes, before each component of theunique lamps was cast in brass and powdercoated for longevity: a process which involvesspraying the brass with paint before finishingit with an electrical charge, matching similarpaint finishes in the vicinity.

The process of drilling the balustrade wasundertaken with great care. In order to housethe structures themselves and conceal theelements required to power them, pinpointaccuracy was needed to diamond drill into thestonework and through to the area underneaththe steps where the electrical installation wouldbe housed.

Finally, each individually numberedcomponent was assembled on site in orderto mount each of the six lamps. As testimonyto the long efforts of all involved they havesucceeded in adding thoroughly modernlamp technology to the West Steps, whileappreciating their historical setting andenhancing a site of great importance to thenation’s heritage.

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RosehillFurnitureGrouparepleasedtointroduceoneoftheirlatestchurchchairs.TheR1Ultrastacks10highforstorage,8highingeneraluse.IncludedonthechairisRosehill’snewandunique

Sliding Bookbox.ThisisasimpleyeteffectivedesignthatcanbepulledoutwheninuseandpushedbackinwhennotrequiredsoasnottoimpedethestackabilityoftheR1Ultra.

TheR1Ultraiscompetitivelypricedwithasolidhardwoodframe.Thesimplecleandesignwillsitcomfortablyintraditional,modernormulti-purposeecclesiasticalenvironments.Availablefromjust£52.95+VATtheR1Ultrapromisestobeagreatadditiontotherange.

Rosehillarecelebratingtheir30thyearsupplyingqualitycontractfurnitureduringwhichtimetheyhavesuppliedthousandsofchurchesthroughouttheUKandinternationally.ToviewtheR1Ultraorimagesofchurchestheyhavesuppliedvisittheirwebsiteat:www.rosehill.co.uk.

IfyourchurchwouldliketotrytheR1UltraorothersamplechairspleasecontactRosehill’ssalesteamon01614851717ore-mailyourenquirytosales@rosehill.co.uk.AlternativelyvisittheshowroominHandforth,Cheshiretobenefitfroma£100visitor’svoucher.q

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7

SPAB announces successor to FiMIn April SPAB announced it has received initial support from HLF

– including a development grant of £67,900 – for a successor to itsFaith in Maintenance (FiM) scheme, designed to create and sustain

a series of ‘local maintenance co-operatives’ which will link groupsof people caring for places of worship and encourage them to worktogether to tackle common problems.

SPAB plans to use the development grant to shape and co-ordinatethe Maintenance Co-operative Movement, a network of mutual support,information and practical advice for volunteers who look after historicfaith buildings, with the help of the National Churches Trust. The aim isto help people at the sharp end of maintenance to help each other.

According to SPAB: “FiM was never intended to last beyond fiveyears, but its success and enthusiastic reception has proved that thereis a strong and definite need for a successor scheme to develop andcontinue the key elements of the project. The new Maintenance Co-operative Movement will allow people to share ideas, resources andgood practice as well as to benefit from mutual support.”

During the initial development phase, SPAB and the NationalChurches Trust, in consultation with sector partners including EnglishHeritage, the major denominations and local churches trusts, willidentify five broad geographical areas where a series of linked localmaintenance co-operatives will be established.

7

Alittle-regarded item in the Budget of21 March was the announcement,alongside the more widely bemoaned

‘pasty tax’, of the removal of the zerorate VAT from ‘approved alterations toprotected buildings’. According to the HMRCConsultation Document a protected building is‘a listed building or scheduled monument thatis, or will become on completion of the work,a dwelling, a residential building such as anursing home or student accommodation, ora building used by a charity for non-businesspurposes such as a place of worship, a villagehall or similar.’

In addition to the issue of hot food, themeasure was lumped in with other such‘borderline anomalies’ as holiday caravans,self-storage, sports drinks and hairdressers’chair rental. It is intended to remove the‘perverse incentive to change listed buildingsrather than repair them’. Repair andmaintenance of listed buildings is standardrated at 20%.

The announcement, which was unexpected,drew an almost immediate response from theListed Property Owners’ Club. LPOC’s VATadviser Dave Brown commented “The majorityof projects that I get involved with are simplyrestoration jobs – and with VAT at 20% beingpayable on these works in future, home ownersare likely to ‘make do and mend’ – or elsepurchase non-listed buildings next time. Theend result, unfortunately, is that many historicbuildings will simply fall into a state of disrepair.

“Listed property owners have a hard enoughtime looking after the often fragile state of theirhomes that any disincentive introduced will,in the long-term, damage the heritage of theUnited Kingdom.”

The sentiment was echoed by LoydGrossman, chairman of the Heritage Alliance,who said: “The very real fear is that this will

discourage people from making improvementsto listed buildings. It may make the differencebetween them having a future and losing themaltogether.

“Previously the Treasury has never acceptedthat VAT was a single issue that could changedevelopment decisions, but this change mayhave the power to really influence decisions.I think it may prevent buildings from beingaltered in a way that gives them a sustainablefuture. Without mod cons such as kitchens,loo’s and disabled access, how can thesebuildings be adapted to modern use and earntheir keep?”

The Society for the Protection of AncientBuildings declared: “The government indicatesthat it wishes to remove the ‘perverse incentive’that currently encourages alteration ratherthan repair of listed buildings. The Society haslong argued that this perverse incentive shouldbe removed, but not through the impositionof VAT on alterations. We believe that zero-rating should be applied to works of repair,or that there should be a lower rate of VAT

for all works of repair and alteration to listedbuildings.”

The argument to reduce VAT on all repairsand alterations was also put forward byRICS, whose UK head of external affairs,Stephen Thornton, said: “The Chancellor hasmissed a golden opportunity to create a levelplaying field of 5% VAT on all home repair,maintenance and improvement work.”

RICS is a member of the Cut the VatCoalition (www.cutthevat.co.uk), a group ofover 50 organisations and individuals whohave campaigned over a number of yearsfor a reduction in VAT on all home repair,maintenance and improvement work.

The time given to respond to the consultationwas originally 4 May, but that has sincebeen extended to 18 May. The consultationdocument can be viewed at www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/vat-con-4801.pdf.

In addition to responding to the measurevia the HMRC website, LPOC is encouragingpeople to protest to their MP’s over themeasure.

Heritage sector unites to oppose VAT hike

Repair and maintenance are already taxed at 20%

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Titanic talks accompany exhibitionTomarkthecentenaryofthesinkingoftheTitanic,theMaritime

MuseuminLiverpool,theportwherethevesselwasregisteredandwheretheheadquartersoftheWhiteStarLineweresituated,hasa

year-longexhibitionbasedonthetragedy.Theexhibitionfeaturespreviously-unseencollectionsandincludes

materialfromthemuseum'sownextensivearchives.Perhapsmostpoignant

isthetragicletterfromMayLouiseMcMurraythatwasneverdelivered.ItinspiredthespectacularSea OdysseystreettheatreeventbyNantes-basedRoyaldeLuxe,inwhichgiantmarionettesofagirl,herdogandherdeep-seadiverunclemeetupinthecitytoseetheletterfinallydelivered.

Aseriesoffreelectureswillaccompanytheexhibition,Titanic and Liverpool: the untold story,whichrunsuntil21Aprilnextyear.q

Blinging heck! Govt art goes on displayInthisDiamondJubileeyeartheGovernmentArtCollection(GAC)

onTottenhamCourtRoadisopeningupforaspecialdisplayontwoeveningsduringtheannualMuseumsatNightevent,on18

and19May.Threetoursoneachofthetwonightswillenablevisitorstodiscoveraselectionofroyalportraitsondisplay.HighlightswillincludeastateportraitofourcurrentQueen,elegant17thcenturycompanionportraitsoftheKingandQueenofBohemia,returnedtoLondonfromPrague,andacontemporarysparklingtakeontheiconicfigureofHenryVIII,calledBling! Henry,byStephenFarthing.

Beforeleaving,visitorswillalsohaveachancetogobehindthescenestovisittheworkshopandrackingarea.

Admissionisfree,butbookingisessential,on02075809120;emailgac@culture.gov.uk.Thetourswillstartat18.30,19.30and20.30andwilllastapproximately45minutes.q

Great bed has come home!TheGreatBedofWare,oneofthe

greatesttreasuresoftheVictoriaandAlbertMuseum,hasgoneondisplay

atitshometownofWareinHertfordshire,forthefirsttimesinceitwasboughtin1869andtakentoRyeHouseinHoddesdon.ItwasacquiredbytheV&Ain1931.ThebedwillbeonloantotheWareMuseumforayear.

Datingfromaround1590,theGreatBedofWareisthoughttohavebeencreatedasatouristattractionfortravellersonthepilgrimroutefromLondontoWalsingham,andfromthecapitaltoCambridgeUniversity.

Publicisedasbeingabletosleep12,itslurewassuchthattravellerswerereputedtochoosethetownofWaretobreaktheirjourneyjusttospendanightinthebed.InShakespeare’sTwelfth Night,SirTobyBelchdescribeasheetofpaperas“...bigenoughfortheBedofWare!”

Theloanhasbeenmadepossiblebygrantof£229,200fromtheHLF.Inaddition,WareTownCouncilhascontributed£10,000,WareMuseumTrusteeshavegiven£15,000fromtheirreservefundanddonations,largeandsmall,havebeenreceivedfromlocalpeopleandinstitutionstosupporttheproject.

KennethWeeks,chairoftheWareMuseumTrust,said:“Weareextremelygratefulfor

thesupportthattheHLFandV&Ahavegivenusthroughoutthedevelopmentoftheproject.TheGreatBedofWareiswovenintotheDNAofthetownandthroughexhibitingithereweareabletogettheheritage,historyandthesocialhistoryofthetowntolocalpeople.Thisprojectisalreadymaking

adifferencetothecommunitythroughtheactivitiesthatarecurrentlytakingplaceat

WareMuseum.Wewanttoinvolvealllocalresidents,botholdandnew,inexploringthehistoryofthetown.”

