RG Leverett Make Visit to Coltishall Church

RG Leverett were recently called to an unfortunate scene at St John the Baptist Church in Coltishall due to suspected lead theft. The Coltishall Church has a number of interesting architectural features, including bricks obtained from Roman ruins, a reed-thatch roof, a 67 foot tall 15th century tower and a clock-face installed in 1877. This didn’t deter the alleged thieves who were apparently on the roof attempting to undertake their crime at the same time as a church warden was locking up for the evening of Wednesday 26th April. Roofers from RG Leverett were on site the following day to assess the damage and ensure the church had temporary waterproofing in place to protect from April showers. 

Lead Theft

St John the Baptist was already in dire need of funds to maintain its architecturally important structure, prior to recent attack on the roof. Unfortunately, as long as copper and lead prices continue to rise, it is likely churches will continue to be the victims of metal theft. In addition to theft of guttering and piping, lead roofs are frequently at risk as we also saw at Cockley Cley Church last year. Such is the demand for illegal scrap metal, local councils have reported items such as drain covers, letterboxes and door handles being stolen. In one particularly daring case, resourceful thieves even managed to commandeer a train with two trucks of scrap metal attached.

Roof Security

Engaging with a community watch scheme and installing a roof security system are two ways churches can ward off lead roof theft. RG Leverett would also recommend a high-performance GRP fibreglass roofing system. We regularly replace old lead roofs with modern waterproofing systems which can be installed to give the impression of a lead roof, whilst eliminating the potential for theft. 

If your roof has been damaged or you would like advice around replacing your existing lead roofing, get in touch for a free assessment. Contact a member of our experienced team by calling 01603 418818 or by emailing enquiries@roofsuk.co.uk.

To see all our latest installations, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.