23 June 2015, 08:00
Birmingham Cathedral is the oldest building in Birmingham which is still used for the purpose it was originally built for.
The cathedral is a Grade 1 listed building and is a rare and very fine example of English Baroque architecture. It was designed by Thomas Archer, a Warwickshire man who had held an important position at the court of Queen Anne. Archer was inspired by the wonderful, elegant buildings he had seen on a Grand Tour of Europe. The building is impressive and beautiful, it dominates the skyline and can be said to represent Birmingham’s pride and ambition.
Raising & Lowering Systems who are a division of Penny Hydraulics Ltd, were approached by a representative from the cathedral to survey their existing lifting and lowering system for the chandeliers within the building. The work was to form part of essential major works within the building’s interior in 2015. The aim being to restore and improve the existing chandelier winch systems.
General Manager of Raising & Lowering Systems Douglas Gilks and Service Manager Ed Penny, visited site today to carry out the work and met the Dean of Birmingham Cathedral, Catherine Ogle. We were delighted to see that Catherine had tweated about the work we are carrying out and that she had posted a photo of Douglas and Ed on the Birmingham Cathedral homepage!
Raising & Lowering Systems supply and install raising and lowering equipment for lighting installations such as chandeliers and high mast lighting, allowing maintenance of otherwise inaccessible light fittings and installations from ground level. We offer manual, electric, remote controlled, interior and exterior winching systems.
Our complete design package means that we work closely with architects and structural engineers through the commissioning, manufacture, installation and maintenance stages of a project. Our own purpose-built premises house our manufacturing and assembly plant where we carry out all the functions of a fully integrated company with design, manufacturing, installation, aftersales support and nationwide service operation.
With over 30 years’ experience, we are the leading authority in this field and install and maintain lifting and lowering systems for chandeliers and other lighting installations in museums, hotels, courts, theatres, stadiums, breweries, railways, retail premises, stately and private homes. Prestigious locations include Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, The Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Courts of Justice and The Victoria & Albert Museum.