John Coward Architects

Dale Head Farm and the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project

Mike — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:21:52 +0000

A wet, windy day in the Upper Duddon Valley brought us together with our clients at the University of Leeds and colleagues from the National Trust at Dale Head Farm, where we are beginning to look at repairs, historic fabric, and how the farm might support the wider Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project. The Upper…

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Repairing the Tower at St John’s, Workington

Clare Coxon — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:45:46 +0000

A £708,310 grant from the Places of Worship Renewal Fund means long-planned repairs can now go ahead at Grade II* listed St John’s Church, where we have been monitoring problems with the stone tower since 2018. We were first appointed at St John’s in 2018. Since then, Mike Darwell has carried out two quinquennial inspections,…

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A Quinquennial Inspection at St Andrew’s, Sedbergh

Clare Coxon — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:43:56 +0000

A mixed day of sunshine and showers took Mike Darwell from the bells and clock in the tower to the roofs, rainwater goods, masonry and interior of Grade I-listed St Andrew’s. A quinquennial inspection is a detailed condition survey carried out every five years. It assesses the church building as a whole, records its condition,…

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Leading the £4.3m Conservation of Kendal Parish Church

Clare Coxon — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:22:26 +0000

With more than £3.1m of National Lottery Heritage Fund support secured, a long-planned programme of conservation and improvement at Grade I-listed Kendal Parish Church can now progress. Having worked with Kendal Parish Church since 2020, John Coward Architects is now acting as lead consultant, contract administrator and conservation architect for the £4.3m conservation programme. We…

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Future-proofing the Heating at Liverpool Cathedral

Clare Coxon — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 07:02:58 +0000

An air source heat pump installed at Liverpool Cathedral over winter 2025–26 is now about to enter its first full heating season, six years after we designed the replacement underfloor heating system to accommodate it. John Coward Architects has an ongoing role at Liverpool Cathedral through Director Mike, who has served as Cathedral Architect since…

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Inside the Final Stage of Architectural Training

Mike — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:41:00 +0000

Isabella Robinson reflects on the final stage of her route towards registration as an architect, undertaken alongside her work at John Coward Architects. “This year, I have been undertaking the Part 3 PGCert in Architecture and Contemporary Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University while continuing my experience at John Coward Architects. “Part 3 is the final…

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Three Architectural Stops in Bilbao

Mike — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:13:00 +0000

Architectural Technologist Claudia reflects on three pieces of contemporary architecture which held her attention on a recent trip to Bilbao. “On a recent trip to Bilbao, three pieces of architecture particularly stood out to me: the airport, the Zubizuri footbridge and, of course, the Guggenheim Museum. “Bilbao Airport, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, is…

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105 Miles Around the Lakes

Mike — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:50:00 +0000

Associate Architect Sarah Gerrish completed her first Lakeland 100 this summer, finishing the 105-mile circuit in just over 30 hours. On 24 July, Sarah set off from Coniston for her first Lakeland 100 race. The route makes a long circuit through the Lake District, heading through the southern fells towards Eskdale and Wasdale before continuing…

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Exploring the Use of Foamed Glass

Mike — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:52:00 +0000

A recent in-house CPD session introduced the team to foamed glass and its possible uses in both modern and traditional construction. Keeping technical knowledge up to date is an important part of architectural practice. Architects undertake continuing professional development each year, with practising RIBA Chartered Members completing at least 35 hours annually. At John Coward…

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Our Eyes in the Skies

Clare Coxon — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:22:00 +0000

How drone surveys help us inspect the hard-to-reach parts of historic buildings We use drone photography and videography for high-level inspections, giving us a quick, safe way to inspect parts of a building that are otherwise difficult to reach or see from ground level. Team members plan and carry out flights, with appropriate insurance in…

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