IHBC South West Region covering: Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Scilly Isles, Somerset & Wiltshire SW Bulletin No. 30 - October 2015 Notice of IHBC South West Region Editorial Annual General Meeting: Gloucester, 13 November 2015 And so the Green Deal has quietly slipped away into the mists of obscurity ….. or has it? The Government’s recent announcement that it is to cease funding of its much Bookings will shortly open for this year’s heralded household energy efficiency programme will no doubt come as a shock to AGM which will be held in the Civic Suite some but it is probably a relief to those practitioners struggling with the vagaries of at the Gloucester City Council offices in traditional buildings. The Green Deal promised much and undoubtedly helped many The Docks regeneration area of the city owner/ occupiers reduce their energy bills. However, it was not sufficiently well (North Warehouse, Gloucester GL1 2EQ; thought out in its application to older housing stock of pre-1919 vintage, which is http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/pages/c predominantly of solid load bearing masonry construction and often lacking any ontact-us.aspx for map and contact effective damp proof control measures. details). The number of older properties where modern damp proofing solutions including Further details will be communicated via chemical tanking, core injection and timber stud dry-lining systems have been installed your branch representatives over the as part of energy-saving programmes is unknown. What can be deducted, though, is next couple of weeks but we can that the problems these ‘solutions’ were intended to mitigate have not slipped away - confirm a most intriguing (and secure) they will continue to manifest themselves as progressive deterioration unseen (at least venue for the afternoon training for a while) behind a screen of modernity! The Government must be prepared to help sessions, namely the former HM Prison those owner/ occupiers who have been persuaded to install such inappropriate Gloucester (located at The Quay just measures. It should also pay more attention to professional bodies such as the IHBC, across from the council offices). Thanks and RICS who highlighted the potential risks about The Green Deal. Malcolm James go to Charlotte Bowles-Lewis for organising the event. HM Prison Gloucester opened as a county gaol in 1782 and was substantially enlarged and rebuilt over the period 1810 - 1855. Most of the buildings are listed at Grade II, with the central cell block listed Grade II* on account of its highly-accomplished architectural style and historic interest. City and Country acquired the former prison in 2014 and they have ambitious plans to redevelop the historic buildings as part of a mixed use scheme. Representatives of the group will be our hosts for the afternoon, providing an overview of the current plans for the site and guided tours of specific buildings. Examples and case studies of comparable projects by City and General view of the former HM Prison Gloucester Highcliffe Castle near Christchurch, Dorset was Country can be found at: buildings with the neo-classical frontage of the the venue for a detailed assessment of this central block added by Thomas Fuljames in 1844 fascinating Grade I listed heritage asset led by http://www.cityandcountry.co.uk at top-right © Charlotte Bowles-Lewis James Webb of Forum Heritage Services IHBC SW Bulletin No.30 October 2015 - page 1 Regional Training Update: Thatching Day at South Petherton, Somerset - 19 May 2015 Conservation of Traditional Thatch might Fragments of organic matter and detail authenticity and integrity of historic sound a bit dry as a subject but if, like me, within the roof invariably give clues to not thatching. Specific threats included you find the world of thatch full of only the crops being used at the time, but gradual loss of traditional skills (essential confusion, intrigue and counter- also the past agricultural methods and the for a long straw roof), lack of training and argument, then you would not have been social activities of the day. The fixing the pressure on conservation officers to disappointed by the breadth of knowledge methods found within the build-up layers grant consent for re-thatching projects in the specialist talks organised by Alison of thatch would also vary over time, thus with replacement materials that do not Henry (Historic England) and Greg Venn. giving additional evidence to the age and replicate the original. Jack Lewis rounded dating of the different layers. For off the session by illustrating some Alison Henry started the proceedings with example, tarped twine bindings could be regional variations on thatching an overview of the day’s aims and key perhaps late 16th or early 