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New book celebrates 'England's finest stone town'

2024-05-15

A book celebrating the beauty of Stamford, Lincolnshire has been created by Gary Curtis of Instagram’s @theoldbuilding account. Captured between 2018-2023, the 184-page hardback features original photography captured by the author.

Once called the “finest stone town in England” by Sir Walter Scott, the book collects images from the historic centre of the much-admired town. Although contemporary, the atmospheric photographs take the reader on an unforgettable journey through Stamford’s fascinating history.

 

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A book celebrating the beauty of Stamford, Lincolnshire has been created by Gary Curtis of Instagram’s @theoldbuilding account. Captured between 2018-2023, the 184-page hardback features original photography captured by the author.
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The book takes the viewer into the heart of the town via Georgian townhouses, original shops, storied pubs and architecturally important features. Such is the town’s period architecture that it has been chosen as the backdrop to iconic films and series from Middlemarch to The Crown, Pride and Prejudice to Bleak House. Earlier this year, it was referred to as "architectural eye candy” by The Sunday Times.

The book is available to order from www.theoldbuilding.com. To find out more, follow The Old Building on Instagram 
 

 

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Ogham stone found in Coventry to be displayed for first time

2024-05-14

A rare inscribed stone known as an ogham stone has been found in Coventry and is currently being displayed at the ‘Collecting Coventry’ exhibition at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum.

The stone was discovered by Coventry local Graham Senior during lockdown in May 2020, Coventry local Graham Senior while he was gardening. The rock, at around 11cm in length, appeared to have several horizontal incisions along the side. Senior shared his discovery with the Portable Antiquities Scheme, also known as finds.co.uk, who confirmed that the stone was inscribed with ogham, an Early Irish language dating back over 1,600 years.

Graham said: "It caught my eye as I was clearing an overgrown part of the garden. At first, I thought it was some kind of calendar. Finding out later it was an ogham stone and over 1,600 years old was incredible.”

Ogham was an alphabet used in the Early Medieval period primarily for writing in the early Irish language. Before the people of Ireland began using manuscripts made from vellum, they used the ogham writing system to inscribe on materials such as stone. Ogham is highly unusual among world writing systems, consisting solely of parallel lines in groups of 1-5. The stones provide insight into the Irish language before the use of the Latin insular script. 

The earliest ogham inscriptions date back to the 4th and 6th centuries AD. Over 400 known ogham stones and fragments have survived, found predominantly in Ireland and on the Welsh coast. The main function of ogham stones is still uncertain. However, some historians believe that they were used for legal purposes in land disputes, as they are often found on or near boundaries of kin and bearing the names of ancestors.
 

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A rare inscribed stone known as an ogham stone has been found in Coventry and is currently being displayed at the ‘Collecting Coventry’ exhibition at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum.
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Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry

The Early Medieval stone is believed to be over 1,600 years old

Teresa Gilmore, Finds Liaison Officer for East Staffordshire & North West Midlands said: “The first contact I had from the finder was via a phone call where he notified me of his prehistoric calendar stone. On receiving a photo of the stone, I got in contact with Katherine Forsyth at University of Glasgow who confirmed that it was definitely ogham and a very interesting find. The script is that of an early style, most likely 5th to 6th Century but possibly as early as 4th Century. The inscription reads: MALDUMCAIL / S / LASS. The first part of the inscription relates to a person's name: Mael Dumcail. The second part is less certain. As to why the object was deposited in Coventry and what it originally functioned as, are still research questions to be answered.”

Curator at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Ali Wells commented: “I was delighted when Graham offered to donate his incredible find to the museum. As the Herbert only collects in the city of Coventry boundary it’s rare that someone finds something a nationally significant as the Ogham stone. We might never know how Mael lost the stone and how it ended up in a garden in Coventry, but I hope future research will reveal more about its story. Visitors can see it on display in (upcoming/new exhibition) ‘Collecting Coventry’ until 27 April 2025. There are also 3d replicas of the stone as it was the first object to be scanned by our Media team.”

‘Collecting Coventry’ exhibition at Herbert Art Gallery & Museum runs until 27 April 2025
 

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Successful weekend for Wells Stone Carving Festival

2024-05-10

A stone carving festival returned to Wells in Somerset for the May Day bank holiday weekend this year and, as former editor of Stone Specialist, Eric Bignell reports, it was a real success.

Held at the Tythe Barn in Britain's smallest cathedral city, the event was organised by local mason Paul Roddan, who had also organised the first carving festival there in 2018. He said in 2018 he wanted it to become a regular event, but circumstances conspired against that – not least the Covid pandemic. But this year the festival did return and once again Paul says he wants to establish it as a regular in the calendar of attractions at Wells.

