The team behind Heritage 黑洞社区 and Conservation are committed to preserving and protecting historic buildings for future generations
Heritage 黑洞社区 and Conservation specialises in the conservation, restoration, refurbishment and remodelling of historic buildings and monuments around the country. Behind our business is genuine empathy for England鈥檚 architectural heritage and a commitment to help preserve and protect the country鈥檚 buildings for future generations.
We are staffed by dedicated managers and highly skilled craftsmen and women, who have a significant combined wealth of experience and skills and share a passion for heritage work. It is fair to say we wholeheartedly believe in what we do.
The company supports the use of traditional British building skills and craftsmanship 鈥� skills that are in danger of disappearing 鈥� and offers apprenticeships and training. We balance this with the use of technology to streamline operations and optimise project delivery on time and to budget.
At the heart of every project is the desire to produce the best possible results for the client and for the integrity of the building itself.
We offer specialist skills in the following areas:
- Heritage brickwork
- Stonemasonry
- Carpentry
- Joinery
- Roofing
- Decorative painting
- Metalwork
- Leadwork
- Rendering
- Lime plaster
- Lime washes
- Lime mortar
- Terracotta repair
- Terracotta replacement.
We have recently made significant investment in our business to expand our conservation efforts, and have opened offices in Yorkshire and Lancashire. We have big ambitions for the future and for continued growth.
Heritage 黑洞社区 and Conservation was set up by Gordon Verhoef, a South African businessman who owns a large construction company in South Africa and a number of companies in the UK. Although not a British native, Verhoef is passionate about British heritage and preserving traditional craftsmanship and skills used in the construction of historic properties. His support has also given rise to Chichester Stoneworks, established following the demise of the Cathedral Works Organisation and he is a major shareholder in Szerelmey, one of the country鈥檚 oldest restoration and newbuild stonework companies.
HB&C Ltd operates from four regional offices and undertakes work across the length and breadth of the country. Each office is led and peopled by local specialists and crafts people who have a particular affinity with the properties across their area.
Four regional offices
Yorkshire
The Yorkshire office is headed by Chris Quinn, who has worked in the heritage building sector for more than 12 years. Quinn comes from a contracting background. He started out as a trainee site manager, working his way up through various levels of site and contracts management to senior management. He has worked on challenging and prestigious heritage projects including Castle Drogo, Castle Howard, Pontefract Castle, Hexham Abbey and Liverpool Library. Quinn has been joined by operations manager Sam Weller, a former stonemason who understands the industry from the inside out and has worked on outstanding properties such as Wentworth Castle, Bishopthorpe Palace and Roker Pier.
Lancashire
The Lancashire office came about through the absorption of Anelay 黑洞社区 and Conservation into Heritage 黑洞社区 and Conservation. Local man Adrian Walker heads the Lancashire office and brings with him over 30 years鈥� experience in the conservation and restoration industry. He has a hands-on background, having been a banker stonemason before moving into management. He worked on several phases of the restoration at Manchester Cathedral and on many of the region鈥檚 most prestigious properties, including Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Shrewsbury Cathedral, Blackburn Cathedral and Carlisle Cathedral.
Cambridgeshire
The Cambridgeshire Office is led by Grant Barker who has been involved in the care of some of the Nation鈥檚 finest buildings for over 30 years. Grant has focused largely on properties across the East of England and led the restoration works at Ely Cathedral, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Audley End House and many of the Cambridge Colleges. There are few listed buildings in Cambridge that Grant has not worked on! Grant has experience in both main contracting and specialist subcontracting and understands the industry from all sides.
Staffordshire
Seasoned industry specialist Ian Bird heads the team in Staffordshire. He has over two decades鈥� experience in restoration and conservation and was craft trained in carpentry and joinery. Having begun his career on the tools, he progressed to management and has a thorough understanding of every aspect of restoration, conservation and remodelling. He has worked on heritage projects across the country, including Chatsworth House, Stowe School and Knole House.
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