�

�

�

Richard Shepherd – Business Development Manager Tel: 0161 850 1684 Mob: 07913 740380 Email: richard@dmmonline.co.uk

All other enquiries: Tel: 0161 850 1680 Fax: 0161 850 091861 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.

c o n t e n t s

1DKK

25

�

27

13

5 BattlingtimeatChester Castle

9 ExploretheWalls–The ChesterPorticoproject

11 RomanAmphitheatre getstheworksasancient monumentisbrought

backtolife

13 StockpoortPlaza’s restoration

SpecialFeature...

RestoringCheshire’sHeritage

Features...TRAINING20 Dedicatedtoourbuiltheritage21 Heritageconstruction–accesstotraining22 WilliamMorrisCraftFellows201122 Changesintheplanningsystem23 NewHeritageSAPinroofinglaunched24 Ploughcroft’saward-winningways

THE ROOFING AWARDS 201125 Winnersannounced25 Challengingwindmillproject

PARKS AND GARDENS26 Caringforourhistoricparksandgardens27 HeritageTrees29 Casestudy–Covenanter’sOak30 Craneuseaidsperformanceandsafety31 Environmentalresponsibilitybringsmajorcontracts32 Treemanagementinchurchyards–newtechnology

aidshistoricsites

PEST CONTROL34 Wasps–socialinsects?

LIME36 BuildingLimesForum2011Conference37 Limecretesolutions38 Threeimportantproductsforbuildingconservation

fromtheAngliaLimeCompany

FPDC PLASTERERS’ AWARDS39 FPDCPlasterers’Awards–callforentries39 Challengingprojectearns2010awardforHayles

andHowe

ASBESTOS43 AsbestosinBuildings

Also in this issue...19 Futureiscastforheritageprojects33 ToursresumeatoneofEngland’sfinestJacobean

houses35 2011WoodAwardsshortlistannounced40 StAsaphCathedralgetstheRosehillmakeover40 Revivingredundantchapels41 TLXhelpsexposeGradeIIvirtues44 Newlifeforhistorichall44 Howgreenisyourmuseum?54 FarfromgreyatAstley!

39

Church & Heritage Supplies – Classified Section p45

�

Res

tori

ng C

hesh

ire’

s H

erita

ge EnglishHeritageisembarkingonaprojecttofindouthowmuchofthecountry’sindustrialheritageisatrisk

ofneglect,decayorevendemolitionandtoraisethedebateaboutwhatneedssavingandhow.ItwillrevealtheresultsofitsIndustrialHeritageatRiskresearch,includingwhatthepublicthink,inOctoberthisyear.

HenryOwen-John,RegionalDirectorforEnglishHeritageintheNorthWest,said:“AlderleyOldMill,theLeadShotToweratBroughton,QuarryBankMillatStyal,Macclesfield’sSilkMuseumsandtheAndertonBoatLiftatNorthwicharesomeofCheshire’sbestknownandbestlovedlandmarks.Everywhereonelooksinthiscountytherearetextilemills,canals,railways,warehouses,brickworks,breweriesandotherremainsoftheIndustrialRevolution.

”Butmuchofthisheritageisnowatriskandthecurrenteconomicclimateisn’thelping.Ownersarefindingithardtolookaftertheneedsoftheirbuildingsaswellastheirbusinesses.Developersarecautiousabouttakingonvacantindustrialbuildingsandpublicbodiesandregenerationagenciesarelessabletosupportschemesforre-use.”

InthisissueofEcclesiastical and Heritage Worldwetakealookatanumberofrestorationprojectswithinthecounty–somepre-datingtheIndustrialRevolutionbyquiteanumberofyears!–whichhaveprovedtobearesoundingsuccess.

TheChesterRenaissanceprogrammeofnewdevelopmentandcitycentreimprovementswillmakeChesteramustseeEuropeancityby2015.Therenaissancewillensurethecityisawonderfulplaceforpeopletolivein,workin,learnin,investinandvisit.ItwillgenerateanewprideinChester,improveperformanceforbusiness,attractinvestmentandshapethecityforthefuture.

Threeoftheprojectsarefeaturedindepth,startingwiththelatestphaseofconservationworkstoChesterCastlebyhistoricbuildingspecialistsRecclesiaLtd.

Explore the Walls,TheChesterPorticoproject,aimstodeliveroneofthebesthistoriccitytrailsinEurope,andiscurrentlyontracktobecompletedbytheendoftheyear.

Finally,Chester’sRomanAmphitheatre,aninternationallyrenownedancientmonumentsittingintheheartofthecity,hasbeenbroughtbacktolifecompletewiththepaintingofastunning3Dmuralonitsbackwallmakingthewholeprojectcomealive.

Elsewhereinthecounty,Stockport’sPlaza,anArtDecoSuperCinemabuiltin1932,hasbeenrestoredtoitsformergloryinaprojectmadepossiblebya£2mgrantfromtheHeritageLotteryFund.q

�

Battling time at

by JAMIE MOORE, Managing Director Recclesia Ltd

StationedattheedgeofChestercitycentre,likeasentrybattlingtime,standsChesterCastle.Thehistoryandimportanceofthislocationisperhapsnolongernoticedbythehundredsofshoppers,

touristsandbusinessmenwhopassbyitsgateseveryday,butthisbuildinghasplayedapivotalroleinthehistoryofournation.Battlesandwarshavebeenwonandlostonthesurroundingpavements,roadsandcarparks.MenhavefoughtanddiedhereforWales,forEngland,forRome.ThefaceofChesterhaschangedradicallysincethenandcontinuestodoso.Theprosperous,civilisedcitythatstandsbeforeustodayisafarcryfromtheplaceinwhichthecastlewasbuilt.OneonlyhastolookfiftyyardsacrosstheroadatthesparklingnewglassandsteelHQhoteldevelopmenttounderstandthischange.Whereourancestorsbuiltcolossalcastlesandcurtainwallstokeeppeopleout,weansweredhistorywithgiganticarchitecturalinvitationstocomeonin.

Thefirstcastle,largelyconstructedoftimber,wasbuiltonthissitein1069byorderofWilliamtheConqueror,butitwasontopofaRomanfortdatingfrom79ADoverlookingacrossingpointintheRiverDeebelow.Inthe1200’s,aprogrammeofbuildinginstonebeganatthecastleandtheearliestofthesebuildings,theAgricola’sTower,housesthechapelofStMarydeCastrowherewallpaintingsfromaround1220werediscoveredduringrestorationworkinthe1980’s.Therebuildingofthecastlecomplexinstonewasacceleratedin1237byHenryIIIwhocommissionedseveralofthebuildingsweseestandingtoday,includingtheHalfMoonTowerandthegiantmasonrydefensivewalling,some400minlength,bothofwhichwereincludedinthemostrecentphaseofconservationworkbyChesterbasedhistoricbuildingspecialistsRecclesiaLtd.

AlsoincludedintheconservationprojectwastherectangularbuildinghitchedontotheinnerfaceoftheHalfMoonTower,abuildingknownastheFrobisher’sWorkshops(from‘Refurbisher’,wheretherepairsforthearmourywereundertaken).Originally,thisbuildingwasbuiltforquiteadifferentpurpose.The1690’sborewitnesstosignificantmonetaryproblemsinEnglandthankstoyearsofwarwithFrancewhichresultedintheentirecoin-basedcurrencybeingmelteddownandreissued.In1696EdwardHalley(ofcometfame)establishedamintatthecastleinanefforttohelprefillthecountry’spurse.Themintdidnotlastlong,asthe1700’ssawsignificantchangeatthecastleastheCheshireRegimentmodifiedthefortificationsforcanonfireandaddedwhatwaswidelyregardedasoneofthemostsecureprisonsintheland.Themintbuilding,theonlybrick-builtbuildingstillremainingonthesitetoday,

wasturnedintothearmouryworkshopsandlateroninitshistoryitwaschangedagainintotheofficers’messroomswhenthesquarewindowswerepunchedthroughtheouterwallsoftheadjoiningHalfMoonTowerbytheMinistryofDefence.

TheMODlefttheCastleinthe1980’sbywhichpointthebuildingswereinafairlymuddledstate.ThemilitaryfunctionofthebuildingshadtakenprecedentovertheircareasahistoricalartefactandEnglishHeritagewereleftwiththetaskoftryingtodecipherthesignificanceofeachpartofthecastlecomplex.Theinnercourtyardhadbeenfilledwithavarietyofsemi-permanentbuildings,sothetaskofstrippingtheseawaytorevealsomesemblanceoftheoriginalfabriccannothavebeeneasyatall.Sincetheearly1990’s,EnglishHeritagehascommissionedseveralphasesofworktoconserveandconsolidatetheoriginalfabric.ThelatestofthesewasPhaseVI,a£160,000pluscontractwhollycommissionedandfinancedbyEnglishHeritage’sin-houseconservationfunds.TheprojectencompassedtheHalfMoonTowerandtheFrobisher’sWorkshop.Havingbeeninvolvedinseveralofthepreviousphasesofworkatthecastle,ithastobesaidthatthiswasoneofthemostcomplextodate.

TheHalfMoonTowerandtheFrobisher’sWorkshoparetheonlytwobuildingsremainingthatformpartofthedefensivewallingofthecastleitself.Theyarejoinedtoeachotherquitecrudelyandbuiltusingcompletelydifferentmaterialsatverydifferentpointsintime.TheHalfMoonTowerwasbuiltusinginconsistentqualityofstoneandtheweatheringcharacteristicschangebyelevation.TheFrobisher’sWorkshopisbrick-builtandfailingfacingbrickswerecoveredoverinthelastcenturywithahardcementbasedmortar,whichonlyexacerbatedtheinitialproblems.Bothbuildingshavesufferedquiteunapologeticmodificationstotheiroriginallayoutandbothhadsufferedtheconsequencesoffailingroofs.TheobjectiveofPhaseVIworkswas

Chester Castle

�

�

MikeBattersandhisapprenticeBenAustin.ThethreetrussesweresupportedusinglargewheelbarrowtypesupportswhichtransferredtheforcesexertedbytheroofbackontotherepairedwallplatesabovethethirteenthcenturymasonryoftheHalfMoonTower.Itwasasimpleprinciple,butonewhichworkedbeautifullyfromthemomenttheproppingbelowwasremoved.Thespinebeamwasgivenadditionalsupportfrombeneathwiththeinstallationofalargesteelstanchion.

Asthetimberrepairsandstructuralworkswerecompleted,theroofbegantogobackonandworkbeganontheconservationworktothemasonryoftheHalfMoonTower.Theproblemswiththemasonrywereseveral-fold,exacerbatedbythefactthatstoneofvaryingqualityhadbeenusedintheoriginalconstructionofthecastle.Itispossiblethatsomeofthismayhavebeenduetoapossiblerebuildingofthetoweratsomepointinitsdistantpast,butthereisnodocumentaryevidencetosupportthistheory.Recclesia’smasonryconservationspecialistGeoffMooreandarchitectRobGreen,ofArrolandSnellShrewsbury,carriedoutadetailedinspectionofthemasonryandascheduleofrepairsrequiredtoeachstonewasdrawnup.RecclesiastonemasonGordonMarshwastaskedwiththeintricatejobofthedelicate

The castle buildings prior to works

Left to right: Completed lime render to the Frobisher’s Workshop; The new roof and leadwork with rebuilt parapets and new copings; High level works complete to the Half Moon Tower

torepairtheexternalenvelopeofbothbuildings,alongwithinternalstructuralworkandtimberrepairs.ThebuildingsareGradeIlistedandScheduledAncientMonumentsmeaningthattheworkhadtobeofthehigheststandardandthatthecraftsmenandwomeninvolvedintheprojecthadtounderstandtheconservationthinkingbehindtheapproachtoeventhemostminorrepair.Aswellasthesafetybriefingsonsite,givenbyCPSLtdofShrewsbury,staffweregivenahistorylessonexplainingthebackgroundandimportanceofthecastlebuildings.RecordswerealsoextremelyimportantandarchaeologistBlairPoole,ofLPArchaeologyinChester,wasdraftedintoundertakeadetailedsurveyofthebuildingsfromtoptobottom.

AverycarefullydesignedscaffoldingwaserectedinSeptember2010,wrappingitselfaroundtheHalfMoonTowerwhilststandingonthesteepslopeoftheouterbailey.Thestrippingoftheslatesandleadsheetroofareaswasthefirstitemprogrammed,revealingafairlysubstantialproblemwiththerooftimberswhichwerefoundtobeinamuchpoorerstatethanoriginallyanticipated.Worsewasthefactthatthethreelargetrussessupportingtheroofsabovebothbuildingswerefoundtobestructurallyunsoundandrapidproppingworkwascarriedouttopreventtheircatastrophicfailure.Liftingofthefloorsinternallyalsorevealedthattheenormouseightmetrespinebeam,whichranthelengthofthebuildingfromthemedievalmasonryofthedefensivewallsintotheFrobisher’sWorkshop,wasalsoquiteseriouslyunsound.Further,manyoftherooftimbers–rafters,wallplatesandpurlins–werealsoinabadwayduetowateringress.Allinall,thejoinerswerefacedwithaverydifficulttaskofnotonlyretainingasmuchoftheoriginalfabricaspossiblebysplicingnewtoold,butdoingitinacarefullyplannedsequencesoasnottocausethewholesalecollapseoftheroofstructure.

Asthejoineryrepairsbeganuptop,thetaskofcarefullyremovingthecementrenderfromthealreadydelicate1696brickworkbeneathbegan.Thiswasapainstakingprocesstakingmanyweeks,asthefacesofthebrickssimplyfelltopiecesastherenderwasdrawnaway–awelldocumentedresultofcementrenderbeingusedto‘solve’problemswithbrickwork.Theconditionofthebricksbeneathwassuchthatoverfourhundredindividualbrickshadtobereplaced.Eachirreparablebrickwascarefullycutoutbyhandandanewoneslottedinuntileachelevationwassoundenoughtoacceptanewrendercoating.Thistime,therenderwaslimebasedandthrough-colouredonsiteusingthreecoatsofcarefullygaugedmixesofnaturalhydrauliclimeandsands.Recclesia’splasterworkspecialistMatthewBunnwasresponsiblefortendingtothiselementofthework,whichwascarriedoutwhilstworkingaroundfairlycoldconditions.Thismeantcocooningthescaffoldingandwrappingupthefreshlyappliedworkwithoutrestrictingairflow.Hisdedicationtothetaskintendingtotherendersevendaysaweek,oftenuntillateintothenight,meantthatthefrostwaskeptatbayandtherenderallowedtodryattherightrate.

FollowinglengthydiscussionswithEnglishHeritagestructuralengineerStuartEllis,adesignwasproducedfortheinsertionofthreestainlesssteelsupportstotherooftrusses,whichwerefabricatedoffsiteandthenexpertlyinstalledbyRecclesia’smetalworkspecialist

�

Unit 3, St. Ives Way, Sandycroft, Chester CH5 2QSTel: +44 (0)1244 906 002 Fax: +44 (0)1244 906 003Email: admin@reccles ia.com www.reccles ia.com

Left to right: The lime render under wraps; The Frobisher’s Workshop as the cocoon was stripped; Half Moon Tower roof timbers requiring repair and replacement

conservationworktothemasonrywhichrequiredextensivedescaling,pinning,indenting,weather-sheddingand,insomeareas,replacementofashlarbacktoitsoriginalplane.Themasonryconservationexercisewasfollowedbyageneralschemeofre-pointingusinganhydrauliclimemortar.

Astheworkscametogetherandthecomplexscaffoldingwasdroppedfromtheoutsideelevationofthecastle,thesadfrowningfaceoftheHalfMoonToweronshowbeforeworkswasfinallychasedaway,revealingabuildingwhichlookedmuchproudertobestillstanding.AstheworkstotheinnerelevationsdrewtoacloseandtherenderedelevationsoftheFrobisher’sWorkshopswereunwrappedfromtheirwintercocoon,astrikinglycharmingbuildingemergedintothespringsunshine.Withthebuildinghavingbeensothoroughlycoveredupforsolong,eventheteamwhohadbeenworkingatthesitedayindayoutwereastonishedbytheimmediatetransformationthattookplaceduringthefinalfewdaysoftheproject.Further,theentirecomplexofbuildingsinsidethecastlewallsseemedtobeliftedatthesametime,makingmoresenseofthehistoricsiteasawhole.

Today,thecastlestandsinastateofquietlimbo,butembryonicplansarebeingconsideredtofindanewuseforpartofthesiteanditiswithwellplacedandgenuineoptimismthatwe,asaChesterbasedcompanyandasCestrians,wishthisprocesswell.InacityasrichasChesterisinhistoricallysignificantassetsandattractions,thevalueof

thecastleinthisrespectisperhapsalittlediluted,butitisnonethelessanextremelyimportanttangiblerelicofEnglishandWelshmilitaryandsocialhistory.LIkemosthistoricstructuresthecastlewillrequirefurtherconservationworkintime,butthislatestphasehasbeenadecisivevictoryinthebattletoprotectthesiteasaproudreminderoftherichhistoryChesterenjoys.q

•Jamie Moore oversees a team of highly skilled craftsmen and women at Chester-based company Recclesia Ltd, specialising in the conservation and repair of historic buildings with in-house skills including stonemasonry, lime mortars, metalwork and stained and leaded glass.

