Howsham Mill.
We were selected along with two other contractors to quote for the restoration of Howsham Mill. A very high profile contract, both locally and nationally due to due to the press and TV current coverage it has received over the previous years.
Although costs were an issue so too was the requirement to appoint a contractor who would sympathetically restore the mill.
To this end all contractors had to submit to a pre-works method vision statement and attend an interview with the trustees. Fortunately we were able to demonstrate to the trustees that we were the most experienced local contractor that also offered the best cost value.
Our work as main contractor involved putting the right team into place using a number of specialist contractors. We were responsible for all works but in particular the stonework floors, cobbling and re-pointing. We were also tasked with hauling all the materials half a mile across a field that flooded nine times and the mill itself on four occasions.
We were responsible for the stone fixing and sourcing as no masonry works could be done onsite due to the potential dust hazards, other than slight modifications and some 'parring in' works.
We were also tasked to help remove and fit a new 750kg waterwheel axle and later restore the stonework to the swing bridge prior to the new oak bridge being installed.
We had to come up with a number of radical solutions to different problems.
The mill is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), is a SSSI, a scheduled ancient monument, a listed building and sits in an ancient flood meadow. It also has an otter colony residing locally.
To overcome some of the issues these designations raised we used a horse and trolley to move stone and scaffold and devised a means of lifting large, heavy stone components and oak beams without mechanical means.
Further to finishing the project we have now been part of the team which has installed a new swing bridge over the lock. Our work included the repair of existing stonework and flagstones alongside new stonework.
Part of our vision for the contract involved our company setting up and running a number of engaging the public weekends. These have very popular indeed and including lime slaking, lime pointing, stone replacement .Among other things Stephen also did a number of talks for SPAB, Re-making Leeds, The Georgian Group among others.
The project won English Heritage Angel Awards for the best rescue to an industrial ruin. Our team also won the York Guild of Building Craftsmanship Awards.
