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This grotesque is carved upon a modern seat in the Minster Close showing the continuation of traditional themes and craftmanship
Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy
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Here are some of the tools of the trade - for lead sheet work that is.
From top left we have a drum mallet, bossing mallet (egg shaped), chase wedge, snips, seaming pliers, drum mallet (rubber), bending stick, setting-in-stick and flat dresser.
This image was taken at the Heritage Skills Weekend at Fountain's Abbey, Yorkshire.
Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy
More about Andy Marshall
Contact Andy Marshall
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All images are copyright Andy Marshall and must not be used without prior permission.
I have been involved with a Heritage Skills Weekend at Fountain's Abbey in Yorkshire UK, where traditional skills have been on display.
Here is a classical Ionic capital (upside down)perfectly crafted from a block of stone by a particularly gifted young pupil from York College. It's a remarkable piece of work and it's great to see some of our skills and crafts are being passed on to younger generations.
Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy
More about Andy Marshall
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All images are copyright Andy Marshall and must not be used without prior permission.
Continuing my day out at Kings Manor
Once we had finished in the Chapter House Roofspace we walked back along a gulley section adjacent to the Chapter House Roof and I noticed this wonderful record of work welded onto the side of the Chapter House Roof. Lead sheet covering is a complex and difficult craft to encompass and I always think that it is one of the most beautiful roof coverings for old and contemporary buildings alike. It is great to see that the craft is still alive.
Over the weekend starting 19th May I will be at a Heritage Skills Weekend at Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire where one of the stalls will be showing some aspects of Lead Craftsmanship and also showing how young people can get involved in the craft. More later...
Images of lead roofs and lead work here
There is more information about the Chapter House and a larger photograph of the vaulting at my photoblog site here
There are more events organised by the SPAB Yorkshire Regional Group including visits to Kirkstall Abbey in May, Nostell Priory and Knedlington Old Hall in June, and Darnall Crucible Shops in September.
SPAB website is here
Conservation Courses at University of York Kings Manor
You can view all of my images of York Minster here
You can view all of my images of York here
More photo's from the event in the next post...
There are more events organised by the SPAB Yorkshire Regional Group including visits to Kirkstall Abbey in May, Nostell Priory and Knedlington Old Hall in June, and Darnall Crucible Shops in September.
SPAB website is here
Conservation Courses at University of York Kings Manor
You can view all of my images of York Minster here
You can view all of my images of York here
Note: Unfortunately I did not get all the names people and companies who attended the event. Members can be viewed at the York Consortium For Conservation and Craftsmanship, or if you took part, please drop me a line and I will gladly give an honourable mention to companies and people shown in the photos.
Handmade Brick Moulds courtesy of York Handmade
Over the weekend I went on a SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) regional event at Kings Manor in Yorkshire organised by Ray Wilson of the Spab Yorkshire Regional Group. It was a magnificent event which was well attended.
I am a member of SPAB and also lucky enough to be a freelance photographic contributer to their magazine Cornerstone.
I had a wonderful day meeting like minded people who have a love for our historic built environment.
The day was split into two halves. In the morning I visited the skills and crafts exhibition attended by members of the York Consortium For Conservation and Craftsmanship, and in the afternoon we had a tour of the Masons Loft, Chapter House Roof and East Front of York Minster. I took quite a few photographs and over the next few days I will introduce you to some of the things that I saw.
The first 'stall' I visited at the skills event was a brick making demonstration by York Handmade. As well as the quality of the handmade bricks, I thought it was fascinating to see both the original pattern moulds and the end result:-
Many people think that bricks are a recent material used for construction, but they have been used for thousands of years - in fact you can see evidence of Roman Bricks in the wall surrounding the ruins of Saint Mary's Abbey.
More photo's from the event tomorrow...
There are more events organised by the SPAB Yorkshire Regional Group including visits to Kirkstall Abbey in May, Nostell Priory and Knedlington Old Hall in June, and Darnall Crucible Shops in September.
SPAB website is here
Conservation Courses at University of York Kings Manor
You can view all of my images of York Minster here
You can view all of my images of York here
Note: Unfortunately I did not get all the names people and companies who attended the event. Members can be viewed at the York Consortium For Conservation and Craftsmanship, or if you took part, please drop me a line and I will gladly give an honourable mention to companies and people shown in the photos.