ManythankstoJeffreyThomaset.al.ofCastlesofWalesonline-http://www.castlewales.com/home.html-forthehistoricalinformation.

�

Explore the Walls The Chester Portico project

ThereisnobetterwaytoappreciateChester’swonderfulheritagethantowalkitsmagnificentCityWalls.ThisScheduled

AncientMonument,whichisofinternationalimportance,istheonlycompletecitywallcircuitinBritainandhasarichandeventful2,000yearhistory.Legendhasitthaton24thofSeptember1645,KingCharlesstoodonatower(nowbearinghisname)andwatchedhisarmydefeatedinthebattleofRowtonMoor.The4kmcircularrouteprovidesgloriousviewsofthecityandlinkstootherimportantheritagesitessuchastheRomanAmphitheatre,ChesterCastle,RiversideGrovesandChesterCathedral.

ThevisionforthePorticoExplore the Wallsprojectistodeliver‘oneofthebesthistoriccitytrailsinEurope’.Thisarticledemonstratesthecomprehensiveheritageinterpretationprocessthathasbeenundertakenandgivesatasteoftheprojectsthatwillresult.CurrentlytheprojectisatthedetaileddesignstageandisontracktobecompletedontimebyDecemberthisyear.

An exemplary approachExplore the WallsispartofaChester

Renaissanceprogrammetomakethecitya‘mustsee’Europeandestinationby2015.WithmyselfasLeadConsultant,ImagemakersproducedaHeritageInterpretationMasterplanforChesterin2009,providingastrategicframeworkfortellingChester’sdramaticstoryacrossthecity.Duringthisproject,PorticofundingwassecuredfortheCityWallsandTowers.

Research and EvaluationIn2010thePorticoCityWallsandTowers

projectbeganwithadetailedresearchandplanningstage,todeterminetheaims,themes,mediaandbudgetsfortheinterpretation.Thisworkwasundertakenincloseliaisonwiththeappointedarchitects,historicbuildingspecialistsDonaldInsallAssociates.

WeprofiledvisitorgroupstoidentifythetargetaudiencesandreferenceddatafromtheCompetitivenessStudyabouthowvisitorsusetheWallsandTowers.Wealsoidentifiedthephysical,intellectual,cultural,attitudinalandsensorybarriersthatimpactthevisitorexperience,andaremitigatingtheseasfaraspossible.Provisionforayoungeraudiencewasalsoanimportantconsideration.

Theresearchinvolveddetailedconsultationwithkeystakeholders,residents,businesses,schools,localgovernmentandpartneragencies.Inputwasalsogatheredfromexpertheritageandtourismstaff.

Thoroughresearchandconsultationensurestheinterpretationwillmeettheneedsofallusersandfitseamlesslywithotherhistoricalsitesand

thewiderinterpretationofChester.Theplanningprocessalsoelicitedaverypositiveresponseandasenseofownershipfromstakeholders,whichhashadrealbenefitsastheprojectbecomesimplemented.

Theresearchprovidedtheinformationweneededtoestablishthestrategicaimsfortheinterpretation.Italsohelpedusidentifythemainthemesandstories.Theaimsaretopromotethewallsasanenjoyableyetflexibleroutearoundthecity,toencouragevisitorstodiscovermore,tocreatea‘wow’factor,toincreasecivicpride,tohelpraisetheprofileofthewallsandtheireconomicvalueandtoensuretherearestronglinkageswithotherimportantsitesinChester.ThemaininterpretivethemecentresonChesterasahistoricregionalstrongholdandtheroleoftheWallsandTowersfor‘defence,protection,powerandcontrol’,as‘alivingmonument’andasanexciting‘routetoexplore’thecity’sheritageoffer.

TheInterpretationPlanalsospecifiedemotional,behaviouralandlearningobjectivestobedeliveredbytheinterpretation,frommakingvisitorsfeelamazedtoensuringtheycanfindtheirwayaroundeasily.

Projects to be implementedTheInterpretationPlandetailsarangeof

interpretationprojectsthatwillmeettheneedsofawideaudience.

Map-basedorientationpanels,producedinhardwearingvitreousenamel,willenablevisitorstofindtheirwayaround.Interpretationpanelsinenamelledlavastone,anaturalmaterial,willtellsitespecificstoriesatkeylocationsandincludezincrubbingplatesforchildren.Acuttingedgesmartphoneapp,withastronggamingelement,CGIanimationsandhighdefinitionAVsequences,willtargetthosecomfortableusingnewmedia.Abeautifullydesignedguidebookwillalsobeproducedforthosewholikeamoretraditionalbutcontemporarilystyledwayofaccessinginformation.

Anaugmentedrealitydigitalbinocularviewpoint,thefirstofitskindintheUK,willtakevisitorsbackintime,revealinglayersofhistorywhenthelandscapewasdramaticallydifferent.Thematicartsinstallations,conceivedbyartistPatriciaMacKinnonDay,willvisuallytaketheroofoffatower,introduce‘wishes’intothepublicrealm,provideareflectiverestingpointandrelatetoatruestoryofromanceandescape.

WewillalsoinstallareplicaCivilWarcanononanoldgunbatteryplatform,andcreateimmersiveaudioexperiencesandmedievalbackdropsinsomeoftheTowers.

Anewwebsiteisalsoindevelopmentandthiswillbeintegraltothepromotionoftheexperience.Itwillactadigitalhub,enabling

by David Masters, Lead Consultant, Imagemakers Interpretive Design and Consulting

visitorstofindoutmorepreandpostvisitandlinktootherChesterheritageandtourismon-linefacilities.

Conclusion

Bytakingarobust,research-basedandthoroughlyconsultedapproachtoplanningtheinterpretation,theprojectteamhavebeenabletodeviseacoherentandcompellingschemethathasthesupportofawiderangeofpartnersandstakeholders.

Weareconfidenttheresultinginterpretationwillsignificantlyenhancethevisitorexperienceand,togetherwiththearchitecturalinterventions,successfullydeliverthePorticoambitionforChester.Wehopethathisimpactcanthenbequantifiedasclearevidenceofthebenefitsofinvestinginandusingarchaeologyandthebuiltheritageforeconomicdevelopment.q

•Imagemakers Interpretive Design and Consulting: tel 01837 840717; email davidm@imagemakers.uk.com; website www.imagemakers.uk.com

Reconstruction illustrations of the medieval Water Tower and Eastgate, commissioned as part of the Portico project

�

�0

��

HorticonLtd,theWilmslowbasedlandscapingcontractors,havecompletedanothersuccessfulheritageprojectwhichsawtherestorationoftheRomanAmphitheatreinChester.Due

totheobvioushistoricalimportanceofthesitetheyworkedcloselywiththesitearchaeologistthroughouttheproject,inparticularwhencarryingoutexcavationsandstonework.Atalltimesworkswerecarriedoutwiththeupmostcaretopreservethehistoryofthesite.

Nowthattheworkshavebeencompletedthepublicareabletoviewinterpretationsoftheromanwalls,whichwerelostinrecenttimes,andbenefitfromnewaccessroutesintotheheartoftheamphitheatre.Theprojecthasalsoenhancedtheviewingandseating

Roman Amphitheatre gets the works

facilitiesaroundthesite.Thisprojectreceiveda‘Commendation’fromtheCivicTrustatthe

‘NewYearsHonoursList2011’fortheexcellentworkundertakenattheAmphitheatre.

JohnSeiler,theLandscapeArchitect,saidhewas“verysatisfiedwiththeservicesprovidedbyHorticon”whoarepleasedtobeworkingwithJohnagainontheheritagerefurbishmentworkstoCommonhallStreetinChester.q

• For details on other projects Horticon have completed please visit their website www.horticon.co.uk or contact them at info@horticon.co.uk.

Ancient monument brought back to life

ChesterhasthelargestRomanamphitheatreinBritain,usedforentertainmentandmilitarytrainingbythe20thLegion,basedatthefortressof‘Deva’(Chester).Excavationsin2004-5revealedtwosuccessivestone-builtamphitheatreswithwoodenseating.Thefirstincluded

accesstotheuppertiersofseatsviastairsontherearwall,asatPompeii,andhadasmallshrinenexttoitsnorthentrance.Thesecondprovidedseataccessviavaultedstairways.Thetwobuildings

differedbothfromeachotherandfromallotherBritishamphitheatres,underliningtheimportanceofRomanChester.

Today,Chester’sRomanamphitheatreisashadowofitsformerglory,trappedwithinthemodernurbanlandscape.Itwasdifficulttopicturetheancientruinasthemajorcitylandmarkitwasmorethan1,600yearsago,butthishaschangedasaresultofasuccessfulrenovationproject.

RitaWaters,ChiefExecutiveofChesterRenaissanceisdelightedwiththeimprovementworks.Shesaid:“TheRomanAmphitheatreisaninternationallyrenownedancientmonumentthatsitsintheheartofourcity.WehavebeenworkingcloselywithEnglishHeritageandCheshireWestandChesterCounciltoensurethattheimprovementplansfortheamphitheatretrulyreflecttheheritageofthesiteand,moreimportantly,improvethetellingofthisfantasticstoryforallwhovisitthecityanditsamphitheatre.

“Theworkswillenabletheamphitheatretobebroughtbacktolifeasanopen-airvenueforconcertsandtheatricalperformancesaswellasamuchimprovedtouristdestination.”

Theimprovementstothesitehaveincludedimprovedaccessarrangements,qualitylandscapingandre-openingthevisitorwalkwayaswellasastunning3Dmuralonitsbackwallmakingthewholeprojectcomealive.q

��

Imagining the ChesterAmphitheatre

Ataround100meterswideand4metershightheblankretainingwalloftheChesterRomanAmphitheatrewasquiteadesignchallenge–andawardwinningartistGaryDrostle’slargest

muraltodate.Unfortunately,duetoin-situbuildings,onlyhalfofChester’sgiant

Romanamphitheatrewasexcavatedleavingthearenadividedinhalfbyanun-sightlyretainingwall.InamajorrefurbishmentofthesiteChesterRenaissancecommissionedGarytoimaginethatpartofthearenathatlies,stillburied,beyondthewall.Workingincloseco-operation

Completing the circle

withChesterarcheologistsandEnglishHeritage,Garycameupwiththistrompel’oeildesignthattracksthearenabackintimeasitdrawsawaytoitsfarside.Theportrayalofthearenarepresentsthemostuptodatearcheologicalevidenceandbringsthespacebacktolifeasafullellipticalarena.q

��

by David Watkins, Project Partner/Architect, Brock Carmichael Architects, Liverpool

ThePlazaisanArtDecoSuperCinemabuiltin1932bytheRead,SnapeandWardCircuitandissituatedinMerseySquareinthecentreofStockport.The1930’swastheGoldenAgeofcinema

withover4,800cinemasrecordedasbeinginexistenceatthattime.SilentmoviesweregivingwaytotalkiesandthePlazasitsonthecuspofthatrevolution,harkingbacktoitsoriginsintheatreandmusichall,butatthesametimelookingforwardwiththeverylatesttechnology.

ThePlazawasdesignedbyarchitectWilliamThornleyandwasbasedcloselyonthe1930DruryandGomersalldesignedRegalatAltrincham,butcompressedintoamuchsmallerfootprintduetothesizeandconstraintsoftheStockportsite.Thecompletedbuildingwasamajorconstructionalachievement.Some10,000tonsofrockwereremovedtoformthesteppedsiteandalmost1,000cubicyardsofconcreteplacedforfoundationsandretainingwalls.Amassivesteellatticebeam,spanningover75feetandweighingover22tons,wasinstalledtosupportanadjoiningroadwayunderwhichthebuildingpartiallyextends.

TheconstructionperiodlastedjusteightmonthsandthebuildingopenedtogreataccoladeinOctober1932boastingunparalleledrichness,splendouranddramaticvisualeffects.Externallywhitefaienceprovidedthebackclothforover300footofredandgreenneontubing.Internally,mouldedplasterwork,goldandsilverdecoration,richupholstery,aconcealed,sophisticatedandvariablelightingsystemandanilluminatedComptonorgancreatedanaweinspiringandvibrantexperience.

Itprovidedanescapemechanismfromeverydaylifeinthemostdramaticfashion.NothinglikethePlazahadbeenseeninStockportbeforeanditssuccesswasprovenbyprofitsinexcessof£5,000inthefirstyear.Modificationofthesteeplowercircleraketookplaceveryearlyinitshistorywithconsequentialalterationofthebalconyfrontandthestage,allimplementedwithoutdisruptiontothebusycinemaprogramme.

Theauditoriumwasshowingsignsofwearandtearbythepostwaryearsandwasrefurbishedintheearly1950’s.ThePlazacontinuedtosatisfytheentertainmentneedsofStockportbut,in1965,itwassoldtotheMeccaGroupforconversiontoabingohallagainstabackgroundofdwindlingaudiencenumbers,fewergoodfilms,stiffcompetitionfromnewercinemasandtheadvanceoftelevision.Aftersomeresistancetotheproposedchangeofuse,thebuildingopenedforbingoin1967.

Aprogrammeofremodellingoftheexteriorandinteriorofthebuildingwascarriedouttosupportthenewuse,presentafreshand‘modern’imageandrespondtomaintenancerequirements.Alterationsincludedremovaloftherooftiling,verandah,neonlightingandsignage

Plaza Restoration

��

totheexteriorofthebuilding,whilstinternallysignificantmodificationwascarriedouttothestallsarea,stage,café,foyers,lightinganddecoration.Theoriginalprojectionequipment,screen,fixturesandfittingsassociatedwiththecinemaandtheatreusewereremovedandareasnotrequiredforbingosealedtorestrictaccessandusage.

However,themodificationsbyMeccagenerallyrespectedandretainedtheoriginalfabricofthebuilding.Forinstance,theadditionalraisedfloorareawithinthestallswasachievedbynewconstructionovertheoriginalslopingtimberfloor.The‘modernised’caféwithflushwallsandtiledceilingwasachievedbytheadditionofnewwallliningsandasuspendedceilingundertheoriginalwalls,windows,joinerycomponentsandthedecorativeplasterceiling.RegularmaintenanceinspectionsandessentialrepairsanddecorativeworkstothoseinternalareasretainedinusewereultimatelytosafeguardthePlazaforfuturegenerationstoenjoy.

Somelossoftheoriginalmaterialsandcomponentsoccurredeitherasaresultofinappropriaterepairsorfailureofendoflifecycleexternalfinishesandreplacementwithalternativematerials.Forinstance,theoriginalfibrouscementtiledroofwasreplacedwithgreenmineralfelt.Cracked,damagedanddisplacedfaiencecomponentswererepaired

withcementmortarorreplacedwithwhiteceramictiles.Theverandah,neonlightingandsignagewereremovedandreplacedbyalesserandmorereadilymaintainablefacadetreatmentandalowlevelsignage/posterregime.Out-datedlightfittingswerereplacedwithnewfittingsandtheintroductionofmoderninternalfinishesinvariablydamageddecorativeplasterandobliteratedoriginaldecorativepaintfinishes.

Asthethreatofclosureofthebuildingagainloomed,thePlazawasidentifiedasthebestsurvivingSuperCinemainthenorthofEnglandandlistedGradeIIin1997.ItbecameoneofthelasttraditionalbingohallstocloseinAugust1998and,amidstconcernsforitssurvival,thebuildingwaspurchasedin1999bytheStockportPlazaTrust(acharitabletrustformedtosave,protect,re-openandoperatethePlaza)usingfundingprovidedbyStockportMetropolitanBoroughCouncil.

BrockCarmichaelArchitectswereappointedin1999,tocarryoutaConditionSurveyofthebuildingandevaluatetheworksrequiredtorestoreandrefurbishthePlaza.Selectedworksweresubsequentlycarriedouttofacilitatere-useofthebuildingasacinemaandtheatreandsatisfycurrentStatutoryRegulations.Thebuildingwasreopenedin2000bytheStockportPlazaTrustwithadedicatedteamofvolunteersandahandfulofpaidstaffwhosubsequentlyraisedfundsforadditional

��

repairworksandmanagedactivitieswithinthebuilding.Thepracticewasretainedfortherollingprogrammeofrepairworks,feasibilityandoptionappraisalstudies,HLFStage1andStage2applicationsandassociateddetaileddesignstudiesthroughtothefinalimplementationofthemajorrestorationschemein2009.

