14.05.21 Blenheim Palace

...our giant Haki stair access tower comes with some wonderful views!

06.05.21 On the up again

...at Blenheim Palace! Scaffolding has commenced to provide hidden access to the Workroom Heights roof. Funded by the government's culture recovery fund, we will be carrying out emergency repairs to the lead gutters. The works require carpentry, slating and possibly structural repairs. The scaffold is being erected in an internal courtyard, therefore all materials are being carefully brought through an internal corridor.

06.05.21 Works are progressing

...in Great Linford at the brick kilns. The photos show the Eastern kiln, which is one of two remaining brick kilns dating back to the mid 1800s. We are cutting out the cementitious mortar and damaged bricks, in order to reinstate with new matching bricks, pointed with lime mortar.

29.04.21 External repairs are now complete

...and the scaffolding has been removed at St Marys Church in Oxfordshire. The lower photo shows the replacement coping stones to the North Nave along with window hood moulds and string course to the clerestory. We capped the string course with lead, re-dressed the hopper heads and fabricated and installed a new lead downpipe and shoe. The metal ties and straps were repaired and redecorated. Similar works have also been completed to the South clerestory. Our team of carpenters are busy finishing off repairs to the seven Nave trusses

31.03.21 Scaffolding is now in place

...at our latest project in Northamptonshire. We will be conserving the facades, roof and internal spaces.

26.03.21 Incredible to have Blenheim Palace to ourselves

...during a site visit to review our next project there.

12.03.21 We are nearing completion

...of the quinquennial inspection repairs at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in Wolverhampton. We have finished the pitched roof slate repairs and renewed two flat roofs with mastic asphalt. We are now putting the finishing touches to the new Confessional entrance and new steps into the Sacristry.

Bespoke oak doors installed
Confessional opening created
Existing Confessional wall
New steps to the Sacristry
Sacristry works in progress
Existing Sacristry steps

25.02.21 Our carpenters and stone masons

...have been carefully conserving the structure of St Marys Church in Oxfordshire. The carpenters have been busy working on the Nave roof, carrying out truss, purlin and rafter repairs. The stone masons have been cutting out damaged stones to the parapet and clerestory and re-decorating the iron tie bars and straps.

15.02.21 A scheduled ancient monument

...the brick kilns at Great Linford date back to the early 19th Century. We have been awarded the contract to conserve the kilns over a 16 week period.

12.02.21 We are delighted to be playing our part

...in undertaking essential conservation work at Blenheim Palace, thanks to the Government's Culture Recovery Fund https://www.blenheim.org/news/emergency-roof-repairs-culture-recovery-fund/

11.02.21 Work in progress at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

...in Wolverhampton. We are repairing and replacing roof coverings and improving access into the church.

30.01.21 Masonry and carpentry work

...is underway at our project at St Marys Church in Oxfordshire. Truss repairs are have commenced, along with cutting out joints and damaged stone.

St Agatha, Birmingham

...we are delighted to be conserving "Birmingham's Finest Church", as described by John Betjeman. The church has withstood war time bombing, arson and even a 135mph tornado in 2005. Our works will include roof repairs, brickwork re-pointing and repair of rainwater goods.

We are now applying the finishing touches

...to our project at the RSC Props Workshop and Hub. We have installed hardwood weatherboards with threshold water bars to the two doors.

21.01.21 With much of the internal work complete

...we are now focused on conserving and repairing the external facade of Drapers Hall in Coventry.

18.01.21 Our new ThermaTech machine has arrived

...using digitally controlled superheated water at temperatures up to 150 deg C, we are able to sensitively clean masonry; removing dirt, paint and coatings, often without the use of chemicals or abrasives.

21.12.20 The rooflights and flat roof coverings

...have now been replaced at our project in Wolverton. We have also installed new cast iron internal rainwater goods. The lath and plaster ceilings have commenced, with decoration and replacement floor coverings to follow.

10.12.20 Our latest project is now underway

...at grade I listed St Marys Church in Oxfordshire. We will be repairing the timber roof structure of the Nave, along with plaster repairs and re-decoration. Externally, we will be piecing in stone replacements to the parapets, string course and windows.

27.11.20 Our project at

...All Saints Church, Hoby in Leicestershire is now complete. The last item on the list was the manufacture of a new memorial cross. We used re-purposed timber from what were thought to be coffin stands, carved lettering, decorated and fixed into position above an alcove in the South Aisle.

20.11.20 We were handed a shopping list

...of carpentry and joinery repairs to undertake at All Saints Church, Hoby in Leicestershire. It included pew end repairs and new feet, wood worm treatment, collection box and cupboard repairs, re-fixing of the linenfold screen, parquet floor repairs and manufacture of a sturdy oak stand for the tea urn. All we have left to do is carve the lettering and decorate the new memorial cross we have manufactured.

"We are delighted with all the work that has been done, the repair of so many odds and ends as well has been great. Not putting up with so many things not being quite right have now been sorted. We will have you back on another occasion to carry out further repairs to the floor"

09.11.20 We have returned

...to commence our second project at Wolverton, repairing the listed Nursery building. Our works include re-roofing, rooflights & rainwater goods, new lath and plaster ceilings, decoration and replacement floor coverings.

09.11.20 The scaffold has been dismantled

at our Royal Shakespeare Company project. We are delighted with the difference that the Doff and poultice cleaning has made to the facade. Just repairs and redecoration of the doors to complete.

