A £250,000 contract to provide a multi-trade principal contractor role for St Hilda’s Church, Hartlepool, is one of several ecclesiastical projects completed by North Shields-based Classic Masonry.
Further contracts worth a total of £100,000 were undertaken at locations across the North East, including Christ Church, Shieldfield and St Andrew’s Church, both Newcastle.
Classic Masonry is one of Northern England’s leading specialists in stonemasonry and architectural precast concrete, with over thirty years of experience in all sectors of the construction industry.
The company offers a comprehensive range of services, including design development, stone sourcing and selection, cutting, profiling, carving and fabrication. It undertakes both new build masonry construction and restoration and conservation projects, which include cleaning, decontamination and facade consolidation. Its expertise spans both modern and historic environments.
St Hilda’s is a Grade I listed parish church in Hartlepool, renowned as a masterpiece of Early English architecture. Standing in a commanding position on the Headland overlooking the North Sea, it is believed to occupy the site of a 7th-century double monastery where St Hilda served as Abbess before founding Whitby Abbey. Among its many architectural features are massive flying buttresses that support the tower, originally built to prevent the structure from shifting due to its proximity to the sea.
In its principal contractor role, Classic Masonry undertook masonry repair, re-roofing, leadwork and rainwater goods, together with restoration of clerestory windows, installation of internal glazed partitions and associated electrical work.
Funding for the project came via the National Lottery Heritage at Risk programme which identifies all sites most at risk of being lost because of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
St Andrew’s Church is widely considered the oldest church in Newcastle. Dating back to the 12th century, it serves as an active Anglican parish church known for its historic architecture and peaceful grounds. The building contains more original 12th-century stonework than any other church in the city, including a notable Norman chancel arch with chevron ornamentation. Classic Masonry was commissioned to take down and rebuild the tomb of Ouseburn Foundry owner, James Glynn, which had become unsafe. The works were undertaken in liaison with an archaeologist.
Christchurch, in Shieldfield, Newcastle, is a Grade II listed Anglican parish church, built between 1859 and 1861 in the Victorian Gothic style, it serves as both a place of worship and a multi-purpose community hub.
The company undertook a range of works including selected areas of repointing of the walls to the adjoining church hall, hoodmould repairs to one of the principle main arch windows and the lifting and rebedding of water tables to one of the gable ends. The proper care, repair and maintenance of stone in a building or structure is crucial to its longevity.
Classic Masonry has a fully qualified workforce with expertise in all aspects of historic stonework conservation and repair. Its heritage team conducts comprehensive stone condition surveys, diagnostics, repair and intervention advice throughout the delivery of the project works.
Mike Moody, managing director at Classic Masonry said: “The three churches all had different requirements and it is a tribute to the depth of skill and expertise within our teams that we were able to provide solutions we know will stand the test of time. While each project differed, the combining element that brought them together was their wonderful history and heritage that goes back many hundreds of years. It was a pleasure to play our part in restoring and protecting them for other generations to enjoy well into the future.”