Priory Project
Why help? Old College Hall Transept roofs Willis Organ Heating & Lighting Local fund raising How to donate
Heating & Lighting
The Priory and Old College Hall are heated at present by electricity, which is an expensive and inefficient way of doing it. Even if was not, the amount of power required to provide adequate heat is beyond what can be supplied by even the 3-phase supply we have. In practice this means that of the three heat sources available to us in the church - under floor, under pew and radiants - we can only run 2 of the three at any one time. Heating alone costs in excess of £20 an hour in the church.
The tungsten lighting uses a similar amount of power. Although not an immediate need, we are including in the overall project a plan to improve the heating by switching to gas, which will reduce the running costs. We will investigate "green" options but with the Priory being a Grade I Listed Building, technology such as solar panels would not be allowed.
The proposed system, for which we have a quote for guidance of £80,000 would provide heat to both the church and Old College Hall, and would be run at a low level to provide a minimum background level of heat which could be boosted when required. Apart from greatly improving the comfort of those in the building, this method of heating would also help the building by reducing damp and keeping the stonework at a more even temperature.
Lighting is also becoming an issue in the Priory. At present the church is generally lit by inefficient 120 watt bulbs. The availability of these bulbs will eventually share the fate of the 100 watt and 60 watt domestic bulbs as manufacture of them ceases. Changing a light bulb is a major undertaking - it does take three men to change a light bulb! Two to manhandle and hold the ladder, one (in a safety harness) to climb it, as well as several ropes to lash the ladder in place. As an example of the problems, at present there are two flood lights which need replacing. Cost of each one would be about £10. Labour £20, Scaffolding to allow access £600! Lighting technology is evolving rapidly at present and LED lights may well be the future - low power and long life. There are other options available.
A review of the lighting system in the church is included for the latter stages of the project. For this reason we have no prices at present but it will undoubtedly be high.