ThephilosophyfortherepairandrestorationofthePlazaisheritagebasedandconservationdriven.TheprincipalaimsandobjectivesoftheprojectwerepreciseandfocusedtoaccuratelyrestorethePlazatotheexternalandinternalsplendouroftheoriginal1932designwhilstrespondingtotheneedsofmodernaudiencesandperformerswithoutdetrimentallossoftheoriginalform,detailandcharacter.

TheDesignTeamwasestablishedandspecialistadvisorswereintroducedandco-ordinatedatanearlystagetoprovidesupportintheanalysisofhistoricmaterials,fixturesandfittings(plaster,fibrousplaster,paint,organ,Holophanelighting)andtheprovisionofbaseinformation(hazardousmaterials,drainage,measuredbuildingsurveys).AverycloseworkingrelationshipwasdevelopedandmaintainedwiththeclientwhobroughtawealthofknowledgeoftheArtDecoeraandassociateddetails.TheConservationPlanprovidedanunderstandingofthehistory,development,use,significance,issuesandvulnerabilitiesandconsequentlyalloweddevelopmentofappropriateconservationpoliciestoadviseonrestoration,adaptationandregeneration.Theconditionappraisaloftheexistingfabric,structure,fixturesandfittingsprovidedinformationontheoriginalconstructionanddetailtoadvisehowthebuilding‘fitted’together.ThebuildingwasupgradedtoGradeII*in2000followingreassessmentofthesurvivingstructure,fabric,componentsandfinishes.

Appropriaterestorationsolutionsweredevelopedtoretaintheoriginalfabricandaccuratelyreinstatedamagedorlostdetail.Adaptationstothefabricweredevelopedtomeetmodernandvarieddemandsforidentifieduses,whichweresympathetictothefabric,form,characterandsettingofthebuildingandcouldbejustifiedtostatutoryauthorities,EnglishHeritage,interestandamenitygroups,fundingorganisationsandthelocalcommunity.

Themostsignificantchallengewastheintroductionofnewfacilities(bars,kitchens,offices,additionalescapestaircases)andinclusionofnewandupgradedserviceswithoutlossofqualityorpresentationoftheoriginalformanddesign.Innovativesolutions(snifferpipedetectionsystemsforfiredetection,bespokeclampbracketstosteelsupports)weredevelopedintandemwithcloseattentiontodetailtoallowretentionoraccuraterestorationofhistoricfabricanddetail.Theprincipalobjectivewastheintegrationofnewelementswithoutdetrimenttotheoriginaldesigndetail.

Externally,theprincipalwhitefaiencefacadehasbeenrepaired,re-pointedandcleaned.Theoriginaldoorsandwindowshavebeenrefurbishedwhilstcontemporaryandinappropriatejoineryelementshavebeenreplacedtotheoriginaldetail,finishandcolour.Theilluminatedverandah,thedecorativeneontubing,thePLAZAsignageandtheposterboxeshavebeenreinstated.Thesecondarybrickfacadeshavebeenrefurbishedandtheassociatedjoinerycomponentsandrainwatergoodsrestoredtotheoriginaldetail.Themainpitchedroofhasbeenreturnedtotiledfinish,albeitusingfibrouscementtilesinlieuofasbestoscementtilesinresponsetohealthandsafetyrequirements.

Internally,thedilapidatedbasementareahasbeennominallyextendedandmodifiedtoprovideanewbarareawithasuiteoffullyaccessiblelavatories.Enhancedheating,ventilation,electrical,firedetection,sound,lightingandemergencylightingsystemshavebeenincorporated.Theinternaldetail,decoration,fixtures,fittings,finishesandtheHolophanelightingsystemhavebeencarefullyreinstatedasoriginal,albeitLEDlightinghasbeenincorporatedtominimisemaintenanceandaddressaccessandsafetyissues.Alifthasbeensensitivelyincorporatedwithintherestoredfoyerstoprovidefullaccesstothestallsarea,basementandtherestoredcaféatfirstfloorlevel.Thecaféhasbeenrestoredtoitsoriginalmagnificence.

Theendresultisanaccuratelyrestoredexteriorandinteriortothebuildingwithnewfacilitiesandserviceslocatedoutofviewtoensureaccurateinterpretationandexperienceofthisunique1930’sSuperCinema.TherestorationoftheSuperCinemahasbeencomparedtothequalityachievedinArtDecorestorationsinUnitedStates–theultimateaccoladewhichhasprovidedimmensesatisfactiontotheStockportPlazaTrustandreflectedthededicationandextraordinaryeffortexpendedbythefullProjectTeam.q

��

Stockport’s Plaza back in the pictures!

Theeye-catchingartdecofaçadeofStockportPlazamaybeamonumenttoabygoneagewhenthesilentmoviewaskingbutit’snowmakingplentyofnoisesaboutitsfutureasaSuperCinema

andVarietyTheatre!Openedin1932,thisdistinctivevenueintheheartofStockporthas

recentlyundergoneacomprehensive£3millionrefurbishmentfundedpredominantlythrougha£2milliongrantfromtheHeritageLotteryFundtogetherwith£650,000ofRegionalDevelopmentAgencymoney.TheworkhasincludedanimmenseamountofspecialistplasteringworkcarriedoutbyPudsey-basedOrnateInteriors.

ThePlazaservedasacinemauntilthemid1960’swhenitwasconvertedintoabingohallbytheMeccaGroupbeforefinallyclosingitsdoorsin1998.AyearlaterthebuildingwaspurchasedbytheStockportPlazaTrustandsawitslistedstatusupgradedtoII*byEnglishHeritage.It’soneofonlyahandfulofcinemasacrosstheUKtohavethisstatus.

JimDodd,contractmanagerforOrnateInteriors,explained:“Thishasbeenalongandchallengingprojectthatstartedinthespringof2009.Itinvolvedworkonnumerous,difficulttoreachhighceilingsandwalls,includingthemainauditorium.Wehad

tobecreativeastohowwematchedtoexistingplasterworkandreproducedsixdistinctiveArtexstylepatterns.

“Muchoftheplasterworkwasinaverypoorstate,havingbeenpatchedupatvariousstagesthroughoutitshistory,withplasteringonmanyofthestairwaysandceilingshavingcompletelydisappearedwiththebrickworkshowing.

“WetooksamplesoftheexistingplasterworkanditwasrevealedasalimeandgypsumsolutionoriginatinginBelgium.Thebriefmeantwehadtorecreateasclosetotheoriginalmixaspossibleandweoptedfortwocoatsofhairedlimeplasterfollowedbyafinishcoatof50%Knauf50%limeplaster.Priortotheapplicationonsite,testpatternswerecarriedoutinourworkshopsonnumeroussamplefinishcoatswiththissolutionachievingthemostappropriateresults.

“TheexistingceilingswerestrippedbacktotheoriginaltimberandreinstatedwithtraditionalLarchlathandthreecoatsofhairedlimeplasterincludingthespecialistlimeplasterpatternwhichmatchedtheoriginaldesign.

“Thedamagedandrottenareasofthefibrousplastermouldingsweretakenoffandsectionsandsqueezesoftheoriginalmouldingsweretakeninordertoreproducetheexactrequiredprofileandpattern.ThesewerethencastinourLeedsworkshop.

“Thenewsectionswerethentransportedtositeandfixedintherequiredlocationtoprovideaseamlessfinish,”addedJim.

Theexistingwallswerealsostrippedbackinasimilarfashiontotheceilingstorevealtheoriginalbackground,andwerethenreinstatedwiththreecoatsofhairedlimeplaster.

Intheauditoriumandfrontofhousearea,aswellasthestaircasesatthesideofthebuilding,manyceilingandwallareaswerereinstatedinasimilarfashion.Inadditiontwonicheheadswithinthefrontofhouseweremodelledinclayfromdrawingsandthenasiliconerubbermouldwasmanufacturedfromthemodel.Castswerethenmanufacturedfromthemouldandthetwoheadsinstalledonsite.

AnotherareaofthebuildinginneedofattentionwastherearoftheCafewallwhichrequiredthereproductionof3fibrousplasterniches.Jimwenton:“Abigissuewasthattherewerenolongeroriginalfeatureslefttocopyfortheniches.Theprojectarchitects

��

Stockport’s Plaza back in the pictures!

wereabletoproducearchitecturaldrawingsoftheoriginalnichesfromhistoricphotographs,wethenproducedafullsizedrawingofthenicheshaftandmanufacturedamouldfromthis.

“Theheadandbasedetailsweremodelledinclayfromdrawingsandasiliconerubbermouldwasthenmanufacturedfromthemodel.Castsweremanufacturedfromthemouldsandthethreeelementsofthenicheinstalledonsiteintopurposemaderecessesformedwithinthewalls,”headded.

Foundedin1989,OrnateInteriorsLtdworkonmanyoftheUK’smostrecognisedstatelyhomes,listedbuildings,hotels,churches,homesandtheatres.Theycurrentlyemploy18staff.

Afterninemonthsofwork,thebeautifullyrestoredPlazaauditorium,withitsgoldandsilverdecorativeplaster,openeditsdoorsinDecember2009,withthepantomimeSnowWhiteandtheSevenDwarfstakingtothestage.AtruefairytaleendingindeedforJimandtheteamfromOrnateInteriors!q

•For more details visit www.ornateinteriors.co.uk and www.stockportplaza.co.uk

��

OntheirappointmentasmaincontractorfortheStockportPlazarestorationcontract,GeoffreyEHolding,chairmanofGFHoldingsaid“Iamdelightedtobeworkingwiththe

StockportPlazaTrustontherefurbishmentoftheirGradeII*listedPlazaSuperCinema.TheGFinournamewasGeorgeFredrickHolding,mygrandfather,whofoundedthebusinessin1908and,unlikealmostallothercompaniesofoursizeinthisindustry,weremainfamilyownedtothisday.

“InDecember2008,wereceivedacallfromGaryTrinderoftheStockportPlazaTrusttoenquireifwewerethesamecompanythatplacedanadvertisementinthebrochuretocelebratetheopeningoftheStockportPlazainOctober1932.TheadvertwasforGFHoldingDecoratorswhowerebasedinBrooksBar,Manchester.Iwassurprised,butextremelyproud,tosaythatitwasindeedthesamecompanywhichatthetimewasrunbymyfather,FrankLeslieHolding.Variousmeetingsanddiscussionstookplacefollowingthatconversationwhichconcludedwithourcompanybeinginvitedtotenderfortheupcomingrestorationworkstothehistoriccinema,andultimatelyappointedtobemaincontractorfollowingasuccessfultenderbid.

“WhilstIenjoyedkeepingawatchfuleyeontheprojectdevelopment,therealfocus,alongwithourprofessionalconstructionteam,wasthroughSimonHolding,myson.Togetherwithmygroupofdirectors,Simonrecognisesthatanybusinessthathasrunsuccessfullyforover100yearswillonlystayatthetopthroughaconstantprocessofinnovation,clientfocusandmarketunderstanding.

“ToprécisarecentquotefromaformermanagingdirectorofOdeonCinemas–‘giventheir100yearhistory,therecanbenootherfirmintheUK,withthecollectiveknowledgeofcinemaandtheatrebuildingsasHoldings’.Withthecompanyhavingworkedonover25listedcinemas,inadditiontoTheOperaHouseandPalaceTheatreinManchester,the

IndigO2livemusicvenueattheO2DomeandtheOdeonLeicesterSquareaswellasnumerousnewcinemaprojectsthroughouttheUK,Iwouldliketoconcurwithhiscomments.

“ItwasapleasuretobringthePlazaSuperCinemaandVarietyTheatreinStockportbacktoitsformerglory,workingcloselywiththeStockportPlazaTrustandaveryexperienceddesignandconservationteamleadbyBrockCarmichaelArchitects.”

GaryTrindercommentedthatheandhisfellowdirectorsweredelightedthatGFHoldinghadbeenselectedtoundertakethe£3mcontractoveratenmonthperiodtofullyrestoresignificantelementsofthehistoricPlaza.

WorkcommencedinMarch2009onthe76yearoldbuildingtorestorethefaçade,entrancefoyersandrearstallsareas,togetherwiththereinstallationofthe100footlongverandaandconstructionofabasementlevelloungebarfacilitytoimprovethecustomerexperience.Atfirstfloorlevel,thecafé-restaurantwhichwas‘coveredover’witha60’smakeoverwascompletelyrestoredtorevealitsoriginaldecorativesplendourandluxuryfurnishings.Toimprovefacilitiesatthestageendofthebuilding,anewelectricalsupplywasinstalledtogetherwithareplicaoftheoriginalthreecolour‘Holophane’lightingsystemintheauditorium.

Therestorationworksweremadepossiblebya£2mgrantfromtheHeritageLotteryFund,augmentedbya£650,000grantfromtheNorthWestDevelopmentAgencyand£300,000fromStockportMetropolitanBoroughCouncil.ThebalanceofthefundingcamefromStockportPlazaTrust,aCharitableTrustsubstantiallyrunbyvolunteerswiththesoleaimofpreservingandoperatingthePlazaforthebenefitoflocalandnationalaudiences.

ThePlazaSuperCinemaandVarietyTheatreisrecognisedasoneofthebestremainingbuildingsfromthegoldenageofcinema,andnowtheworksarecompleteitisthefirstbuildingofitstypeintheUKstillinuseforitsoriginaldesignpurpose–entertainment.q

G F Holding bring Plaza back toits former glory

��

Future is castfor heritage projects

TherearejustahandfuloftraditionalfoundriesleftintheUK–butthosethatremainareplayingavitalroleintherestorationandpreservationofBritain’sfinestperiodarchitecture.

Thesurvivingfoundriespossesstheknowledge,skillandproductrangewhichcanturneventhemostdifficult-lookingjobintooneofthemoststraightforwardelementsofrestoration.Designsthatmayseemhardtofindareactuallypartoftheoff-the-shelfrange.

Oneoftheoldestfoundrieshasbeenfoundtodateback15yearsearlierthanpreviouslythought.TerryHinchliffe,fatherofHargreavesFoundry’sMDMichaelHinchliffeisakeenlocalhistorian.Hewaslookingthroughthecensusof1881whenhediscoveredthatEbenezerHargreaves,thecompany’sfounder,wastradingwithsixemployeesinthatyear.TheoriginalHargreavesfoundrymightbeevenolderbutatleastproofexiststhatthebusinessisagrandold130yearstoday!

TrulyrepresentativeofYorkshire’smanufacturingcultureofentrepreneurialism,Hargreavesisbestknownasamanufacturerofcastirondrainageproducts.IthasoneofthelargeststockholdingsoftheseproductsinUKandthecapacitytoproducethewidestrangeofguttersandpipesonascalethatwouldmakeothercompaniesbaulk!Forexample,ona£40kprojectforChathamNavalDock,thelengthofeachgutterweighedinatacolossal1.5tonnes!

Withoutstretchingapoint,thecompanycanbelikenedtoafashiondesigner!ItscorestrengthisinHargreaves’abilitytomanufactureandstock‘prêt-à-porter’goodsofftheshelfwhileretainingpatternmakingandfoundryskillstotailor-make‘bespokedesigner’itemstosatisfytheheritagesectorandhigh-endmarketrequirements.

ArecentcontractattheUniversityofEastLondon,inthedistrictthat

ishometothe2012Olympics,demandedjustthat.TocomplementthestandardrangeofPremierrainwatergoodsbeinginstalled,theprojectalsoneededmastercraftsmanshiptorecreateintricatelypatternedearbandsthatwererequiredtoholdinplace200metresof100mmx75mmrectangularpipes.

HargreavesFoundryalsosuppliedmorethan380gutterlengthsand110rainwaterpipesinthestyleofoneofYorkshire’smost-lovedheritagebuildingsfromitsoff-the-pegrange.

TheimmensePieceHallinHalifax,builtin1779asaplaceforhandweaverstoselltheircloth,isnowashoppingcentre,entertainmentvenueandpopulartouristspot.

At6,500sqm,theimpressiveGradeIlistedbuilding,hadmouldedgutterswhichhadtobepaintedaspecificsandcolourandCalderdaleMBCwasabletoreplacethefailingrainwatergoodsfromHargreaves’sstandardproductranges.

CliveGambrell,HargreavesFoundrysalesmanager,explained:“Thetaskofrepairingandreplacinghistoriccastironwindows,pipes,gutteringandotherproductscanrequireskillsasmuchakintoamasterdetectiveasamastercraftsman.

“Theloss,erosionanddamageoverscoresofyearscanturnornatecastironintoirregularpiecesofaheavyweightjigsawpuzzle.Whennooriginalpatternsandnorecordoftheoriginaldimensionssurvive,thereisrarelyastraightforwardformulafor21stcenturyreplicas.”

Sistercompany,HargreavesLockGates(HLG)wononeofthelargestcontractseverawarded,worth£600,000,basedonitscapacitytocraft22pairsoflockgates,bearingmetalworkproducedinthefoundry,alongtheThamesandSeverncanal.Whencomplete,thereconstructionwillreconnecttheThamesandSevernriversforthefirsttimein70years.

