Cathedral roof restoration project is recognised in Heritage Awards
Chichester Cathedral has celebrated a double recognition at the 21st annual Sussex Heritage Awards run by the Sussex Heritage Trust.
Traditional lead worker John Hill, along with his sons Lewis and Dale, were winners in the prestigious Building Crafts Award section for the re-covering of the quire roof at the cathedral, the first phase in the overall sequence of work. They are replacing the failing copper roof, installed after the Second World War, with traditional thick sandcast lead, examples of which have lasted more than 100 years. In addition, the cathedral was highly commended in the Ecclesiastical Award category for the quire roof restoration.
This recognition additionally celebrated the vital work of carpenters John Maddison and Constantin Nistok, who are working to repair any damaged timbers that support the new lead roof covering.
The 2019 Sussex Heritage Trust Awards were announced last Wednesday, with a record number of award winners and highly commended projects.
The awards were designed to highlight excellence in architecture and conservation work, representing the highest quality new build, conservation and rejuvenation projects.
2019 proved a bumper year for Chichester and the surrounding area, with eight awards and six highly commended projects – and Chichester based architects received nine commendations.
Other winning projects included St James Centre in Birdham (submitted by Richard Meynell Limited), a multi-functional series of spaces for the Grade I listed church, with a replacement of an existing extension, and Creek House in Bosham – submitted by AR Design Studio – a private bespoke new build house. Halnaker Windmill at Boxgove – submitted by Brodie Plant Goddard – also achieved an award, with the judges commenting: “Great to see a local authority in these times of financial austerity, delivering the sensitive restoration of this iconic, historic structure, making use of the oast house tiles, hand-made in Sussex.”
Chichester architects fiftypointeight won an award for Chichester semi-detached five-storey town house converted from business use and upgraded and refurbished, and King and Drury Construction Limited was recognised for Orchard Barns in Funtington for the development of four houses using traditionally inspired pallet of external finished and mixed house types.
Highly commended projects included Chichester Free School in Hunston – submitted
aby Chichester-based Noviun Architects – Goodwood Champagne Bar – submitted by RW Armstrong – The Quire Roof Project at Chichester Cathedral – submitted by St Ann’s Gate Architects – a new-build house in Itchenor – submitted by RW Armstrong – a new country home – submitted by King and Drury Construction Limited – and a First World War-themed chainsaw sculpture in Litten Gardens, St Pancras.
For a full list of winners and highly commended projects, visit www.sussexheritagetrust. org.uk