Tag Archives: Conservation and restoration

Architectural Awards 2022

17th November 2022Latest NewsArchitectural Awards 2022, Bakers of Danbury, builders, conservation, Conservation and restoration, Georgian Group, Georgian Group awards, Ptolemy Dean Architects, school extension, Westminster SchoolRachel Finlay

We are delighted to announce that the extension and redevelopment project Bakers of Danbury carried out on Westminster School has won the Diaphoros Prize at the Architectural Awards 2022 which is held every year by the Georgian Group.

To read about the extension Bakers of Danbury built at Westminster School click here.

The Georgian Group said;

The redevelopment of the Adrian Boult building by Ptolemy Dean Architects was the final stage of a 20-year-long project to repair and reorder Westminster School’s historic campus. The building stands on the site of the former great kitchen that in the Middle Ages served the refectory of Westminster Abbey. This monastic building had long since been lost and the site encumbered by various 20th century buildings and additions that also compromised the adjoining Ashburnham House, one of the finest late 17th century houses to survive in the capital. Thoughtful and patient redevelopment, however, has enabled a number of wider improvements. The lower floor level of Ashburnham House, for example, has been restored, avoiding stepped access. At the same time, the remains of the monastic kitchen exposed by archaeological excavation before construction began, have been left visible through glass floors. The new building was intended to have a polite but modest 18th century personality. It’s built of red brick with its main facade articulated by arches. There is a mansard roof of salvaged pan tiles, and an oval roof lantern inspired by that over the top-lit staircase of Ashburnham House. This is a model of sensitive and contextual design in a highly sensitive place."

To find out more about the Georgian Group Architectural Awards 2022 click here.

DAC Design Awards 2022

11th August 2022Latest NewsAll Saints Church, All Saints Church in Terling, Bakers of Danbury, builders, Chelmsford Diocese, church, church builders, church conservation, Church Design awards, Church of England, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, Church works, Churches of Essex and East London, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and restoration, DAC Design Awards 2022, Diocese of Chelmsford, Diocese of Chelmsford DAC Design awards 2022, Diocese of EssexRachel Finlay

Repairs to Bourn Windmill

5th August 2022Heritageancient barns, Bakers of Danbury, bourn windmill, bourne windmill, builders, conservation, Conservation and restoration, england, millright, millwright, millwrights, oldest mill, oldest open trestle post mill, oldest windmill, open trestle, open trestle post, open trestle post mill, repairs to bourn mill, repairs to bourn windmill, suffolk windmill, wind mill, windmill conservation, windmill repair, windmill sails, windmill urgent repairs, working windmillRachel Finlay

Summary = Timber repairs to Bourn Windmill - the oldest windmill in the UK

Location = Caxton, Cambridge

Repairs to Bourn Windmill = This open trestle post mill is the oldest surviving windmill in the UK, and is Grade I Listed and designated an Ancient Monument. The entire weight of this windmill is supported on a central post, which is supported by a trestle. We have raised the buck by approx. 100mm clear of the main post to carry out urgent repairs to the timber trestle.

Repairs to Bourn Windmill include installing replacement trestles constructed from air dried oak (minimum 4 yeas fallen). A traditional joint will be formed by hand and held in place with iron brackets & rods. Bakers will construct four replacement brick piers) which will need to cure for 28 days before any loading is placed on them.

How Trestle Post Mills Work

The post mill is the earliest type of European windmill. It's defining feature is that the whole body of the mill that houses the machinery is mounted on a single vertical post, around which it can be turned to bring the sails into the wind. It takes around two or three people to turn the mill around to bring the sails into the wind, and although it is a dramatic job it is fairly easy to do so. All post mills have an arm projecting from them on the side opposite the sails and reaching down to near ground level.

Bourn Mill Project Tours

The mill is currently closed whilst repair works are being carried out to the rotted timber trestle - however the general public enjoyed seeing the work in action during two project tours which took place in July and August 2022.

History of Bourn Windmill

The earliest written record of Bourn Mill was made in 1636. This style of mill has barely been changed since the 13th century. In 2021, scientists attempted to age the timbers in the mill and concluded that the tree that provided the huge timber for the main post in the mill was cut down during 1513-49, making it the oldest wood in any mill in the UK. Various structures and parts on the mill were replaced over the centuries as they wore out or rotted. The machinery dates from the 19th century and the trestle was renewed using oak in 1874.

Save Bourn Mill

Works to the save the mill are being supported by significant grants from the Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England. To find out more about the Save Bourn Windmill Appeal click here.

