Long Street Methodist, Middleton, Manchester
The site has been a hard hat restricted area for some time and a lot of work is going on behind shuttering and areas difficult to access, in spite of of the Beast from the East and now the Mini Beast form the East. Continue reading “Restoration Update – Windows and Windows”
Approximately 220 attended the film “A Painted Veil” by Anthony Dolan and script by David Morris. Continue reading “A Painted Veil – A Full House”
The common theme of the visit to the site on Wednesday 7th March was Continue reading “Restoration: Door, Door and Door”
The premier showing of the ground breaking documentary ‘A Painted Veil’ by film maker Anthony Dolan and written by David Morris took place at the Art Workers Guild in London on Thursday 1st March. Continue reading “Premier Showing at the Art Workers Guild – London”
While many people took a day off on this cold snowy day, the Stone Edge Contractors got through the ‘blizzard’ and were all hard at work. Continue reading “A Snowy Restoration day”
Work is moving on at a pace with both external repairs (when weather permits) and internal work. It’s colder than usual now the radiators have been removed, but at least the window has been boarded up! Continue reading “The Restoration Moves on and Walls Move Out!”
Demolition is underway with the removal of two internal classroom walls to create two larger and more useful areas. The 1940’s stage extension to EW’s original is in the process of being taken out and what a difference ………………. Continue reading “Restoration – A View Not Seen For 70 + Years”
Scaffold is erected by the day with more arriving this afternoon. Removal of the cement render is progressing behind the shuttering, as the inside work has been brought to a halt.
Continue reading “Restoration Update 8th January 2018”
The first Site Progress Meeting took place on Tuesday 19th Dec. In attendance were Seven architect Lisa McFarlane, Stone Edge contractors, Conservation Officer Sue Oakley and GMBPT trustee Christine Grime.
You can now see things are happening on the outside. This gives a real sense that the restoration is on the move. Internal work has been put on hold as more asbestos has been uncovered and notification is required to give a 14 day HSE notification period prior to any further removal.
The launch of the restoration of the schools rooms took place last night, with over 60 guests in attendance. Canapes and mulled wine hit the spot on a cold winter night setting the tone for a convivial evening.
Continue reading “Restoration Launch Celebration and Window Appeal”
Inside work is halted for the time being, unfortunately more locations of potential asbestos have been found under floors. Until this is or is not confirmed by lab reports, it is a no go area. As a result Stuart is braving the cold investigating the condition of the stonework – can it be resurfaced or must the block be cut out and replaced?
One week on and the kitchen has been stripped out, the next job in the area will be the removal of the a dividing wall to make a larger and more useful room, access is limited while asbestos is removed from various locations. The broom cupboard under the stairs and the band storage cupboard on the landing have also gone opening up these areas and what a difference. Shrubs and plants down the community wing have been dug out to allow for render to be removed and then scaffold erected for high level work. Continue reading “Restoration Week One”
Stone Edge contractors have started removing the cement render that replaced the lime render in the 1970s. Cement stops the bricks ‘breathing’ and results in damp. At the same time the EW volunteers are removing the shrubs so scaffolding can be positioned for the high level work. Hidden damage to the stonework is revealed, caused again by the use of cement. The damaged stonework can be seen in the middle right of the centre picture and the lower image shows the extent of the damage. The new render will be lime based as used originally by Edgar Wood. Continue reading “Contractors and Volunteers Get Started”
Lisa of Seven Architects who is heading up the restoration was on site this morning together with Stuart the site manager of the contractors, Stone Edge. The ‘demolition’ of the old kitchen has been started prior to an adjoining wall being removed later this week. This room will become a community meeting room. The units that are in a good condition will be reused in two community areas, with the addition of new work surfaces. Watch this space for regular updates. Continue reading “Restoration of the School Rooms is Underway”
Stuart the site manager for the contractors (Stone Edge) was welcomed at 7.30am this morning to start the run in for what will be a tight restoration schedule. At the same time there is a lot of preparation needed by the Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust and the Edgar Wood Society, especially removing items to a safe storage area and journeys to the waste disposal site. Continue reading “The Contractors Move In”
Following delay after delay, the contract for the restoration of the school rooms has been signed and the contractors, Stone Edge will move in on Monday. All was confirmed at the meeting this morning. The photograph below shows Lisa of Seven Architects on the left , followed by Sue the Conservation officer managing the THI and Keith, Mark and Stuart from Stone Edge. Also in attendance were representatives of the Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust.
A press release appeared in today’s publication of the Middleton Guardian stating that “The Long Street Methodist School is Grade 11*, which means it’s in the top 5% of important historic buildings in the country”. Also when completed in 1900 by the famous Middleton born architect Edgar Wood, “The design was ground-breaking at the time because it featured the Arts and Crafts style that EW was famous for, but also showcases the beginning of the Art Nouveau influence before this architectural style became widely popular.”
The first evening tour in the dark (only outside) took place this evening. Our visitors were the Middleton Rotary and their President, Janice Powell is on the left of tour guide Christine. A general overview was given in the Church, followed by a virtual tour of EW’s buildings in Middleton by the way of a Power Point presentation. Several members had previous ties with the building, one brought his daughter to the Brownies in the early 1980s and another met his wife here in ___ ? a long time ago.
If you would like more information about the Rotary, their web site is www.middletonrotary.org.uk
Compare with last week’s update and spot the differences. Do not include the equipment on the lawn or the magpie in the sky, upper left.