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A stone carving festival returned to Wells in Somerset for the May Day bank holiday weekend this year and, as former editor of Stone Specialist, Eric Bignell reports, it was a real success. Held at the Tythe Barn in Britain's smallest cathedral city, the event was organised by local mason Paul Roddan, who had also organised the first carving festival there in 2018.
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  • Jem Hobbs won the competitors' choice award.

  • Alex Waddell took home the award from The Worshipful Company of Masons.

  • David Bean won the People's Choice award.

     

  • Paul Roddan's carved and gilded bookends were one of the prizes 

     

  • Will Davies carved one of the prizes for the raffle.

  • Marie-Claire Hamilton

It was a bit bigger than the first time, with 20 masons taking part (there were 16 in 2018) and there could easily have been many more if they could have been accommodated safely because more than 50 applied for a place. Next time, perhaps. 
Thousands of visitors came to see the carvers in action over the weekend and the auction at the end that helps cover the costs of running the festival as well as raising money for charity – the charity this time was Young Lives Versus Cancer – saw the marquee packed and all the carvings sold, with a top price paid of £800. 

Providing a too little appreciated musical backdrop to the event was the violin playing of Kiki Jerome, while local traders provided food and liquid refreshment. As well as being a qualified stonemason who runs his own company, Somerset Stonemasons, Paul is a Yeoman of the stonemasons’ Livery Company in London (The Worshipful Company of Masons), which once again supported this year’s festival. There was further support from Whiteway Quarry, which supplied the Marnhull stone the competitors used; Toolmaker G Gibson & Co, selling hand tools; Glastonbury Marquees, which supplied the marquee the carvers worked in at ‘mates rates  and promotion for the event from creative designers and hoarding advertising specialists Buildhollywood. J Witt recycling centre supplied the rubbish bins with only haulage charged.

Although the competition element of the event takes a back seat, there were three winners chosen. The Worshipful Company of Masons chose a drunken fox over a barrel by Alex Waddell as its award-winner; the competitors themselves selected the monkeys of Jem Hobbs as their favourite; and the people’s choice made by those who visited the event went to a bee on flowers carved by David Bean of Wolff Stone. 

As well as being able to bid for the carvings, there were three pieces to be won in a raffle, including book-ends carved and gilded by Paul himself. You can hear Paul’s comments about the event and see a video of it here.
 

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Stonehealth promote switch to eco-friendly fuel

2024-05-07

Conservation and restoration specialist Stonehealth has announced the conversion of its iconic machinery to be able to run on biodiesel.

All future machines sold by the Gloucestershire company will be able to run on the eco-friendly fuel, while the machines in use around the UK and globally are now able to be retrofitted.

The move comes in response to requests from contractors, partly in anticipation of an industry move towards cleaner fuels given that restoration projects are often undertaken in urban environments where air quality is paramount.

Brian Crowe, founder of Stonehealth which recently launched the Doff III – the latest iteration of the superheated water cleaning system – said tests had shown biodiesel was working equally well, with improved cleanliness and no impact on core operation temperatures.

He cited US Department of Energy figures which show an 86 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases (GHGs) when using biofuel, but confirmed that the machines would still run on diesel or kerosene where price was a key factor.

“Biodiesel is slightly more expensive than normal diesel,” he said, “but the ecological benefits are clear and we know that end clients are starting to factor emissions into project awards for our contractors.

“For example one of our contractors in the Netherlands is aiming to win a contract with the Dutch government, which has stipulated that diesel is not permitted on the project in question.

“Other contractors in the UK are also finding that promoting the eco-benefits of their solution is a factor in winning work with public and private organisations.

“This is particularly relevant in urban environments where air quality is a significant issue and where pollution causes damage to heritage buildings.

“So we know this move is happening across the industry. We wanted to get ahead of the curve and pre-empt the demand becoming more commonplace.”

Research and development for the biodiesel conversions have been undertaken by the engineering team at Stonehealth, which is based in in Cam, near Dursley.

Brian confirmed that tests had shown all existing iterations of Stonehealth machinery – three models of the Doff machine, as well as the Torc cleaning system – could be converted to run on biodiesel.

“Our team are able to retrofit older models if necessary,” he commented. “We’ve done the tests and the machines work really well on this fuel.

“So we’re excited to offer this new development as our company continues to lead the way in the careful restoration of our nation’s heritage buildings.”

In January, Stonehealth announced the launch of the new Doff III machine - a new and improved, even safer and more sustainable version model of the machine used by architects, specifiers and cleaning industry professionals in the UK and worldwide.