UniquetoUKarchitecture,cast-ironproductionhaschangedverylittleoverthelastcentury.Onehundredpercentrecyclableandwithalife-expectancyofatleastacentury,castironoffersgreatgreencredentials,particularlywhencomparedwithmanymodernalternatives.

HargreavesbelievethattheyaretheonlyfoundrythatcandealinbothvolumeandbespokeapplicationsonsuchalargescaleandallUKproductionisfromrecycledorscrapironandsteel.q

•For more information ring 01422 330607 or visit www.hargreavesfoundry.co.uk

Ecclesiastical & Heritage World talks to Halifax-based Hargreaves Foundry, which has been manufacturing cast iron since 1881 and now casts for celebrated sculptor Anthony Gormley, about how traditional foundry skills are preserving some of Britain’s finest buildings for generations to come.

The impressive Piece Hall in Halifax – just one of Hargreaves Foundry’s extensive projects

The University of East London required master craftsmanship

G F Holding bring Plaza back toits former glory

�0

Dedicated to our built heritage

Establishedin2009thecompanyhasgrownandexpandeditsclientbasetoincludesuch

businessesasBritishWaterways,TheNationalTrust,ThePrincesFoundationfortheBuiltEnvironment,TheHeritageBuildingBursaryScheme,localauthoritiesandtheNHS.Theyhaveassessedover200heritageskillslevel3qualificationsacrossarangeofdisciplinesandarecontinuingtoexpandtheirnetworkacrosstheUK.

Theirmainbusinessisthetrainingandassessmentfortheadultheritageskillsworkforce.Theyunderstandthatitiscriticaltothewellbeingofthesectortoimprovethestatusofourheritageworkforcethroughaccreditationandalsotoensurethatthetraditionalskillsareunderstoodandmaintained.Thelongtermsurvivalofourhistoricbuildingsisinthehandsofashrinkingnumberofexpertcraftsmenandconservators.Theavailabilityoftheseskillsisstatisticallydecreasingyearonyearduetoretirementoftraditionalcraftspeople.Therehasbeenaskillsgapdevelopingovera25yearperiodfromthe1970swhichhasledtoamajordeficitintheheritageskillsworkforce.

Meeting the needs of the herit-age craft sector

Muchofthecompany’srecentworkhasbeenre-dressingthebalanceoftrainingwhichhasledtotheside-liningoftraditionalskillsandmaterials.Theyhaveachievedthisinmanyinstancesbyaddingtocontemporarycrafttrainingqualificationsandbyup-skillingcraftsmenwithheritageskillstrainingandeducationworkshops.Thisworkcanbebespokeordeliveredtomeetaccreditedstandardsandqualifications.Whicheverapproachistaken,theysetouttoachievetheverybestresultsfromthemostappropriateinterventions.Thisstrategyhasprovedtobeverysuccessfulforlearnersofallages.

CSCS cards

ManyofthecraftsmenandcontractorstheyworkwithrequiretheheritageCSCScardinordertobeabletocontractwithownersofhistoricproperties.Thedemandforthisendorsementofskillsisontheincreasewherecontractors,propertyowners,EnglishHeritageandothersarebecomingmore

stringentwiththeircontractorengagementstrategies.

Throughassessmentforheritageskillslevel3diplomasandconservationsupervisionandmanagementqualifications,HeritageCraftAllianceareabletopreparecraftsmenandmanagerstoapplyforthecard.OnceyouhavetheappropriatequalificationandhavesatyourhealthandsafetyonlineGOLAtest,yourapplicationforaheritageCSCScardisaccepted.

Working with schoolsThecompanybelievesthatithasto

addresstheneedsofouryoungeraspiringcraftspeopleandwiththisinmindtheyworkwithschools,meetingsomeoftheirneedsinrelationtohistory,designandtechnologyandvocationalinterventions–allhighlightedintheNationalCurriculum.Thisisbecominganincreasinglypopularactivity,wheretheydeliverhandsoneducationaldaysforschoolsandcolleges.Thestudentsneverfailtoshowgreatinterestandallseemtohavefunlearninginthisway. q

Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd is an accredited training and assessment provider, who are dedicated to our built heritage.

��

Heritage construction – access to trainingby GLENN YOUNG, Director, Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd

InMarch2009,aMemorandum of Understanding on Maintaining Standards and Best Practice in the Built Heritage

Sector in Englandwasagreedbytheall-partyparliamentaryartsandheritagegroup,alongwithEnglishHeritageCSkillsandNHTG.Thismemorandumhighlightstheneedtoestablishqualificationsandcertificationforpeopleworkingintheheritageconstructionsector.Toallintentsandpurposes,thismeansanyonewhocarriesoutmaintenance,repair,restorationorconservationworkonanybuildingcompletedpriorto1919.

TheNationalHeritageTrainingGroup(NHTG),asignatorytothememorandum,haveundertakencomprehensivestudiesonthesector.Theirfindings,althoughnowbasedon3yearoldevidence,suggestthatonlyasmallproportion(c18%)ofpeopleworkingonhistoricbuildingsarequalified,orindeedhaveappropriateskillorexperience,withinthesector.Toputthisintoperspective,some109,000peoplewereknowntobeworkinginthesectorduring2008.Thismeansthatover80,000ofthesehavelittleornoqualificationstodothework.Nordotheyhaveknowledgeofthenatureofhistoricbuildingtechniquesormaterials.Onecaneasilyseethatthissituationisboundtohaveanegativeeffectonthewellbeingandsustainabilityofourpreciousbuiltheritage.

Tothoseinvolvedatthecriticaljuncturebetweenneedandavailability,thedifficultyofrecruitingsuitablytrainedandqualifiedcontractorsisoneofthemostdifficultoftasks.Themerefactthatwedonotknowtowhatextentacontractorcaninterpret,and/orsafelyinterveneon,anhistoricbuildingshowsclearlytheneedforcertification.Anothercriticalissueisthelackofsubstantialandknowledgeablesupervision.Thisisacriticalelementforanyprojectbutespeciallyifwecannothaveconfidenceintheworkforce.Generally,butnotexclusively,manyworksonhistoricpropertiesarelettothelowesttender.Thisismarketforcesatworkandwecannotdenytheimpactthishas.However,itisclearthatdiligentandskilledsupervisionoftheworkscouldandwouldpreventsomeofthedisastersexperiencedacrossthesector.Suchproblemsastheuseofcementonhistoricmasonry,orboltedontrussrepairsforexample.Itistruethataclerkofworksorconservationsurveyorcostsmoney,butsodoremedialworkswhen,insomeinstances,thedamageisirretrievable.

So what can we do?Iamsurethatanycraftspersonwould

wanttobeseenasprofessional,skilledandknowledgeable,butobjectivecredibilitycanonlybeachievedthroughtherecognitionofachievementagainstanestablishedstandard.Notwithstandingthepreviousaccessto‘GrandfatherRights’,nowextinct,wehavesuchstandardsavailabletopracticingcraftspeopleandsupervisorsintheformofNVQsandtheCSCScardsystemandthisisunderwrittenbyCSkills.TheNVQqualificationsarecompetencebasedandreflectthecompetenceandskilllevelswhichalreadyexist.Thereforewearelookingtowardsthec18%ofcontractorsworkinginthesectorwhohavetheskillsandknowledgetodothework.ThisalsooffersthecredibilityofaCSCScardfortheprovencraftsperson.Ourconservationsupervisorswhosupportthemcanfollowasimilarroutetocertification.

Thisdoesnot,however,addresstheneedsoftheremainderoftheworkforceengagedinheritagework.Thesecontractorsandcraftspeopleneedtrainingand/orupskillingtoensuretheirknowledgeandunderstandingoftheworkisappropriateandfitforpurpose.Thisrequirestheretobeopportunitytotrainandgainqualificationstowardscertifiedstatus.TheNHTGanditsregionalcentres,suchastheNHTAYorkshireandtheHumber,haveestablishedtheneed,buthavenotyetbuiltdeliverycapacitytoservethesector.

Therearesomeshorttraininginterventionsavailableacrossthecountryviafull,costorpartfundedprogrammes,butnotinthequantityorrangesuitabletogiveaccesstoallwhoneedit.Alsotherearesomebraveattemptsbeingmadetodevelopanapproachtoapprenticeshiplikeprogrammes.HoweverthesecanonlybeestablishedonthebackoffundingstreamssuchasHLFSkillsforTheFutureandothers.Theimpactislimitedtoafewluckyindividualswhomanagetosecuresuchplacements.Thereisnoacceptedframeworkforapprenticeshipsinheritageskillsatpresent.Welackbothatechnicalcertificateandthewilltofundtheprogramme.Thatmeansthatyoungpeoplecannotenterthesectoratlarge,norchooseacareerasaheritagecraftspersonat14or16yearsold.This,inturn,meansthatwearecreatinganotherskillsgapintheheritagecraftsectorforthefuture.

Itwouldseemreasonablethatweengagewiththecurrentcraftsectortoestablishsome

mainstreamtrainingandsupportprogrammesnationwide.Thiswouldgiveourcraftspeopletheopportunitytolearn,upskillandgainknowledgeofconservationandrestoration.Withoutthisintervention,therewillbeveryfewopportunitiesforyoungercraftspeopletobetrainedadequatelywithanemployer.Indeed,youngpeopleenteringthesectorhavenopromiseofaqualification,noracareerpath,andhavesmallhopeofsubstantialandappropriateinstructionfromtheiremployer.

Background and messageRecently,inanarticleforThe Independent,

JohnEdwardsofEnglishHeritagestatedthat,fromaknownnumberofpractitionersintheheritagesectorcurrentlyworkingonhistoricproperties,hisestimationwasthatonly30%are‘properlyqualifiedskilledcraftspeople’Weshouldtakethatasfromthehorse’smouthandactaccordingly.Excerpt from The independent 25/3/2011.

In2010,andearlierin2001,NigelCroweofBritishWaterwayshasbeenobservingthestateoftheheritageworkforceandofferingadviceonhowtoremedytheretirementtimebombandthecurrentshortageofskillsinthesector.(Context 71 Sept 2001)(Context 117 Nov 2010)Onemethodhesuggestsistoenhancethetrainingofthesome16,000volunteerswhoworkonthewaterways.Thisseemseminentlysensible,inestablishingcriteriafortheskillsofvolunteerswecouldoffersomeconfidencethat,undersupervision,someofthemorebasicconservationworkcanbeinsafehands.

Inordertomakethisworkitfollowsthatsupervisorsneedtobetrainedandqualifiedinordertosupportthevolunteers.ThisisbeingdonethroughNVQlevel3conservationsupervisionqualifications.Thisworkiscurrentlypartfundedbythe‘Train2Gain’programme,withoutwhichthiswouldrepresentanacutefinancialburdenonBritishWaterways.Howeverthisapproachshowshowanorganisationcanrallytogeneratesuccessfulinterventions,inordertoupskilltheirworkforceandinfluencethesectormorebroadlyinapositiveway.

Althoughalackoffundingfortraininghauntsthesector,weshouldseekoutways,eitherindependentlyorasorganisationsandgroups,todeveloptraininginterventionswhichaddressthefundamentalcraftareaswhichwerelyontomaintainourbuiltheritage.

Weneedtrainingandeducationfor:

��

ThreestonemasonsandaplastererhavebeenchosenasSPAB’s2011WilliamMorrisCraftFellows.Since

1987TheSocietyfortheProtectionofAncientBuildingshasorganisedauniquetrainingscheme,TheWilliamMorrisCraftFellowship,tofosteranewgenerationofoutstandingcraftsmenandwomenwiththeknowledgeandexpertisetopassontheskillsthatareessentialwhenworkingwithhistoricfabric.

The2011Fellows,stonemasons,EmlynHarris,25,ThomasSoare,29andKennyMcCaffrey,40havejoinedplastererPaulAgar,22foraprestigioussix-monthprogrammeofvisitstakingthemtoprojectsandworkshopsinallpartsofthecountry.Inthemonthsaheadtheywilllearnabouttraditionalbuildingtechniquesfromskilledcraftsmenandwomenwhohavealreadyestablishedcareersinthefield.

TheaimisforthenewcropofFellowstogainbroad,hands-onexperienceandknowledgetoenablethemtobringastrongawarenessofcraftdiversitytotheirfutureprofessionalroles.TheFellowshipwillalsoequipthemwiththeskillsnecessarytoleadandmanagehistoricbuildingcontracts,whiledeepeningtheirunderstandingoftheimportanceofgentlerepair.

Nationally,heritagebodiesareconcernedthattherearesimplynotenoughpeopletrainingtocontinueBritain’sdistinctivebuildingscraftsandeachyearSPAB’sFellowshipbecomesmorerelevant.ThreeorfourFellowshipsareawardedeachyeardependingonavailablefundingwithcraftsmenandwomenfromanytradeemployedintherepairofhistoricbuildingsentitledtoapply.

Manyformerfellowshaverisentopositionsofresponsibilitywheretheyareabletoimparttheirknowledge,expertiseandenthusiasmtoothercraftworkers.TheSPABWilliamMorrisCraftFellowshipishelpingtoraisethestandardofbuildingconservationskillsandtheskillsofthecraftsmenandwomeninvolved.q

by HENRY RUSSELL OBE MA(Cantab) DipBldgCons FRICS FSA IHBCTutor in Building Conservation, The College of Estate Management

Changes in the planning system

TwocurrentgovernmentinitiativeswillmakemajorchangestotheEnglishplanningsystem.TheyaretheLocalismBill,whichiscurrentlygoingthroughParliament,andthecondensingofall

planningguidanceintoasingledocumentcalledtheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework.

TheLocalismBillispartofawidergovernmentstrategytodevolvepowertothelowestlevels.Changestotheplanningsystemwillbetheintroductionofneighbourhooddevelopmentplansandordersandcommunityrighttobuildorders.Communityforums(inurbanareas)andparishcouncils(inruralareas)willbeabletodrafttheirownplansandorders,whichwillgrantplanningpermissionforcertaintypesofdevelopment.Theywillnothaveacompletelyfreehandbecausetheseorderswillhavetocomplywiththelocaldevelopmentplanandwillhavetobeassessedbyanindependentexamineragainstalistofrequirements,oneofwhichistheprotectionoflistedbuildingsandconservationareas.

TheNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkwillsimplifygovernmentplanningguidance.Thegovernmentinvitedfourpractitionerstoprepareadraft,whichwaspublishedinMay2011.Itrunsto55pages,theheritagechapterofwhichrunstothreepages.Thisdraftneedsfurtherworktoencapsulatethefundamentalpartsofthecurrentguidance,PlanningPolicyStatement5,anditisproposedthatthesupplementaryplanningguidewillberevised.q

masonry,brickwork,limemortars,pointing,rendering,carpentryandroofing.Alloftheseareasareunderrepresentedintheskilledcraftareasofoursector.

Wecannotblameanyonespecificallyforthesituation,asthisisalegacyofpoorinvestmentintheeducationofouryoungpeopleoverthepast30years.Howeverwecandecidetodosomethingaboutit.

HeritageCraftAlliancearelaunchingtheirheritagecrafttrainingcentreinYorkshirethissummer.Thecentreisdedicatedtothedeliveryofcraftskillsfortheheritagesector.Courseswillrangefromupskillingforexistingcraftspeople,totrainingandassessmentofformalaccreditedqualificationsandwillbebackedupbypartnershipsacrossthecountry.Accesstotrainingandeducationmustbemadeavailable,especiallyifwearetoenforceoneofthemainaimsofthememorandumofunderstanding,whichare(1)toencourageallheritagefundingagenciesfrom2010toinsistonappropriatelycardedcontractorsandcraftspeopletocarryoutallworkongrantaidedheritageprojectsand(2)topromotetheneedtoappointknowledgeablequalifiedandexperiencedsectorprofessionalsandcontractors/craftspeopleforallaspectsofpre1919buildingprojects.

Ifwearetoenforcethis,wemustofferaccesstothequalificationsandtheCSCScard.Thiscanonlybeachievedbyofferingaccessible,affordabletrainingandeducationtoallthosewhoneedit.q

William Morris Craft Fellows 2011

L-R, Kenny McCaffrey, Paul Agar, Emlyn Harris and Thomas Soare.

��

CPDprogrammesarebeingdevelopedtooffera‘hands-on’experienceworkingwithroofingmaterialsusedontheHeritagecourse.ThecompanycanalsoofferelementsoftheHeritagecourseforrooferswishingtolearnandpractisenewskills.

