Grosvenor Blog » church

Faith in skills

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:12:34 +0000

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.

Liturgical reordering – Alsager

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:21:37 +0000

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.

Saint Dwynwen’s Church and the Patron Saint of Lovers

admin — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:30:26 +0000

Saint Dwynwen’s Church, on Anglesey is a scheduled ancient monument.

Perhaps more interestingly and topically – Saint Dwynwen is the patron Saint of Lovers.

Who were the two furtive shadows holding hands amidst the romantic ruins on the occasion of Grosvenors site visit recently?

Perhap’s some ghosts of the past, or two royal lovers learning their lines for the big day?

Probably not, but it would be nice to think so.

Even so, such a remarkable and symbolic survival as the church at Saint Dwynwen’s might draw the wedded royals out to visit it’s sacred remains.

The church and the nearby well have attracted such love filled pilgrimages for centuries.

Grosvenor have been contracted (in collaboration with Mentor Mon, CADW and the Countryside Council for Wales) to make sure that happy couples of all persuasion, under the eye of the patron Saint of Lovers, can gain solace for centuries to come.

They are soon to start work on consolidating and re-stabilising the main structure under the careful supervision of an archaeologist.

And if a certain couple should visit?

We’ll let you know!!

Saint John’s Chester & Civic Awards

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 14:41:17 +0000

Grosvenor are proud to hear that Saint John’s Chester refurbishment project has been nominated for a Civic Award.

Grosvenor were principal contractors on the scheme to re-point the historic fabric using traditional lime mortar, and will be attending the Civic Awards at the end of November.

Saint Mary’s Bosley

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:48:21 +0000

The church of Saint Mary, Bosley in Cheshire is a wonderful amalgamation of early C16th sandstone tower with an C18th brick nave.

Grosvenor are proud to be involved with the re-roofing of the stone tile roof to the nave including re-pointing with lime mortar. We are replacing the existing cast iron rainwater goods in new to match existing.

Defective and eroded masonry and leadwork is also being replaced.

Below are some images of the roof after stripping the stone slates off. A temporary scaffold roof has been installed to ensure that the building remains dry throughout the operation.

Recent Contract List

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:33:06 +0000

To give a small flavour of some of the work that we do, here is a list of some of our previous contracts:-

1. St. Giles Wrexham – Stone work repairs & restoration of the parapets & finials to the Nave roof.

2. St Salem’s Colwyn Bay – Stone work repairs, restoration, Doff Cleaning & re-pointing in lime mortar to the front elevation.

3. St. Sirens Church Llanynys- Re-pointing in lime mortar, lime wash to all external walls, new cast iron Rain water goods & new drainage system.

4. St. Peters Church Ruthin – Roofing and leadwork to the main central valley and tower

5. St Saviours Church Oxton (English Heritage) – Rebuilding of the west Gable, restoration of the apex cross & roofing / leadworks.

6. St Michael’s Church Abergele – Rebuilding of the church boundary wall Reconfigure Rain Water Goods & new drainage and soakaway.

7. Conwy Castle Town Walls (CADW) – removing modern-day paint systems from world heritage site with the torc & Doff cleaning systems.

8. Beaumaris Castle (CADW)- stone restoration to access stairs leading to the castle parapet.

9. Froncasillt Church - Dismantling of the bell- cote, removal of the detective existing iron cramps replaced with new stainless steel cramps & reconstructed in traditional lime mortar.

10. Bidulph Old Hall (English Heritage) – Complete restoration & conservation of the hunting tower. Inc. cutting out of defective masonry & replacing with new, replacement of domed lead roof, re-pointing in lime mortar to match the existing, structural stabilisation with the cintec anchoring systems. View a slideshow of this project.

11. Machynlleth Town Clock. (CADW)- Complete restoration of the stone clock tower inc: Torc stone cleaning, carefully rack out existing defective mortar & repoint in lime mortar, replace the existing defective lead work in new code 8 lead to LSA reg’s. restoration and re-gilding of the weather vain & clock faces & the replacement of existing moulded masonry sections (moulded heads / hood moulds / carvings etc. View a slideshow of this project.

12. Tal Y Braick Carnarfon (CADW)- Restoration of welsh long cottage using traditional materials. Inc: Rebuilding existing stone structures gables walls with existing stone & lime mortar, re-roofed in traditional welsh slate, re-plaster all internal wall in lime plaster, decoration trough out in 4 coat lime wash. Supply & fit new sash windows / doors. (this was for a TV documentary about farm life 200 year ago.)

13. St. Johns Church Chester (English Heritage)- Restoration / Conservation of all external elevations inc. Carefully racking out defective pointing & re-point in lime mortar, replacement of defective masonry with new to match existing stone & profiles, replacement of defective lead work, installation of cintec anchors.

14. St Mary’s Bosley (English Heritage)- Re-roofing the stone tiled roof to the Nave inc. re-pointing in lime mortar, re-place existing cast iron rainwater goods in new to match existing, re-placement of defective masonry & replace defective lead work in new to LSA reg’s

15. Ysgeifiog Parish Church, Anglesey (CADW)- Conservation of the remains of Chapel inc. installation of cintec anchors, consolidation/grouting of the existing masonry, rebuilding with existing masonry in lime mortar, re-pointing open joins in lime mortar to match existing. View a slideshow of this project.

16.The Old Stables Bull Lane Denbigh (Townscape Heritage Initiative)- Traditional slate re-roofing. External Lime repointing. Internal lime plastering.

17. 45 Vale St. Denbigh, (Townscape Heritage Initiave) Rebuilding of existing chimney stacks. Traditional slate re-roofing, external lime rendering, new Victorian shop front, kime paint decoration.