Continued from page 15 stack to first floor level and the introduction of additional shoring to the lower half of the stack. It was intended that the upper sections of the stack would be taken down by hand in order to protect and preserve historic fabric and to allow for recording of that section of the building to take place. Due to the level of demolition proposed,


Bedford Borough Council contacted the SPAB to seek its opinion. Former SPAB Scholar and structural engineer David Evans visited the site on behalf of the Society. He concluded that, unfortunately, the chimney stack did need to be taken down. He said that, while it was not possible to say exactly when the stack would fall, its collapse was inevitable and that this could cause “catastrophic circumstances” for the rest of the building. Due to the health and safety risks resulting


from the seriousness of the situation, the owner of Manor Farm was unable to obtain insurance to cover necessary demolition and repair works. In the month following the SPAB visit it


became clear that the stack was still moving and threatening the remainder of the building. The owner, with the best interest of the


building at heart, made great efforts to ensure that the necessary demolition and propping of the stack could take place in order to stabilise the rest of the building. However, scaffolding


companies and building contractors were unwilling to work on the building because of the danger of collapse. Having exhausted all other avenues a demolition contactor agreed to conduct the works and take down the agreed section of the stack using a demolition grab. This measure was deemed necessary to bring the situation within the safe limits specified by the structural engineer to allow the remainder of the stack to be propped and allow repairs to the building to take place. Bedford Borough Council had strong


concerns about the proposed method of demolition and the possible damage that might occur to other parts of the building. A further complication was that the building


was situated in a remote and vulnerable location and was suffering from repeated burglaries. Following discussions with the demolition contractor, and accepting that all other possible routes had been exhausted, it was agreed that the demolition of the upper part of the stack using a remote mechanical grab was in the best interest of the building and any person who might enter it. The essential demolition took place as


proposed under the supervision of Bedford Borough Council. Regrettably, much of the south wing fell with the chimney stack. This had been anticipated as a possible risk and was not altogether surprising. Before demolition the


Casework 18 Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 1 2011


Manor Farm, Ravensden. A portion of the old chimneystack has been removed to prevent damage and injury should the unstable stack have collapsed. Above left, a plumbline shows the extent of lean in the centre of the wing. before demolition


council requested that as much recording as possible of the south wing take place, although, because of the health and safety risks on site, this was not done by a professional. Timbers in the south wing were also marked in situ to record their original positions within the frame. The possible reconstruction of the south


wing of Manor Farm raises a number of philosophical questions, and the SPAB will remain involved in discussions about the future of the building. The outcome has not been altogether satisfactory, with the loss of a significant part of the building, but it is accepted that the demolition works have helped secure a future for the building, preventing the total collapse of Manor Farm.


Elaine Byrne


St Mary’s is a rural church in the east of Cumbria, near the border with North Yorkshire, serving a small but growing congregation. It is a grade II, stone-built chapel dating from 14th century, and largely rebuilt by LadyAnne Clifford in 1663. Its small, single-cell layout has led to the development of plans to extend the church to provide toilet and kitchen facilities and a meeting room. The community has formed a working party


St Mary’s Church Mallerstang Cumbria


and developed a thorough and considered Building Development Plan, which demonstrates the need for additional facilities and highlights the consultations that have


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