17th century cambered ceilings

I am currently looking at some cambered ceilings in the first floor of an early 17th century manor house in Lancashire. This type of ceiling was used throughout the main rooms (4) and incorporates an axial beam which is morticed into a cambered tie beam, with joists of relatively thin scantling set on an angle. There are no signs that the tie beam was decorated so the ceiling soffit was always plastered out for the entire ceiling. The ceilings are now plain plaster modern finish but I would be interested to know of any other examples, to see how they were originally finished - a flat plaster finish or more decorative?

EH Level 2 and 3 Recording for unusual buildings

We have just completed a Level 3 Recording of Broxton Lower Hall in conjunction with James Brennan Associates, who prepared rectified photographs. The timber-framed Hall has an early 16th century wing, recently revealed and part illustrated in the image below. 

Survey drawing of timber frame from rectified photographs

We have also just been appointed to undertake a Level 2 Recording of Cathedral House, Salford (a grade II* listed building attached to Salford Cathedral).  Now largely vacant, the building is about to be converted into priests' accommodation for the Roman Catholic Cathedral Diocese. Originally built as a seminary and Bishop Vaughan's accommodation in 1873-5, this new use provides rare continuity with its historical use.

Cathedral House Salford

High Peak Conservation Area Appraisals

We have been recently appointed as heritage consultants to produce conservation area appraisals for High Peak Borough Council in Simmondley & Whitfield. Looking forward to getting up there when the weather improves!

News - latest developments

Work is now complete on the refurbishment of Sir Charles Reilly's Guild of Students building in Liverpool. MMC provided the Statement of Significance and Impact Assessment for various alterations, and we provided detailed specifications for the repair and restoration for the project architects.  Ornate Interiors of Leeds carried out the decorative plasterwork repair and Crick Smith carried out the APA, with GS Decorating carrying out the specialist re-painting.
If you are in the area, check it out, as the foyer and former Debating Chamber (The Gilmour Hall) is open to the public and is a spectacular interior of 1911-13, well worth seeing. It is now approached from University Square - see link;
http://www.lgos.org/news/index.php?page=article&news_id=357013

Work is due to start on site at Victoria Park, St. Helens, having secured HLF funding under the Parks for People grant scheme. Work includes the restoration of the grade II listed gate lodge, the Italianate sunken garden and walls, terracotta statuary and the addition of a new conservatory on the footprint of the original Messenger conservatory.  MMC have provided the specialist conservation advice to the project team, carrying out research on the buildings and producing repair specifications.

We have recently completed a Cultural Heritage Appraisal of a sensitive site in the medieval part of Denbigh, North Wales. Working with Nexus Heritage who have provided the archaeological input for us, we prepared a scoping document designed to inform the redevelopment of the site.  This considered the conservation area, listed buildings on the site and those where setting may be affected, other historic buildings, the pattern of land use and the archaeological potential of the site and setting of nearby Scheduled Ancient Monuments.