At the same time the company has appointed Angela Southern as business development director, as the company seeks to enhance its reputation and explore new markets.

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Conservation and restoration specialist, Stonehealth has announced the conversion of its iconic machinery to be able to run on biodiesel. All future machines sold by the Gloucestershire company will be able to run on the eco-friendly fuel, while the many hundreds in use around the UK and globally are now able to be retrofitted.
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New chair of trustees for Cathedral Workshop Fellowship

2024-05-02

Jackie Molnar, chief operating officer of Salisbury Cathedral will step down from her role as Cathedral Workshop Fellowship (CWF) chair of trustees. During her leadership, Jackie has been instrumental in training stonemasons, joiners, and other craftspeople across the 13 cathedral member workshops. Jackie also chaired the governance group prior to the launch of the CWF as a charity.

Executive director of the CWF, Frances Cambrook commented: "Jackie's unwavering commitment to our vision embodies the spirit of collaboration and preservation that defines the Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship. Her guidance and support before and after the charity's inception in August 2023, have been invaluable in shaping our journey."

Reflecting on her time in the role, Jackie said: "serving as chair of trustees for the CWF has been a privilege and a rewarding experience. Witnessing the tangible impact of our training programmes on both individuals and our cathedral communities fills me with immense pride. The dedication and passion of our craftspeople resonate deeply with the ethos of Salisbury Cathedral, where preserving heritage is at the core of our mission."

The incoming chair of trustees will be Carolyn Bruce, executive director of Chester Cathedral who said: "I am deeply honoured to take on the role of Chair of Trustees for the Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship. The work of the Fellowship resonates strongly with Chester Cathedral's commitment to craftsmanship and heritage preservation. I am excited to collaborate with our trustees, staff, and cathedral partners to ensure that the Fellowship continues to thrive and make a meaningful impact."

 

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Jackie Molnar, chief operating officer of Salisbury Cathedral has stepped down from her role as Cathedral Workshop Fellowship (CWF) chair of trustees
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Website
https://worktopwarehouse.co.uk/
Address
Unit H
Town
Dukinfield
Postcode
SK16 4US
Phone
0161 222 8487
Company Email
sales@worktopwarehouse.co.uk
Mason Sub Cat
Fabricators (Worktop)
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County
Greater Manchester
Title
Worktop Warehouse
Address 2
Victoria Works
Address 3
Barton Road
Country
England
Publish 22nd
No
Status
Record is Ready to be Published
Newsletter
No
Media Gallery
No
Website
https://www.qwcltd.co.uk/
Address
Unit 1 Great Oak Industrial Estate
Postcode
LU7 0LS
Phone
01525 237291
Company Email
customercare@qwcltd.co.uk
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Fabricators (Worktop)
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County
Bedfordshire
Title
The Quartz Worktop Company
Address 2
Dunton Road
Address 3
Cublington
Country
England
Publish 22nd
No
Status
Record is Ready to be Published
Printed Company Description
The Quartz Worktop Company is comprised of a highly regarded and respected team capable of delivering quality and service. We work with a large and comprehensive selection of Quartz, Granite, Marble and Porcelain. All domestic and commercial projects are seamlessly passed from start to finish within our complete production facility. Completing all projects to the highest of standards is our commitment to you.
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No
Media Gallery
No
Website
https://stonesense.co.uk/
Address
1-4 Alston Road
Town
Oldbury
Postcode
B69 2PP
Phone
01216 302215
Company Email
info@stonesense.co.uk
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County
Midlands (West)
Title
Stone Sense Ltd
Country
England
Publish 22nd
No
Status
Record is Ready to be Published
Publishing Notes
Taken from WFF 01/05/2024 MM
Newsletter
No
Media Gallery
No
Website
https://solidsurfaceni.com/
Address
Ballycastle Rd Ind Est
Town
Coleraine
Postcode
BT52 2EB
Phone
02870 449444
Company Email
info@solidsurfaceni.com
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County
County Londonderry
Title
Solid Surface NI Ltd
Country
Northern Ireland
Publish 22nd
No
Status
Record is Ready to be Published
Publishing Notes
Taken from WFF 01/05/2024
Newsletter
No
Media Gallery
No
Website
https://rockfordcompany.co.uk/
Address
Brooks Lane Industrial Estate
Town
Middlewich
Postcode
CW10 0QF
Phone
01606 84100
Company Email
sales@rockfordcompany.co.uk
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County
Cheshire
Title
Rochford Intertrade Ltd
Address 2
Road Beta
Address 3
Brooks Lane
Country
England
Publish 22nd
No
Status
Record is Ready to be Published
Newsletter
No
Media Gallery
No

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