The carved linenfold

...panels at the East end of the Chancel had warped and become detached from the timber frame

This graffitti was

...found behind the screen, revealing it was re-purposed and came from a nearby village

We carefully dismantled the

...screen framework and re-fixed the linenfold panels

09.10.20 Since completing structural roofing repairs to the

...props workshop and hub, we have been busy working on the facade. We commenced on site in January and are now looking forward to the grand reveal once scaffolding has been removed. Our recent works have included stone and joinery repairs, Doff and poultice cleaning of the brick and masonry.

15.09.20 We have commenced repairs

...to the drainage system at St Peters Church in Northamptonshire, following delays caused by the Covid19 pandemic. We will be replacing existing gullies and introducing new gullies and connections to the main run. The blue brick channel will also be locally re-pointed. All below ground works will proceed under an archaeological watching brief.

14.09.20 The Ride & Stride

...raises funds towards the upkeep of historic churches, chapels and meeting houses. We took part on Saturday 12th September, visiting 24 churches in Leicestershire, covering 80 miles on the bike. It was a pleasure to receive a warm welcome at each church and to play our small part in helping to preserve our heritage.

07.09.20 Drapers Hall has been vacant for 30 years

...but is now being regenerated and brought back to life to coincide with the 2021 City of Culture launch. We are undertaking significant alteration work to conserve Coventry's finest Regency building

19.08.20

We have completed this leaded light repair to All Saints Church nr Leighton Buzzard, Bucks. We removed the storm damaged window and boarded up. The window was then carefully bench repaired, re-fitted with new copper ties and the ferramenta redecorated

28.08.20 Work in progress

...at our Farm House project in the West Midlands. We are continuing to strip out redundant fixtures and fittings and remove defective plaster to ceilings and walls

04.08.20 Work continues

...at the grade II* Drapers Hall in Coventry. Brick works and stone masonry are progressing well. 07.08.20 updated with more photos

21.07.20 We are bringing this

... mid 19c farm house back to life for a private client in the West Midlands. Initially, we are undertaking extensive clearance work to strip back decayed fixtures and fittings and making access safe for further investigation.

03.07.20 Before and after photographs

...of our recently completed project to a Staffordshire church. This is the brick drainage channel reformed and laid with York stone paving to the North side of the Tower. Scroll down below for photographs of the carved stone finials installed to the Tower and Vestry.

26.06.20 We have now...

commenced on site at the grade II* Drapers Hall in Coventry. Our project includes extensive masonry and brick works and both internal and external steam cleaning. A stone's throw from the old Cathedral, the hall survived war time bombing and has remained unaltered since Victorian times.

22.06.20 Structural timber repairs...

continue to the roof of the Costume Workshop at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon

19.06.20 Drainage works

...are progressing well at our Staffordshire project, despite the challenging weather conditions.

12.06.20 Finials worked

...and now fitted to the top of the tower and vestry to a Staffordshire church. We will also be installing a new brick paved/York stone drainage channel and other masonry works.

04.06.20 We are almost complete

...at our project in Wolverton. The lantern has been decorated and windows are operable. We are now applying the finishing touches, prior to removal of scaffolding.

01.06.20 We are pleased

...to be back on site at Freemens Cottages in Leicester following updated Covid 19 procedures. In 1107, Robert, Count of Meulen, granted to the Merchants of Leicester a Charter, allowing them to reform the Guild of Merchants and to carry out their business with the same rights and privileges that they had enjoyed before the Norman Conquest. Over the years the gildsmen became known as the Freemen and until 1835 they were the local government of the borough. Just prior to 1835, the Freemen were granted land to the south of Leicester under the Enclosure Acts and with the granting of the land, further legislation empowered the Freemen to elect a Board of deputies to manage their estates. Freeman's Cottages were built in two main phases in 1856 and 1893 to provide accommodation for the aged Freemen and Freemen's widows.

28.05.20 - Work continues

...at our school project in Wolverton. We have installed new casement windows and are repairing the existing windows. The metal operating gear has been dismantled and undergoing refurbishment. We have repaired the slate roof and installed new lead hips and cill apron. Next steps are to glaze, decorate and re-fit the winding gear.

Sand cast lead laid

...the existing lead has been re-cast and is now being laid with wood cored roll joints and drips. The roof has been ventilated with compact point ventilators and abutment ventilators.

We have been busy

...in the last few months. Structural roof repairs at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, gate pillar repair and rebuild at the Leicester School of Business, fountain repair in Birmingham, masonry repairs to a Shropshire church and re-roofing at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.

...our latest project at Wolverton, near Milton Keynes

As principal contractor, the project involves a little bit of everything; internal and external scaffold access, asbestos sampling, joinery, carpentry, glazing, roofing, metalwork refurbishment, internal works and decoration. The lantern will either be repaired or replaced.

Covid19

We have locally sourced joinery grade timber boards for our Blenheim Palace project after our usual supplier closed. They were untreated, so the preservative was applied by hand. We are "virtually" signing in and out and meeting via "teams" and "zoom". Working at home is second nature to us, but now we must do it whilst balancing childcare. We are fortunate that the nature of our projects mean we can implement Covid19 RAMs and social distancing. We are starting new projects and continue to tender for future work. It is a challenge, but we believe with some ingenuity and hard work we can continue to operate safely, conserve our heritage and support the economy

We are delighted

...to have commenced work at "Britain's Greatest Palace"; Blenheim. We are extremely proud to be conserving part of this World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Our project involves scaffold access, re-casting the existing lead, repairs and alterations to the timber sub structure and associated masonry works to the Stable Tower.