Registerd as a Charity in the UK.
Reg No. is: X20677

Restoration Phase 3 - Ladies Gallery
Working in Partnership with

Congregation of Jacob Synagogue has been awarded a conservation grant from the World Monuments Fund Jewish Heritage Grant Program. This grant will be used to start the refurbishment of the Ladies Gallery.

The Jewish Heritage Grant Program was formed in 1988 in response to the widespread neglect of the rich architectural heritage of Jewish communities around the world. Chaired by the Honorable Ronald S. Lauder, JHGP unites communities worldwide with public and private agencies committed to the protection and preservation of Jewish heritage.

For more information on the World Monuments Fund click here.

Report on Phase 3 by Michael Gold April 2004

Index

Phase 3 - Ladies Gallery
Overview
Details
1: Gallery has decaying walls
2: Balcony has no Handrails
3: Fire regulations
4: Electric Work
The Team
Michael Gold - Project Manager
Douglas Jones - Surveyor
Poultney Gallagher Ltd - Builders

Phase 3 - Ladies Gallery

The ladies gallery is in poor condition. The restoration will address the following:

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Overview

The whole area is in a dilapidated state. There are several Government regulations, ie Fire, Health and Safety and Electrical Installations which need to be complied with. The Gallery requires some modernisation, but we must ensure the charm and character of the building is not compromised. There is more work to do than this grant will allow, but we intend to use this grant to complete a major part of the main area, and to make the area safe ready for governmental inspections.

It is imperative that the building remains fully operational throughout these renovations.

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Details

1. Both sides of the gallery have decaying walls caused by damp. The cause of the damp has been dealt with by the repair of the roof in Phase 1. However, the walls need to be ripped open and there are rotten wooden timbers that need to be removed and replaced.

Wall to left with temporary covering

Wall to right has been exposed to show full damage

View of the damage as seen from the ground floor

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2. The balcony has no handrails as they were not considered all those years ago, during the original construction. Modern Health and Safety legislation sets out the minimum requirement to which we need to comply.

Barbara Gold demonstrates how low the rail is. Her hands are at the position where the railings should be raised to

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3. Fire regulations require new style push bars on the fire exits, exit signs and fire extinguishers..

Fire doors have no push bars

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4. The electric work is unsafe, and although some emergency work was undertaken in Phase 2, the work needs completing and a NIC report issued to comply with the law and for insurance purposes.

Lighting is falling from the ceiling - some have been renewed to make the electric safe

Some new cables have been put in place ready for connecting to the ring

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The Team

Michael Gold - Project Manager

Michael Gold, 38 years old, born Newbury Park, Ilford, Essex. Michael is a self-motivated computer professional and project manager. He has worked with people of all ages and levels of skill.

He is an experienced team manager and an excellent communicator. His strong negotiation skills allows him to obtain the best deals for whomever he works for.

Michael comes with a wealth of knowledge relevant to this project, obtained over the last three years, whilst working for an international, corporate, property company.

Michael has always worked tirelessly for the good of the community. He has been a voluntary youth worker for many years and has worked with children and adults with special needs.

His dynamism has not been confined to the private sector. His tireless and selfless commitment to the wider multi-cultural community is evidenced by:

• Michael developed the world's first talking CD and Video catalogue for blind computer users.
• Michael developed the only multi-racial voluntary drugs support program in London and the County of Essex..

Michael's contact details are:

Tel: +44 (0)20 8925 1997
Cell: +44 (0)7946 169141
Fax: +44 (0)871 661 6289
e-Mail: mike@mikegold.info
web: http://www.mikegold.info

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Douglas Jones - Surveyor

Name: Anthony Douglas Jones
Nationality: British
Date of Birth: 1st April 1950
Marital Status: Married with two daughters

Professional Qualifications: MRICS [ELECTED 1973], IRRV.

Professional Experience

2003 - TO DATE: Freelance Rating Adviser
1993 - 2003 Rating Partner - Knight Frank
1990 - 1993 Associate Partner - Knight Frank
1988 - 1990 Senior Surveyor - Knight Frank
1983 - 1988 City Of London Valuation Office
1977 - 1983 Hackney Valuation Office
1973 - 1977 Enfield Valuation Office
1969 - 1973 Waltham Forest Valuation Office

Major Clients Last Year

N. M. Rothschild
Ing Barings
KPMG
Investec
Goldsmiths And Salters Companies
Toys 'R' Us
Metropolitan Police
National Criminal Intelligence Service
Petroplus Tank Storage Milford Haven
Holland And Holland (Gunsmiths)

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Poultney Gallagher Ltd - Builders

The directors of Poultney and Gallagher Ltd worked together for a period of 30 years at JW Falkner & Sons Ltd, a company specialising in restoration, alteration and refurbishment work.

The list of completed contracts covers a wide spectrum; from churches such as St Stephens Walbrook, All Souls Langham Place to the Royal Academy of Arts, Soanes Museum and London Clubs to commercial clients requiring a high quality of service.

Most importantly under the direction of Brian Poultney the company developed its reputation for taking pride in the quality of work produced and in completing projects on time and within budget, but most importantly, for honesty in dealing with clients, their professionals and subcontractors alike.

With the demise of the Falkner group in 1993 the Royal Academy of Arts asked Brian Poultney and John Gallagher (former Managing Director and Contracts Director respectively) to continue with the ongoing refurbishment of the galleries.

It is now 10 years since Poultney Gallagher Ltd was set up, and appropriately celebrated the newly restored 'Fine Rooms' recently opened to the general public for the first time by HRH Prince of Wales.

Although only a small team, Poultney Gallagher Ltd are able to complete this type of work through their team of operatives and by their special relationship with their trade specialists who they have worked with for many years.

Although the Royal Academy is the main stay of their workload, they do other work, but only for established clients or by personal recommendation. Even the most straight-forward contracts have benefited from positive and experienced management.

Poultney Gallagher Ltd are able to manage works in difficult conditions to a very high standard. The work at The Royal Academy of Arts was carried out with the building open to the public 365 days a year, and coordinated around numerous, high profile, exhibitions.

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