SouthCoastRoofTrainingLimitedarealsoaccreditedfor:

•Level2DiplomainRoofSlatingandTiling•NVQLevel2andLevel3in•RoofSlatingandTiling•NVQLevel3HeritageSkillsRoofSlatingandTiling•NVQLevel2MetalRoofer•NVQLevel2inAppliedWaterproofMembranes•The above programmes are for experienced workers and are carried•out through on-site assessment by experienced assessors.•LeadSheetAssociationBasicWeldingandBasicBossingcoursesThecentreisaccreditedasaHealth&SafetyTestCentreandalsooffers

acomprehensiverangeofHealth&Safetycourses.Solarcoursesarebeingputtogethertocovertheinstallationof

collectors/panelsintheroofandthecompanyhopetobeworkingwithaspecialisttraineratthecentreshortly.

Thetrainingcentreisalsoavailableforcompanytrainingdaysenablingmanufacturers/supplierstogivetheirstaffapractical‘handson’dayusingavarietyofroofingproductslaidtoroofrigsatthecentre.q

•For further information please call 0845 678 0065, email scrtlimited@tiscali.co.uk or visit www.southcoastrooftraining.co.uk

SeveralyearsofdiscussionbetweenCSkillsandSouthCoastRoofTrainingLimited,whodeliverawiderangeoftrainingcoursesspecificallyforroofing,regardinganewHeritageNVQhasledtothe

establishmentofanewHeritageSkillsSpecialistApprenticeshipProgramme.ThepilotcourseoftheHeritageSkillsNVQLevel3Specialist

ApprenticeshipProgramme(SAP)hasjustbeencompletedatSouthCoastRoofTraining’scentreatLittlehampton,WestSussexandwasthefirstcourseofitskindtoberuninthiscountry.TheHeritageSkillsNVQLevel3SAPprogrammeisendorsedbyEnglishHeritage.

TherewerefiveexperiencedcandidateswhocamefromvariouspartsofthecountryincludingKent,Hampshire,WestSussexandDevon,alongwithpilotcoursetutorRichardJordan,fromDerbyshire,andtheyallbroughtknowledgeofdifferentmaterialsandtechniques,thuslearningbothfromthecourseandeachother.

Thecoursecoversaspectsofclaypegtiling,randomdiminishingcourseslating,stoneslates(e.g.sweptandlacedvalleys,curvedroofdetails,eyebrows,decorativeelements)andtheuseoflimemortarandtorchingtechniques.Thecandidatesalsolearnhowtorecordaroofsoitcanbeputbackinitsoriginalformat.Includedinthecoursearefieldtripsto

New Heritage SAP in roofing launched

South Coast Roof Training Ltd wishes to thank the following manufacturers and suppliers for their support with the Heritage Level 3 SAP programme:Keymer Tiles Ltd, John Brash & Co Ltd, Sandtoft Roof Tiles Ltd, Singleton Birch Ltd, Burlington Slates Ltd, Goldhill Quarry, Mike Wye & Associates Ltd and W L West & Sons Ltd.

theWeald&DownlandOpenAirMuseuminWestSussex,KeymerTileFactory,TrevillettSlateQuarryinCornwall,GoldhillStoneQuarryinGloucestershireaswellaslocalhistorictownsandbuildings.

ThesecondHeritageSAPcommencedinJuneandcomprises30daysatthetrainingcentreinLittlehampton,followedbysomeon-sitevisitsbeforefinalqualification.Afurthercoursewillcommencetowardstheendoftheyear.

An eye brow

South Coast Roof Training Ltd wishes to acknowledge the support and generosity of the following manufacturers and suppliers:Marley Eternit Ltd, Cupa Slates, Redland Tiles Ltd, Calder Lead, D. Cover & Sons Ltd, SIG Group, Klober Ltd, Velux Group and Ariel Plastics.

The tutor and candidates on the Heriatge SAP course

Lead welding

Curved roof details Random slating and swept valley

��

Ploughcroft’s award-winning waysNotonlyhasitscoopedtheNationalFederationofRoofing

Contractors(NFRC)awardforExceptionalContributiontoTraininginSolar,butYorkshirebasedPloughcroftTraininghas

alsoopenedtwonewtrainingcentresinManchesterandStoke.Managingdirector,ChrisHopkinssaidofthecompany’sawardwin:“WearepleasedthatourhardworkanddedicationtoqualityrenewabletrainingandinstallationisbeingrecognisedbysuchaprestigiousorganisationastheNFRC.”

NFRCchiefexecutive,RayHorwoodsaidofChrisHopkins“Thereisonecharacter–andImeancharacter–thathaspushedtraininginmanyformsmakingitvaried,openandaccessibletoall.

“HesupportedalltheNFRCsolartrainingcourses,hehasworkedwithusandtheGreenRoofOrganisationtodeveloptraininginthegreenroofsectorandhehasprovidedstrongsupportinphotovoltaictrainingbyprovidingtherigsandmaterialstoensurethistraininghasgotofftheground.

“Additionally,hehassupportedandhelpedleadtheYorkshireRoofTrainingGroupasitstrivesforward.Heoffersso-calledtasterdaysinalltheroofingsectorstoensurethatthereisanacceptablestandardofroofinginthedomesticmarket.However,perhapsmostimportanttousisthefactthatheisthefirsttoputhishanduptosupportanyinitiativefromthetradeassociations.”

Ploughcroftmarketingmanager,BabakDaemi,added:“Thisaward

cementsourpositionintheindustryasleadersofsolarrenewableenergytrainingandqualityinstallation.Weareworkingtirelesslytobuildareputablebrandintherenewableenergyindustryandbelievetheseawardshighlightthis.”

TheaimofthesecentresistohelpPloughcroftcopewithgrowingdemandaswellastoexpandtheirreachacrosstheUK.TheStokecentreisoperatinginassociationwiththeBGCGroup.Daemiexplained:“WorkingcloselywithTheBCGGrouphasbeenfantasticforPloughcroftTraining.Thecompanyisprofessionalandhasanup-to-datetrainingcentre.This,coupledwithourhighstandardoftrainingandabilitytodrawupontheexperienceofournationalsolarroofingservice,keepsPloughcroftTrainingaheadofthepack.”

Ploughcroftiscelebratingtheopeningofthenewcentreswitha20percentdiscountforallonlinerenewableenergytrainingcoursebookings.“Weintendtoopentwomorerenewableenergytrainingcentresinthenextfewmonths,oneofwhichwillbeinthesouthofEngland,openingusuptoanentirelynewgeographicalmarket,”saidDaemi.

Hopkinsadded:“Wewanttohelptherenewableenergyindustryachieveitsgoalsofreachingthe2020targets.ForthistohappenweneedmoreskilledinstallersthroughouttheUK.AllPloughcroft’scoursesprovidereallifeexperienceandcanbeusedtohelpinstallersachieveMCSaccreditation.”

•For further information call 0800 034 4100 or visit w: www.ploughcrofttraining.co.uk

Left to right: Former GMTV presenter Penny Smith, Chris Hopkins (Managing Director, Ploughcroft), Mike Bialyj (Director of Advisory Services at ConstructionSkills who sponsor the award) and Piet Jacobs (The President of the International Federation for the Roofing Trade)

��

CommentingontheirawardforanewFfestiniogslateroofaspartoftherenovationandextensionofan18th

centurywindmillinAnglesey,TomGreenoughofGreenough&Sonssaid:“Aparticularchallengewasblendingthelow-pitchedconvexroofslopethroughaconcavesweepintoahigherpitchedroof–andwithalimitedchoiceofslatesizes.Eachslatewashand-taperedoneachverticalsideandfixeddirectlytothesarking.”

TheprojectfeaturedextensiveleadworkwhichincludedasignatureWelshDragonmotif.q

Challenging project

Winners announced...

TheroofingindustrycametogetherinMaytocelebrateandrecogniseoutstandingindustryachievements.

TheawardsthisyearsawNFRCcollaboratewiththeLiquidRoofingandWaterproofingAssociation(LRWA),theFlatRoofingAlliance(FRA),theRoofingTileAlliance(RTA),theLeadContractorsAssociation(LCA),TheGreenRoofCentreandGroundworkSheffieldandtheSinglePlyRoofingAssociation(SPRA).

Theawardsrecogniseandrewardoutstandingroofingprojectsinallthemajordisciplinesandthisyear’swinnerswere:

Industrial Roofing & CladdingRoof SheetingKGMRoofingforPudseyBusStation,LeedsVertical CladdingLongworthforGarstonHealthCentre,Liverpool

Flat RoofingReinforced Bituminous MembraneCentralRoofing&BuildingServicesworkingwithIKOPlcforLeicesterRoyalInfirmarySingle PlyAdvancedRoofingLtdworkingwithRenolitforScunthorpeLeisureAcademyLiquid Applied WaterproofingCentralRoofing&BuildingServicesworkingwithLiquidPlasticsforBAEPortsmouth

Pitched RoofingRoof SlatingGreenough&SonsRoofingContractorsLtdforWindmillconversion/restorationRoof TilingClarkeRoofingSouthernLtdforSussexCottage,EastSussex

Specialist RoofingFully Supported MetalO’BrienRoofing&LeadworkLtdforChideockManorChurch

Heritage RoofingKarlTerryRoofingContractorsLtdforLaddingfordHouse,Kent

SustainableGreen RoofsBlackdownGreenroofsworkingwithLakesmereLtdforWestHamBusGarage,LondonSustainable RoofsWensleyRoofingLtdworkingwithJohnBrashforHamsterleyMill,Tyne&Wear

AlsopresentedwithanaccoladewerethehighestscoringcompaniesfromtheSafetyinRoofingAwardswhowere:

Slating and TilingClarkeRoofingSouthernLtd

Flat RoofingGray&JarrettLtd

Industrial Roofing and CladdingBorderSteelworkStructuresLtd

TheNFRCHealth&SafetyChampion2010AwardwenttoKevinMorgan,sitesupervisorforLongworth,whopasseshisvaluableexperienceandknowledgeontoothersaspartofhistoolboxtalks.

TheExceptionalContributiontoTrainingAwardwaswonbyaratherpleasedChrisHopkinsofPloughcroft.Chrispushestraininginallformsmakingitvaried,openandaccessibletoall,andisthefirsttoputhishanduptosupportanyindustryinitiative.

SpecialcongratulationswenttoImmediatePastPresidentMikeLongwhoreceivedaPinofHonour.ThehonourwasgiventoMikeforhisextendedlevelofcommitmenttotheroofingindustry,allofitunpaid,intakingtheindustryforward.q

��

Caring for our historic parks and gardens

Appreciationandknowledgeofthiscountry’shistoricparks

andgardenshasinthepastlaggedbehindthatofthehistoricbuildingswithwhichtheyareoftenassociated.However,careforthemisjustasimportantas,ifleftuntended,theycandeterioratefarmorequicklythanourancientbuildingsthemselves.

TheEnglishare,andalwayshavebeen,anationofgardeners.Thisloveofworkingthesoilandsculptingthelandscapehasresultedinthemanydiversehistoricparksandgardenssurvivingtoday.Theserangefromtowngardensandpublicparkstothegreatcountryestates.EnglishHeritagemanagesanumberofhistoricparksandgardens,manyofwhichareopentothepublic,withgardensbeingthefourthmostpopulartouristvenuesafterhouses,churchesandcastles.

Treesareavitallyimportantcomponentinmostofthesiteswithsomehavingbeenundercontinoustreecoversincethe17thcentury.

Managementofthesesitesconsidersthetrees,shelterbeltsandwoodlandsasanimportantpartofsitemanagementplanning.Successionplantingisestablishedwhereappropriatetoensurecontinuityoftreecoverforthefuture.

EnglishHeritageaimstomaintainthetreeresourceforthefutureundersensitivemanagementwithregardtoamenityandeconomy,whilstensuringtheconservationofbuiltandburiedheritage.q

��

Heritage Trees

Older,mature,nativeandexotictreesoftenhavethepotentialtobedescribedas‘Veteran’or‘Heritage’.Veterandescribesthosetreesofextraordinaryagefortheirspecieswhilst

Heritagealludestosomehuman,culturalconnectione.g.folklore,religiousorcommemorative.InmanycasesVeteranandHeritagevaluemaywellbefoundinthesametree.Urban,sub-urbanandruraldevelopmentandlandmanagementpracticeshavecreatedtheinvaluabletreereservesweenjoytodayand,whilstweshouldhopetocontinuetoenjoytoday’sveteranandheritagetreesformanyyearstocome,wemustnotignoretheirbasicrequirements.Oftenasaconsequenceoftheconflictwithhumandemands–water,sunlight,oxygenandnutrientsarebecomingincreasinglyunavailabletotrees.Naturaldisasters,suchasdrought,stormsandpestplaguesalsoallplayapartinthenormallifecycleoftrees.However,wherethesearecoupledwithhumanfactors–pollution,developmentpressures,vandalismandill-advisedpruning–whatchanceisthereforatreereachingaripeoldage?

Old,historicman-madestructuresareveryoftenaccompanied,and

indeedcomplemented,byveterantrees.Indeed,howverydifferentsomeofourbestknowncountryhomesandestateswouldlookwithoutthem.CaulkAbbey,WindsorCastleandGreatPark,BrodickCastleorChatsworthHousewouldcertainlybemuchpoorervisuallywithouttheirtreesandinmanycaseshistoric‘designed’landscapeshaveadeliberate,frequentlyunacknowledged,treecontent.Theabilityoftreestospanmanygenerationsoftenleadstocomplacencyintheirmanagementandanassumptionofpermanenceduetotheirlongevity.Whilsttheneedforexpertiseandfinancialsupportintheconservationandmaintenanceofthefabricofheritagebuildingsisreadilyunderstood,unfortunatelysimilarneedsinrelationtotrees,whicharefrequentlyolderthanadjacentstructures,areoftenoverlooked.

Itisthoughtthat80%ofEurope’sancienttreesresideintheUK,mostwithin20milesofatownorvillage,withmanyoftheoldestbeingassociatedwithplacesofworship.Indeed,Europe’soldesttree(perhaps),the‘FortingallYew‘inPerthshire,maybeinexcessof4,000yearsold.Howdoesthatequatewiththeperceptionof‘old’intermsofman-madestructures?Thesustainablemanagementofthis

by Paul Hanson, Chairman of The Scottish Arboricultural Association

��

��

InAugust2008,afterheavyrain,alargewoundwastorninthemainstemasoneofthreemajorscaffoldlimbscollapsed.Inadditiontothislargewoundthetreehadanopencrackfrom

groundleveltocirca2mrunningacrossthewholediameterofthemainstemandpredisposingtheremainingscaffoldlimbstoseparateabovetherootcollarinadverseweather.

Intheautumn,PerthbasedAboretumInternationaleLtdinstalledanemergencybracingsystemtostabilisetheremainingstems,untilamorepermanentsolutioncouldbedesigned.

Thefinalcompromiseconsistsofapairofsteelcablebraceswithnylonslingsaroundthescaffoldlimbs.Thebracingsystemisinturnreinforcedbytwosteelprops,eachinstalledtosupportthepairofscaffoldlimbsarisingfrombothhalvesofthesplitstem.Thesteelproppingisfixedwithboltsintoconcretepadsatgroundlevel.

Simplytoallownaturetotakeitscoursewouldhaveresultedintheearlydemiseofthetreeremovinganimportantculturalheritageand,perhapsmoreimportantly,anincreasinglyrareandendangerednaturalhabitat.q

Covenanter’s Oak

Case Study

invaluablenaturalresourcerequiresplanningtoensureappropriateandadequatelegalprotectionandthismustbesupportedthrougheducationandmunicipalfunding.Wemustencouragecyclicalmaintenanceprogramsandprovisionforreplacementinordertosetinplacethefoundationsfortomorrow’sheritagetreesandlandscapes.

Oldtreeshaveneverbeenmore‘popular’thantheyaretodayandwehaveseentheformationofincreasingnumbersofwellintentioned,localandnational‘oldtree’groupsandsocietiesoverthelasttenyears.Thenumberofhighqualitypublications,illustratingwondrousnationalandinternationaloldtrees,isnothingshortofastounding,giventhelevelofgeneralpublicinterestonlytenyearsago.Clearly,veteranandheritagetreesareonthepublicgreenagendaandthe‘feelgood’factorcontinuestogrow.Surprisingly,oneanomalyinthegrowthofoldtreeappreciationistheabsenceofacorrespondingdevelopmentamongstournation’sprofessionalfacilitiesmanagers.Heritageandhistoriclandscapemanagers,propertyandconservationmanagers,andtheorganisationsinwhichtheywork,havebeenveryslowtorealisetheimportanceoftheveteranandancienttreesintheircareandtheresponsibilitytheyhaveforthem.Theyhavebeenslowerstilltoembracethetechniquesandexpertiseavailable,throughwhichsuchtreescanbeproperlyconserved.

