the English Heritage budget, a miserly sum which any self respecting technical organisation spending less than 5% on research and development would consider an embarrassment. The five papers describe reversible, minimal, non-prejudicial interventions from "a complete understanding of the processes involved" which are, apparently, definitive because "they refuse to rely on anecdotal or standardised responses to the specialised problems of historic fabric". No false modesty here! The first, concerns the behaviour of structural cast iron in fire. Interest in the retention and adaptation of redundant historic industrial buildings with cast-iron structural components has been hampered by myths about their potentially dangerous state in fire situations. English Heritage has continued work initiated by the long lamented GLC and gives that work a fire safety and planning context. By far the longest paper in the volume, nearly half of the total, deals with the underside corrosion of lead roofs in historic buildings. The number of cases involving this phenomenon is "very small" and although far outweighed by enquires about problems of poor design specification and installation English Heritage decided to research the causes and the paper represents the overview of a complex series of inter-connected circumstances which appear to combine to foster decay and which are explained at length. Concern at the intrusive nature of lightning conductors and the possibility of alternatives are explored in the third, short, paper which looks at one of the three major risks - sideflash lightening to earthed metalwork BOOKREVIEWS such as service cables and pipework (the other two incidentally -structural damage from direct strikes and damage to equipment from power surges are not covered) . Some assumption made in the British Standard Code of Practice on this subject may now need amending but the tests described will probably only excite an electrical engineer. The principles behind the kind of tests for preventative maintenance on ironwork within stone, by keyhole surgery and cathodic protection will be familiar to readers of Context. The fourth paper explains tests, repairs and monitoring carried out at the Gateway to Chiswick House designed by Inigo Jones. The final paper is in two parts dealing with the conservation of a lead sphinx (also at Chiswick House) and long-term testing of methods of cleaning and coating architectural wrought ironwork in marine environments. This final item of no more than 14 pages seems the only issue that general conservation practitioners will encounter with any frequency. A major criticism is the space devoted to pointlessly reproducing almost all the colour illustrations (and their eaptions) in black and white as well. Colour is helpful for the lead corrosion paper but duplication serves no other obvious purpose. This is an expensive paperback. Its perfect binding may not survive rigorous use. It is hoped its new and discerning audience will think it worth waiting for a successor to the Practical Building Conservation handbooks. A A Milne ILLUSTRATIONS INTHISISSUE Cover.-l8th centu1y facadism in Shrewsbury. Photo: Bob Kindred. p4.- 20th century facadism in Bristol. Photo: Georgian Group. p5· 46 Abbotswood, Guildford. Photo: Jo Evans. p7· example of a building at risk. Photo: Bob Kindred. pp9-12.- buildings in Shrewsbury. Photo: Micky King. p13: brick making at the Annual School. Photos: Dave Baxter. p15 top: Snailbeach before the first World War. Photo: Andy Cuckson collection courtesy of Elsie Rowson. p15 bottom: members at large in Ludlow. Photo: Bob Kindred. p21: South London Hospital for Women. Photo: Edmund Bird. p23: Stelvio House. Photos: Newport County Borough Council. pp24, 25: examples of Sgraffito in England. Photos: Jane Lamb. p29: illustration by Debbie Kindred. pp31, 32: vernacular gardens. Photos: Samantha Gibson. pp33-35: barn, Chilton Foliat. Photos and drawings: Ian Lund. pp36-38: historic Jewish buildings. Photos: Dr Sharman Kadish. Context59 September1998 MIIILANII LEAII LEADERSIN CASTLEADDEVELOPMENT 130,000 150,000 tonnes ■ 1983-1998- In the past r ~ ~ 15years150,000tonnes of theleadspecifiedand i laidon buildingprojects throughoutheUKwas British-mademachine-cast lead,suppliedby Midland LeadManufacturers Limited - . ■ MidlandLeadcastleadsheet hashadBoardof Agrement approval since1983 ■ In 15yearsverymany specifiersandcontractors havere-discoveredthe virtuesof castlead.Its handlingqualitiesandits excellent resistanceto creep makeit the rightchoicefor flashings,roofingandall verticalwork ■ MIDLANDLEAD- Taking traditionaleadpracticeinto the21st Century I MidlandLeadManufacturersLimited KilnWay,Woodville,Swadlincote, DerbyshireDE118ED Tel:01283224555 Fax:01283550284 I 47
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