Project: Top Bridge Pottery Works
Client: Top Bridge Works Ltd
Contract Administrator Christopher Taylor Design Ltd
Main Contractor: Churchman-fenner & Brown ltd
Project Value: £248,000.00
Date Completed October 2006
The works involved the urgent consolidation and conservation repair to existing Grade II* listed chimney and former engine house at the former Top Bridge Pottery Works, Longport, Stoke on Trent. The works involved the structural consolidation and conservation repairs including: the consolidation of long standing cracks, the rebuilding of areas of displaced brickwork and masonry, the replacement of cracked and spalled bricks and repointing in Lime-based mortars, concrete repairs to existing lintels, and the overhaul, repair and decoration of metal work fittings, doors and steel frames. In view of the building status all work was overseen and approved by English Heritage.
Upon further investigation it was discovered that the chimney was leaning quite badly and in imminent danger of collapse. CFB proposed an innovative support scheme for the access scaffold that ensured no loads were imposed on the chimney and the surrounding buildings and allowed safe access to dismantle and rebuild the top section of the chimney. The proposal was accepted and the work carried out to the appropriate conservation requirements using a combination of reclaimed bricks from the structure and closely matched imperial sized bricks sourced from a local reclamation yard.
In addition to the extensive access and conservation works to the chimney further works were completed to the surrounding buildings particularly the engine room which was repointed using lime based mortars and given a new traditional pitch tiled roof with conservation rooflights. The project was completed in 9 months to the satisfaction of the Architect and English Heritage and now stands proudly next to the bottle kiln also restored by CFB under a previous contract.