Small Fix, Long-Term Gain: Our work at Penmachno

RMBC June 25-401
We recently completed a small but significant job at St Tudclud’s Church in Penmachno, Conwy. The task? Replacing the rainwater goods—gutters and downpipes—with new cast iron fittings in keeping with the character and heritage of the building.

At first glance, it might not seem like a big job. But at R Moore Building Conservation, we understand that the small things often make the biggest difference. Poorly functioning or inappropriate gutters can cause serious long-term damage to historic buildings, from water ingress and damp problems to damage to stonework and foundations. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has written clearly about how vital regular maintenance and good rainwater management are for the preservation of historic structures.

By carefully selecting and installing new cast iron gutters and downpipes that reflect the church’s original design, we’ve helped ensure that St Tudclud’s can continue to weather the elements for years to come. Cast iron is robust, repairable, and sympathetic to the historic fabric of the building—an ideal choice for a site of this kind.

It’s another example of how conservation isn’t just about the big interventions. Sometimes it’s the quieter jobs, carried out with skill and attention to detail, that make the greatest impact.