CHB, Author at Church & Heritage Building

Newlyn tidal observatory amongst over 900 new listings in 2018

Posted by CHB | Jan 19, 2019 | Heritage, Latest News |

A prehistoric settlement, hangar buildings and a series of Robin Hood sculptures were among the more unusual heritage places gaining listed status during 2018. Government heritage agency Historic England said there were 924 new listed buildings and structures, including 638 war memorials to mark the centenary of the end of the first world war. Joining the list was the Tidal Observatory at Newlyn, Cornwall. The observatory was one of three constructed at the request of Ordnance Survey between 1915 ans 1921 to establish mean sea level, and was listed “for the contribution of more than 100 years of tidal data to...

Architect in campaign to save iconic retail store

Posted by CHB | Jan 14, 2019 | Heritage, Latest News |

A leading architect in the UK city of Derby is leading a campaign to stop his local council from demolishing an iconic local retail landmark. Derek Latham, who is also chair of both Derbyshire Historic Buildings Trust and the Derwent Valley Trust, is trying to stop an application by Derby City Council to demolish the former Debenhams building in Victoria Street. A letter of objection has also been submitted to the council by Derby Civic Society, which aims to promote high standards of planning in the city. In the 1960s, the store known then as Ranby’s, was a popular destination for...

Light Installation Brings History to Life at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings

Posted by CHB | Jan 10, 2019 | Heritage, Latest News |

A new light installation has gone on display at the world’s oldest iron-framed building, the Grade I listed Main Mill at Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. Visible from the street, ‘As Shadows Return’ uses silhouettes behind the windows to show workers and machinery inside the mill. Dating back to 1797, the building operated as a flax mill until 1886 and then as a maltings from 1897 to 1987. It was also a temporary barracks during the Second World War. Its iron frame was truly pioneering, the work of British engineers who were determined to overcome the problem of timber-framed mills and...

Egypt opens Middle East’s biggest cathedral

Posted by CHB | Jan 7, 2019 | Christian, Latest News |

President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has inaugurated Egypt’s largest cathedral in the new administrative capital east of Cairo, a day after a deadly bomb blast near a Coptic church. The newly built Cathedral of Nativity had its first Mass under heavy security on Sunday 7th January, the eve of Coptic Christmas. Copts make up about 10% of Egypt’s Muslim-majority population. Many say the state discriminates against them and does not offer them enough protection. The cathedral, located in the new Administrative Capital, built in the desert 45 kilometres, east of Cairo, was built under the supervision of the Armed Forces Engineering...

600 year old stone carvings discovered at Dunkeld Cathedral

Posted by CHB | Jan 2, 2019 | Christian, Heritage, Latest News |

Stone carvings which had lain hidden for centuries have been discovered at Dunkeld Cathedral in Perthshire. A routine inspection of the site by Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Conservation team led to the discovery of at least a dozen unrecorded carved saint-like figures. The torch-lit discovery within the obscured recesses of the tomb of Bishop Cardeny, which dates from 1420, was followed by a second, more in-depth assessment undertaken using cutting-edge 3D photogrammetric technology. A detailed 3D model was created by obtaining multiple images using cameras and mirrors, enabling a closer look at the carvings which had been previously hidden...