Market leading architectural metalwork manufacturer, Drawn Metal Group (DML), has completed a contract at Ripon Cathedral worth almost a quarter of a million pounds.
The Leeds-based company, which is a preferred supplier to several of the UK’s largest main contractors, was appointed by building restoration specialist William Anelay for the project at the North Yorkshire landmark.
The West Narthex project, designed by Caroe Architecture, involved the installation of new glass porches at the west front of the cathedral, which was built over 1300 years ago and attracts around 100,000 visitors every year.
Oliver Caroe of Caroe Architecture, which designed the project, said it was important that the design spoke 21st century.
DML provided three bronze porches for the ceremonial west doors, which are unique within an English cathedral, incorporating curved heads, new entrance doors and bespoke decorated glazed panels.
The scheme required the company to create a steel supporting core to ensure the impact on the existing building was kept to a minimum while ensuring the structure was sufficient to carry the loads of the porches and to allow as few fixings as possible.
The central porch was designed to incorporate two sets of automatically operated sliding doors along with the motorised opening of the main outer doors.
One of the challenges of the project was the integration of modern materials and construction methods with the Early English architecture of a Grade I listed building - the west front was constructed around 1230AD and is one of the finest surviving examples.
Jason Allott, contracts director, DML, said: “The scheme has been particularly interesting because of the challenge of mixing old and new methods and materials. It was crucial that we worked closely with the architectural team and client representatives as well as ensuring all the products we supplied fit with the aesthetic of a building that has stood there for hundreds of years.”
Vernon Carter, managing director at William Anelay, said: “We are tremendously honoured to have worked once again on this iconic building and we are proud to continue the rich tradition of quality craftsmanship that is reflected throughout the Cathedral. The end result is a Cathedral entrance that will be enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.”
The Very Reverend Keith Jukes, Dean of Ripon Cathedral, added: “This has created a more welcoming entrance to the Cathedral and will allow us to keep the West doors permanently open during the daytime for the first time in almost 150 years.”
