The project aims to transform the church building by re-ordering the interior so it can better serve the people of Darlington with a dynamic programme of worship, music, heritage and educational activity.

The church currently has no toilets, nor does it have facilities to provide refreshments. Steps at the entrances hinders access into the building. Fixed pews and stepped pew platforms limits accessibility and how the building can be used. Solid entrance doors make the building look closed even when it is open.

The proposed re-ordering seeks to address these issues to enable an inclusive environment and encourage people into the building. The proposals include removing the pews and installing a new floor to provide level access throughout the nave and transepts, new toilets and a cafe servery, a new glazed entrance, and relocating the font and font cover to a more prominent and usable position.

Statutory consent has been applied for and a start on site is anticipated for 2025.

The post St Cuthbert’s church, Darlington appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

During the quinquennial inspection in 2019 it was found that the Quire roof had suffered extensively with underside lead corrosion, so severe that it had caused holes in multiple locations.

The Cathedral benefitted from the first round of Grants for Programmes of Major Works from the Culture Recovery Fund during the Covid pandemic.

During difficult circumstances we were able to completely replace the Quire roof covering on a new ventilated deck and replace defective high level stonework to the pinnacles and turrets.

The project was undertaken in winter 2020/21 to an extremely demanding time schedule due to the funding restrictions.

The post Manchester Cathedral appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

PV Panels

Photovoltaic panels were installed in 2010 to the south aisle roof – the first UK cathedral to do so. These cannot be seen from ground level. The installation saves an average of 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per year and due to the feed-in tariffs, it is estimated to generate an income of £46,000 over 25 years.

State gate

Masonry works to the State Gate were completed in 2015. This included the lifting and relaying of large stone slabs and the insertion of structural bars.

Roofing

We have also completed several phases of roofing works including gilding high level decorative metalwork.

Access

Access improvements were carried out to the Precinct in 2016 which included new paths, metal railings and entrance gates.

The post Bradford Cathedral appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

St Helens Church near Bishop Auckland is a busy church with an active community.

We designed a new extension to provide the church with a toilet, kitchenette and a much needed space for community events and activities.

Alternative positions for the extension were assessed against the significance of the building and after a consultation exercise, the north aisle was selected as the preferred location. It was designed as a lean-to extension so that it appeared as a natural addition to the building.

New oak glazed doors to the south porch incorporated bespoke metalwork including details reclaimed from the existing doors which were regilded.

The project involved several skilled local craftsmen including a joiner, blacksmith and stonemason. The new doors have made the entrance porch more secure and less draughty, as well as providing a more welcoming approach to the church.

The post Auckland St. Helens church, County Durham appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

Jervaulx Hall is a private residence sited in open gardens adjacent to the Cistercian Abbey of Jervaulx – a scheduled monument. The private gardens contained several ruined structures and garden buildings.

We completed a number of different projects over several years. This included obtaining scheduled monument consent and project managing consolidation repairs of the ruins.

The project also included ground penetration radar scanning and archaeological research that revealed the ruins likely formed part
of a mill building connected to the Abbey complex.

Other projects included the restoration of the summer house using roundwood timbers, a new greenhouse, and alterations to the entrance gateway.

We also drew up a Heritage Partnership Agreement with Historic England so that the client had reassurance that regular garden maintenance would be lawful.

The post Jervaulx Hall, North Yorkshire appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

The works comprised the repair and conservation of a grade I listed 18th century Root House in the ‘Capability Brown’ grounds of a private estate in Lincolnshire.

The construction is unusual, comprising roundwood posts and beams, stone, brick, iron stone slag and decorative oak burr. The structure is a rare example nationally and had experienced significant deterioration as a result of water ingress and vandalism.

We agreed repair methods with the conservation officer for external repairs and obtained listed building consent to refix new bark in Chinoiserie styles based on evidence of previous fixings.

We project managed an initial first phase restoration programme using local reclaimed materials which brought the Hermitage out of the ‘Buildings at Risk’ status.

This was followed by a shorter phase of work reinstating the interior patterned decorative interior bark cladding using larchwood from the estate.

The post The Hermitage, private estate, Lincolnshire appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

Gawthorpe Hall is an Elizabethan country house in extensive grounds in Padiham, Lancashire. It is owned by the National Trust and has been run in partnership with Lancashire County Council as a museum.

The house, dates from 1600-1605 and is attributed to the Elizabethan Architect Robert Smythson. It was remodelled in the 1850s by Sir Charles Barry.

We were appointed by Lancashire County Council to provide a condition survey, conservation plan and carry out a major repairs project.

This comprised external stonework and window repairs, lead roof repairs and specialist plaster repairs to decorative ceilings. Extensive consultation was required due to the specialist nature of some of the repairs.

The post Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

The family mausoleum at this private estate is thought of as James Wyatt’s masterpiece. A classical rotunda built in 1792 of magnesian limestone and surmounted with a copper dome, it stands in a prominent hilltop position in extensive private grounds. It was on the Buildings at Risk Register.

Iron cramps were causing damage to the stonework. We arranged for trial repairs to be carried out for several years, before embarking on a major stonework repairs project. Repairs were also carried out to the stone steps.

Water ingress to the high level rotunda parapet was addressed with a new lead gutter. This had some challenging details to resolve due to its curved design and stepped falls.

We worked in close consultation with Historic England, and the local Conservation Officer in order to obtain Listed Building Consent and to meet the funding requirements.

The post The mausoleum, private estate, Lincolnshire appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.

In 2020 we were appointed by Burnley Borough Council to carry out condition surveys and a conservation management plan at Towneley Hall, a museum and art gallery in Burnley.

The hall has its origins in the 14th century and has undergone several changes since its initial medieval construction – the most notable being by John Carr in the 1760s and Jeffry Wyatt 1812-1819.

Following the completion of condition surveys, a major repairs project was needed to address the backlog of defects including repairs to masonry, windows, floors, roofs and decorative plasterwork ceilings.

The works commenced in 2022 and are scheduled to take two years on a phased wing-by-wing basis so that parts of the hall can remain open to the public.

The post Towneley Hall, Burnley appeared first on Knox McConnell Architects.