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With the General Election now a distant memory, confidence has been bolstered in all of the market sectors that H+R operate in.  A significant rise in enquiry levels is being experienced Further environmental monitoring work has been commissioned at the award winning Coal Drops Yard (heatherwick.com/project/coal-drops-yard) Particularly interesting projects have included the ‘Ragged School’ in Clerkenwell.  The ‘Ragged School’ movement was instituted in the 1840s as an enlightened attempt to reach out to those children who were at the very…

In sympathy with the particular time of year, H+R’s workload in the month featured more than the usual amount of ecclesiastical buildings.  Notable amongst them was the Church of St Michael le Belfrey in York https://www.belfrey.org/ where H+R were tasked with understanding the constructional nature of the timber roof and also its condition to inform the forthcoming refurbishment.  The H+R team worked successfully at a significant height of 40 feet from within the body of the church having set up…

As part of a major redevelopment of York Castle, H+R were instructed to undertake a detailed condition survey of the timber roof and floor structures of the now-ruined keep, commonly referred to as Clifford’s Tower. An earlier motte and bailey castle built on the site in 1068 was destroyed by a Viking army in 1069 and the existing tower was built on the orders of William the Conqueror to dominate the former Viking city of Jórvík. There has been public…

Possibly the most dilapidated barn H+R have been called upon to investigate featured in the month. The survey tasks were akin to working within a subterranean chamber as the structure had gently subsided down to its top rails.  H+R surveyors had to take a range of steps to ensure safe working in such a confined space Further extending the esoteric range of our investigations, H+R were appointed by the Institute of Contemporary Arts at Grade 1 Carlton House Terrace https://www.ica.art/…

The Autumn month was no less active than last year with a fascinating spread of projects around the UK Pip, one of the H+R Rothounds, distinguished herself on the Centenary Square project in Birmingham. The magnificent 1930s municipal bank building is being converted for the University of Birmingham as a central location for community engagement such as an events space, café, meeting rooms and interactive working space.  The Art Deco safety deposit box vault is a ‘tour de force’ In…

Several H+R projects have featured in the property press during the month at the culmination of their refurbishments.  Of particular note are Richmond Chase, the conversion of Latchmere House in Richmond Park (www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/developments/london/richmond/richmond-chase), the Mansions, the conversion of the Atkinson Morley Hospital in Wimbledon (www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/developments/london/wimbledon/wimbledon-hill-park) and Hampstead Manor, the conversion of the Skeel Library in Hampstead once part of Westfield College for women. During the month, H+R noted the publicity celebrating the Survey of London.  The Survey of London was…

A summer trip to North Wales in July included surveys in Llandudno and Bangor.  In support of building warranty provider requirements, H+R were asked to undertake a render condition survey and condensation risk analysis of the Grade II listed Edwardian Ysgol Maelgwn Council School in Llandudno Junction.  Brenig Construction (https://brenigconstruction.co.uk/) are currently undertaking a redevelopment of the site in which the former school building is to be converted into 10 social housing units.  During our investigations and to the delight…

The holiday month of August was no less busy than ever with the usual range of interesting challenges H+R’s involvement commenced at HMS Daedalus which from 1917 until recent years was the principal shore station of the Fleet Air Arm.  There are fascinating reminders of its previous use all around including massive listed hangers.  H+R have been commissioned by the developer to undertake specialist condition surveys of the barrack blocks which are notable for their war-time graffiti In the month,…

It has been interesting to track the marketing of projects that H+R have been involved with both in the National and specialised press.  Notable projects featured in the month are Heathlands in Surrey (https://www.lindenhomes.co.uk/developments/surrey/heathlands-frimley), Stone Cross Mansion in Cumbria and Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire (https://wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk/).  All three neatly illustrate the geographical reach of H+R’s investigative consultancy and the range of heritage and commercial clients H+R are delighted to extend congratulations to the winners of the Georgian Group’s inaugural Craft…

H+R surveyors all follow individually tailored training programmes and grow their skills through annual CPD. Two staff members are starting on the RICS pathway and another is due to complete in the next six months. In June all surveyors qualified for PASMA with an all-day in-house training session organised at Netley. In addition, a surveyor completed his timber strength grading qualification at the renowned Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew in the Jodrell Laboratory under Dr Peter Gasson During the month,…

Parish Church of Saint John the Evangelist, Gressingham, Lancaster Spectacularly located in the Forest of Bowland AONB, the Grade I listed Parish Church of Saint John The Evangelist dates from the 12th Century and its bell tower, dating from 1734, was the subject of the latest of several recent church tower studies conducted by H+R.  Commissioned by the Architects on behalf of Gressingham Village Trust, we carried out a detailed condition survey of the tower’s fabric, identifying decayed timbers and…

Despite Brexit uncertainty beginning to affect decision making amongst some areas of the industry, H+R have continued to secure some very interesting commissions. On some projects this month, the H+R drones have been deployed to good effect.  H+R drone pilots are CAA qualified for commercial flying As usual, the range of structures that we have been involved with has been eclectic and it has been particularly gratifying to visit Bentley Priory in Stanmore where there have been continuing performance issues…