All Saints Haugham receives roof repair grant

The church of All Saints' at Haugham, on the Lincolnshire Wolds, suffered a major setback in November 2011, when a lead theft saw the nave and chancel roofs protected only by tarpaulins for almost 4 years whilst The Churches Conservation Trust searched for funds to carry out repairs. Earlier this year we were fortunate to be awarded a significant grant from the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund to finally enable repairs to go ahead.

The grant eligible work included stripping and relaying the slate roofs to both nave and chancel; reusing the existing slates where condition allowed and making up the shortfall with new slates. The wide parapet gutters were re-lined in lead; a roof alarm installed and the rainwater disposal system completely overhauled both above and below ground. We have been extremely fortunate in that the tarpaulins protecting the roof proved very effective, so very little repair was needed to the roof structure itself. 

Alongside the grant aided work we carried out some additional repairs including high level masonry work, ceiling repairs and repairs to the west tower belfry windows where, on closer inspection from the scaffold, the mouldings were found to be delaminating badly.Work is due to finish by the end of October 2015 and is expected to cost approximately £85,000. On completion the church will once again be weathertight and the interior which has suffered badly from damp, largely through condensation due to the tarpaulins not allowing much air flow, will begin to dry out. The next step will be to fundraise to carry out further plaster repairs then redecorate to bring the interior back into good condition.

Project team

Architect: Julian Limentani (Marshall Sisson)

Main contractor: Charles Payne

Conservation Project Manager (CCT): Dawn Whitton

Ecologist: Helen Scarborough

CDM Consultant: HPN Ltd

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