Lead Sheet Metal

A home for the workers

A HOME FOR THE WORKERS

There is a place which is a transient space. Up top of the scaffolding floats like a crows nest a home to the workers on the dome of the mosque. .... continued

Chapter House Leadwork York Minster UK

Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy

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Lead Craftsmanship

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
Search all of Andy Marshall's Images

All images are copyright Andy Marshall and must not be used without prior permission.

Kings Manor once again

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

Lead Craftsmanship

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

ARCHIPEDIA - H is for...

Lead Hopper detail at Former Bank by Edgar Wood at Middleton Greater Manchester UK

HOPPER HEAD - Receptacle for egress of water from a roof leading into a pipe, often decorated with pattern, year date or initials. Many survive from the late C17th and C18th.

See all of my hopper head images here

ARCHIPEDIA - F is for....

Lead decorative finial on Alfred Waterhouse s Gonville and Caius College building Trinity Street built in 1868 Cambridge Cambridgeshire UK

FINIAL - Decorative end flourish to a ridge gable, conical roof or cupola.

More images of finials....

Hopper Heads

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

View all Andy Marshall's Hopper Head images