ThemuseumhasproducedanexhibitiontellingthestoryoftheGreatBedofWareinthecontextofsocialhistoryfromtheElizabethanperioduptothepresentday.Thereisalsoayear-long‘calendar’ofeventsfortheyear,whichisstillexpanding.q

•To find out more about the bed and the exhibition, visit www.waremuseum.org.uk.

Picture courtesy of the V & A Museum ©

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11

S.O.S.Save Our Specialists!

by RAY ROBERTSON,Secretary, Lead Contractors Association

The hidden, but very real, long term threat caused by the plague of metal thefts is the eventual disappearance of the specialist lead craftsman as their livelihood is stolen along with the lead.

Stealing lead from a church roof hasalways been a problem, but one whichwas localised and therefore perceived

to have little impact beyond a distressed andinconvenienced parish community, an over-worked local police force and a disgruntled, outof pocket insurance company.

Indeed there was an upside, as suchoccurrences initially created work for localleadwork contractors, called in to replace thestolen metal and put right the damage caused byits removal.

Then five years ago rising metal pricesbegan attracting organised gangs that attackedvulnerable buildings – particularly churches – on afar wider scale. Lead sheet stolen from a roof wasquickly replaced to minimise internal damageand then just as quickly stolen again. Claimson theft insurance soared and the insurancecompanies involved took drastic action to reducethe cover provided on properties where theft oflead from the roof was a repeating occurrence.

A general limit to claims of £5,000 per propertyper annum has had even the most dedicatedtraditionalist looking for alternative replacementmaterials, those that had little or no resale valueand therefore were not liable to be stolen.

Even English Heritage, the national defenderof the use of authentic materials on our historicbuildings, has acknowledged the overwhelmingcost impact on the owners of maintaining likefor like replacement on a building repeatedlytargeted by thieves.

As metal prices continue to climb, there is at lasta national public and (more significantly) politicalawareness of the problem, brought about not bythe increase in lead thefts, but ironically by thetheft of its main metal roofing rival – copper.

However copper theft has hit the headlinesnot by being stolen from a roof, but by the theftof copper cable, severely impacting on not justlocal parishes, but hundreds of thousands ofpeople losing power, communication and publictransport facilities.

The resulting public outcry has demandedaction and prompted various initiatives toaddress the escalating problem, involving a widevariety of public and private organisations that

manufacture, design, install, transport and recyclemetal products.

Various remedies are under scrutiny includingextended licensing, methods of payment,certificates of origin and other identificationoptions for the scrap recovery/recycling network,police initiatives and action plans and varioussecurity measures, alarms and theft deterrentconsiderations to protect the metal once installed.

The LCA welcomes the high profile thislongstanding problem is now receiving, whateverthe circumstances that caused the escalation ofmetal theft in public awareness.

We only hope an effective course of actionis determined sooner rather than later, if ourspecialist sector is to survive. Things are badenough for everyone in the current economicsituation, but the specialist lead contractor isfaring worse than most.

The continuing high price of lead sheet detersthose unable to see beyond initial outlay (alonger term view would appreciate lead sheet’sunrivalled cost effectiveness over its extensivelifetime performance).

Those blinkered by bottom line priorities aretherefore specifying short term cut price expedientmaterials as (supposedly) cheaper alternativesto lead sheet. Now they are being joined bythose who would like to use lead sheet and fullyappreciate the long term, maintenance freeperformance and aesthetic appeal of this mosttraditional of UK roofing metals, but remain

fearful of the theft factor.Either way, this means a reducing demand

for the specialist knowledge and skills of thelead craftsmen who are increasingly looking toother trades or moving away from constructionaltogether, in order to provide their income.

If this alarming trend is not quickly addressed,the lead specialist will become an endangeredspecies and some of our most prestigious andhistoric buildings will have a very different look inthe future (imagine the dome of St Paul’s coveredin asphalt?).

When modern architects tire of the current spateof bright, shiny, sharp-angled glass and steelindulgences, what alternatives will be identified asthe next fashion in the merry-go-round of buildingdesign?

Why not the aesthetic warm appeal of the handcrafted curves of the most malleable roof metalused in construction, with horizons in designconcept that are literally as wide as the architect’simagination?

When that happens, let’s just hope we stillhave craftsmen with the lead sheet skills andknowledge to rise to the challenge of making thatarchitectural vision a reality.

• LCA members are specialists, committed to maintaining the beautiful art of the craft, and a selection of members can be found in the classified section of this magazine under the MCA logo.

St Laurence’s Church in Slough after its roof valley gutter was stripped of its lead

12

Clarkgrant Roofing complete work at B-listed Finnart Oil Terminal

roofing & buildingT: 0141 946 6612 F: 0141 945 6569 M: 07817 597375 / 07932 224899

E: info@clarkgrantroofing.comUnit 11, Chapel Street, Chapel Industrial Estate, Ruchill G20 9BD

www.clarkgrantroofing.com

In September 2010 work began on the restoration of the Category B-listedadministration building of the Finnart Oil Terminal on the banks of Loch Longin Argyllshire. The work was carried out by Clarkgrant Roofing & Building

Ltd of Glasgow and consisted of the installation of Scotch and Spanish slate,leadwork, joinery work, painting and the application of restoration mortar on allthe chimneys and walls.

The roof elevations that can been seen by members of the public were reslatedusing approximately 800m2 of Scotch slate, while the elevations that cannot beenseen were reroofed with 16” x 8” Spanish slate.

There were many challenges to overcome in carrying out the work at FinnartOil Terminal. One was the weather: the administration building is barely 20meters from the lochside on Loch Long and is nestled between hills, which meantalmost every day of the project was subject to wet weather.

The other challenge was that of maintaining health and safety.Clarkgrant’s David Clark takes up the story: “We were working in a ‘live’ oil

terminal, which resulted in lots of paperwork and restrictions on the workforce.The day-to-day work was completely different from any other site or project mycompany has ever worked on.”

However, as the images on this page show, the end result turned out to beClarkgrant Roofing’s best work yet.

13

Roofing Awardsthe finalists are announced

In March the National Federation of RoofingContractors (NFRC) announced the finalistsin the annual Roofing Awards. In making

the announcement the NFRC declared: “Thelevel of workmanship displayed with each andevery Roofing Awards continues to underlinethe fact that the roofing industry has some ofthe most skilled, dedicated and hard-workingcontractors within the construction industry.

“The Roofing Awards recognise and rewardthose companies on their outstanding roofingprojects. They have been selected based onthe demonstrated quality of workmanship,technical difficulties encountered, problem-solving, environmental qualities andaesthetics.”

Over 300 entries were received across the12 categories – the largest number ever – andthe expert panel unanimously agreed that,year upon year, the level of quality of workproduced by companies that have enteredcontinues to be superb.

Municipal building sports new roof

In August last year the historic, listed municipal buildings in Crewe– formerly the headquarters of Crewe and Nantwich Council andnow the local offices of East Cheshire Council – were finally graced

with a new, bespoke stone roof.The work was commissioned by Cheshire East Council and all building

repairs granted to the principal contractor Harry Fairclough ConstructionLtd of Warrington. The roofing works were awarded to Fulwood RoofingServices (Northern) Ltd Heritage Division who consequently draftedWorthingtons Roofcrafts of Bolton to do the work. The whole project wasoverseen by BDS Consultants of Chester with English Heritage.

The stone tiles, from Black Mountain Quarries in Herefordshire, hadto match other roofing materials being used on the project. The tiles

were unfinished when theyarrived on site and weresorted, cut and dressedinto position by craftsmenfrom WorthingtonsRoofcrafts.

The new roof’s cupolais surmounted by aweather vane in the shapeof Stephenson’s Rocket,a reminder of Crewe’sprominence as a railwaytown.

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TheHeritageRoofingcategoryisoneofthenewest,yetattractssomeofthemostnoteworthyprojects.Thefinaliststhisyearare:

•ForsterRoofingServicesLtdfortheCamperdownHouseroofrenewalinDundee.

•B&DRoofingandBuildingLtdforHermitageDriveinEdinburgh.

•KarlTerryRoofingContractorsLtdforHollyLodgeinKent.

•FulwoodRoofingServices(Northern)Ltd,inassociationwithWorthingtonsRoofcraftsofBolton,forCreweMunicipalBuilding.

Despitetheexistenceofaspecialistheritagesector,anumberofimportantprojectsonhistoricbuildingsarefeaturedinothercategories.AmongthemostnotableisClarkgrantRoofing&BuildingLtd’sreroofingoftheFinnartOilTerminaladministrationbuilding,aCategoryB-listedbuilding.ThatfeaturesintheRoofSlatingcategory.

AnotherprojectwithstronghistoricconnectionsisthenewstationbuildingtohousetheLizardLifeboat–anewstate-of-the-artTamarclassvessel.Thestationbuildingisequallycontemporary,withitsboat-shapedcurvedroof(pictured)byFullMetalJacketLtd,whichisafinalistintheFullySupportedMetalRoofcategory.

Thewinnersinall12categorieswillbeannouncedattheAnnualCongressAwardsLunchon18MayattheHiltonMetropoleinBirmingham.TheceremonywillbehostedbyTVpresenterMattAllwright,bestknownfortheRogue Tradersseries.

TheRoofingAwardsaresupportedbyahostofassociatedtradebodies,includingtheGreenRoofCentre,theLiquidRoofingandWaterproofingAssociation(LRWA),theFlatRoofingAlliance(FRA),theRoofingTileAlliance(RTA),theLeadContractorsAssociation(LCA),theLeadSheetAssociation(LSA)andtheSinglePly

RoofingAssociation(SPRA).Supportersalsoincludemanymajorsuppliersandancillarycompanies.

•To book places contact NFRC’s head of external affairs Debbie Simcock on 0207 448 3186; email debbie@nfrc.co.uk; or visit www.nfrc.co.uk.q

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Gold award celebrated by IBiS Roofing

IBiSRoofing,afamilyrunroofingcompanybasedinCastleton,Rochdalefornearly30yearsiscelebratingafterachievingtheprestigious

GoldAwardinthe2011SafetyinRoofingAwardsschemerunbytheNationalFederationofRoofingContractorswhichisaimedatpromotinghealthandsafetyamongmembercompanies.

