Historic £60k project success for York Handmade Brick Company

The York Handmade Brick Company has provided 30,000 bricks for the restoration of the historic St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire.

This commission was worth £60k for the Alne-based firm, an independent brick-maker in the UK.

David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, commented on the project’s importance: “I think I am right in saying that St Albans is the home of some of the earliest examples of brick use in Roman Britain, so as a brick-maker, we are very proud to supply one of the birth places of brick in the UK.”

St Albans Cathedral is the oldest place of continuous Christian worship in the country and blends architectural styles spanning over a thousand years, containing some original Roman bricks.

Bashkar Rughani, managing surveyor with main construction contractors Thomas Sinden, said: “York Handmade have done a magnificent job at the cathedral.

“Providing bricks for both the Welcome Centre and the adjacent Chapter House, they have achieved a seamless look with a great finish, which has been extremely well-received.

“The colour is perfect, effortlessly blending in with the rest of the historic cathedral. This was a very important and prestigious commission.

“York Handmade stepped in at short notice after another British brick company had ceased production and was unable to carry out the order. York Handmade acquitted themselves perfectly.”

St Albans Cathedral was awarded a grant of £438k from the First World War Centenary Cathedral Repairs Fund for the restoration.

This grant fully funded work to the great west front, the Cathedral’s main ceremonial entrance, to repair the medieval stonework of the west porches, the surrounding 19th century masonry, oak doors and the First World War memorial window.

The Welcome Centre, featuring York Handmade’s bricks, provides a new visitor entrance, retail space, interpretation and exhibition areas and the relocated vestry.

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