Thepracticalmanagementoptionsforindividualspecimenandsmallgroupsoftreesmaydifferconsiderablyfromthoseemployedintraditionalamenity,woodlandorcommercialforestsettings.Thegrowingpublicawarenessandincreasingprofessionalinvolvementinthemanagementof‘old’treeshasledtosignificantchangesandnewdevelopmentsinthetechniquesengagedtoensurethecontinuedwellbeingofboththetreesthemselvesandtheassociatedfloraandfauna.Havingrevisitedhistoricalmanagementprinciplesandpractices,andcombinedthemwiththebestofmoderntechnology,wearenowinapositiontodeliberatelyconservetheseuniquetreesandtheirassociatedhabitats.q

Dalzell Estate, North Lanarkshire

�0

Crane use aids

StockportbasedMyersTreeCarewererecentlyawardedacontractbyStockportMetropolitanBoroughCounciltofellamonsterofatreeinAlexandraParkwithintheborough.Thecouncilhadcondemnedthe

matureBeechasithadasevererootinfectionandMyersbeganbycreatingamethodstatementidentifyingthebestfellingtechniquesforremoval,withpublicsafetybeingofparamountimportance.

ThecondemnedtreewaslocatedattheedgeofAlexandraParkandwasveryclosetoaborderingpropertyandabusyroad.Afterstudyingthesiteconditionscarefully,andwithatighttimeframetocompletethework,itwasdecidedtouseamobilecranetoassistinthepreciseremovalofthislargetree.

Iftreesurgeonshadundertakenthissectionalfellingoperationusingtheconventionalmethodsforremovingatreeofthissizethetimetocarry

��

Environmental responsibility brings major contracts

SwanseabasedtreecarespecialistsArborumLtduseallthelatesttechniquesandequipmenttocarryouthighqualitytreeworkfortheirclients,largeandsmall.ThecompanyspecialisesinallaspectsofdomesticandcommercialtreesurgeryoperatingalongtheM4corridor,WestWales,the

valleycommunitiesandallsurroundingareas.Theyofferawiderangeofservicestoboththepublicandprivatesectorandhavegainedareputation

bothforthehighstandardoftheirworkandfortakingtheirenvironmentalresponsibilitiesseriously.Assuch,theyhavebeenrewardedwithsomeprestigiousworkfromlocalauthorities,conservationsites,housingassociations,theRSPB,ForestryCommission,NHS,andTheNationalTrust.q

outtheworkwouldhavebeenatleasttwodaysandinvolvedprolongeddisruptiontothelocalareaandresidents.

Whenusingacranemuchlargersectionscanberemovedandplacedonthegroundwithouttheneedforloweringdevices,ropesorthesheerefforttoconvert,dragandprocessthearisings.Eachsectiontobeliftedcanvaryinweightfromafewpoundstoupwardsoffourtons,dependingonthecrane’sliftingcapabilitiesandreach.

Onthedayoftheworkthetreecareteamarrivedandplacedthewoodchipperandvehiclesononeofthepark’spathways.Thecranearrivedat8.30amandwhentheoperatorwashappywithhispositionhepromptlysethisout-riggersandMyers’treecareoperativessecuredtheworkarea.Bythispointthetreesurgeonclimberhadaccessedthetree,attachedhisclimbinglineandselectedhisfirstsectiontobecut.

Theclimberhadradiocontactatalltimeswithadedicatedmemberoftheteam,wholiaisedwiththecraneoperatortoconfirmtheweightthatcouldbeliftedoneachcycle.

Thelastsectiontoberemovedweighedjustunder4tonsandwaswithin

8”ofalistedwallononesideandironrailingsontheother.Withthisinminda‘squarelift’wasemployedasanysidewaysmovementwouldhavedestroyedeitherthewallorrailings.

AllthelargertimbersectionswereplacedonthehighwayforloadingontoacranewagonandthentransportedtonearbyWoodbankParkforconversionintobenchesatalaterdate.Theremainingtimberwithintheparkwasthenliftedoutandplacedontheroadforcollectionandremoval.Allthewoodchiparisingsweretippedinthecouncilyardwithintheparkforuselaterintheyear.

Fromstarttofinishthewholejobtookjust6hourswithjustfouroperatives(plusthecraneoperator)provingthattheuseofcranesreallydoesimprovesafetyandperformanceandslashesthetimethatitwouldnormallytaketocompletethesameoperationusingconventionalsectionalfellingmethods.q

performance and safety

��

Tree management in churchyards – new technology aids historic sites

Treesareatraditionalfeatureofchurchyards,listedandotherhistoricalbuildings.Theyaretobevaluedfortheiraestheticandenvironmentaladvantages,providingagoodwildlifehabitatespeciallywhere

ornamentalornativetreesandshrubshavebeenplanted.Ourolder,wellestablishedtreesbringmeaningandcharacter,enhancing

anypropertyandsoitisalwaysadvisabletohavethemregularyinspected.Newtechnology,intheshapeofaResistographF400,enablescompaniessuchasSomersetbasedArboricareLtdtomeasuretheextentofdecaywithinasuspecttreeallowinganassessmentonitsstructuralintegritytobemade.

Somemoremodernusesofchurchyardscaninadvertentlycausedamagetoestablishedtrees.Forexample,sightingaparkingareatooclosetotreescandamagerootsnearthesurfaceoftheground,ascanspillagefromafuelheatingtank.Conversely,ill-advisedtreeplantingcangiverisetodamagefromrootsspreadingbelowachurchtombstone,churchyardpathoranearbystructure.

TheGradeIListedStMargaretsChurchatSpaxton,NrBridgwater,SomersetisanexampleofwhereArboricarehavecarriedoutpruningworks.Bycarefullyremovingspecificbranchestheywereabletoenhancetheviewstoandfromthechurchandallowvisitorstowalkaroundunhinderedbylowbranches.Thecompanyalsocarriedoutpruningworkstoayewtreetoenhanceitsappearance.Yewtreesareoftenfoundinchurchyardsandareassociatedwithreligioussites.

DuetotheirexperienceandexpertiseArboricareareoftenaskedtocarryoutworksaroundsensitivehistoricbuildingssuchaschurches,manorsandestatebuildings.q

• Please feel free to call and discuss any tree requirements.Contact Colin Inder AA Tech Cert., Tech Arbor A on 01823 462972 or email enquiries@arboricare.co.uk

��

Tours resume at one of England’s finest Jacobean houses

WalkinthefootstepsofkingsandqueensasEnglishHeritageonceagainrevealstheuniquearchitecturalsplendourofarguablyBritain’smostfamousrestoration

project,ApethorpeHallinNorthamptonshire.Afternearlyayearunderwraps,visitorswillgetachancetojoin

oneofthetourstoseethelateststageintheongoingrestorationofApethorpeHall.

OneofthefinestJacobeanhousesinthecountry,ApethorpeHallissteepedinhistoryanditsownershaveplayedhosttoQueenElizabethI,KingJamesIandKingCharlesI.ApethorpeHallwasbeguninthelate15thcenturyandhasoutstandingarchitecturalfeaturesfromexquisiteplasterworktorichoakpanelling.SituatedinApethorpenearOundleinapicturesquecornerofNorthamptonshire,ApethorpeHallisoneofthebestsurvivingexamplesofagrandcountryhouse.

Followingmanyyearsofneglectanddecay,GradeIlistedApethorpeHallhadfallenintoastateofsignificantdisrepairandwasindangerofbeinglostforever.In2004,astheprotectorofEngland’suniquelegacyofhistoricbuildings,EnglishHeritagesteppedinandsavedit.

Sincethen,EnglishHeritagehascompletedamajor£4millionrepairofthekeypartsofthebuilding.Duringtheguidedtours,thepublicwillgettheopportunitytoviewthelatestphaseofthismajorrestorationproject.TheplasterworkintheStateApartments,oakpanellingintheLongGalleryandornatefireplaceshaveallbeencarefullyrestoredbytraditionalcraftspeople.Alargesectionofthetimberframedroofhasbeenpainstakinglyrepairedandre-roofedusingthousandsoflocalstoneslates.Intotalaround150,000

man-hoursofskilledlabourhasbeenusedoverthelastfewyearsonrepairandconservationwork.

NickHill,whohasproject-managedtheconservationworkattheHallforEnglishHeritagesaid:“ApethorpeHallisatrulyfascinatingbuilding,andtheteamatEnglishHeritagehavemadesomesignificantdiscoveriesabouttheplacesincewe’vebeenresponsibleforit.VisitorstotheHallwillbeabletoseethesecretpassagewayweuncoveredasaresultofourrestorationwork,whichlinksKingJames’sstateapartmenttotheroomthatwasusedbyhisfavouritecourtier,theDukeofBuckingham,GeorgeVilliers.

“ThissummerisagreattimetocomeandvisitApethorpebecausewehaveanewphaseofconservationworkunderway.Don’tmissoutonthisuniqueopportunitytoseetheprogressmadeinrestoringofoneofthecountry’smostfamoushistoricbuildings.”q

The impressive Apethorpe Hall in Northamptonshire

��

– social insects?

ThelifecycleofthefourmainstingingspeciesofsocialwaspfoundintheUKrevolvesaroundtheQueen–theonlymemberofthecolonythatlayseggs.TheQueenwillwinterinafrostfreelocation

suchasahollowtree,aloftspaceoragardenshedandinearlyspring,whentheweatherissuitable,shewillemergeandtrytofindasuitablelocationtobeginbuildinganestforthisyear’scolony.TheQueenchewssoftorrottingwoodintoapulpandthisistakenbacktothenest,whereitismixedwithsalivaandusedtomakethestructureoftheofthefirst10to15broodcellsandtheoutercasingofthenest.Whenthis

iscompleteaneggislaidineachindividualcelland,oncetheyhavehatched,theQueenwillcollectinsectsandsugarbasedfoodtofeedtothefastgrowinglarvae.Afterapproximately14daysthelarvaesealtheentrancetothecellandbegintheprocessofmetamorphosis,changingfromamaggottypelarvaeintowhatwerecogniseasawasp.Whenthefirstbroodhavepupatedandfinallyhatchedintoadultstheyassumethedutiesofcollectingwoodpulp,increasingthesizeofthenestandfeedingthenewlyhatchedlarvae.TheQueennowremainsinthenestwiththesoletaskoflayingmoreeggs.

Earlyoninthelifeofawaspnestthemajorityofthefoodbroughtbackbytheinfertilefemaleworkerswillbeinsectsofhighproteincontentand,asthesummerprogresses,morehighcarbohydratefoodssuchasthesugarsfromripefruitandberrieswillslowlybecomethemainstayofthedietfedtothelarvae.Thisfermentingcarbohydratedietisthecauseofwhatareoftencalled‘dopeywasps’foundinhousesandgardensinautumn.

InthelateautumnthesehighcarbohydratesencouragetheproductionoflargercellsinthenesttoproducevirginQueensanddroneswhichwillpupateandhatchjustpriortotheonsetofwinter.ThesenewQueenswillmatewithmorethanoneofthedronesandmoveawaytofindasuitablefrostfreesitetospendthewinterandthewholecyclestartsagain.Anynestsfoundshouldbetreatedasopposedtobeingleftjustbecause‘theyarecausingnoproblemsatthemoment’–don’tforgettheemergingQueensmaystartanestnextyearinalocationwheretheywillbecausingproblems.OnehundredplusnewQueensmaybe

producedfromagoodsizednest!Waspscarryvenomthattheyuseto

overpowerinsectpreyandtoprotectthemselvesandtheirnest.Thisvenomiscontainedinasacthathasevolvedfromaredundantegglayingtubeintheinfertilefemaleworkersandendsinasting,whichissimilartoahypodermicneedle,containedinthelowersectionsoftheabdomenoftheworkerwasps.Whenawaspisabouttostingitcurlsitsabdomentoexposethestinger,asecondcurlsqueezesthevenomdownthestingandintothevictimviatheholemadebythehollowstinger.Thestinghasnobarb,allowingittobewithdrawnandusedagain,unlikethestingingbeespeciesintheUK.Beeshavebarbedstingsandwilldieafterstingingbecausethevenomsacispulledfromtheabdomenwhenthebeefliesaway.Eachwaspstingreducestheamountofvenomdelivered,howeverthisisnotsuchablessing,aswhenawasphasdelivered

by Andy Beddoes, ABComplete Pest Control

They must be one of the mostanti-social insects known to man!

The size of a newlyformed wasp nest incomparison to a fifty

pence piece

��

��

thevenomviathestingeritreleasesanalarmpheromonewhichallotherwaspsintheareawillrespondtocausingthemtojoinintheattackonthevictim!

Awaspstingwillsometimescausesevereswellingendingwithlargeyellowblistersappearingandtheneedforantibioticsandantihistaminetabletsfromadoctor.

A blistered hand – the result of a wasp sting

ControlTakingintoconsiderationthatthereisastrongpossibilitythatyou

maybestungnumeroustimesandthatjustonestingcanbringontheeffectsofanaphylacticshock,whichcanbelifethreateningifmedicalhelpisnotimmediatelysought,Iwouldstronglyrecommendthataprofessionalpestcontrolcompanyiscontactedtotreatanynestsyoumayfind.The£50-£60chargeisasmallpricetopayincomparisontohavingtocarryanadrenalinepenaroundwithyoufortherestofyourlife–orworsedeath.

IfyoumustundertakethecontrolyourselfthenBendiocarbpowdershouldbeyourchoice.Manyofthe‘amateuruse’productssoldforwaspcontrolarebasedonPermetherin,butthisactuallyexcitesinsectstodeathandthelastthingyouneedarewaspsthatareintentonstingingyouexcitedevenmorebyachemical!

Aprofessionalpestcontrolcompanywilltreatanestatanytimeofthedaybut,ifyoudogoforityourself,tryforlateeveningjustpriortodarknessasthiswaymostofthewaspswillbeinthenestandnotflyingaroundyouasyouapproach.Alwaysworkdownwindofthenestandbesurenottowearanyaftershaveorhaveanystrongsmellsonyourclothesasthesewillgiveawayyourlocationtothe,bynowveryagitated,wasps.

Areaswherewaspsareanuisancebutthenestcannotbefoundcanbemadelessofaproblembyhangingwasppotsupwindofthelocation.Commercialwasppotsareavailablewithalurebasedonfermentedfruitjuicewhichencouragesthewaspsintothetrapswheretheybecomeexhaustedanddrown.Ifthepotsareregularlyemptiedandrefreshedthenumbersofworkerwaspsthatdiewillbegreaterthanthenumbersofnewadultshatching,thuscreatingasituationwhereinsufficientfoodisreachingthenestandcausingthecolonytocollapse.Wealwaysuseatleastfourwasppotsinthesesituations.

Badgerswilldigoutanestduringthenighttogetatandeatthelarvae.Anywaspsthatarenottakenorkilledbythebadgerswillnotbeparticularlyhappyinthemorningandtheareashouldbeavoided,unlessyouarewearingsuitableprotectiveclothing,foratleastafewdays.Therearenootherpredatorsthatcauseanyseriousinroadsintoawasppopulation.

Waspsdoofferasmallamountofinsectcontrolincludingaphidsbut,allthingsconsidered,theyarenotthatbeneficialtoman.Youshouldconsidercontrolofwaspnestsatalltimes–butbeverycarefulifyoutreatthemyourself.q

•Forfurtherinformationvisitwww.abcomplete.co.uk

2011 Wood Awards shortlist announced

TheWoodAwardsjudgeshaveselectedanexceptionalshortlistfrom

arecord348categoryentriesforthisyear’scompetition.

The30strongshortlistfeaturesuniqueprivatehousesandstunningsmallprojects,outstandingrestorations,splendidpublicbuildingsandbespokefurniturerangingfromthetraditionaltothecuttingedge,allofwhicharestrongcandidatesforTheWoodAwards’maincategories–CommercialandPublicAccess,Private&BestSmallProject,Structural,Conservation/RestorationandFurnitureandthecovetedGoldAward.

MichaelMorrisonofPurcellMillerTrittonArchitectsandChairmanoftheJudgessaid,“Theshortlistinghasbeenanexcitingandcomplexprocessthisyear.Thesheernumberofprojectsenteredisfantastic,butwhatreallyenthusedusthisyearwasthatthisquantitycamewithexcellentquality.TheWoodAwardsshortlistreallyisashortlist,andtherewasalotofheatedargumentonthewaytoagreeingourchosen30projects.Thenumberofhighqualityentriesweseeincreaseseachyearbutthe2011WoodAwardscompetitionhasseenasignificantstep-upinnotonlythenumberofentries,butalsowithanimpressivestandardacrosstheboard.”

