ST JAMES CHURCH Accrington

[Tealeaf]

What a mess! The place now looks like a 1980's skateboard park - the only thing missing being the graffitti (no doubt that's coming soon). I trust that criminal chatges will soon be brought against whoever is responsible.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I don't like it...and think it has done this lovely old church no favours, but I thought I was being negative and cynical and was just off to take two more of my anti-cynicism pills.
Seems like I am not on my own.

[Gordon Booth]

Not impressed. It's going to look very bare, big expanses of paving.
It looks like real stone so must have cost a bomb but even allowing for it being new it looks like the wrong sort/colour. Too pale, no warmth. And those gateposts and steps terminating those lovely old stone walls-too stark and modern.
But thanks for the progression of photos, Atara, interesting to see it developing.

[walkinman221]

I am probably going to get into trouble for this but hey ho , there is an old saying in the building trade which is "never show a fool or a woman a job thats not finished "give it chance to mellow and soften, it will do both these especially when some landscaping is done.As for the colour if you look around Accrington at houses that have been sandblasted the stone can be very light the rows of terraced houses must have looked very bright when they were built but after one hundred years or so of grime they now look quite sombre, so there is hope yet for the church yard

[RainbowSix]

IMO they need to be called back to redo the flags on top of the wall.

They just laid them as they got them without any thought for their size.
If you look along them they re different sized and colour so go in/out along the walls length.

Some on the library side should go on Cannons street side etc.

If your going to do it at least do it right, and that isn't right.

Tch, you just can't get a decent job done these days

[Big Dave]

I also noticed the uneven width of the flags on the walling and as my son worked on these I asked and was informed that *we have to work to architects drawings and as the architect decreed that that the wall was of varying widths so the flags must be of varying widths.
It was not done "without thought"

[Atarah]

Walkinman221! You do realise you are being extremely ..... BRAVE!

Here is a photo (blurry unfortunately) but it gives you an idea of what is being discussed on here.

[RainbowSix]

Does no one look at drawings and question them? point out obvious errors?

Someone has not thought the top of these walls through - they could all have been one width and one colour batch and it would have looked a lot better.

Just like someone has obviously just followed the drawing on the edging strips at the corners of the path where the path spreads out to meet the corner entrances.

There is an obvious trip hazard that is not so obvious when walking in the dark etc and someone will be using it to claim against the church.

If only someone had looked at the plan when fitting them and thought - "Hmm - that's going to stick up 3" at the edge of a path junction and someone might easily trip over it - I'd better get it mitred or angled so it does not".

But then these days people just do what they are told and don't question anything.

Whether by design or incompetence, the wall top looks a mess.

Pity - it could be really good. (Little things).

[Big Dave]

I could arrange for you to meet the lads that did the work if you would like to tell them in person

[Margaret Pilkington]

They would probably say they were only doing as they were told. Following orders.

[Big Dave]

Exactly Margaret,its not good for job prospects if you start telling "the Bosses"they dont know what they are doing.

[Margaret Pilkington]

no...even if it is true!

[RainbowSix]

And instead the church gets a crap job.

Never mind, the church will put up with it, accept an irregular wall and dangerous footpaths.

Better that than someone question the architect.

[Atarah]

Hi, after a bit of a "gap", few final photos of St James' alterations. These are from Mon 5th November 2012.

Originally, according to the notice board on view in the grounds of the Churchyard, the work should have been completed for Fri 2nd Nov, but bad weather "stopped play".

I was under the impression the work had to be ready for Remembrance Day, but, when I was in town on that day, around 11.15am, there was no sign of anyone being in the newly completed grounds, ...... unless anyone knows any different?

[Atarah]

Tuesday 6th November, 2012

Wont be many more photos now.

Its been enjoyable to record the work being done on our oldest church in Accrington. Lets hope it survives another few hundred years.