TheHealthandSafetyExecutiveareurgingemployerstomakethesafetyofemployeestheirtoppriorityfor2012followingthepublicationofthelateststatisticswhichshowatotalof25peoplelosttheirliveswhileatworkintheNorthWestlastyearand2,987sufferedamajorinjury.

DirectorsStephenandRobertWallseethisawardasrecognitionfortheknowledge,experienceandinvestmentintrainingwhichhasbeenbuiltupovertheyears.q

Heritageroofingspecialist,Sheffield-basedMartin-Brooks,ispioneeringanewbreedofsolarpanelinstallations

thatwillenabletherenewabletechnologytobeappliedtoleadroofs.

InwhatisbelievedtobethefirstinstallationofitskindintheUK,Martin-BrookshasaddedsolarpanelleadsupportstoachurchnearChesterfieldtomanagethethermalmovement.

Thesupportsarebuiltwithexpansiongapstoallownaturalmovementoftheleadroofwithoutcausingdamagetothephotovoltaicpanels.DesignedbytheLeadSheetAssociation,thepodswerefittedbyMartin-BrooksonbehalfofDerbysolarpanelinstallers,C-Changes,withtheapprovalandguidanceofEnglishHeritage.

Architects,SmithandRoper,whohaveworkedpreviouslywiththeroofersonsensitiveheritageprojects,recommendedMartin-Brooksforitshistoricleadworkexperience.ThepodinstallationwascarriedoutsympatheticallyonthegradeIlistedchurchtoensurenodamagetotheexistingleadrooforthebuilding’sstructure.

DaleWright,Martin-Brooks’contractsdirector,said:“Todate,onlyafewchurcheshavebeengrantedpermissiontoinstallsolarpanelsduetoconcernsoverstructuralsuitabilityandaestheticimpact.BeinginvolvedinthefirstapplicationofthisgroundbreakingpodsupportsystemhasbeenextremelyinterestingandourworkinChesterfieldwillundoubtedlyopenupthesolarmarkettoawiderrangeofproperties,particularlythosewithleadroofs.”

ApprovalwasgivenforsolarpanelsonthesouthaisleofthegradeI

listedChurchofEnglandpropertyasahighparapetwallensurestheycannotbeseenfromgroundlevel.Theinstallationwillenabletheparishchurchtobenefitfromreducedenergybillsandaccessthehigherratefeed-intariffs.q

•Martin-Brooks was shortlisted for the second consecutive year in the Heritage Roofing category of The Roofing Awards 2011, run by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) and is listed on its heritage register. For more information about its historic lead work, telephone (0114) 244 7720 or visit www.martin-brooks.co.uk.

The first solar panels to be fitted on lead supports, which were installed by Martin-Brooks at a church near Chesterfield

Martin-Brooks supports solar revolution

AlsoannouncedinMarchwerethewinnersoftheSafetyinRoofingAwards.Theseawardshavebeeninoperationformany

yearstopromoteapositiveattitudetowardshealthandsafetyamongstNFRCmembercompanies.AllNFRCtrademembersareinvitedtoentertheseawards,whicharemadedependentonacompany’shealthandsafetytrainingandaccidentstatisticsfrom1Januaryto31Decemberofthepreviousyear.Theawardsarethenexternallymarkedbyanindependentpanelofhealthandsafetyexpertsandaselectionofentriesarerandomlyaudited.

TrademembersarepresentedwitheitheraGold,SilverorBronzeawardattheirregionalAGM’s,withthebestentriesreceivingrecognitionattheRoofingAwardslunchinMay.Theyarethememberswiththehighestpercentagescorednationallywiththeslatingandtiling,sheetingandcladdingandflatroofingdisciplines.q

Roofers go for Gold on safety

16

Heritage roofing experts at Sheffield-based Martin-Brooks are putting thefinishing touches to a two-year project at

a local stately home where the residents insist onhanging around.

Martin-Brooks has re-roofed a former cartshed and smithy that are home to a colony ofbats, as part of the recently opened Stableyardat Hardwick Hall near Chesterfield.

The National Trust was aware that bats werepresent at Hardwick and in consultation withEnglish Nature, a bat licence was granted for theproject. This restricts work during the roostingmonths, usually April to September, and requiresregular inspections by an appointed ecologist

Evidence of the protected species also meantMartin-Brooks had to incorporate purpose-madebat slates into the rear slopes of the grade IIlisted buildings and install special roofing felt forthe winged mammals.

Dale Wright, Martin-Brooks’ contracts director,said: “Having to work around bat colonies isnot unusual when we are re-roofing heritageproperties, particularly when they have beenunoccupied. Despite the challenges we faced,the finish achieved on the Stableyard is first

class and it is aworthy addition to theHardwick estate. It isalways a pleasure tosee old buildings givena new lease of life.”

Martin-Brooks startedwork on the Stableyardin 2010, removing theoriginal stone slatesand repairing timbers,before the roofcoverings could be returned. Around 70% ofthe existing slates were re-used, although someadditional York stone was needed to match theoriginal finish.

The National Trust’s £6.5 million Stableyardproject has involved the refurbishment ofa collection of disused estate buildings atHardwick. The new facilities will be open 365days a year, providing catering and retail space,along with a new visitor reception.

Paul Wankiewicz, lead building surveyor for theNational Trust, added: “Having worked closelywith Martin-Brooks for many years, we knewthey had the skills and experience necessary for

this complex and sensitive project. Working onlisted buildings is always a challenge, but whencoupled with bat conservation, it is reassuringto know there are such capable craftsmen onhand who can be sensitive to the ecology, whilstproducing excellent work.”

• Martin-Brooks was nominated for the National Federation of Roofing Contractors’ heritage award in 2011 for its work on the Hardwick Hall Stableyard project. It is also listed on the NFRC heritage register. For more information, telephone (0114) 244 7720 or visit www.martin-brooks.co.uk.

Hardwick’s furry residents drive Martin-Brooks batty

Martin-Brooks’ heritage roofers survey their craftsmanship at Hardwick Hall’s Stableyard with Paul Wankiewicz from the National Trust (far right). Left to right: Dan Lovett, Steve Whearty, Hyden Driver and Dean Feetham

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Clearing gutters is better than paying for a new roofInMaylastyearareportwaspublished

chartingtheprogressmadeinitsfirstthreeyearsbyGutterClear,aninitiative

setupjointlybytheDioceseofGloucesterandMaintainourHeritagein2007tohelpchurchesinthediocesecarryoutroutinemaintenance–inparticulartheregularclearingofroofgutterstopreventwateringress.

ItfollowedasimilarinitiativeinLondonthepreviousyear.Allofthisactivitystemsfromtherecognitionearlythiscenturythat‘preventionisbetterthancure’whenitcomestomaintaininghistoricbuildings.MaintainOurHeritage(Maintain)hasthemottoemblazonedacrossitswebsite.

PV’s bring a ray of sunshine to the inner city

Initsadvicetoownersandmanagersontherepairandmaintenanceofhistoricbuildings,EnglishHeritagestates:“Stoppingmoisturefromenteringabuildingisthefirstpriority.Thismeansthatroofcoverings,gutters,downpipesanddrainsmustbekeptingoodorder.”

Withrecentheavyrainfallandfloodinginmind,theadvicegoesontosay:“Climatechangemeansthatregularmaintenanceisevenmoreimportantasveryheavyrainfallmeansthatguttersanddrainsmaystruggletocope,andensuringtheyarekeptclearmaypreventoverflowsandflooding.”

Theviewthatpreventionis,indeed,betterthancurewhenitcomestopreservation

ofbuiltheritageisnot,however,anewone(apartfromitbeingcommonsense).InapaperfortheIHBC,reproducedontheMaintainwebsite,GeorgeAllenquotesJohnRuskin,writingin1849:“Theprincipleofmoderntimes.....istoneglectbuildingsfirstandtorestorethemafterwards.Takepropercareofyourmonumentsandyouwillnotneedtorestorethem.Afewsheetsofleadputintimeupontheroof,afewdeadleavesandstickssweptintimeoutofawatercourse,willsavebothroofandwallfromruin.Watchanoldbuildingwithananxiouscare,guarditasbestyoumay,andatanycost,fromeveryinfluenceofdilapidation”q

Whenpeoplereadthatan‘industrialprovidentsocietyforthebenefitofthecommunity’

wouldbelaunchingacommunityshareissueon1ApriltoraisefundsforgeneratingelectricityfromsolarpanelsonachurchroofinOldTrafford,Manchester,theymayhavesuspectedanAprilFoolspoof.Butitisnojoke.Despiteset-backs,includingtheGovernment’smovestorestrictthefeed-intariffforsuchprojects,thephotovoltaic(PV)panelsontheroofofStJohn’sinthecity’straditionalindustrialheartareupandrunning.

AccordingtoFionaNicholsofnorthwest-basedSustainableChangeCo-operative:“IndividualsandorganisationsinoraroundOldTraffordarebeinginvitedtoinvest£100ormoreinwithdrawableshares,andgetapieceofsolarpanel.

“Onegoalinvolvesraisingincomefromthesolarpanels(andothersources)anddistributingittolocalprojectsthrough‘SunshineGrants’.”

Appropriately,theco-operativeiscalledStJohn’sSunshine.q

Roof fund sends vicar ‘over the top’

ChurchroofrepairsandraisingthefundstopayforthemmaybetheissuethatstressesclergyandParochialChurchCouncilsthemost,butitrarelydrivestheparishpriesttoleapoffthetopofacrane.That,however,iswhatFrJohnWiseman,vicarofStMatthew’sin

LittleLeverinBolton,willbedoinginMay.FrJohnwillbeperformingtheworld’stallestmobilebungeejumpinanefforttoboostfunding

fortherestorationofthechurchroof.Hewillbeleapingfromaheightof200ft,whichishigherthanBolton’sfamousTownHalltower.