Overthelastnineyears,theWoodAwardshasestablisheditselfasBritain’spremierarchitectureandfurniturecompetitioncelebratingexcellenceindesignandcraftsmanshipusingwood.ThecontinuingaimofTheWoodAwardsistorecognise,encourageandpromoteoutstandingdesign,craftsmanshipandinstallationinwood;anaimwhich,withincreasingdemandsandrequirementsforsustainabilityandenvironmentalresponsibility,ismoreimportantthanever.DavidVenables,EuropeanDirectoroftheAmericanHardwoodExportCouncil(AHEC)andalongtermsponsoroftheWoodAwardssaid:“TheWoodAwardsplaysacrucialroleinpromotingthequalityofBritishdesignintheworld’smostsustainablebuildingmaterial”

ThejudgeswillvisittheshortlistovertheSummer,andthewinnerswillbeannouncedatTimberExpo,adynamicneweventdesignedheldattheRicohArenainCoventryonthe27thand28thSeptember2011,whichwillofferthewidestandmostcomprehensivedisplayofapplicationsfortimberwithinthebuiltenvironment,andprovideatimbershowcaseforconstructionandsustainablebuildingdesign.q

•For more information on the 2011 Shortlist and the Wood Awards, visit www.woodawards.com

��

Building Limes Forum 2011 Conference

The2011BuildingLimesForumConferenceandGatheringwillbeheldfromFriday23toSunday25September

2011inandaroundtheindustrialheritageofIronbridgeinShropshire.

ThethemefortheFridayis‘Breathable’ Buildings and Sustainabilityandwillcoverhowmoisture-permeablebuildingsoperateinpractice,legislationandregulationstheyneedtocomplywith,theoryandresearch.Thesearenowrecognisedasbeingthekeycharacteristicswhichdifferentiatetraditionalfrom‘modern’,impermeableconstructiontypes.Understandinghowtheybehaveiscriticaltothebenignupgradingofexistingoldbuildings,buttheirbenefitsarenowbeingincreasinglyrecognisedfornewbuildingsaswell.

TheconferencewilllookatthepracticaleffectsofnewlegislationandBritish/Europeanstandards,andofrecentresearchinthefield.Itwillconcludewithviewsandadiscussionastohowthemattermaychangeourindustryinthefuture,includingbothpracticalandbusinessrisksandopportunities.SpeakerswillincludeIanBrocklebankofTheUniversityofPlymouth,CliffBlundell,DrTimPadfield,NeilMayof

NaturalBuildingTechnologies,DrRobynPenderofEnglishHeritage,DrCarolineRyeofTheSocietyfortheProtectionofAncientBuildingsandIanPritchettofLimeTechnologyLtd.

SaturdaywillincludecasestudiesonStPancrasStationandtheTheIronBridge.IntheafternoontherewillbeaguidedtourofLlanymynech,amassivedisusedlimeworks,withmuchoftheinfrastructurestillvisible,includingalargelycompleteHoffmankiln.

OnSundaymorningtherewillbeadiscussiononsubjectsraisedbydelegatesincludingLime Specifications for Extreme ConditionsbyStaffordHolmes,andintheafternoonthereistheoptionofatriptoWroxeter,aRomansiteoratourofIronbridge,aWorldHeritageSite.q

TheBuildingLimesForum(BLF)isacharitableorganisationfoundedin1992topromotethedevelopmentofexpertiseandunderstandingintheuseoflimeinbuilding.TheBLFaimstoachievethisby:

•exchanging,collatinganddisseminatinginformationthroughpublications,meetingsandconferences

•encouragingpracticalresearchanddevelopmentthroughfieldstudies,trials,monitoringandanalysis

•encouragingdevelopmentofappropriateindustrialandcraftskillsandtechniques

•educatingbuildingprofessionals,builders,conservators,craftsmenandwomenandpropertyownersintheappropriateuseoflimeinbuildingthroughdemonstrations,publicationsandcourses

•developingcontactswithinstitutionsandindividualsoutsidetheforumandinothercountrieswhohaverelevantexperienceorknowledge

•Membership of the Building Limes Forum is open to all, for further information visit www.buildinglimesforum.org.uk

��

Limecretefloorscombinetraditionalwisdomwithmoderntechnology.Limecretebreatheswithtraditionalbuildingmaterials,respectingtheoriginalfabricofthebuilding,andisusedwithoutadampproof

membrane.Theinsulationlayerpreventsmoistureingresswhileallowingdamptoescapeandalsoenablesthebuildingtobeheatedeffectivelyforthecomfortandhealthofthemodernusers.WerecommendthesystemdesignedandtestedbyTy-MawrLimewhichusesrecycledfoamedglassastheinsulatingandanti-capillarylayer.Thishastheaddedbenefitofbeingarecycledproductratherthanaquarriedmaterial,furtherimprovingtheecologicalcredentialsoflimecrete.Lightweightcrushedpumiceisusedastheaggregateforanevenbetterinsulationvalue,whichisespeciallyimportantinsavingenergyandmoneywhenunderfloorheatingisinstalled.Wehaveneverexperiencedasingleproblemwiththissysteminitsutilisationoverthepastfouryears.

Toensureconsistentquality,webatchonsitewithourspeciallycustomisedmixerwhichmeasuresthelime(NHL5),aggregateandwaterbyvolumeratherthanweight.Wedon'tincludemildsteelre-enforcingduetothe

concernthatitwillcorrodeinabreathablefloor.Stainlesssteelcouldbeanoptionbutanexpensiveone.AtMertonHallCollege,CambridgethemaincontractorsMorganAshurstwerelookingforgreaterstrength,morequickly.Ourresponsewastoinstallafibreapplicatortothemixer.Ourtestcuberesultsindicatethattheglassfibresadd30%morestrengthwithout

Limecrete solutions

compromisingthebreathabilityandforanextracostofonlyafewpoundspercubicmeter.Theslabcanbelightlytraffickedwithinaveryshorttime.Thestrengthoflimecretecanalsobeaffectedbytemperaturesduringthecuringprocess.Tosuccessfullyplacelimecreteinthewintermonthsrequiredanotheradaptationtoourmixer.Byheatingthewaterbeforeaddingittothemixture,wecanlaywarmlimecrete,givingitaheadstart.

Limecreteisaflexiblematerialtoworkwith.Manyproblemsturnouttohavesimplesolutions.AtHighDownHousethemaincontractor,StBlaise,neededamethodoffeedingelectricalandmechanicalservicesunderthefloor.Incollaborationwiththearchitectswedesignedandcastductworkintotheslab,simplifyingthefinalfloorfinishes.Wehaveencounteredsuchlargeareasthatwecan’tlaytheentirefloorinoneday,suchasatEastonNestonwhereweplacedasingle325m2areaforBennieHistoricConservation.Thesolutionistocastastopenddovetailjoint.Thefollowingdaytherecessjointprovidesakeyforthenextpour,eliminatingtheneedforsteeldowelbarsthussimplifyingthejobandreducingcost.

Whenmixingonsite,withothertradesalsoworking,spacecanbeanissue,asitwasatPeperHarowChurch.Tofreeupworkingareaaroundthechurch,ValleyBuildersarrangedforustobeabletostorematerialsandbatchthelimecreteandscreedinanearbyfield,deliveringtotheplacingteamusingatele-handler.Thecontractorsandarchitectsinvolvedusateverystagefromdesigntologistics.Thissortofclosecooperationensuresthejobrunssmoothlyforallconcerned.Itissuchapleasureandanhonourforourcrewtoworkinbeautiful,irreplaceablebuildingsandhaveahandinconservingthemforfuturegenerations.Oneespeciallyniceperkforusisthatwhenworkingatspecial,uniquesites,youoftenmeetpeoplewhosharethesamepassionandvisionforsustainablebuildingandrestoration!q

Pouring Tradical® Hemcrete® at Social Housing Development, Norfolk

Screed rails at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Goring

Placing the limecrete slab at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Goring

by LOUISA YALLOP of The Limecrete Company Ltd

��

EastAngliaontimberframedbuildingsandisbasicallyaGeorgianandVictorianplasterspecification.

Tradesmen200yearsagoandbeyondknewexactlyhowtomixsandandlime.Theyusedittolaytheplinthandbuildthechimneystack,butimportantlytheydidnotuseittoplasteroveratimberframe.ThesamplesofmedievalplasterthatarestillcommonlyfoundinEastAngliaarewhiteincolourandcanberolleduplikeacarpet.AtthetimeScottishLimecarriedoutfullanalysisofthematerial.Theresultswerefascinating,itwasstilla1:3mixbuttheaggregateiscrushedchalk,thehaircontentwasexclusivelybovineandatratiosup20kgpercubicmetre.Theresultingmixislightweightandextremelyflexible,exactlywhatisrequiredoverabackgroundstructurethatispronetopotentiallylargemovement.

HairedChalkisthereforetheobviouschoiceforceilings,especiallyovertimberlath.Asamixitcanbeappliedinonecoatupto20mmthick,itcanbepolishedifrequiredorpargetted/patterned.Onceupandset,noamountofflexinthesupportingtimberswilltroubleit.

DISTEMPERS – SOFT AND BOUNDThisyearAngliaLimeareproudtolauncharangeoftraditionalinternalpaintsforbuildingconservation.

Atraditionalsoftdistemper,titaniumfreeandwithatouchofsize,itisperfectforfinecornicing,mouldedplasterandceilings.Thelackofbinderinthepaintenablesthecompleteremovalbyspongeandwaterwhenre-decorating,therebyavoidingthebuildupofpaintlayersandobliterationoffinedetail.

Abounddistempergivesatraditionalbreathableinternalpaint,abletocopewithmediumtrafficandveryeasytoapply.

Haired Chalk being applied 20mmthick in one coat

Three important products for building conservation from the Anglia Lime Company

BESPOKE READYMIX MORTARCaringforourbuiltheritageisnotaresponsibilitythatAngliaLimetakelightlyandpreparingamortarforconservationornew-buildistreatedwiththesameattentiontodetailthatagoodchefwouldapplytopreparingadish.Agoodmortar,justlikeagoodmeal,needsthebestavailableingredientsand,fortunatelyforAngliaLime,therearegenerallyonlytwo.

Amortarconsistsofbinderandaggregateanditisthereforeessentialtoensurethatbothcomponentsareofthehigheststandardpossibletoachievethebestpotentialmechanicalperformance.

AngliaLimeonlyblendmortarsmadewithlimeputtymaturedfornolessthan6monthsornaturallyhydrauliclimeproducedbySt.Astier,whohavebeenproducingcontinuouslysince1851.

Theothercomponentis,ofcourse,theaggregateandinEastAngliatheyareblessedwithsomeofthebestsandsforusewithlimeinthecountry.

Apoorqualitysandmaymeanafinancialsaving,butthisisafalseeconomywhenmeasuredagainstthelongevityoftheworkbeingcarriedout.Allthecompany’ssandsarefirsttestedtoensurethatthegradingsaresuitableforblendingwithalimebinder,thevoidratioisthendeterminedinordertoachievethecorrectbinderratio.

UsingtheSt.Astierrangeofbinders,theyareabletoofferalargechoiceofpotentialmortarsthataresuitableforanyjob,fromre-pointinghistoricchurchmasonrytonewbuildextensions.

Fornew-buildtheyareabletoprovidefulltechnicaldatabackup,including28daymeasurementsforcompressiveandflexuralstrengthaswellasmoduliofelasticity.Theycanalsoprovideresultsformortarshrinkage,vapourpermeabilityandcapillarity.

Itcannotbeoverstatedhowcriticalthequalityofthemortaristotheoveralllongevityanddurabilityoftheproject.

HAIRED CHALK PLASTER – THE ONLY SPECIFICATION OVER A TIMBER FRAME OR CEILINGItbecameapparenttoAngliaLimeabout14yearsagothatthestandardspecificationforalimeplaster–putty&sandusuallyat1:3,hairinvaryingquantities,2or3coat–wasnotthemixusedin

• All of the above are available in practically any colour, please call 01787 373974 for details.

��

FPDC Plasterers’ Awards– call for entries

TheFPDCPlasterers’Awards,themostreveredindustrycompetition,iswidelyrecognisedforrewardingthe

higheststandardsofskillandexcellenceinplastering,dryliningandassociatedtrades.

Winninganawardestablishesyourcompanyasamajorplayerinthesector,howeverevenmakingtheshortlistprovidesyouwithacompetitiveedge.

Theawardsareeagerlyanticipatedby

Challenging project earns 2010 award for Hayles and Howe

InternationalornamentalplasteringcompanyHaylesandHoweweredelightedtohavewonthe2010AwardforInternalPlasteringforworkscarriedoutatAllSaintsChurch,Manchester.Itwaspresented

toMDDavidHarrisonatacelebratoryluncheoninthePlaisterers’HallinFebruarythisyear.

TheBristolbasedcompanywererepresentedattheluncheonbyMattBourne,MattCook,JohnFowler,managingdirectorDavidHarrison,JennyHarrison,LukeHarvey,NickRodenandMartynWatchurst.

ThiswasachallengingprojectinaGrade1listedVictorianChurchas,whiletheplasterworkwasbroadlyintact,thewoodenstructurebehindwassufferingextensivelyfromdryrot.Plastersectionshadtoberemovedtoallowaccesstothestructureandwerereplacedbythecompany’stalentedsiteteam.

Thecompanywouldliketothankeveryonewhomadetheprojectsuchasuccess.q

FPDCmembersandnonmembersalikeasachancetoshowcasetheirhardworkandachievementsduringtheprevious12months.

Entriesfortheawardshavenowopened,thedeadlineforsubmissionis15thJuly,sodon’tmissyourchancetoshowcasewhatyouhavebeenworkingoninthelastyear.

Visitwww.fpdc.orgformoreinformationandtodownloadabookingform.q

�0

Reviving redundantchapels

TheHistoricChapelsTrust(HCT)wasestablishedin1993totakeintoownershipredundantchapelsand

otherplacesofworshipinEnglandwhichareofoutstandingarchitecturalimportanceandhistoricinterest.Theobjectistosecuretheirpreservation,repairandmaintenanceforpublicbenefit,includingcontents,burialgroundsandancillarybuildings.BuildingsofalldenominationsandfaithscanbetakenintocarewiththeexceptionofAnglicanchurches,whichareeligibleforvestingintheChurchesConservationTrustoftheChurchofEngland.HCT’sremitembraces:

•Nonconformistchapels•RomanCatholicchurches•Synagogues•Buildingsofotherfaiths

HCTbuildingsareoutstanding,gradedIorII*onthestatutorylists.HCTisalsohelpingtofostergreaterunderstandingofitsbuildingsthroughresearch,theproductionofpublicationsandpublicityaboutitsactivities.

How does HCT work?OnceHCThasacquiredabuildingan

architectisappointedtosurveyitsconditionandsuperviseanynecessaryrepairsand

upgrading.Chapelsareopentovisitorsandavailableforarangeofsuitableevents.HCTencouragesthecontinuanceofservicesofworshiponanoccasionalbasis.Alternativeusesmayalsobeagreedwhereappropriateaslongasthesedonotinvolveunsympatheticalterations.HCTestablisheslocaleventscommitteesforeachchapelandactivelyseekssuitablecommunityusesforitsbuildings,providedthepurposesarecompatiblewiththechapel’sformerreligiouscharacter.

TheHistoricChapelsTrustobtainsroughly1/3ofitsfundingfromEnglishHeritage(including70%annualsupporttowardsofficeoverheadsandchapelmaintenance);1/3fromtheHeritageLotteryFundand1/3fromgrant-givingtrusts,SubscribingFriends,donations,theLandfillTaxSchemeandothersources.

Over£8½millionhasbeenraisedbyHCTforitsobjectivesbuttheyurgentlyneedmoreFriendsandsponsors.q

•For further information contact Dr Jennifer M Freeman t: 020 7481 0533, e: chapels@hct.org.uk, or visit www.hct.org.uk and see some of their wonderful chapels.

St Asaph Cathedral gets

the Rosehill makeoverCheshirebasedRosehillFurnitureGroupjumpedatthechance

tofurnishStAsaphCathedralinDenbighshire,NorthWales.SaintAsaphCathedralistheMotherChurchoftheDiocese

ofStAsaph,oneofthesixdiocesesoftheChurchinWales.IthasbeenanimportantecclesiasticalcentreforcenturiesandprovidesavitallinkwithWelshliteratureandculture–thecathedralishometotheWilliamMorganBibleandhousestheNorthWalesInternationalMusicFestivaleachyear.

ThepresentbuildingwasbeguninthethirteenthcenturyandisreputedtobethesmallestancientcathedralinGreatBritain.Ithasbeendestroyedbyfiretwiceandhasafascinatingandoftenviolenthistory.

Priortoinstallingthefurniture,Rosehillstaffvisitedthecathedralwithsamplechairsandhelpedtodecideonquantity,layoutandthestyleofchairthatwouldbestsuittheirneeds.

230ChurchillDeluxestackingchairswereeventuallychosenandRosehillweredelightedwiththefinaloutcomeaswerethecathedralstaffwhocommented“Thechairslooksuperb,thecolouriswarmandinvitingandwelovethecurvedeffect.Theyarecomfortableaswellasattractiveplustheversatilityandsturdinessisappreciated.”

ChristopherBennett,adisabledmemberofthecongregation,wasalsoimpressedsaying,“Ilikethenewchairsinthecathedralbecausetheycanbemoved,andIdon’thavetositinthegangwayinmywheelchair.”

