An introduction.....

With current inflation and the cost of building works and renovation, there has never been a better time to discover the world of reclamation and the materials and services available.
I was alarmed to discover recently that nearly half of the waste going to landfill is the rubble created by the demolition and building trade. Any building, however modern, generates reclaimed materials and we should always re-use and recycle where possible.
Our aim with this blog is to inform you about our company and the reclamation process in general. We will include information on any new products and items as they become available, detail any upcoming events or projects of interest and post articles about Winchcombe Reclamation.

Traditional building techniques:

With a surge in popularity and a number of television programmes highlighting the advantages of property development, more and more people are taking on restoration projects. This can be a very satisfying ( if time-consuming and exspensive ) process but those with a true passion for the building and it's heritage achieve fantastic results.

A key element is the use of traditional materials and trades. Unfortunately, specialist craftsmen such as blacksmiths, thatchers and dry stone wallers are not as widely available as they once were even though their skills are imperative to the repair and preservation of old buildings.

We work closely with a number of local building craftsmen who use traditional techniques and work sympathetically with our products. On this page, we intend to highlight some of these forgotten skills and post a directory for your reference, introducing you to a few characters along the way.

If you are the owner of a listed property, why not visit the website of 'The listed property owners club'? It gives you access to directories of relevant suppliers and services, runs courses in traditional building techniques and provides advice about all matters from specialist insurance to planning applications.

These reclaimed bricks now just £500 per 1000

Current special prices:

Softwood Reclaimed Railway Sleepers now just £15.00

Our resident swallows

A pair of swallows took residence in one of the buildings here at the beginning of June and promptly filled the nest with a clutch of chicks. Both WR staff and customers alike had to avoid being divebombed as the parents shot in and out feeding their noisy young.

Then last week disaster struck when we came in to find the nest had been attacked (possibly by a cat or magpie) and the chicks gone. All went quiet, although the two adult birds continued to visit.

We were pleased to see this morning that not only had one of the chicks survived but had fledged and was participating in flying lessons around our yard!

Hopefully, these birds will continue to nest here and visit us again next year. Watch this space for 'Spring Watch' 2009........