One of the wonderful things about being involved with Heritage Conservation is the variety of building’s that Grosvenor gets to work with.

Denbigh is a microcosm of our work.

Whilst we have a major project which involves conservation and new-build over at the medieval castle on the hill at Denbigh, further down nestled within the tight-knit curtilage of the town, Grosvenor has been busy as a bee at bringing the historic core back to life.

Here, Edwardian shop frontages butt up against Georgian and Jacobean houses. Such an eclectic mix of styles and fashions requires individual responses of expertise and understanding.

At Denbigh, Grosvenor is proud to have made a major contribution to the vitality and longevity of the towns future.

Saint Giles Church in Wrexham is C15th Grade1 listed church which has within its grounds the gravestone of Elihu Yale, after whom Yale University, USA is named.

Grosvenor is currently involved in a large and complex scheme which involves the removal of the old vestry and the construction of a new Centre for Religious Education and Faith Studies.

Also a re-ordering of the south aisle and Chancel is taking  place.

More faith is being placed in our young operatives who are gaining valuable experience in learning traditional skills alongside our more experienced personnel.

New drainage connections externally have revealed valuable insights into the history of the church due to associated archaeology.

An unrecorded lead crypt was also uncovered (under the guidance of the Watching Brief) with 5 C18th lead coffins inside the vestry.

As well as our building conservation projects, Grosvenor also does a lot of reordering of churches to suite new liturgical practice. Our conservation background helps provide a sensitive and philosophical approach to such subjects based upon the conservation principles we work with day in and day out. St. Mary Magdalene is such a reordering which included for installation of new community based areas to the west end of the church.

Grosvenor understand that the most important components of a successful company are its people.

We have adopted a philosophy which encourages maximum exposure to training and upgrading of skills.

This philosophy is underpinned by the early adoption of the Heritage Skills Card for all our staff.

To celebrate the diversity of skills within our company we are proud to introduce a short video.

As the above photo depicts our conservation work over at Saint Gwenfaen’s church, Rhoscolyn on Anglesey,  went so well that we suspected the intervention of something far more angelic than our earthly boot clad craftsmen!

Perhaps we were aided by the wonderful story that goes behind the ancient church at Rhoscolyn.

The church was originally established in 690AD. It was dedicated to Saint Gwenfaen, daughter of Pawl Hen of Manaw (Isle of Man). Legend has it that she was chased away from her cloister cell by druids. She managed to escape by climbing down the rocks to the bay and here was reputed to have been carried away from danger by Angels.

Stories such as this are embodied within our historic buildings which is why it is so important to maintain our heritage to provide continuity and contribute to our identity.

Principally, Grosvenor were involved in the lime mortar pointing of the church and some remedial works. Re-built in 1870 from original medieval stone the fabric was found to be a little worse for wear.

The current church  has some wonderful stained glass and a marvellous reredos.

We kept an eye out for Druids during our stay at the Church but all we came across were tourists  waiting to discover the beauties of the church within, which Grosvenor made accessible during our programme of works.

You can read more about our fascinating projects here

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You can view a video of our work here

Grosvenor Construction has an Environmental Management System which monitors our impact upon the environment and enables the improvement of such an impact. Such a system when tied in with our conservation based approach adds a real dynamic to the protection and conservation of our environment.

Conserving and protecting a building doesn’t just enable its survival for cultural purposes, it also encapsulates the existing energy contained within a building. Grosvenor Construction has been involved with multiple projects which have ensured the survival of, and re-use of historic properties for the benefit of our communities and our environment. Demolition of such buildings would mean additional waste of existing materials and ultimately the necessity for construction of a new property and the resources that this would entail.

The key conservation principle of ‘minimum intervention’ ensures that minimum energy in terms of skills, materials and processes is expounded on a project leaving much of the existing building fabric to provide a use for future generations.

It is a common misconception that older buildings lack energy efficiency. Many traditional buildings outperform their modern counterparts when it comes to impact upon the environment. Thick walls, terraced construction, and smaller windows often contribute to the need for less energy. For those buildings that need upgrading – sound guidance and use of complementary solutions can bring them back to life with the minimum impact on the environment.

Many traditional practices (which have been honed and passed on over the centuries) are now being realised to have lasting benefits for the environment. The use of lime mortar, for example, absorbs CO2 when curing.

Additionally, our experience in preparing and expediting planned maintenance programmes often prevents damage to a building along with reducing the environmental impact of costly repairs.

Grosvenor Construction’s approach to such preservation always bears sustainability in mind and uses conservation techniques that eliminate or reduce our carbon footprint

Grosvenor Construction has an impassioned approach to the historic environment and its conservation. We are driven by a philosophy which is underpinned by a real respect for the sanctity of  Britain’s heritage. Many customers have spoken of our professional and enthusiastic outlook which has a palpable result in the quality of our workmanship.

Our success is the result of a holistic approach to building conservation. At all times the rationale of ‘minimum intervention’ and use of traditional skills, materials and methods, is driven by our research and understanding of the significance of a site.

Grosvenor Construction is fully conversant with British Standard 7913: 1998 – Guide to the Principles of the Conservation of Historic Buildings. Our extensive knowledge of Government Planning Policy Guidance enables an informed and enlightened approach to project management, which contributes to the overall success of a project. To this end, we are proficient in the initiation and production of Impact Assessments, Significance Statements and Conservation Plans. Such statements and plans are linked into our project plans and ultimately feed into the conservation process through our Quality Assurance system.

Of course, our professional approach is derived from a passionate connection with historic buildings and their curtilage. Grosvenor Construction has worked on every building type from every historic period. Projects have been successfully completed in consultation with Heritage Bodies (CADW, English Heritage and The National Trust) Heritage Groups, Conservation Officers, Conservation Architects, Historic Building Consultants and even Television Media.

Recent projects include:

• The conservation and consolidation of the Jacobean Hall at Biddulph,
• The complete restoration of the Victorian Gothic clock tower at Machynlleth,
• The complete restoration and conservation of the vernacular long house in Wales

Such associations would not be possible without the people that make up Grosvenor Construction. We pride ourselves in the quality and dedication of our personnel and have access to an exhaustive range of traditional skills rooted in ongoing development and training in techniques complimentary to the protection and conservation of our heritage.

Grosvenor Construction is proud in the knowledge that our deep-seated, informed and collaborative approach to each project has helped contribute to the preservation, protection and enjoyment of Britain’s heritage.