Itisthelatestinaseriesofstuntstheclerichasperformedinthecause.Pasteffortshaveincludedazipwirechallenge(pictured).q

Fundraising Fr John Wiseman, Vicar of St Matthew’s in Little Lever, Bolton

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by ALAN PECK of Tersus Consultancy

Hailedasthewonderbuildingmaterialwhenfirstusedinthe1890’sandreachingitspeakuseinbuildingsaroundthemid1970’sit’snotunreasonabletofindasbestosusedextensivelyinschools

andchurches.Asbestoscontainingmaterialstakeonmanyformsandhavemanyusesinconstructionfromsimplefloortilestoboardmaterials,anti-condensationproductsand,ofcourse,thermalinsulation.Sogoodwasasbestosthatasbestoscontainingmaterialscouldbemixedwithothermaterialstoproducerigidproductswhichcouldbemoulded,formed,compressed,machinedorjustusedinitsrawfibrousstateaspipeandboilerinsulationorsprayedontosurfacesasanasbestoscoating.Tradesmenbecamesoadeptatworkingwithasbestostheyproducedminiworksofart–onecanonlyadmiretheperfectroundnessofhandappliedpipeinsulationinmany,stilloperatingboilerhousesorthealabastertypefinishtheymanagedtoapplyassprayedcoatingstothesoffitsofcommercialoffices,departmentstores,hotels,hospitals,schoolsandchurches.Thethingis,ofcourse,itisverydifficulttoknowwhatisasbestosandwhatisnotwhichiswhythelargestgroupatriskfromasbestosiscurrentlytradesmenandwhyaround5,000peopleperyeardiefromasbestosrelateddiseases.AsbestoswasfinallyprohibitedintheUKin1999.

Case StudyWhowouldhavethoughtthe‘decorative’finishtotheundersideofa

churchroofinYorkshirewasasbestos?Overtheyears,waterpenetrationhadcausedthesurfaceoftheasbestoscoatingtodeteriorateandevenstarttodelaminateincertainareascausingtheriskofasbestosfibresbeingreleasedtoincreasedramatically.Theonlyoptionwastoremovetheproblemareaandtofullyencapsulatetheremainder.

Theasbestoswasfoundtobeclearlymarkedontheoriginalarchitect’sdrawingsforthechurchbutforsomereasondidnotappearontheasbestosregister.Itwasclearthatadefinitiveasbestossurveywasrequiredinordertofullylocatethepresence,conditionandlocationofanyasbestoscontainingmaterials.Accesstothehighlevelareaswasextremelydifficultaselevatingequipmenthadtobesourcedthatwouldfitthroughastandarddoorandbecapableofreachingtheheightrequired.Followingathoroughsiteinspectionitwaspossibletoformulateanasbestosmanagementplanandconfirmthatallareas,withtheexceptionofthetwoareasoflowlevel

roof,weresound,wellencapsulatedandposedamanageablerisk.Therecommendationthereforewastheremovalofthewholeofthesectionsofroofcontainingthedamagedareasandtocommenceanairmonitoringregimewithinthechurchtochecktheairbornefibreconcentrationoftheremainderofthebuilding.Thiswastoprovethatthebuildingwouldcontinuetobesafeforoccupationbyunprotectedpeopleaftertheremovalworks.

Asbestosremovalworkspresentedtheirownproblems.Firstlytheremovalcontractorhadtobecarefullyselectedtoensuretheyhadtheexperiencetodealwiththistypeofasbestosmaterialandcouldapproachtheworksinasympatheticmannergiventhenatureofthebuilding.Theotherproblemwasthatthechurchwasregularlyused,allowingonlysevendaystocompletetheworkbetweenweddings.Theremovalofthistypeofasbestos,commonlyknownaslimpet,isnotoriouslydifficultastheindividualasbestosfibresadheretoanyroughsurface.Thematerialisalsoextremelyfriableandcapableofreleasingfibresmanythousandsoftimesabovethecontrollimit.Underthesecircumstancesfibresuppressionisallimportant,notonlyforthesafetyoftheoperativesbuttoreducetheamountoffreefibrewhentheareaisfinallycleanedanddecontaminated.

Tocopewiththeveryroughsurface,theundersideofroofwashandpaintedwithanasbestosencapsulationproducttolockdownanyresidualfibrespriortobeingplasterrenderedandredecoratedbyothertradesmentomatchthetreatedareas.q

•The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 requires all duty-holders to formulate an asbestos management plan for the property for which they are responsible. The starting point for this plan is an Asbestos Survey Report in accordance with HSG 264, preferably by a UKAS accredited consultancy to ISO/IEC 17020.

AsbestosAn unholy problem?

Tersus surveyor taking samples of sprayed asbestos

Above (left) – damage to sprayed asbestos coating visible either side of the lower roof valley; and (right) – inside the asbestos enclosure, an asbestos operative carefully removes the asbestos under controlled conditions

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Tarmac Building Products’ Limelite Renovating PlasterManyheritagebuildingsaffectedbywetweather,torrentialrainandflashflooding

arefacingtheprospectofextensiverepairs.Inolderbuildingsthatstillhavetheiroriginallimeandsandplaster,theidealsolutionistoreplacelike-for-likeanduse

atraditional‘lime-haired’plaster,whichallowswallstobreatheandretainflexibilityandsetting.

Gypsum-basedplasterandplasterboardarenotcompatibleastheyareverysensitivetomoistureandsaltsanddegradeinthepresenceofboth.Certaintypesofgypsumplastersarealsoresistanttodampandcontainwaterrepellantsthatsealthesurfaceandpreventwallsfrombreathing.

Itisnotalwayspracticaltouseanauthenticlimeplaster,soTarmacBuildingProductshascreatedtheirLimeliterangeofplasters,mortarsandgroutsasmodernequivalentsoftraditionalproducts.

OurHeritageRangeofbagged,highperformanceplasterproductsisarangeofspecialistrenovatingplasters,mortarsandgroutsdesignedtogivehistoricbuildingsthecareandprotectiontheyneedanddeserve.Toensurethecorrectselectionandapplicationoftheseproducts,youcanrelyontheunrivalledexpertiseofoursupportteam.

Forbuildingsthatareinneedofsensitivehistoricrestoration,looknofurtherthantheLimeliterangeofheritagemortars,groutsandplastersfromTarmacBuildingProductstodelivertheultimatepropertyface-lift.

Key features of our Limelite Renovating PlasterLimeliteRenovatingPlasterincludesman-madefibresthatimitatetraditional‘limehaired’

plaster,whichaddstotheauthenticappealoftheproductandreducesthelikelihoodofcracking.Limeliteisconsideredbyconservationiststobeareplacementfororiginallimeplaster.

Theplastercontrolsdampnesspassingthroughwallsandprovidesaneffectivebarrieragainstsalttransfer.Italsoretainsalevelof‘breathability’andflexibilityonceithasset.LimeliteRenovatingPlasterhasbeenusedformorethan30yearstohelpsolvethecommonproblemsofdampnessassociatedwithheritagebuildingsandforremedialworkafterdampproofing.Theplasterreducesthepossibilityofcondensation,whilstaddingthermalqualitiestothebuilding.Italsohelpstominimiseefflorescenceandrustingofmetallathingandconduits,aswellascontrollingstainandmouldgrowth.

Therangeisavailableasapre-blendedproductfromanationwidenetworkofbuilders’merchantsorasacustommade,blendedproductforuniquepropertiesdirectfromTarmacBuildingProducts.q

Benefits of using our Limelite Renovating Plaster:• Uniquely formulated to control dampness • passing through plastered walls

• Consistent, pre-blended quality assured • mix

• Conveniently pre-packaged, reducing • • waste

• Resistant to mould growth, reduces • • • • • condensation and inhibits efflorescence

• Can be applied shortly after the insertion • of a new damp-proof course or system

• Contains man-made fibres to control• shrinkage and improve flexural strength

• Use with Tarmac High Impact Finishing • plaster for a grade D impact resistant • • plaster

• No problems associated with moisture • •• trapped under plaster in heritage• buildings

Our Limelite Heritage products have been used in the restoration of many landmark buildings including St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Beaney Institute and St. Pancras Station.

Our Heritage Range of products• Limelite Renovating Plaster

• Limelite Quick Drying Plaster – dries• approximately 30% quicker than• traditional plasters

• Limelite Easy-Bond – pre mixed, dry• powder keying aid for Portland cement• based plasters, renders and screeds

• Limelite Cement Backing Plaster

• Whitewall One-Coat Plaster – Anhydrite• based, hard white, durable surface• achieved in a single coat

• Whitewall High Impact Backing Plaster• – mixed with High Impact Finishing• Plaster to provide a hard white surface• unparalleled in its resistance to impact

• Tarmac High Impact Finishing Plaster• – for use over Limelite backing coats• or traditional gypsum plasters and sand •• cement mixes and is a BBA approved• finishing system for damp walls

•Beaney Institute, Canterbury city centre–Thisprojectwasdesignedtoconserve,repairandrestoretheexistingGradeIIlistedBeaneyInstituteinCanterburycitycentre.Thenewextensionwilldoublethebuilding’ssize,creatingmoreandbetterspaceforbothmuseumandlibraryservices.

•St. Pancras Station, London–WeprovidedourHeritageMortarsandGroutswhichwereusedintheextensiverestorationofSt.PancrasStationintoitsVictoriansplendour,completedbytheendof2007.

•St. Paul’s Cathedral, London–WeprovidedaspeciallycreatedblendofPulverisedFuelAshes(PFA),cementandspecialadditivesoriginallydevelopedin1975fortherestorationofSt.Paul’sCathedral.OurSt.Paul’sGroutMixwasusedtostrengthenandfillvoidsintheCathedral’smasonrywalls,completedin1975.

All of our products are manufactured to BES 6001 (sustainability standards) and factory blended, tested and packaged in accordance with BS EN ISO 9001 (quality management system).

We encourage all readers to put their faith in our Limelite Plaster and see the benefits for themselves! To find out more visit www.tarmacbp.com/heritage or ask for Limelite at your local builders’ merchants.