Church Redecoration

4th August 2022Heritage120 foot spire, Bakers of Danbury, builders, Caen stone, chancel ceiling, chelmsford church builders, church, church builders, church conservation, church conservators, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone, Church works, conservation, Conservation and repair works, Conservation and restoration, essex church builders, Ewin Christian, Kentish Ragstone, ornate church decoration, ornate redecoration, repair, St Bartholomew Church Wickham Bishops, Victorian Gothic church architectureRachel Finlay

Summary = Church redecoration and repair to St Bartholomew Church in Wickham Bishops

Location = Wickham Bishops, Essex

Awards = DAC Design Awards Scheme 2022 (Highly Commended)

Solution = Bakers recently carried out the ornate decoration of the church to St Bartholomew in Wickham Bishops.

St Bartholomew’s is Grade II listed and is a fine example of Victorian Gothic church architecture. The church was built in 1850 by Sarah Leigh in memory of her father, the Reverend. Thomas Leigh who was Rector from 1803 to 1843. The church was designed by Ewin Christian and is built of Kentish Ragstone and Caen stone. It replaces the redundant St Peter’s church to the west, over the disused railway line. The 120 foot high spire is a local landmark visible from the A12.

This project won Highly Commended at the DAC Design Awards Scheme 2022

Bourn Windmill Project Tour

2nd August 2022Latest Newsancient barns, Bakers of Danbury, bourn windmill, bourne windmill, builders, conservation, Conservation and restoration, england, millright, millwright, millwrights, oldest mill, oldest open trestle post mill, oldest windmill, open trestle, open trestle post, open trestle post mill, suffolk windmill, windmill conservation, windmill repairRachel Finlay

The public were given the opportunity to see and learn about the major conservation and restoration work being carried out by Bakers of Danbury, to save Bourn Windmill. The open trestle post mill is oldest surviving windmill in the UK, Grade I Listed and designated an Ancient Monument. The entire weight of the body is supported on a central post, which is then supported by a trestle. The sails of the mill have to face squarely into the wind and to achieve this the entire mill is rotated around the central post. The mill is currently closed because the supporting beams have rotted - however work to save the mill is underway and the general public enjoyed seeing the work in action during to project tours which took place in July and August.

Works to the save the mill are being supported by significant grants from the Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.

To find out more about the Save Bourn Windmill Appeal click here.

Structural Repairs to a Rectory

29th June 2022Heritage, ResidentialApproved contractor, Bakers of Danbury, brick repairs, brickwork repair, builders, cathedral, Cathedral Preventative Maintenance, Church Maintenance, conservation, Conservation and restoration, emergency repairs, Essex, heritage, listed building repair, planned and preventative maintenance, planned maintenance, Preventative Maintenance, rectory, Retained Contractor, structural repairs, subsidence, Subsidence Damage, tolleshunt knights, wall repairs, walls underpinnedRachel Finlay

Summary = Structural repairs to a Rectory

Location = Tolleshunt Knights, Essex

Bakers recently carried out structural repairs to a Rectory in Tolleshunt Knights for the Community of St John the Baptist. The flank wall was removed and two existing walls underpinned due to subsidence.

Temporary support for the structure was designed by an independent engineer using props, scaffold and timbers. Once the structure was supported from the ground floor to the roof level; two walls were removed, 3 meter foundations constructed and the walls were reconstructed using the salvaged brick (which had been consecrated many years prior), supplemented with new bricks to match existing. To underpin two existing walls, a trench was opened and pins were formed, ensuring it was supported at all times.

Bakers protected and removed the religious artifacts, fittings and furniture before the flank wall was removed. Those rooms affected were later plastered, redecorated and all services were made good. All external walls were re-rendered and a mosaic mural created by Sister Gabriella was inset within the render

To keep up to date on similar conservation projects carried out by Bakers of Danbury visit our Latest News page or the Bakers of Danbury Facebook page.

Cathedral Preventative Maintenance

28th June 2022HeritageApproved contractor, Bakers of Danbury, brick repairs, brickwork repair, builders, cathedral, Cathedral Preventative Maintenance, Church Maintenance, conservation, Conservation and restoration, emergency repairs, heritage, listed building repair, planned and preventative maintenance, planned maintenance, Preventative Maintenance, Retained Contractor, wall repairsRachel Finlay

Summary = Planned and preventative maintenance for Chelmsford Cathedral

Location = Chelmsford, Essex

Challenge = Bakers of Danbury are the appointed Retained Contractor for the planned and preventative maintenance, as well as emergency works, to the Grade 1 listed Chelmsford Cathedral over a two-year period.

The preventative maintenance to the Cathedral includes the roofs, rainwater disposal and clearing all hopperheads and downpipes of debris as well as regularly checking for damage. Such damage is reported to the Surveyor.

