BLACKETT-ORD CONSERVATION
ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE
017683 52572
INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE
Dunston Staiths
Gateshead
Client Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust
Scope scheduled ancient monument | 1893 | mining heritage |
timber repairs | fire damage
Status Ongoing
First opened in 1893 as a structure for loading coal from the North Durham coalfield onto ships. Today, the Staithes are reputed to be the largest wooden structure in Europe, Grade Il* listed and a Scheduled Monument.
We have been involved in various works packages and feasibility studies, including a major timber repair scheme to the west end, feasibility study into bridging the gap and continuous inspections.
Crimble Mill
Heywood, Greater Manchester
Client Private Developer
Scope grade II* listed | 1829 | structural condition survey |
drone survey | repair strategy | planning
Status Ongoing
A Grade II* Listed cotton mill complex, built circa 1829, with a collection of additional buildings added around it, including a 1950’s reinforced concrete portal frame single story building. A structural survey and assessment of the existing buildings was undertaken in the context of the most historically important having a greater degree of inspection and assessment than the least significant.
A planning application has been submitted to convert the mill and ancillary buildings into a residential complex.
Albert Dock Complex
Liverpool
Client Private
Scope grade I listed | 1846 | maritime environment | cast iron beams and brick jack arches | ongoing inspections
Status Ongoing
The largest collection of grade I listed buildings in the country were constructed in the mid nineteenth century as quayside bonded warehouses. Using the best technology of the time to ensure the warehouses were fireproof, they are constructed of cast iron beams and brick jack arched floors with cast iron columns. Since the refurbishment of the shell and core of the buildings in the mid to late 1980’s there have been various elements to monitor, inspect and assess. These have included cracks to the exposed cast iron arch beams and also thermal cracking of the heads of some of the quayside columns.
We provided a full consultancy service for repairs to the timber and metal framed headstock. The repair strategy focused on retaining as much of the original sound material, by locally replacing rotten timber. We required careful detailed method statements and temporary works to ensure the structure remained stable at all times. The main timber beams supporting the upper cast iron winding wheel had twisted under their weight. To replace the beams, a crane was brought to site to lift the winding wheel and supporting beams. Reclaimed timber was cut out and profiled to match the existing.
Coal Mining Museum Headstock
Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Client National Coal Mining Museum
Scope grade II* listed | 1876 | structural condition survey |
timber repairs | replacement roof structure
Status Completed
Backbarrow Ironworks
Backbarrow, Cumbria
Client Private
Scope scheduled monument | early 18th to 20th century |
iron-smelting | sensitive conservation repairs
Status Ongoing Awards Shortlisted RICS NW
The surviving structures of Backbarrow Ironworks represent the development of the iron-smelting industry. The structures include the furness and brick stack, blowing house, ovens, water wheel housing, rooster house and the Lancaster boilers.
Works involved: masonry repairs using traditional techniques, replacement roof structures, and access improvements.
Ongoing works include converting various buildings across the site to residential.
Blackpool North Pier
Blackpool, Lancashire
Client Blackpool Council
Scope grade II listed | 1862-3 | structural condition survey |
430m long | corrosion of metalwork | repair strategy
Status Surveys Completed
Blackett-Ord Conservation Engineering carried out a full condition report on this important structure for Blackpool Council. Grade ll listed, it is one of a decreasing number of Victorian piers still in use. Abseil access was used to inspect the underside of the deck and a full measured survey was prepared using laser scanning. The inspections were limited by the tides because at high tide the pier is completely inaccessible from the beach below. The pier was found to be in poor condition and recommendations were made for a phased programme of repairs.
Oldknow Lime Kilns in Marple
Stockport, Greater Manchester
Client Private
Scope scheduled monument | grade II listed | 1797 - 1801 |
Heritage at Risk | sensitive repairs | HLF funded
Status Completed
When Marple Lime Kilns were built more than 200 years ago, Samuel Oldknow was determined they would be extraordinary.
The kilns were tunnelled into the hillside, are 11m deep, and were loaded from the canal basin at the top, and unloaded from bottom grates by a series of stone-lined tunnels 6-40m long. Nearby was a mineral mill, producing plaster of paris. A nearby farmhouse was the original dispatch building. The site was worked until the early 20th century.
As part of an HLF funded projected we provided a structural condition assessment of this Scheduled Monument.
Blyth Battery
Blyth, Northumberland
Client Blyth Valley Borough Council
Scope scheduled monument | grade II listed | WW1
concrete repairs | distinctive paint finish
Status Completed
Blyth Battery was built during the First World War to protect the port of Blyth and its submarine base from enemy attack. It was upgraded and reused during the Second World
War. Today the buildings are Grade II listed and the site is a Scheduled Monument. The project involved repairs to twelve concrete buildings, including two gun emplacements, two observation posts, a searchlight station and an engine house. The buildings were repaired and repainted using colours identified from paint samples.
Alongside Simpson and Brown Architects.
