Ashwell United Reformed Church Hall

Original window c late 1800
Jackie Embury
John Wade
John Wade
John Wade
John Wade
John Wade
John Wade
John Wade
Preparation work - Chris James URC Secretary
Jackie Embury
Rose
Jackie Embury
John Wade of Castaway Products & Woodware of Ulceby, South Humberside
Jackie Embury
The old window being removed
Jackie Embury
The old window
Jackie Embury
The old window
Jackie Embury
John Wade removing the remainder of the old frame
Jackie Embury
Mark Simmons NHDC Senior Conservation Officer and Stuart Izzard NHDC Community Development Manager
Jackie Embury
Rusted frame
Jackie Embury
More rusty frame!
John Wade
Preparation for the new window
Jackie Embury
New Window
Jackie Embury
External frame being positioned
Jackie Embury
The new window boarded up for the night
Jackie Embury
Double Glazing being positioned
Jackie Embury
Moving the new window into position
Jackie Embury
Almost there
Jackie Embury
Scaffolding lorry from the Whitby Farm development negotiating the corner
Jackie Embury
Scaffolding lorry from the Whitby Farm development negotiating the corner
Jackie Embury
The window in place
Jackie Embury
John Wade under the finished window
Jackie Embury
Revd Chris Ball, Oliver Heald QC MP and John Wade
Sally Wade
Unveiling of the window
Sally Wade
Jackie Embury, Revd Chris Ball, Oliver Heald QC MP and John Wade
Christine Heald
Invoice total £10,026.00p including 20% vat and £85 scaffold licence
Jackie Embury

After three years of careful planning, negotiating with the Conservation Officer and grant seeking the new window finally arrived!

The original window was installed when the building was built in the late 1800s and may have been a reclaimed one at that time.  When the old frame was removed it revealed that the brick arch had been built round the frame.

It was agreed with the NHDC Conservation Officer, Mark Simmons, that as the old frame was so rusty, in fact non-existent in places, a new frame would be made.  However the old window also had a very bad condensation problem causing damp and mold which affected the fabric of the building and its contents, it was therefore agreed that the new window would be double glazed, a sensible compromise.

This means that the appearance of the window is similar to the original with beautiful cast iron molded roses.  It is made up of an external and a separate internal frame with one double glazed sheet between them.  There are gaps between the bars and the glass to allow for ease of cleaning and removal of mold should it occur.

The frame was made by John Wade of Castaway Products & Woodware of Ulceby, South Humberside.  John specialises in this work and has made a very professional job of the window.

John treated the frame with oil rig standard paint to help keep it as maintenance free as possible and should last at least another 100 years!

It was a privilege to see John work using age old skills in a modern world.

The window reveal and sill were made good by Steve Locke of Steeple Morden.  The work was completed by David Eley making good the paintwork in the hall.

The funding for this project was made possible by Stuart Izzard the NHDC Community Development Manager and the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Churches Trust, without their very generous support this work would not have taken place.

The window has received a number of positive reviews from hall users and the hall feels warmer without the downdraft from the single-glazed window.

A Service of Dedication was held on Sunday 2 February 2014 at 3 pm led by the Revd Chris Ball of St Mary’s Ashwell, joined by St Mary’s choir who sang an Anthem, making it a real village event.

After the service in the church the Revd Chris Ball dedicated the window in the hall which was then unveiled by Oliver Heald QC MP. This was followed by refreshments.

 

Sunday 2 February 2014 – 3 pm

Vote of thanks given by Jackie Embury – Church Elder.

On behalf of the Elders and Fellowship of the Ashwell United Reformed Church welcome to our service of celebration. We give thanks to everyone here who has taken an active part in making this project happen and especially John Wade who had the skills to replicate the old window. John with his wife, Sally, have come all the way from South Humberside to be with us today so if you have questions about the crafting of the window do speak to John. Also thank you to NHDC and the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Churches Trust who generously financed the project.

You may remember in 2009 we refurbished the hall, however at that time we were not able to reach a decision regarding the replacement of the window. I am pleased to say that with patient negotiations and wise compromise we have now been able to replace the old window keeping the original design, incorporating today’s technology making it both beautiful and practical.

Our thanks to Stuart Izzard of NHDC for not giving up on us! It is with his professional expertise and negotiating skills that we have been able to facilitate all the conservation requirements and our needs.

Thank you to the Revd Chris Ball for leading the celebration service today and to St Mary’s choir for taking part helping to make it a village occasion. After the service would you please walk across to the hall where the window will be dedicated by Revd Chris Ball and unveiled by Oliver Heald QC MP.

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