Case Studies

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Limemortarhasformedpartofourbuildingheritageforcenturiesandhasbeeninusesincetimeimmemorial.TheancientGreeksandtheRomansknewathingortwoabout

buildingandmademortarbyburninglimestone,slakingitwithwaterandthenmixingtheresultantputtywithsand.Thesebasicstepsstillformthemainstayoflimemortarstoday,whichareusedextensivelyinrestorationandmaintainingthebuildingfabricofolderbuildings.

Thebenefitsoflimemortararenumerous,oneofwhichisthatitaccommodatesmovementextremelywell.Whenlimemortarscrack

theytendtodosoinmicrocracksandwhenthisoccursonlimerendersoutside,themovementoftherainwaterthroughthesurfaceofthemortardissolvesthefreelimewhichthengetsdepositedinthemicrocracksasthewaterevaporates.Achemicalreactionthenoccursasthelimesubsequentlyreactswiththecarbondioxideintheatmosphereandisconvertedtocalciumcarbonatesothatthecrackshealinaveryshorttime.

Limemortarisatoughproduct–notonlyisitflexibleandmakesforaveryeffectivefillingofverticaljoints,italsoactslikeasponge,absorbingrainfallonanoutsidewallandthenallowingittoevaporateratherthansoakingintothewall.Thismeanslesswaterpenetrationwhichalsominimisestheriskoffreezethawdamagethatisparticularlyharmfultomasonrystructures.Bycomparison,themoderncounterpartcementisbrittleandinflexibleandcantrapdampinbehind,whichcangiverisetoavarietyofproblemsrangingfrominternaldamp,mildewoninteriorwalls,paintflakingoffandgeneraldecay.Inadditioncementalsoencouragesgroundwatertoriseupawallbycapillaryaction.

Thelastfewdecadeshaveseenaresurgenceintheuseoflimemortarsandtheassociatedlimeproducts.ThepopularityofprogrammessuchasGrand Designshaveraisedpublicawarenessoftheappropriatematerialsthatshouldbeusedwhenrestoringolderproperties,andwiththatinteresthascomeknowledgethatourancestorsknewandwehadforgotten.WiththeGovernment’sdirectivetoreducethecarbonfootprintintheconstructionindustry,andthecontinuingdevelopmentandintroductionofinnovativedevelopments,suchasLimeliteRenovatingPlaster,thefutureoflimeinbuildingisassured.q

•Heritage Cob & Lime are manufacturers and suppliers of lime mortars and associated products. They are also a stockist for Limelight Renovating Plaster. For more information, visit www.heritagecobandlime.com or telephone 01237 477431.

Heritage built on lime mortar

Feel the burn at a lime kiln demoOn26MaytheBlackCountry

LivingMuseuminDudley,WestMidlands,willbehosttoasmall-

scalelimekilnburn,organisedbytheBuildingLimesForum.ExpertsfromtheBLFwillbeonhandtoexplainlimetothepublic–whatitis,howitismadeandhowitisused.Therewillalsobedemonstrationsoflimeburningandslaking.Tocomplementthekilnburn,aprogrammeoftalks,toursandaboattriphasbeenarrangedforBLFmembersandfriends.

TheBlackCountryLivingMuseumpreservesamicrocosmofthearea’sindustriallandscape,includingtwomineshafts,limekilnsandcanals,andhousesawiderangeoftheequipment,tools,manufacturedgoods,domesticfurnishingsandeverydayobjectswhichrepresentthe

lifeandworkofthepeopleoftheBlackCountry.Therearealsorelocatedbuildingsdrawnfromacrossthemanysmalltownsoftheregion.

ThelimestonefortheburnwillcomefromtheWren’sNestNationalNatureReserveashortdistanceaway.Wren’sNestwasdeclaredtheUK’sfirstNationalNatureReserveforgeologyin1956,inrecognitionofitsexceptionalgeologyandpalaeontology.ThesiteprovidesadefinitivesectionthroughtheMuchWenlockLimestoneformationandhasmanydisusedquarriesandlimekilns(pictured),aswellasbeingofinterestforitslimestonefloraandfossils.

ForBLFmembersthedaywillconsistofanintroductorytalk,loadingandfiringofthekiln,aguidedtourofWren’sNest,a

canalboattripthroughthetunnelsontheDudleyCanal,unloadingandslakingthelime,possibletalksonthegeologyandarchaeologyoftheareaandtimetovisitthemuseum.

Thecostforthedayis£25,whichalsoincludeslunch.q

•For more information, together with details of BLF membership, visit www.buildinglimesforum.org.uk.

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BasedinNorwichandoperatingprimarilyintheEastAngliaregion,ResurspecConstructionServicesisanapproved

installeroftheThorHelicalRemedialstructuralrepairsystem.Thecompanynameisderivedfromthecombinationoftheterms‘restoration’,‘renovation’,‘survey’and‘specification’,whichdescribesaccuratelytheworktheydo.

Intheecclesiasticalfield,workcarriedoutattheChurchofStMarytheVirgininBlundeston,Suffolk,epitomiseswhatcanbeachieved.

AlthoughStMary’shasahistorydatingfromthe7thcentury,theoldestpartofthechurchthatremainsistheroundtower,whichdatesfromthe10thcentury.ANormanchurchwhichwasaddedaboutacenturylaterwasreplacedbyalargerstructureinthe14thcentury.Anextensiverestorationsympathetictomedievalconstructiontechniqueswascarriedoutinthe1850s,withabarrelvaultedceilingspringingfrom14thcenturycorbels.

Thechurchasitexiststodayhasnotchangedmuchsincethen,withtheexceptionofunderfloorheatingandapositivedrainagesystemtodivertwaterawayfromthebaseofexternalwallsaddedin2009.Constructionisprimarilyflintsetinalimemortar.Externallythewallsarefinishedinknappedflint;internallywithbrickworkcoveredinlimerenderupto75mmthickinplaces.Infillisassumedtoberandomrubbleorfurtherroughflintswithinalimemortarmatrix.

Atsomeunknowntimetiestrapsconnectedtopattressplateshavebeeninstalledonthe

What’s in a name?Why, everything they do

gableendandsouthflankingwall,sostructuralmovementhasbeenanissue,particularlyforthesoutheastcornerofthebuilding.Movementhasalsocausedconsiderablecrackingonthesoutheastbuttressandrepairshavebeencarriedouttothewindowtraceryatsometime.

Assumingthatthewallwouldbeheavilyvoidedbymovementandthewashoutoffinesbywateringress,theinitialrepairstrategywastouseaThorHelicalgrouttieandlimegroutingproceduretostabiliseandreintroducestructuralstability.Oncloserinspectionandtestdrillingthewallwasfoundtobequitedenselycompacted,soarevisedstrategyofregularlyspacedgrouttiessetinacementitiousgroutwasadopted.Tieswerecuttosuitfullstructuralwallthicknessonsiteandinstalledalongitsheight.Cracksanddelaminatedflintswereeitherrepointedorresetinalimemortarandcolourblendedtomatchtheexistingmaterial.

Repairstothesoutheastbuttresswerealittlemorecomplex:quiteseverecrackingwasnotedalongitsfullheightandbetweenfacingstones,indicatingthatmovementhadtakenplace.Acustomgrouttieandcementitiousgroutsystemwasdesignedtotiethebuttress,bothlaterallyandbacktotheperimeterwalls.

Initialtestdrillingstoaccommodategrouttiesfoundthebuttresstobesubstantiallyvoided.Torectifytheproblemandensureagoodfixingfortheties,alime-basedmasonrygroutingmixturewasdesignedtofillvoids,provideasoundfixingfortiesandatthesametimestayflexibleenough

The Church of St Mary the Virgin in Blundeston

toaccommodateanyfurthermovement.Groutwashandpumpedtoavoidabuild-up

ofhydrostaticpressurethatwouldpossiblyfurtherdamagethemasonrymatrix.Thefinalpartoftherepairstrategywastorepointcracksandresetflintsinalimemortar,againcolourblended.

Internally,cracksinwindowreveals,traceryandcornerswererakedouttorevealsubstantialcrackinganddebondingofbrickwork/plaster.Thoseareasweretreatedwithacombinationofgroutties,cementitiousgroutinjectionandrebuildingfinishesinlimeplastertomeetexistinglevels.

Toprovidesomelateralrestraintonthenorthflankwallandnortheastcorner,abespokemetalworkstrapandX-shapedpattressplatewasinstalled.Theinstallationmirrorstheexistingarrangementonthesouthflankwallandsoutheastcorner.

Oncetheinternalworkhadbeencompletedthewallsweretreatedwithwhitelimewashasafinalfinish.q

The south east internal corner before and after the renovation Gable with new Pattress Plate in place and Pattress Plate in detail

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Chatsworth restoration uses over a tonne of lime

How blue is my valley!Anovel approach to stone restoration was taken with the refurbishment

of an early cinema in South Wales. The Grade Two-listed Risca Palacenear Caerphilly had stood derelict at the centre of the small town for

more than two decades and was considered an eyesore by local inhabitants.Following a campaign to bring the building back into use, spearheaded bythe local vicar, a scheme involving the creation of a Tesco convenience store,along with a new library and other community facilities, was completedearlier this year.

The ornate art deco building features a stonework façade which sportedvivid blue detailing. That detailing has been reproduced by West Countrycosmetic repair specialists Plastic Surgeon. The company despatched two ofits most experienced stone finishers to the site.

Plastic Surgeon’sregional manager forSouth Wales, GaryDanson, recounted:“The pair of themwere on site over aperiod of six weeks,with interruptions forbad weather andaccess issues, but therepairs to the classicalstonework detailingprogressed well.

“Then, when we came to apply the Screedcoat, great care had to be takento ensure no ‘day joints’ were visible. It is the first time Plastic Surgeon hastackled a building of this size and importance using the Screedcoat systemand it has turned out very well, with everyone being complementary about theoutcome.”

Behind the façade the new library is now open, as is the Tesco storealongside the cinema.

