Joseph Crossley Homes, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Listed Grade II; People’s Park conservation area
Refurbishment of windows for operability and energy efficiency
While the construction of a new community room is likely to be a one-off proposal, upgrading windows for energy efficiency may take a more gradual approach, as at the Joseph Crossley Homes (also known as the Joseph Crossley Almshouses) in Halifax.
These were founded by Joseph Crossley, a member of the family famous for manufacturing carpets at Dean Clough Mills, Halifax, and for philanthropic activities in their hometown.
Joseph’s sculpted bust stands above the altar in the chapel here. Designed by Roger Ives, a former assistant to Joseph Paxton, it was begun in 1863 in a monumental free Victorian Gothic style and completed by his son, William, in 1870.
Various changes have been made over the years, including some lateral conversion in the central range to minimise the need for stairs and the sub-division of the chapel to provide a meeting space for residents. However, the current works are mainly directed towards improving the operability and energy efficiency of the windows. Many of these are large four- and six-light ground-floor, and tall one- and two-light first-floor windows with very plain sashes behind each vertical unit of the tall mullioned and transomed stone windows. The result is heavy windows, not easy to open and close.
To ease this problem, sashes were previously replaced to introduce opening lights in the form of louvres within the lights, an unfortunate modern intervention. Some windows are being replaced with casements to remove these and to introduce an element of energy efficiency and draught-proofing for the residents without the need for secondary glazing. The replacements are single hardwood double-glazed casements with slightly wider frames.
The result is replacement of windows with some small harm to the appearance of the listed buildings but there are undoubted benefits to the occupiers, as well as the welcome tidying away of disruptive past changes.
Where more decorative window types are in place, or the spaces which they light are in less use, the imperative to replace might be less but in this case, the simple form of the original windows, their difficulty in opening, and their lack of energy efficiency, makes their replacement less problematic.
By carrying out the works over a longer and therefore more affordable timescale, the works are also more economically sustainable. A full energy review would also be useful, where energy efficiency alone is the reason to replace, to ensure that a strong case for replacement can be made. In this way, the significance to the listed buildings of their historic use may be maintained.