17th century, techniques and ridge detailing. It became training objectives. A firm advocate and whereas twisted blackberry stems would clear that the widespread use of Turkish enthusiast of thatch, Alison summarised definitely be much older. Modern farming water reed risks eroding these traditions; the characteristics of the main thatching methods with the emphasis on high-yield compounded by the fact that this materials (i.e. long straw, reed straw and and disease resistant crops probably nitrogen-rich material is not always the water reed), emphasising the regional account for the demise of many of the old ‘best’ for the job in hand! origins/ availability and historical uses. wheat varieties once prevalent. John After a delicious lunch we returned concluded by describing the practices Long straw and reed straw both originate refreshed for some practical thatching employed at his own farm and his efforts from the same wheat crop. Traditionally, demonstrations from Nigel Bunce and to conserve historic threshing equipment. the long straw was hand flailed to remove some cautionary words from Keith about the wheat grain but is now commonly Further talks by thatching consultant Keith the realities of dealing with re-thatching threshed using a ‘drum post’ machine. The Quantrill and John Letts focused on the projects. First, it is vital to remember that long lengths of straw visible on the various challenges faced in keeping a material for thatching is from the previous finished roof give it a distinctive ‘shaggy’ thatched roof ‘healthy’; the thatch being year’s harvest, so the straw is over- appearance. Reed straw on the other viewed as an eco-system which evolves wintered. Secondly, existing under-layers hand is produced by careful flailing or over time. The correct roof pitch is vital in of thatch do not need to be stripped out ‘pitching’ after which it is hand combed ensuring efficient rainwater run-off; too unless there is severe decay; the notion of (processes significantly quicker than the shallow and moisture will be absorbed at a ‘new roof’ is alien to the ethos of ground-level preparation necessary for a a faster rate than it can be released back conserving traditional thatch! long straw roof). This Devon or ‘combed to atmosphere. Saturation of the wheat reed’ tends to be a stiffer material, underlying layers frequently results in meaning that it can be dressed in-situ on fungal growth and accelerated decay. The the roof (unlike long straw) and results in outer or ‘pioneer’ layer is effectively a a clean, close-cropped thatched covering sacrificial layer; rich in fungal spores that with crisper lines at the eaves and verges. establish relatively quickly from plants or Water reed is a wetland plant grown in bird droppings, which then encourage special beds and can reach a height of up moss growth. Keith noted that some moss to 2.5 metres. The Norfolk Broads provide can be protective to the roof because it the main supply of English material but provides cleansing and anti-fungal this is being supplanted by cheaper chemicals into the ‘middle layers’, thus giving an element of resistance to rot. Nigel Bunce and Keith Quantrill answer imports from Europe, namely Turkey. The questions during the practical demonstrations finished roof exhibits a very uniform Good quality materials and best practice profile, with the butt ends of the reed (i.e. employing a master thatcher) were Jim Glocking’s closing talk on the work of bristling outwards to give sharp (i.e. water seen as essential pre-requisites to the Fire Protection Association (FPA) gave shedding) edges to all planes. Sedge was achieving a durable and water-tight roof. a sobering view on the very real threat to often used as the ridge capping for The current fashionable trend of thatched roofs posed by fire. Fires have a traditional Norfolk reed roofs. ‘wholesale re-thatching’ was also catastrophic effect on historic fabric and Thatch was the most widespread form of discussed; the Holnicote Estate in Devon lives alike, and the FPA’s ongoing research providing a case study where the into causation aims to inform future best roof covering in Britain until the 17th traditional (and more cost-effective) practice. Findings to date suggest that the century; and remained so in some rural methods of patch repair have been re- risk of fire due to heat conduction through areas for much longer until alternative introduced. Historically, roofs were often the chimney stack is low. Stack height, flue roofing materials became more widely patched with lower quality materials as a temperature and fuel type are key available. Historic thatched roofs are ‘stop-gap’ measure until the availability of considerations in mitigating spark risk. effectively the sole surviving examples of better material