RosehillhaveindeedreceivedanumberofcommentsfrommembersofotherchurchesaftertheyvisitedStAsaphandfeelitsagreatadvertisementfortheirchairs.

ForthosewhocannotmakeittoStAsaph,Rosehill’sshowroominWilmslow,Cheshireisopentoanyonewhowouldliketovisit,andtheirstaffwouldbemorethanpleasedtoseeyou.Ifyouwouldliketovisit,pleasegivethemacallon01614851717.q

•For more information on Rosehill visit www.rosehill.co.uk

��

TLXGoldhashelpedmaintaintheoriginaldesignofanowGradeIIlistedbuilding,whichstartedlifeinIsambardBrunel’sdrawingofficeandissettobecomeresidentialandcommercialspacelater

thisyear.Morethan500sqmetresofTLXGold,theall-in-onemulti-foil

andbreathermembranemanufacturedbyWebDynamics,hasbeenspecifiedfortheproject.TherenovationwillseeWombwellHomes,specialistsintheconservationandrenovationofBrownfieldsites,transformtherailwayworkshopsandlocomotiveshedsinLostwithiel,Cornwall,intoanNHSdentalpracticeandofficesuiteswithoneandtwobedroomflatsabove.

Theproduct,whichhasrecentlyachievedETA(EuropeanTechnicalApproval),hasbeeninstalledontheexternalsideoftheroofunderslatestoallowallthetimbersintherooftobeexposedinthebedrooms.TheuseofTLXGold,suppliedbyEnconofPlymouth,hasensuredthatthereisnoalterationtotheexistingroofline–arestrictionontheconversionofthelistedbuilding.

Atjust33mmthick,TLXGoldissympathetictothenatureofaprojectandenablesrenovationworktobecompletedwithminimaldisruption.Manyalternativesonthemarketrequiremodificationstotheinsideoroutsideprofileoftheroofwhichisn’talwaysanoption.

TLXGoldalsocontrolswatervapourandairmovementandwillallowabuildingto‘breathe’–deliveringacomfortableandenergyefficientenvironment.Theproduct,whichisavailableina1.2mwidthand10mlength,hasbeendesignedtoreflectheatbackintoabuildingtoconservemaximumenergyandhasprovedpopularfortraditionallyhardtoinsulatebuildings.

CraigThomson,ConstructionManageratWombwellHomessaid:“Weneededtoimprovethethermalperformanceofthebuildingswhichoriginallyopenedin1859,butalsoneededaproductthatwasappropriatetotheneedsofourinstallation.Raisingtherooflinewasn’taconsiderationduetothetightbuildingandconservationregulationsweneededtomeetforalistedbuilding.

“IhadreadabouttheuseofTLXGoldinasimilarprojectattheCrossnessPumpingStationinLondonanditseemedtofitourrequirementsastheprojectfacedverysimilarrestrictions.WecarriedouttheinstallationinJanuaryoncetheoriginalroofcoveringhadbeenstrippedaway.ItwasreallyeasytoinstallandreducedtheamountofinsulationthicknessweneededtoachievetherequiredU-values.”

TLXGoldhasbeenrecognisedforitsuniquedesignandsuitabilityforprojectsacrossthebuildingsector.Nowspecifiedforuseinmanylistedbuildingsandprivatehouserefurbishmentprojects,theproductisalsosuitableforusewithinthesocialhousingandpublicbuildingsectorsandisrecognisedandacceptedbylocalauthorities,buildersandspecifiers.

ManufacturedintheUKtheTLXrangeofmulti-foilinsulationhasachievedLABCRegisteredSystemstatus,isfastandsimpletoinstallandWebDynamics’technicalteamwillprovideadviceonwhichinsulationconstructiontouse.ThecompanyishappytoprovideU-valueandcondensationriskcalculationsandanswerqueriesconcerningspecificationorinstallationofanyoftheTLXrange.q

•For further information visit www.webdynamics.co.uk or call 01204 674730.

TLX helps exposeGrade II virtues

��

��

Asbestosin BuildingsRecentlytheHealthandSafetyExecutivelaunchedtheir‘Hidden

Killer’campaigntohighlightthedangerofexposuretoasbestosfibre,particularlytomaintenanceandothertradesmenwhen

workinginbuildings.Thishighprofilecampaigngraphicallyindicatedthataround20tradesmenperweekdieasaresultofexposuretoasbestosandthattradesmenarestillbeingexposedtotheserisks,eventoday,mainlyduetothefactthattheyareunawareofthepresenceofasbestosintheirworkplace.

At around 4,000 deaths per year, asbestos is still the country’s biggest industrial killer.

Anybuildingconstructedorrefurbishedbetween1890and1999couldcontainasbestosinoneormoreofitsmanyformsanduses.Fromthe1930’sasbestoswashailedasthe‘wonderbuildingmaterial’andintermsofitsuse,reacheditsheightintheUKinthemid1970’s.

Asbestoswasusedformanyapplicationsincludingfireprotection,thermalinsulation,anti-condensationandacousticcoatings,wallboarding,boxing,panellingandroofingtonamebutafew.Inchurchesithasbeenusedaspipeandboilerinsulation,boxingandcasingstoorganblowers,permanentshutteringoverpipetrenches,behindradiators,underradiatorshelves,inrainwatergoodsandassprayedcoatingstotheundersideofroofs.

TheControlofAsbestosRegulations(CAR)2006placesanexplicitdutyonthoseresponsibleforbuildings(TheDutyholder)tomanagetheriskfromasbestosintheirproperty,notonlyfortheirownemployeesandvisitorsbutanyonewhomaycomeintocontactwithitincluding,ofcourse,anytradesmenwhomaybeworkinginit.

AmajorrequirementofCAR2006,andsubsequentlyanyasbestosmanagementplan,istoinformanyonewhomaycomeintocontactwithit,ofthepresenceofasbestoscontainingmaterialswithinthepropertyandtogivethosepeopleadequatetraininginhowtorecogniseasbestoscontainingmaterialsandmanagetheriskofexposure.

Thestartingpointofanymanagementplanistofindoutifthebuildingcontainsasbestosmaterialsbyanasbestossurvey.Asurveywillprovideanasbestosregister,recorditslocation,extentandtypeandassesstheriskofexposureonthelongtermhealthofanyonewhomaycomeintocontactwithit.

Thiswillgenerallymeanthat,asaminimum,a‘management’asbestossurveywillberequiredinordertocomplywiththeregulationsandifanyworkisplannedwithinthepremisesamorein-depth‘refurbishment/demolition’surveymaybenecessary.Toavoidconfusion,thesesurveytypesarefullydetailedinHSE Guidance HSG 264whichdescribesthescopeandcontentofthesurveytypes,howtheyshouldbe

undertakenandthecompetencyrequirementsofUKASAccreditationforthoseundertakingthem.

Trainingisthenextimportantcriteria,asunlessthesurveyinformationisimpartedtothoselikelytobeexposedithasverylittlevalue.Similarly,tradesmenneedtobeawareofanyasbestosmaterialstheymayencountertopreventunintentionaldisturbanceleadingtoexposure,notonlytothemselvesbuttoanyoneelseinthevicinity.

CompaniesyouchoosetoundertakeasbestossurveysshouldbeaccreditedbyUKAS(UnitedKingdomAccreditationService)toISO/IEC17020toundertakeinspectionsandtoISO/IEC17025toundertakebulksampleidentificationandtesting.ThisaccreditationensuresthatyouwillgetthebestpossiblesurveyinaccordancewithHSG264.

TrainingrequirementsarealsoregulatedanddescribedinRegulation12oftheControl of Asbestos Regulations 2006.AsbestostrainingorganisationsareaccreditedbyUKATAtheUnitedKingdomAsbestosTrainingAssociation.q

•For more information on asbestos management, surveys or training contact Tersus Consultancy Limited on 0121 244 1828, via their website www.tersusgroup.co.uk or by e-mail to info@tersusgroup.co.uk

��

New life for historic hall

ThefirststeptorepairandrestoreoneofBolton’sarchitecturalgemshasbegun.SpecialisthistoricbuildingdeveloperLinford:DevelopingHeritagehasambitiousplanstoturnLittleBoltonTown

Hall,aGradeIIlistedGeorgianbuildingonStGeorge’sStreet,intoahighqualityrestaurant.

Thedevelopersareproposingtocarryoutextensiverestorationandprotectionworktothehistorichallandworkershavemovedintopeelawaymodernadditionsthathavebeenmadeovertheyearstohelprevealthebuilding’soriginalstructure,anduncoveranyhiddensecrets.

Oncethisfirstphaseiscomplete,Manchester-basedarchitectsButtressFullerAlsopWilliamswillbeabletofinalisetheirdesignsforthescheme.

Therestorationprojectisaboosttothecouncil-ledrevitalisationoftheLittleBoltonareawhichaimstoenhancethedistinctivearchitectural,historicandculturalcharacterofthedistrict.

BoltonCouncil’sExecutiveMemberforDevelopmentandRegeneration,CouncillorIsmailIbrahim,said:“Thisisatremendouslyexcitingdevelopmentandonewhich,whenitcomestofruition,willhaveamassiveimpactonthatpartofthetown.”q

How green is your museum?

GreenerMuseums’SustainabilityLeadershipProgramme,whichlastyearhelped23participatinginstitutionstosave£250,000andthousandsoftonsofcarbon,istorunagainthisyear,it

hasbeenannounced.Lastyear’sprogrammebeganbyconductingthelargestassessment

ofmuseumcarbonfootprintseverundertakenintheUK.Asaresult,electricityconsumptionwassingledoutasthemainsourceofcarbonamongstmuseums,contributingover60%oftheiremissionsandcostingtheparticipantsacombinedtotalof£1.9millionperyear.

Throughamixtureofliveandonlineworkshops,theprogrammehelpsdelegatestotakeonsustainabilitychallengesbymeasuringtheirinstitutions’impactontheenvironmentandworkingtoreducethatimpactthroughnewtechnology,awareness-buildingandeducation.

Commentingonlastyear’sprogramme,inwhichheparticipated,RonMcGregoroftheManchesterMuseumsaid:“InvolvementintheGreenerMuseumsProgrammegivesyourorganizationadetailedandcomprehensivetoolkitforassessingyourcurrentenvironmentalimpactanddevelopingapracticalstrategytocutcarbonuseandreducecosts.”

RachelMadan,ExecutiveDirectorofGreenerMuseums,said“Thisisafantasticopportunityformuseumsbothtosavemoneyandbecomemoresustainable.Iencourageallinstitutionstoparticipate.”

Theprogrammewillbeacceptingapplicationsuntil15August2011.q

��

AUDIO VISUAL

ASBESTOS

ARCHIVE STORAGE BOXES

ARCHAEOLOGY

ACCESS EQUIPMENT

BELLS

ANTIQUE FURNITURE RESTORATION

ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK

New life for historic hall

��

BESPOKE JOINERY

BIRD PROOFING

CLERICAL CLOTHING

CHURCH HEATING

CANDLES

BUILDING SERVICES

BLACKSMITHS

BRICK REPAIR TOOLS

BUILDING CONSERVATION SERVICES

��

DAMP PROOFING

CONSERVATION ENGINEERS

CONSERVATION BUILDERS

CONSERVATION

CLOCKS

DISABLED ACCESS

EXHUMATION SERVICES

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

DRAINAGE

FENCING

FURNITURE

��

LIGHTNING PROTECTION

LEADWORK

LANDSCAPING

GUILD OF MASTERCRAFTSMEN

GLAZING

JAPANESE KNOTWEED

��

LIME

LOOP SYSTEMS

MORTAR SUPPLIES

MOSAICS

ORGANS

�0

RESTORATION

PLASTERERS

PHOTO PLAQUES

PHOTOGRAPHY

PERIOD PROPERTY CONSERVATION

PEST CONTROL

ORGAN PIPES

PAINT REMOVAL

ROOFING

��

STONE

STAINED GLASS

SOUND SYSTEMS

SASH WINDOWS

��

TREE SURGERY & CONSULTANCY

TRAINING

TESTING AND CONSULTANCY

STOVES

��

WEB DESIGN

WORSHIP

��

HistoryreallydoesloomlargeamidtheruinsofAstleyCastleindeepestWarwickshirebutthere’scurrentlya

newchapterbeingwrittenforaLandmarkTrustbuildingthatdatesbackover800years.

OncehometoLadyJaneGrey,theninedayQueenwhowasexecutedbyQueenMaryIin1554,AstleyCastleiscurrentlyundergoinganextensive£1.3millionrefurbishmentphaseundertheauspicesofarchitectsWitherfordWatsonManntogetherwithYorkandManchesterbasedbuildingandrestorationcontractorsWilliamAnelayLtd.Thisisphasetwooftheprojectwhichinitiallysawthestructureconsolidatedandstabilised.

WorkstartedonthecurrentphaseofworksinSeptember2010.CompletionissetforSeptember2011withthebuildingavailableforholidaysfromearly2012.

LeasedbytheLandmarkTrustfromtheArburyEstate,AstleyCastleisontheUK’sBuildings at Risk RegisterbutwillsoonstartanewleaseoflifeasaholidayhomewiththeLandmarkTrust.

Themoatedcastle,withmanyofitsremainsdatingbacktothe12thCenturyandsignsofoccupationdatingbacktoSaxontimes,isknownasbeing‘ownedbythreeQueensofEngland’.

Inthemid15thCenturyitwashometoElizabethWoodvillewhowentontomarry

EdwardIVandborehimtheill-fatedyoungPrinceswhoendedtheirlivescontroversiallyintheTowerofLondon.Herdaughter,alsocalledElizabeth(ofYork),wentontobecomethewifeofHenryVIIandmotherofHenryVIII.

Restorationprojectsarerarelyasdemandingasthisonewithinch,indeedmillimetre,perfectionverymuchthenameofthegameandacombinationofnewbuildskillsandconservationexpertisecontributingtothecreationofwhatisexpectedtobeatrulystunningholidayvenue.ThehousewillaccommodateuptoeightpeopleandwillcomplywithallDDAregulationsincludingalift,anotherfirstforsuchaLandmarkTrustproperty.

Fromthe1930’suntilthelate70’sthecastleservedasahotelaswellasahomeforconvalescingservicemenduringWorldWarTwo.Afirein1978guttedthebuildingandithasremainedforlornandoutofuseeversince.

WilliamAnelayprojectmanager,DavidMarshiswellawareofthehistoryandthecomplexityofgivingthisintriguingplaceanewleaseoflife:“I’veworkedonmanyhistoricandincredibleprojectswithWilliamAnelaybutthisreallyisthemostchallengingandinterestingoneyet.

“Therearesomanydifferentfacetstothisprojectthatmakeitunique.Thewholeofthenewbuildwillbeenclosedwithintheexistingruins.Inorderforthenewwallstomeettheruinsatthecorrectrooflevel,allofthesettingouthasbeenestablishedfromthetopratherthanfromgroundlevel.

“There’salsothebrickworkbond,orpattern,devisedbythearchitectspecificallyforthisprojectwhichhasneverbeenusedbeforeandinvolves30,00040mmbricksimportedfromDenmark,”addedDavid.

Davidwenton“Everythingissoexactwiththisjobandbeingjustamillimetreoutcould

affecteverything.Thearchitect’splansareextremelydetailedtotheextentthateverysinglebrickisshownonthedrawings.

“Ateverypointwherenewgroundwasbrokenwehadtocallinthearchaeologists.Thisisbecausethebelowgroundsiteandthecurtainwallsareregisteredasascheduledancientmonument.

“Fromastructuralpointofviewover270Cintecanchorsarebeinginsertedintotheexistingremainstomakesafetheaspectsandhelptostabilisethebuilding,”addedDavid.

AlastairDick-ClelandoftheLandmarkTrustcommented:“ThisprojectreallystandsoutevenwhencomparedtothemanyothercomplexrestorationsthattheLandmarkTrusthasundertakenoverthelast45years.Whereaswewouldnormallydoatraditionalrestoration,hereweareinsertingmodernaccommodationwithintheruinedwalls.ThisisafirstfortheLandmarkTrustandisapracticalsolutiontosavingwhatwasaveryruinousstructure.Withoutthisintervention,AstleyCastlewouldsurelyhavebeenlostforever.

“Thecompletedbuildingwillprovideatrulyamazingexperienceforanyvisitorandonethatweareveryexcitedabout,”headded.

ThehauntingimageofLadyJaneGrey,rumouredtopeeroutofoneofthecastle’sTudorstylewindows,couldwellfeatureasmileassheseesherformerresidencedevelop,onceagain,intoahomefitforaQueen!q

•Established in 1747, William Anelay Ltd is one of the UK’s oldest construction companies and currently operates out of bases in York and Manchester with over 100 employees.For further information, please contact Sharon McCutcheon on Tel: 01904 420009, Email: info@williamanelay.co.uk or visit www.williamanelay.co.uk

Far from grey at Astley!

David Marsh, project manager at Astley Castle

The brickwork bond at Astley

��

��