Bakers follow a schedule of maintenance inspections broken down by month and Cathedral location to ensure the Cathedral is thoroughly inspected and maintained throughout the year. Bakers provide a detailed inspection report every month. The report provides inspection results broken down by the location within the Cathedral.

Bakers notify the Cathedral’s representative of any variation from the regular maintenance programme as soon as possible including changes in the timescale for delivery and variation to the estimate of cost. When recommending solutions to both emergency and planned maintenance issues Bakers will always ensure all work carried out is as cost effective as possible.

Bakers have carried out various restoration works and preventative maintenance to Chelmsford Cathedral since the 1960’s

To keep up to date on similar conservation projects carried out by Bakers of Danbury visit our Latest News page or the Bakers of Danbury Facebook page.

Site Visit – Cressing Temple Barns

22nd June 2022Latest Newsancient barns, Bakers of Danbury, builders, conservation, Conservation and restoration, Cressing Temple Barns, medieval barns, sole plate repair, soleplate repairRachel Finlay

Considerate Contractor Scheme Award Winners

25th May 2022Latest NewsAll Saints Church, All Saints Church in Terling, Bakers of Danbury, builders, church, church builders, church conservation, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone repair, church stone replacement, Church works, Clive Totman 2022, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and restoration, Considerate Contractor Scheme 2022 Awards, Considerate Contractor Scheme Award Winners, Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards, julian harrap architects, london mayor, london mayrors church, lord mayors election, oak church spire, oak shakes, oak shingles, oak shingling, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, Society for protected ancient buildings, SPAB London, spire restoration, st lawrence jewry, st lawrence jewry london, terling, The City of London, The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme 2022 Awards, The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme Award Winners 2022, The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards 2022, wooden church spireRachel Finlay

We are delighted to announce that Bakers of Danbury has been awarded the Gold Award at The City of London's Considerate Contractor Scheme Awards 2022.

The City of London said the decision was based on the overall performance of all personnel working on behalf of Bakers of Danbury during the past year on the site (St Lawrence Jewry).

The Gold Award recognises that the requirements of the Code of Good Practice have been consistently exceeded. It reflects a spirit of pride, an awareness of the needs of the passing public and regard for the surrounding environment.

To find out more about the Considerate Constractor Scheme 2022 Awards click here.

St Lawrence Jewry – Hard Hat Tour

18th May 2022Latest NewsAll Saints Church, All Saints Church in Terling, Bakers of Danbury, builders, church, church builders, church conservation, church repair, church repairs, church restoration, church roof repairs, church stone repair, church stone replacement, Church works, clock face re gilding, clock face redecoration, conservation, Conservation and restoration, julian harrap architects, london mayor, london mayrors church, lord mayors election, oak church spire, oak shakes, oak shingles, oak shingling, printed debris netting, printed scaffold netting, replacement stone, roof repairs, roof timber repair, roof works, scaffold wrap, scafold wrap, Society for protected ancient buildings, SPAB London, spire restoration, st lawrence jewry, st lawrence jewry london, terling, wooden church spireRachel Finlay

In May 2022, a group of over 50 SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) members took part in a hard hat tour to find out more about the repair and restoration works Bakers of Danbury are currently carry out at St Lawrence Jewry in London

The SPAB members were allocated one of two tour times for which the attendees were split into three small groups. The tours took 1.5 hours during which the groups stopped at 6 points within the site. As St Lawrence Jewry was a working building site and the tours involved climbing up and walking along multiple lifts of scaffolding - which have a limited amount of space - it was essential that the tours were well organised to ensure the tour groups were able travel along their designated route without the risk of meeting one of the other groups.

The tour guides for the three hard hat tours were Julian Harrap, Andrew Coles and Judy Allen from Julian Harrap Architects. The SPAB members enjoyed a detailed guided tour around the vestibule, nave and on the nave roof to see works taking place.

During the tour the attendees found out about how the current repair and restoration works are sensitive to the late 17th century construction including both the traditional materials and the quality of workmanship and how the works were designed for longevity using materials with longer service lifespans to ensure the ongoing preservation of the building.

Some other interesting information the attendees were told during the hard hat tours also included; how the intricate carved stone was gently cleaned using a nebulous spray technique, Julian Harrap Architects’ theory on why the external ashlar stone was removed from the north elevation sometime after the 1940’s, and how Julian Harrap Architects calculated the strengths and weaknesses of the existing 1950's nave roof before Bakers of Danbury could carry out repairs, structural strengthening and re-roofing using heavier code 8 lead.

To find out more about repair and restoration works to St Lawrence Jewry, London click here.