Stained glass window in the apse of Saint Mary and Saint Davids Kilpeck Herefordshire UK
You can purchase this image here
More images of Kilpeck here
More images of Romanesque architecture here
Latest sale is of a traditional tiled roof and leaded sweeping valley on a building next to Lendal Bridge York UK. Sold for educational use.
Click here to view some more roof images
I spent some time with master craftsman Andy Livesey today who is working on a project for IBIS Roofing which involves the installation of lead collars to piping. I asked if I could photograph the lead burning process, whereby he burns two sections of lead together to form a watertight seal. It is an extremely difficult art . Andy started off with checking out the oxygen and acetyline (the gases used in the burning process).
Next he cut himself a strip of lead (this strip is melted onto the joint to form the watertight seal) and cleaned each side with a scraper.
Then he lit the torch. Andy spent some time regulating the flow of gas and acetyline to produce the right type of light and heat.
He then started to work on the lead collar (which wraps around a pipe to weatherproof it) by melting the strip into continuous circles - making it look really easy.
Upon completion it looks something like this.
Andy has to produce approximately 40 lead collars for this particular project.
Thanks to Andy Livesey
It's great to see that craftsmanship is still alive and well in the UK. Here we have a burgeoning trade of skilled stonemasons. This beautiful piece of stonework is a pinnacle made for the medieval church of Saint Chad's in Rochdale.
Georgian Lead Hopper dated 1735 initials hg on St Saviourgate York
Continuing the theme from my post about Door Knobs, whereby the 'Devil' can often be found in the detail, and in many cases (such as hopper heads, water outlets etc), in architectural detail which is regarded as 'mundane'. There are thousands of Hopper Heads with marks, decorations, patterns, initials, dates and shapes.I've seen them in every country I have visited. They are often missed because they are placed high on a building or they survive because they are situated at the back of a building which is subject to more infrequent change than the front. My favourite's, I have to admit, are the Georgian classical style made out of lead. They are wonderful examples of craftmanship. In those days it was a matter of civic pride to adorn every feature of a building with the craftsmans touch. Building's were regarded as purveyors of messages such as 'this is an important place', or 'this is a place of worship', or 'this is my factory and I, the owner am a benevolant person'. Look at the details as a whole and see what the building is trying to say. They talk to me all the time - but don't tell anybody;)
Lead Hopper detail at Former Bank by Edgar Wood at Middleton Greater Manchester UK
Unique C18th lead Hopper beautifully shaped into the classical form of a column with fluting Beverley East Riding Yorkshire
The above image shows a photo I took of Lime plaster at Kilpeck Herefordshire.
Around about September 2001 I was taking my post graduate diploma in Building Conservation at the College of Estate Management in Reading, UK. One of the most memorable occasions was the Lime Day at Sherborne Estate (National Trust) Gloucestershire. It was hosted by Rory Young an expert in the use of lime renders and decorative plaster. One of his projects was the new Millenium Ceiling at Wilbury Park in Wiltshire commissioned by Miranda, Countess of Iveagh.
Here are a few pictures of the day spent getting our hands dirty
It was at this event that I learn't about the remarkable qualities of Lime mortar. In most applications it is far superior to modern cement mortar (but admittedly is a little more complex to mix and apply). With regards to historic building refurbishment and renovation it is almost always that Lime Mortar is recommended for use where required. There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, older buildings are often built without wall cavities, and for centuries have relied upon the porous qualities of stone, brick and lime render to help aid evaporation of dampness. Concrete mortars added later to historic buildings have had the effect of forming a waterproof shield which traps moisture within the walls and causes rising damp and mould growth. Lime mortar therefore, has a wicking effect. It also is softer than modern cement mortars and is able to move with time. Lime mortars used in the construction of Durham Cathedral enabled the slow evolutionary settlement of the massive piers over a period of 20 years until the structure found its own level. Lime mortar is also self leaching. Over time with the effects of rainwater travelling down its surface it is self - healing. Over time Lime mortars take on a beautiful natural ochre colour.
Now Lime Mortars are even being discussed for use in Newbuild. Ian Pritchett takes up the argument in this article
Further Links:
Interesting Research by the University of Bristol
A Conservation Engineers View on the use of Lime Mortar