On 9 March the ‘wraps’ came offone of the country’s most notablecountry houses to reveal one of the

most extensive stone cleaning and restorationprojects in recent years. The £14m project torestore Chatsworth House in Derbyshire includedcleaning more than 2,200m2 of stonework andre-pointing the 20m high facades with 1.25tonnes of lime mortar.

The work was needed to reverse the effects ofover 200 years of weather damage. All the newstone used to repair the house comes from thesame quarry that provided the stone to buildChatsworth in the 1820’s, when the house wasremodelled by the 6th Duke of Devonshire.

The project also involved restoring 21 two

metre high urns on the top of the house andthe re-gilding of 42 windows and the inscriptionCavendo Tutus with 24-carat gold leaf.

The Duke and Duchess of Devonshireinstigated the ‘Masterplan’ project following areview of the building's structure and services tohelp realise the shared aim of the Devonshirefamily and Chatsworth House Trust to safeguardChatsworth's heritage and continue its history ofinnovation and progress.

Chatsworth's head of special projects, SeanDoxey, explained: “Although the building was inreasonably good condition, it would have startedto deteriorate very quickly if we hadn’t steppedin now to repair the worst ravages caused by theweather.”

The Duke of Devonshire declared: “It’sabsolutely wonderful to see the house as it musthave looked to my ancestors. It has always beena thrilling moment to see the house come intoview as you drive across the park and now thatview has been made even more magical. Withthe years of blackened grime now removedfrom the stone it looks truly magnificent and I’mdelighted that it has been preserved for manyfuture generations of visitors to enjoy.”

A team of 12 stonemasons and one carverfrom North Yorkshire carried out the stonecleaning and repair over a 56-week period.Further work will be taking place over the nextfew years to clean the East Front, which is visiblemainly from the garden.

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DerbyshireEcoCentreisthecountyhubforsustainabilitylearning.Itisaflagshipbuildingforlowcarbonconstruction,combiningtraditionalmaterialsandnewtechnologies.Wecanhelp

professionals,tradespeopleandexperiencedDIYenthusiaststoworkonheritagebuildingswithconfidence.Ourcoursesareamixoftheoryandpracticalskills,taughtbynationalleadersintheirtrade.

• Architectural CarvingCarveadecorativestoneusingadesigninspiredbySaxonChurchfeatures.EightWednesdayeveningsstartingWednesday23May.Alsoasa3daycourseovertwoweekends,onSaturday7,Sunday8andSunday15July.• Lime Mortars and RendersGetfamiliarwithdifferentlimesandtheirusesinplastering,renderingandpointing.AtwodaycourseonSaturday7andSunday8July.• Heritage RoofingGainexperienceofusingstone,slateandtileondifferenttypesofheritageroofs.AtwodaycourseonWednesday13andThursday14June.• Pave your WayGainexperienceofusingstone,slate,tileandrecycledmaterialstomakepathsandpaving.AtwodaycourseonSaturday28andSunday29July.•Heritage ConstructionLearnhowtoworkwithlime,stoneandtraditionalroofingmaterialsforrestorationandnewbuilds.AthreedaycoursefromThursday9toSaturday11August.•Dry Stone WallingLantraaccreditedcoursesforworkingwallersatLevels1to3.ContacttheEcoCentreformoredetailsofcoursesstartinginAugust.

•See our website www.derbyshire.gov.uk/ecocentre for details of our Holiday Workshop programme, in which we are offering courses in a wide range of topics such as stained glass, charcoal making, bodgers’ camp and building an outdoor bread oven. We also run courses in renewable energy and sustainable construction including building in timber and with straw.q

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Lime dissident shows how it’s done

DrGerardLynchisaninternationallyacknowledgedleaderinthefieldofbrickworkandmortarsand

theirhistoricalconservation.Hispracticalandtechnicalskillsintheuseoftraditionalmethodsandmaterialsareoutstanding.HeisauthorofGauged Brickwork: A Technical Handbook and The History of Gauged Brickwork.

Thatexpertiseandlongexperiencewillbeavailabletothepublicataone-daycourseattheWealdandDownlandMuseumnear

Chichester,WestSussexon12June.Thoseattendingwillbenefitfromtalksonsuchsubjectsasthetypesoflimeandtheirusesandwhyhistoricbuildingsneedlime,plustheywillseeapracticaldemonstrationonmakingadecentmortarforusebyatradesman.

TheywillalsobeprivytoDrLynch’sunconventionalviewsonsomeaspectsofcurrentpracticeinconservationandlimemaking.

The‘RedMason’,ashestyleshimself,believesthat“currentunderstandingand

practicesdonotfullyreflectthetraditionalmethodsoflimeandmortarmakingandhehasstoodoutagainstfashionabletrendsinconservation,withwell-researchedevidencetosupportthis.”

AndtheenvironmentofthemuseumbuildingsthemselvesprovidesthephysicalevidenceforDrLynch’sopinions.

Thecoursecosts£110includinglunchandissupportedbySingletonBirch.Bookingisviathemuseum’swebsite,atwww.wealddown.co.uk.q

Dr Lynch, pictured at a previous lecture at the museum

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Trade body launches new group to tackle

knotweed problem

UKtradebodythePropertyCareAssociation(PCA)haslaunchedanewgroup–dedicatedtotheremovalandcontrolofJapaneseKnotweed.

ThePCAhasbeenworkingwiththeRoyalInstitutionofCharteredSurveyors(RICS)–supportedbytheCouncilofMortgageLendersandtheBuildingSocietiesAssociation–togetherwithJapaneseKnotweedcontrolcompaniesthatcurrentlyoperatewithintheUK,todeveloptheInvasiveWeedControlGroupwiththeaimofsignpostingconsumerstoprofessionaltreatmentcompanies.

SwindonbasedElcotEnvironmentalhavebeenheavileyinvolvedintheformationofthegrouphelpingtobuildaplatformthatprovidesknotweedmanagementcontractsthatareacceptabletoTheCouncilofMortgageLenders(CML).

TheCMLrequirementswerethatcontracts:•werefixedcost,forthewholesiteandincludedforriskofknotweed•beyondtheboundary.•werecarriedoutbyspecialistcontractorsthatareaccreditedfor•knotweedmanagementbyanapprovedbody•providedforatleastthreeoffouryearsoftreatmentorfollowup•containedfinancialsafeguardsforpaymentsmadeupfront•protectedfromdefaultbyacontractortocompletethework•includedawarrantyElcothavebeenprovidingthistypeofcontractforthepast12years

andthemodelabovewasbasedontheElcotstandardcontract.ElcotthemselvesareaPCAaccreditedcontractorforknotweed

managementandTrustmarkapproved.TheyprovidepaymentprotectionthroughBondpayaswellasatenyearwarrantybackedby£5mprofessionalindemnityinsurance.Elcotalsooffertheoptionofaninsurancewarrantyfor25yearsagainststructuraldefectscausedbyknotweed.

TheresultofthisworkisthatthePCAhavebecomethepolicingbodyrecognisedbytheCMLforknotweedspecialists.

ThisnewaspectoftheAssociationcoincideswiththepublicationofnewguidancefromRICSentitledJapanese Knotweed and Residential Property,authoredbyPhilParnham.

Theguidance–alongwiththedevelopmentoftheInvasiveWeedControlGroup–nowoffersassuranceandcertaintyintacklingtheproblem.

StephenHodgson,generalmanagerofthePCA,whichhasitsheadquartersinHuntingdon,said:“Forseveralmonths,thePCAhasbeenworkingwithsectionsoftheJapaneseKnotweedcontrolindustrytoproviderepresentation,accreditationandtradeassociationservices.

“Ultimatelythisworkhasdrawntogetherasetofstandardsthatwillensureconsumerscanidentifycompanies–throughthePCA–thathavetheskills,infrastructure,knowledgeandintegritytoeliminatethistroublesomeweedproperlyandcost-effectively.

“Ourroleasanestablishedtradebody,withareputationforhighstandards,ensuresarecognisedandeffectiverouteforthedeliveryofthiswork.

“Thecontrolofinvasivespecies,suchasJapaneseKnotweed,alsocomplementstheAssociation’sexistingareasofexpertise.”

ProfessorMaxWade,directorofEcologyatRPSPlanningandDevelopment,haschairedtheJapaneseKnotweedWorkingGroup,whichhasledtothedevelopmentofthePCAInvasiveWeedControlGroup.

ProfessorWadesaid:“Theworkinggroupsetouttounderstandlenderrequirements,supportRICSinproducinganInformationPaperforsurveyorsandestablishthePCAasthetradebodyfortheindustry,withthenecessarystandardsandskillsinplacetoofferassurancewithrespecttothecompletionoftreatments.

“WealsosetouttocommunicatethefactthatJapaneseKnotweedhasaninflatedreputation.Itisjustaplant.Thereareotherplantsthatcancausesignificantlymoredamagetoproperties,suchassycamoretreesforexample.

“Theproblemcanbedealtwith,andnowthereisarecognisedframeworktoremedyit.”

PhilipSanto,ProfessionalPracticeConsultant,RICSResidentialProfessionalGroup,representedRICSontheJapaneseKnotweedWorkingGroupandfacilitatedtheRICSInformationPaper.

Hesaid:“Whatwecandonowispromotecertainty.Wehavestandardisation,consistencyandbestpracticestandardsinthetreatmentindustry.”q

•Further information is available at www.property-care.org where a list of professional Japanese Knotweed control contractors is available. For further information on Elcot Environmental visit www.elcotenviro.com.

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Hidden war

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Hidden war memorial restored to

former gloryThe Memorial Baptist Church building in Plaistow, East London,

was built after the First World War, and envisioned as ‘a greatcathedral Church towering above the mean streets of West Ham,

witnessing to the love of God and welcoming, as to a house of beautyand peace, burdened and weary hearts.’

This Grade II listed building – now known as Memorial CommunityChurch – was built to hold 2,000 people. Its east tower holds a unique‘chime’ of ten bells – played with a hand clavier – which are cast withthe names of 200 mostly local men who were killed in WW1. One bellcarries the name of Prince Maurice of Battenberg, the only member ofthe royal family killed in that war.

