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A Room With A View

Six years ago, we jumped through the usual blazing hoops for the Conservation Officer.  Our application involved 15 metres of the adjoining field to be allowed for parking off-road. Our property is a 16th Century black-and-white, at the end of a single track lane...

Frost!

It’s the time of year my customers are calling me regarding frost-blown bricks and masonry, blown mortar, and exploding planters & urns.  Good old English Jack Frost doing his bit. Any architectural salvage dealer with good sense knows which items to protect in...

To Caravan Or Not To Caravan

To Caravan or not to Caravan? First up on the project plan for all self-builders is: where do we live while we get our dream home built?   Renting local is ideal, but factoring the monthly cost of a project which will inevitably overrun, conjures up a figure that will...
The Hunt For Blue Brick

The Hunt For Blue Brick

This week I’m looking for blue bricks. While I’ve always had a passion for bricks of all periods, from ancient roman thins to modern Accringtons, there is something about the durability of Staffordshire blues that warrants my enthusiasm.   The fact is, barring trauma,...

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Building Control Officers

Building Control Officers

Building Control Officers:  The National Careers Service advises that the following are essential requirements over and above a HND in an associated subject: Maths knowledge.  Analytical skills. Customer Service skills. The ability to use initiative.  Patience and...

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Abandon Hope

Before buying a Listed Building, check your blood pressure and your bank balance, and reckon on the former rocketing up, and the latter plummeting down by the time you complete your project.  Unfortunately there is no cardio-vascular overdraft facility when your blood...

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Renovation Supplies

Renovation Supplies

Over near four decades, the innumerous projects that I have been involved in to which I refer, have included Listed Buildings galore. When consulted on detail, or submitting samples, or suggesting remedies, I have become accustomed to being met with the owner’s...

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Living with a Listed Building

Living with a Listed Building

I may be a little short on experience when it comes to “living with a listed Building” as I have only lived in one for eighteen months. Fair enough, my lifelong trade has been with old buildings, whether knocking them down (sorry, dismantling them) or supplying...

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