Letters of recommendation

I, the Rev. Ray Matus, have known the principals of Walker Conservation for many years and heartily recommend them to anyone considering them as contractors for specialist conservation work.

They believe in what they do and perform to a high standard any programme of work they tender for. They are good in their relationships with clients, tidy site managers, skilled workmen and efficient in dealing with sub-contractors who are also skilled craftsmen.

I have had 26 years working in/on historically significant churches and have yet to find better collaborators than the Walker brothers and their team.

I and my practice have worked with Walker Conservation Specialists (WCS) for several months now on the completion of works at Nenthead Chapel in northeast Cumbria. WCS were awarded the contract which commenced on site in September 2018 following a competitive tender process to a select list of three main contractors.

I have been consistently impressed with the dedication, enthusiasm and skill that WCS have demonstrated throughout what has been a very intense construction process on a challenging site in a relatively remote location. The outstandingly high quality of work that WCS have produced and unwaveringly maintained has been matched by the commitment they have shown to establishing working relationships with the client (a board of directors) and nearby residents.

The work at Nenthead is being delivered by a contractor that is happy to put the detail of quality and a team approach ahead of the fine print of a contract. They are delivering top end conservation repairs as well as beautifully finished new work, on budget and on programme.

I would have no hesitation in recommending the services of Walker Conservations Specialists for any project that involved the repair, alterations, adaptation and extension of a heritage building.

I have personally worked with Walker Conservation Specialists Ltd on a number of different residential refurbishment projects across the North West region and have always found them to be knowledgeable, diligent and thorough in their work, delivering sound results on time, budget and to a high standard. They demonstrate sound conservation principles which closely align with our own at The National Trust and are always willing to work closely with us to arrive at the correct solution for each project in a respectful and collaborative manner.

Pleasington Priory is the only Grade One listed church in the Diocese of Salford. It remains an active church serving its community in Lancashire. Recently, we have undertaken extensive repair work to our magnificent church. This has been successfully carried out by Walkers Conservation Specialist Ltd. Adrian and his dedicated team have addressed all our repairs, going above and beyond their remit to ensure our church is ready to face the elements for many years to come.

Attention to detail, working to a planned budget and timescale ensured a professional and safe working environment was always kept. At the same time, Adrian has enabled this work to be carried out efficiently and on time. I would happily recommend this company should you require professional conservation work to be carried to a high standard.

We have recently worked with Walkers Conservation on a large-scale church kitchen renovation and roof project at St Laurence's church in Chorley, and the experience has been positive from start to finish. The communication from the team has been excellent throughout—clear, timely, and always proactive—which made managing such a significant project far easier.

Their team consistently demonstrated a genuine willingness to help resolve any issues that arose, approaching every challenge with professionalism and a solutions-focused mindset. They frequently went the extra mile, ensuring every detail met our expectations and that the project remained on track.

Most importantly, the work was delivered on time and within budget, giving us complete confidence in both their reliability and commitment to quality. We would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone seeking a trustworthy and dedicated contractor for major building projects.

At the outset of the project Adrian Walker said that he wanted us to be happy with the finished job, that they would keep their promises and that we would not fall out. He was right on all the counts!

In 2018 St Peter's Church, Macclesfield was letting in rainwater to such an extent that Historic England placed it on the "Heritage at Risk" Register. Funded largely by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, work started in 2019 to make major repairs to the tower and North aisle roof.

Once the scaffolding was up it soon became clear that deterioration of the tower parapet was far more advanced than anticipated and in a dangerous state. Clearly the costs to rectify this were going to exceed our budget. In response Walkers carefully evaluated the other work required on the tower and identified significant savings. They provided clear statements of savings and additional costs in the form of "variations". Working with the NHLF and our architect we were able to make the appropriate adjustments to the scope of work and make effective repairs to the tower within budget.

This pattern of working continued throughout the project to ensure that funds were used effectively and the critical areas of deterioration were given priority. By the end of the project we had achieved a net saving which was used to improve the access ladder inside the tower and smarten up the lower level masonry.

We are very satisfied with the outcome. The quality of work is high, including that carried out by subcontractors (e.g. lead work). Walkers protected and respected the existing fabric of the church and worked in such a way that we were able to keep all our regular church activities going throughout the construction period. The only exception to this was the agreed suspension of bell ringing which was more than compensated for by the improved condition of the tower.

Good attention was paid to safety and security and Walkers fully involved us (and our architect) in any decisions or changes needed. Despite one of the wettest summers on record the work was completed on time. All in all we are very satisfied with the outcome – and as Adrian promised – we did not fall out!

I have been very impressed with Walker Conservation's dedication and commitment during the recent repairs at St Peter's Church, Macclesfield. I found them extremely helpful, always willing to listen, to take instructions and to ensure the highest quality of workmanship and attention to detail was achieved.

The craftsmen employed by Walker Conservation are extremely experienced in conservation and it was a pleasure working with them.

I have no hesitation in recommending the company to others for similar ecclesiastical projects.

I write on behalf of Nenthead Chapel Enterprise Limited, a community benefit society responsible for the delivery of a £1.69m Heritage Lottery funded project in Cumbria. With the help of a dedicated professional team we have undertaken the restoration of a redundant Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in the centre of our village.

Walker Conservation Specialists won the tender to complete this work after the original main contractor went into administration six months into the job. Since re-opening the site and commencing work they have progressed diligently, on programme and within budget. Walkers have proven without a doubt that they possess the skills necessary to safeguard the important historic features of the chapel, whilst also realising its future potential. Furthermore, I am told that the standard of their work is exceptionally high. Even a 'layman' such as myself can see that the chapel's historic features are now beginning to shine again – the ornate plaster ceiling, stained glass windows, decorative stonework are all being commented on by even the most hardcore sceptics in the village. The building looks fantastic and the work has not been faulted.

Added to this is the effort that Walkers have made to build relations with the local community – an important aspect of the project for us. As well as working with architects, building control and utility companies, they have made every effort meet with expectations of residents and a fluctuating Board of Directors. No mean feat!

We have found Walkers to be highly accomplished, reliable, honest and willing to listen. I would not hesitate to recommend them.