In 2011 the congregation carried out phase 2 of essential high-level repairs to make the building watertight: replacement of erodedbrickwork on the tower, repairs to failed flat roofs and restoration ofthe tower windows. While the external repairs were going on, the bellswere beautifully restored by Gillett and Johnston, who originally madethem in 1925. The staircase to the belfry was made safe with a newhandrail, lighting was added to the belfry, an exhibition was openedat ground level and a new website created so that more people could‘see’ the bells and find out about the men they commemorate – ofwhom very little was known. This involved many volunteers including alocal history club, the local branches of the British Legion and WesternFront Association, young people from the Historica Apus youth cluband a nearby primary school.

During the project, relatives of the men commemorated found outabout this ‘hidden war memorial’ and several came to the rededicationof the bells as a war memorial in November 2011. The new websiteabout the bells at www.localheroes.org.uk has all the informationresearched so far, as well as many photos of the restoration project.

The church was very grateful to have been awarded a Repair Grantfor Listed Places of Worship towards the tower repairs, along withgrants from Allchurches Trust, the Friends of Essex Churches Trust andthe Garfield Weston Foundation. Funds were also raised locally, withevents including a Spooky Sleepover in the belfry, and many individualswithin the church gave £1 a week throughout 2009 – following theexample of the church members who raised funds to install the bells in1925 by giving a shilling a week. For the project to Reveal the MemorialBells generous funding came from Heritage Lottery Fund, Pilgrim Trust,the War Memorials Trust, Heritage of London Trust, the Sharpe Trust andthe Essex branch of the Western Front Association.

The church is continuing to work to restore and redevelop its beautifulbuilding to better serve the local community in one of the most deprivedparts of London. New heating and toilets were recently installed, a newgrowing space aims to combat food poverty and the third and last phaseof high level repairs is planned for 2013.

• To find out more about Memorial Community Church see www.memorialcc.org or contact development@memorialcc.org.

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Above: TL966 Tall Scroll Table Lamp: diameter 210mm, height 465mm shown in

soft gold finish

Also available: TL967 Small Table Lamp: diameter 160mm, height 335mm

WL966 Wall Light: back-plate diameter 95mm, projection 270mm, height 300mm

Latest trends inresidential period lightingby CHRISTOPHER HYDE

ItisnoticeablethatthecorrelationbetweenthecostofhousesinLondonandtheirsizeappearstogoinoppositedirections.Adecadeagoyoucouldpurchaseasizeableperiodpropertyforthreequartersofamillionpoundsandtodaythesameoutlaywillpurchase

aVictorian,small,worker’scottage–thisinturnisinfluencinglightingstyles.Interestedandwellinformed,thepurchasersoftheVictoriancottagesareequallyaslikely

toinvestinperiodlightingcommensuratewiththepurchasepriceofthehouse,astheircounterpartsdidadecadeago,andsothereisanoticeableincreaseinrequestsforsmallerscaled,butstillhighqualitylightfittings,suitableforsuchproperties.

W.A.S.Bensonisregardedasaleadingdesigneroftheartsandcraftsmovementandisrenownedforhisartmetalware,inparticularoil,gasandelectricallightfittings.TheChristopherHydeBensonnewcollectionoftwotablelampsandawallfixtureisatributetoBenson’sstyleandmeetsthisdesireforquality,smallerfittings.Allaremadefromcastbrassinbespokefinishesandglassshades.

Likewise,thecurrentwoesofoureconomyarewidelydiscussed,andwithnoquickfixinsightsomehavedecidedtoinvestinpropertyratherthanwatchtheirsavingslanguishinthebankgeneratinglittleinterest.Purchasingaperiod,countryhomeisonesolutionandmyexperienceisthatnewowners,includingoverseaspurchasers,arelookingtoinvestintheirpropertyandaddvaluebyre-instatingoriginalfeatures,includingperiodlighting.

Theinteriordesign,particularlythesoftfurnishings,willofteninfluencethefinishandstyleoflightfittingschosen.Overthelastyearwehaveseenagradualshiftawayfromthedarkbronzeandpewterlightfittingfinishes,whichworksowellwithrichlytonedfabricsandwallpapers,andinsteadlightergold,silverplateandsoft,warmbronzefinishesareinvogue,whichcomplementthemoredelicatetonesofsomeofthenewcollections.

Theclassicallightingsectormaywellhaveitsfeetfirmlyinthepast,butIbelieveitssuccessliesinitscontinuedversatility,whichensuresitremainsintunewithcurrentstyletrends.q

•Christopher Hyde has a classical lighting showroom at Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. He also accepts special commissions. For further information call 0207 351 0863 or visit www.christopherhyde.com.

Oneofthebiggestusersofenergyinanyhistoricbuildingorchurchisthelighting.Inmuseumsinparticularthelightingisanintegralpartoftheexperience,sowhen

lookingatenergysavingsinthelightingitisessentialtokeeptheeffect.

Oneofthesimplestandmostcost-effectivewaysofreducingtheenergyusedinlightingisthe‘retrofitting’ofexistinglightingwithmoreefficientbulbs.TheNationalTrustisattheforefrontofthisprocess,withitssupplierLightingServices.TworecentretrofitprogrammeswerecarriedoutatQuarryBankMillinCheshireandtheFoxTalbotMuseuminWiltshire.BothsawincandescentbulbsreplacedwithLED’s,cuttingpowerconsumptionbyaround80%andpayingforthemselvesinundertwoyears.

EleanorUnderhill,QuarryBank’sGeneralManagerisquotedas

saying:“TheNationalTrustiscommittedtoloweringitscarbonfootprint–bothhereatQuarryBankMillandatallourplacesandspacesacrosstheUK.Measuressuchasswitchingoffelectricalappliancesandlightswhenthey’renotneededseemsimple,butarethefirststeptowardsconservingtheenergyweuse.”

ModernLEDbulbswerealsousedbyForgeEuropaforaprojecttolighttheornatealtarofStMary’sRCchurchinUlverston.TheincreasedlongevityoftheLED’salsohadahealthandsafetyimplication,astheywouldnotneedchangingforanumberofyearsandarehighupintheceiling.q

Changing a bulb could save the planet

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Lighting Dynamics complete another stunning church lighting project

Hehasfoundthatcustomersareincreasinglylookingforsomeonewiththeflairandexperiencetoprovideaqualitylightingdesign,whilstalsospecifyingtopgradelightingequipmentandcontrolsthatwillprovidelongevityandreliabilityfortheirrespectiveproject.q

•For further information on the services offered, contact Lighting Dynamics UK on 0121 323 2926 or visit www.lighting-dynamics.co.uk.

LightingDynamicsUK,basedinSuttonColdfield,WestMidlands,hasrecentlydesignedandcompletedthe

installationofyetanotherstunninglightingprojectforthemagnificentandsumptuousinteriorofStAugustineofHippoChurchinEdgbaston,Birmingham.

StAugustine’s,aGradeII*building,hasbeenasplendidVictorianlandmarkatthecentreoftheConservationAreathatbearsitsnamesincethechurchwasfirstconsecratedin1868.

GerryBrowneofLightingDynamicssaystheinteriorlightingupgradeatStAugustine’sprovidedarealchallenge,especiallyintermsofthecorrecttypeandlevelsofilluminationforboththechurch’smagnificentarchitecturalandecclesiasticalfeatures.

WorkingcloselywithkeymembersofthePCC,theDAC,theChurchArchitect,EnglishHeritageandBirminghamVictorianSociety,Gerryworkedthroughallofthedetailsandafinallightingdesignsolutionevolved.

Thefinallightingdesignincludedavarietyofallmodern,longlifeandenergysavinglightsourcesincludingLED’s,ceramicmetalhalideandlowvoltagetungsten,allofwhicharelinkedtoauniqueandbespokelightingcontrolssystem.

Theselightsourcesarelinkedtoaqualityrangeofappropriatearchitecturallightfittingsallwiththecorrectopticsandtheabilitytotakeacompleterangeoflightingaccessories,suchasanti-glarelouvres,spreadlenses,etc.

TheclientandalloftheprojectteamaredelightedwiththefinalresultwhichwasfurthercelebratedwithagrandopeningceremonybytheLordMayorofBirmingham.

LightingDynamicscontinuetoofferatotallyindependent,unbiasedlightingdesignandconsultancyserviceand,whererequired,supplyofallassociated/specifiedlightingequipment.

Thecompanyhasanumberofveryprestigiouschurchlightingprojectscurrentlyinprogresswithafurthersignificantnumberatadvancedstagesofplanninganddesign.

GerryBrownebelievesthatthisisaveryexcitingtimeinthefurtherdevelopmentofchurchlightingespeciallywithsuchagreatanddiverserangeofmodernlightsourcesnowcomingonstream.

34

Ventrolla Lancashire is renovating the 630windows of the Port of Liverpool Buildingas part of a year long project to restore

the historic property to its original glory. The Grade II* listed building was built in the

early 1900’s and makes up one third of the‘Three Graces’ based at Liverpool’s Pier Head,a World Heritage Site. It was damaged duringthe Blitz in 1941 and is currently undergoingmajor internal and external restoration work byowner Downing.

The building is home to some of the mostprestigious companies in Merseyside, includingRathbones investment bank, and is thelargest project ever undertaken by VentrollaLancashire.

The windows have been upgraded usingthe Ventrolla Perimeter Sealing System (VPSS),which has been tested to 600 Pa, the equivalentto winds of 71 mph, and achieves Class 3 ofBS 6375-1.

Richard Ellis, managing director of VentrollaLancashire, said: “At Ventrolla we arecommitted to renovating historic buildings in away that allows them to retain their characterand be energy efficient.

“The Port of Liverpool Building is a strikinglandmark on the Liverpool riverside and we aredelighted to play our part in its regeneration.”

Ian Orton, a director of Downing, said:“Ventrolla’s work is part of a £10 millionrestoration programme that Downing isundertaking to restore the Port of LiverpoolBuilding to its former glory and enhanceits appeal as a contemporary office space.The building is the jewel in the crown of

Ventrolla graces Liverpool Docklands

Liverpool’s World Heritage waterfront and weare committed to safeguarding its history whilelooking to its future.”

