Visits and Workshops

BLF visits and workshops – 2025

All visits include coach or minibus transport where appropriate, and refreshments. Please wear sensible shoes and bring a waterproof jacket in case of rain. For workshops and demonstrations, please bring gloves and eye protection

Friday 5^th September

1. Visit to the Church of St Rhuddlad, Church Bay, Anglesey

This remote and exposed church on the west coast of Anglesey suffers from severe driving rain penetration exacerbated by the use of cement pointing. During this technical visit, we will learn more about the history and construction of the church and see at first hand the work being done to conserve its striking steeple – much of it being done using rope access. The team will describe the associated research they are undertaking to assess the rate of carbonation of air lime mortars in damp and exposed conditions and explain the importance of detailing in contributing to the success and longevity of lime mortars.

The tour and demonstrations will be led by David Wiggins, Clach Conservation Engineering, Kendal, Cumbria, Michael Plane, Head of Building Surveying, The Church in Wales and Alex Haselhurst, Highlife Rope Access Ltd.

This is an exposed site with limited shelter and rough ground, so please wear appropriate clothes and footwear.

2. Visit to Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda

Slate has been quarried from Penrhyn Quarry since at least the 16^th century. It is Britain’s largest slate quarry and at the end of the 19^th Century was the largest in the world, shipping slates’.  Welsh slate was designated a Global Heritage Stone Resource in 2019 and the slate landscape of Northwest Wales, which includes Penrhyn Quarry, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

On this visit, we will join John Owens of Wesh Slate to visit the quarry, learn more about the geology and production of Welsh slate, and hear John’s advice for using and specifying it. You can also try your hand at splitting slate.

Part of this visit will be outdoors with little protection from the weather and will involve walking on rough ground, so please wear appropriate clothes and footwear. If you wish to take part in slate splitting, please wear old clothes or overalls and bring gloves and eye protection.

© Welsh Slate

3. Caernarfon Castle

Originally constructed by Edward 1^st, Castell Caernarfon is undoubtably one of the most iconic buildings in the UK and one of the greatest buildings of the medieval period. The castle and town acted as the administrative centre of north Wales for over 200 years. The castles of Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech form a World Heritage Site.

This tour will be led by Chris Wilson, Head of Conservation at Cadw.

© Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

4. Penrhyn Castle

The Penrhyn estate was founded in the Middle Ages. The Castle started life as a fortified manor house in the 15^th century, which was reconstructed by Samuel Wyatt in the 1780s. It was subsequently rebuilt in the early 19^th century in the form of a Neo-Norman castle.

Penrhyn Castle is a Grade 1 listed building.  It is one of the most complete and lasting examples of the Neo-Norman style in Britain and is considered to be one of the most important country houses in Wales.  It has been in the custodianship of the National Trust since 1951 and was first opened to the public in 1952.

This visit will be led by David Parry-Jones of the National Trust and his team, and will include an introductory talk, a tour of the building and a discussion of the conservation work.

© Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

 

Saturday 6^th September

1. Skills demonstration and workshop

Venue: Bangor University

Sustainable construction: lime composite blocks – with Tŷ-Mawr and Hempcrete Cymru

When Nigel and Joyce Gervis discovered that traditional lime mortars and plasters for renovating their historic farm were not easily available, they decided to produce their own – and Tŷ-Mawr was born!  Since 1996, they have delivered practical workshops and seminars designed to re-invigorate traditional building skills and knowledge to use traditional building materials efficiently and effectively.

Hempcrete Cymru is a North Wales-based construction company specialising in the use of hempcrete and other natural building materials, offering a range of affordable construction solutions for sustainable housing in Wales and beyond.

This workshop will explore some of the unique greener alternatives for modern construction which use British-grown natural fibres and a lime-based binder to create a resource-efficient insulating block. This non-load-bearing block offers excellent thermal, acoustic, and moisture-regulating properties with significant emission reductions over traditional masonry.

Slaking, mixing and grouting – with Phil Braithwaite, UK Restoration Services

Phil has many years of experience working within the restoration sector and is regarded as a leading expert specialising in lime works.  In this workshop , Phil and his team will demonstrate the techniques they use for making hot-mixed mortar and for grouting ashlar masonry.

There will be an opportunity for hands-on experience, so please wear old clothes or overalls and bring gloves and eye protection.

2. Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris Castle overlooks the Menai Strait on the eastern side of the Isle of Anglesey. With its massive towers built of local stone and its impressive moat, it has been described as Britain’s most perfect example of symmetrical concentric planning. The site of Beaumaris, meaning “fair marsh”, was chosen by Edward I to supress the Welsh who had rebelled in 1294.  The castle saw action during subsequent Welsh revolts and the English Civil War. The castle escaped the ‘slighting’ inflicted on many castles although by 1660 most of the lead and other valuables had been stripped. In 1807, the ivy-clad ruins of the castle were bought from the Crown by Thomas Bulkeley, 7^th Viscount Bulkeley, and became an attractive location for visiting artists and travellers. In 1925, the castle passed into the care of the Commissioners of Works who carried out a large-scale devegetation and restoration programme.

The castles of Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech form a World Heritage Site.

This visit will be led by Chris Wilson, Head of Conservation at Cadw.

 

3 Bangor Cathedral & Walking Tour of Bangor

Bangor Cathedral is dedicated to its founder, Saint Deiniol.  The site has been used as a place of Christian worship since the sixth century but the earliest part of the current building dates to the time of Bishop David(1120–1139). The building had a turbulent history of damage and rebuilding, and the current presentation is largely the result of work started in 1868 under the supervision of George Gilbert Scott. The planned high central tower and spire was never completed as cracks appeared which were thought to indicate subsidence of the foundations. Find out more during this guided visit.

There will be an additional opportunity to explore the historical centre of Bangor before or after the tour.

© Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales

4 Conwy Castle

Another of Edward I’s castles, Conwy was constructed in just four years, between 1283 and 1287. In the 13^th century, this castle would have been visible as a gleaming white fortress overlooking the River Conwy, and remains of lime render survive to this day. The Castle contains the most complete set of residential rooms constructed for the monarchy in either England or Wales. It is one of the most magnificent medieval fortresses in Europe and the harbour and narrow streets of modern Conwy are still protected by an unbroken 1.3km of town walls.

The castles of Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech form a World Heritage Site.

This visit will be led by Cadw.