Past Event - Open Day - March 2010

YORKSHIRE HISTORIC HOUSE ASSOCIATION TOLD HERITAGE BUILDINGS UNDER THREAT.

Conserving Yorkshire’s rich abundance of heritage buildings is under threat by the use of inferior materials when restoration and repair work is being carried out, particularly in the case of artistic metal work. This was the message given to 28 members of the Yorkshire Region of the Historic House Association when they recently visited the Tholthorpe workshop of one of the country’s leading blacksmiths and architectural metalworkers, Chris Topp and Company.

Their host at this Open Day, Chris Topp, told them that you do not see Portland stone buildings being repaired with concrete or gold jewellery with brass, but that genuine wrought iron gates, railings and many decorative items are being repaired and restored with common mild steel or iron. “Not being replaced with genuine puddle wrought iron was threatening the long life of many of our great heritage buildings and/or their contents. We must act now to save our heritage” was Chris Topp’s warning to Historic House Association.

This North Yorkshire blacksmith is well experienced in restoration of wrought iron listing among its clients Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral, the House of Parliament and a host of stately houses and ancient public buildings throughout the country. In these repair cases genuine wrought iron was used but in many instants those responsible for restoration and replacement of metal items were not even aware that they were handling authentic wrought iron. “Sometimes for cost reasons or through ignorance, inferior steel or iron is used resulting in irreplaceable damage being made to items of national, or in the case of Yorkshire, local treasures” said Chris.

Comments from the day -

“Many thanks for an excellent day on Wednesday. It was very useful and informative, and rare to have someone prepared to give time and effort without charging the earth!” Dr David Watt, Chartered Building Surveyor & Historic Buildings Consultant

“We found the workshop of real interest and the talks very informative” Mrs N Bamford, David R Bamford Architects

“We found your talk so interesting and even more so the visit to the forge” Joanna Pavey