Repointing in Batley

Batley, Birstall and Staincliffe are stone — mill terraces in gritstone, laid in lime, on a hillside that faces the weather — and Birstall has a conservation area around the old market place. Cement pointing has done its usual damage and the work is taking it back out and lime-pointing.

Batley's terraces are often stepped down steep streets and the gable access needs a tower; we'll say at the quote. Fifty minutes from Rochdale on the M62, grouped with Dewsbury and Cleckheaton.

Batley Carr and Carlinghow are mill-terrace stone that has been cement-pointed hard and is now flaking at the face; the fix is lime, and the owner usually notices the difference inside first — a damp patch upstairs that finally dries out. The bigger Victorian houses off Bradford Road and around Birstall's market place have carved dressings and deep joints for a slightly recessed lime finish. Chimneys on the hillside terraces are the first thing to go and we'll quote them with the gable.