• With its national headquarters in Harrogate, Yorkshire, Ventrolla was established in 1986 and operates via a national network of regional offices. For further information contact Alan Bell or Charlie Glover at Ventrolla Limited on 01423 859323 or visit www.ventrolla.co.uk.

The Port of Liverpool Building’s 630 windows are being renovated by Ventrolla Lancashire

Diocese goes greener with recycled window decision

The Diocese, which coversHampshire, Bournemouth, EastDorset and the Channel Islands, isworking with Andover-based KJMGroup. It will replace the windowsusing the advanced ‘Infinity’ frameprofile from VEKA plc, which isidentical in looks and performanceto the conventional product.

KJM is a strong supporter of theuse of recycled windows. Earlierthis year, the company enlisted thehelp of snooker legend Steve Davisto install the first ever recycled PVC-U window to go into a UK privatehouse, for a family in BishopsWaltham, Hants. Steve also worksas the public face of the trade

organisation Network VEKA, of which KJM is a member.

• For further information please contact KJM Group on 01264 359355 or visit www.kjmgroup.co.uk.

The Church of EnglandDiocese of Winchesteris to go over to recycled

PVC-U windows for all futurereplacements in its 250 clergyhouses.

Diocese houses managerChris Mariner said the decisionwas in direct response to theclergy themselves, as wellas the body’s environmentalofficer, who asked about greenalternatives.

“We know the benefits ofPVC-U but they were not keenon the conventional product.As soon as we heard about therecycled frames, they had noobjection at all and we were very happy to commit ourselves to thechange. We have also asked for all new windows to be ‘A’ Rated aswell as having more energy-efficient boilers so we will be saving onfuel use as well.”

35

The quintessential style for windows in heritage buildings is the sashwindow. Essentially a sash window is any window comprising twosets of glass panels – or sashes – which slide vertically in opposite

directions to open, although the earlier, Yorkshire light style movedhorizontally.

The word ‘sash’ is thought to derive from the French chassis (frame),although the windows we see today owe their development to the prolificEnglish inventor Robert Hooke. Hooke’s interest in gravity and watchmechanisms led him to devise a method of counterbalancing the sashesthat prevented them crashing to the floor. The first examples appeararound 1690. The other distinctive feature is the box that encases theframes and the mechanism.

It was in the Georgian period that they begin to develop theirdistinctive look, with eight panes becoming six, then four. As the windowsize grew the glazing bars shrunk to the elegant sight that graces manya Georgian townhouse today.

The Victorians further reduced the number of panes to one overand one under. They added the familiar ‘horns’ that typically appeardecorative but are entirely practical.

As one modern manufacturer of traditional sash windows, Bygone,explains: “The Victorians introduced horns in the 1850’s to prevent thesash weights from damaging window frames as sash windows gainedextra weight from thicker and heavier plate glass.”

Boxford window ‘oldest in country’

What is thought to be the oldestworking wooden window in Englandwas discovered during repair work

at St Andrew’s Church in Boxford, Berkshire,in 2010.

The discovery was made by architect AndrewPlumridge of Peter Scott and Partners, whenhe removed sections of cement that had beenadded ‘inappropriately’ during the courseof earlier repairs. The window was foundembedded in the wall, revealed after perhapscenturies. It consists of a frame complete witha hinged wooden panel dating from the Saxonperiod.

Andrew commented at the time: “Both thechurch and village are delighted with the find,especially as we believe there are, at most,just three others in the country – and this couldcertainly be the oldest. It raises the status ofthe church and confirms other Saxon evidencearound the chancel.

Church warden Mike Appleton declared:“We’ve always suspected the chancel end of

the church may be Saxon and the discoveryof this window proves it. The church itself is asimple building and to find something like thisputs us on the map.”

Andrew added: “At Peter Scott and Partnerswe are now delighted to be able to say,officially, that we have worked on buildingsspanning more than 1,000 years!”

Matthew Slocombe of SPAB, of whichAndrew is a member and which reported thefind at the time, commented: “We were hugelyexcited when Andrew told us of his discovery.This is such a rare and unusual find. It is agreat privilege to be able to see the workof a Saxon craftsman who lived more than1,000 years ago. It’s a delight to see that atraditional, wooden, hand-crafted window canstand the test of time more than a millenniumafter its construction.

“At SPAB we would love to hear from anyonewho thinks they have found an earlier, woodencrafted window.”

To date that has not happened.

Any old iron? Not any more

One type of historic window that islikely to disappear from our builtheritage over time is the wrought-

iron casement window. Dating from Tudortimes these were side-hung with small lightsheld together with lead cames inside theiron frame.

Sadly, with the closure of all themanufacturers of wrought iron in thecountry, steel or flat iron is the onlyreplacement option. For that reasonconservation bodies and authorities such asCADW in Wales recommend the repair ofsuch windows rather than their replacement.

In its guide to routine maintenance,CADW states: “Metal windows are ofconsiderable historic interest and should berepaired, rather than replaced.”

Even the later, hot-rolled steel of theArt Deco and Modernist movements havebeen replaced “without a second thought”,according to CADW.

A Georgian house – picture courtesy of Andrew Dunn ©

Traditional box sash windows are making a comeback

Today many older non-cherished homes are being retro-fittedwith sash windows, and there are a number of specialists who stillmanufacture and install the real thing.

It is not only ‘grand’ houses that are reverting to sash windows:many rows of Victorian terraces and factory cottages are beingrestored to their early charm in towns and villages across thecountry.

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Gradus provides Wetherby Methodist Church with a divine flooring solutionGradus has supplied Genus carpet and Boulevard 6000 secondary barrier matting to Wetherby Methodist Church, as part of a refurbishment project.

WetherbyMethodistChurchislocatedinthecentreofWetherbyandisusedbythelocalcommunityforchurchservices,activitiesandfunctions.InJune2011,thechurchcompletedamajor

refurbishmenttoitsentrancearea,maincongregationareaandstaircases.Gradus’GenuscarpetandBoulevard6000secondarybarriermatting

wereinstalledinthenewlyrefurbishedchurch,helpingtocreateafreshandcontemporaryenvironmentforvisitors.

ThemaincongregationareaofthechurchwasrefurbishedwithGenuscarpetinAncientRuby(red)whichwaschosentocomplementtheelegantandmoderndesignoftheinterior.Inthereceptionarea,GenuscarpetinBlackForest(grey)wasinstalledtocreateacleanandwelcomingenvironment.

Inaddition,Boulevard6000secondarybarriermattinginShadow(grey)wasinstalledintheentrancearea,helpingtoremovetrackedindirtandmoisture.TheperformancebenefitsofBoulevard6000secondarybarriermattinghelptoprolongthelifecycleofthesurroundingcarpetandhelpmaintaintheaestheticsofthebuilding.

Rev.SteveBarlow,MinisteratWetherbyMethodistChurch,said:“We'rereallypleasedwithGenusinthemaincongregationareaofthechurch.Notonlyisitinkeepingwiththechurch’sdécor,itisalsohardwearingandeasytocleanandmaintain.

“Inaddition,wewantedtospecifyproductswhichhelptocreateawelcomingandcomfortableenvironmentforourvisitors.Genuscarpetprovidesexcellentacousticpropertieswhichhelptoprovideaquietandpeacefulenvironment.”

KarenBurman,ProductManagerforGradusFloorcoverings,said:“OurGenuscarpetrangeissuitableforavarietyofcommercialinstallationsandisavailableincutpileconstructionintile,broadloomandimperviousformats,inawidechoiceofcolours.ItwastheidealchoiceforWetherbyMethodistChurch,asnotonlyisitextremelyeasytocleanandmaintain,butthechosencolourscomplementtheinteriorofthechurchperfectly.”

GenuscarpetisproducedwithMarquesayarn,whichisinherentlyresistanttostainingandfadinganddoesnotrequireanyharmfultopicaltreatments.TheuniquecleaningbenefitsofMarquesahelptoreducemaintenancecostsandimprovethelifecycleperformanceofthecarpet.Theextendedlifecycleperformancehelpspreventearlydisposal,reducingunnecessarywastesenttolandfill,whichasaresult,benefitstheenvironmentandprovidesamoresustainablelifecycleplan.

GenuscarpetandBoulevard6000secondarybarriermattinghavebeenawardedthehighestgreenguide‘A+’ratingundertheBRE’scertifiedenvironmentalprofilescheme.q

•For further information on the full range of floorcoverings available from Gradus, contact Gradus technical support on 01625 428922 or visit www.gradusworld.com.

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ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION ARCHAEOLOGY

ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK

BAFRA

ARCHITECTS

ARCHITECTURAL JOINERY

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BELLS

BESPOKE JOINERY

BIRD PROOFING

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BLACKSMITHS

ARCHIVE STORAGE

ASBESTOS

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CHURCH HEATING

CANDLES

CARVERS

MASTER CARVERS ASSOCIATION

BUILDING SERVICES

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DISABLED ACCESS

DAMP PROOFING

CONSERVATION BUILDERSCONSERVATION

CLOCKS

YORK CONSORTIUM FOR CONSERVATION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

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ELECTRICAL CONSULTANTS

ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

EXHUMATION SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

FENCING

FURNITURE

LANDSCAPING

GUILD OF MASTERCRAFTSMEN

JAPANESE KNOTWEED

EARTHING

FIREPLACES

LEADED LIGHTS

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LEADWORK

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LCA

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LIGHTNING PROTECTION

LIGHTING & SOUND

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LIME

THE STEEPLEJACK AND LIGHTNINGPROTECTION TRAINING GROUP

LOGISTICS

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MEMORIAL FIXINGS

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PLASTERERS

ROOFING

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FTMRC

ROOF TILES

SASH WINDOWS

SCAFFOLDING

SCULPTURAL METALWORK

SECONDARY GLAZING

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SOUND SYSTEMS

SIGNS

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STONE

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TRAINING

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WEB DESIGN

WROUGHT IRON

WORSHIP

WINDOW REFURBISHMENT

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