Understanding heritage

Tracey Jackson, business development manager at Howells Patent Glazing understands a thing or two about heritage. Not least because her father, Walter Howells, was the driving force behind the company’s inception more than 40 years’ ago, in 1973. 

Now said to be one of most respected manufacturers in the Black Country, Howells has built a reputation for delivering sensitive, high-quality rooflights and patent glazing systems to some of the UK’s most prestigious and historic buildings.

“We are known for being solution providers; it’s a term that’s grossly over-used but that’s genuinely what we do,” says Tracey. “Every patent glazing system is bespoke; designed and manufactured by us. This not only gives our customers added peace of mind, but it also means we can be flexible, and fulfil even the most challenging of requests.”

And those challenges are often associated with heritage projects and their associated orders for replacement rooflights and glazing. “Over the years we have worked with most of the key players in the world of conservation. It’s always a thrill when a new enquiry lands as we know that often it will test our knowledge and expertise, but this drives us to develop and adapt new and sympathetic solutions.”

The Towers

Amongst the most tasking and high-profile over the past decade was a requirement for replacement roof lanterns for the house conservatory at the Towers, one of the greatest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Britain, known to millions as the centrepiece of Alton Towers Resort.

As part of its commitment to preserving the site’s historical features, the resort commissioned the restoration of the house conservatory including the re-instatement of the whole roof, using a timber structure with aluminium glazing bars. As the building is listed, the conservation officer was looking for sections which reflected the original form of the roof lanterns, as far as was practicable. It was proposed that the lanterns were constructed in powder coated aluminium with single glazing.

To meet the slim, pencil line requirements of English Heritage, Howells adapted its HGR 1 rafter bar to create a bespoke glazing system. The 37.5mm slimline aluminium glazing bars sit on the wooden rafters so the view from below is timber, as it would have been originally.

To complement the mullions, crestings were designed specifically for the conservatory featuring fleur-de-lys. These were profile cut from 6mm aluminium. The aluminium bars and crestings were powder coated in RAL 9010 with a satin finish. All this had to be produced and installed in just four months, ahead of the new tourist season.

National Trust – Ickworth

Similarly, ‘Ickworth Uncovered’ a major conservation project to repair the roof of Ickworth, cared for the by the National Trust, caused much head-scratching. Howells was tasked with designing and manufacturing a replacement glazed roof for the squash court of the Italianate Palace and refurbishing the squash court’s manual operating gear for the opening sashes.

Once again, Howells used its HG1 type patent glazing system. It was critical that the glass was as close to the thickness of the original for structural and aesthetic purposes, as such Howells utilised 9.5mm laminated glass, single glazed, within 40mm wide aluminium glazing bars in a matt polyester powder coated finish in Cream RAL 9001.

The system was also adapted to accommodate electric motors to create electrically operated opening ventilators, connected to a remote-control panel situated in a storeroom below.

“Both of these projects required specialist knowledge and expertise right the way through, from conception to installation.  They are just a snapshot of what we can achieve,” explains Tracey. “We are very proud of the products that we produce, and we are also honoured that these national conservation charities; government bodies and specialist contractors return to us again and again.”