Historic Churches 2022

BCD SPECIAL REPORT ON HISTORIC CHURCHES 29TH ANNUAL EDITION 33 METAL THEFT Angus Brown T HROUGHOUT THE past decade metal prices have progressively risen. Despite efforts and legislation to thwart the sale of stolen metals, copper and lead are now especially desirable commodities for thieves due to their availability, value and ease of recycling. Lead is an easily worked and corrosion-resistant metal which has been used since Roman times for pipes, pewter and paint. It has also been used in lead glazes for pottery and much more recently, in insecticides, hair dyes and as an anti-knocking additive for petrol. All of these uses have now been banned, replaced or discouraged as lead is known to be detrimental to health, particularly that of children. However, lead is still widely used for car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing, weights for lifting, weight belts for diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in some solders. It is still widely used in architecture, for roofing and in stained glass windows. Demand for lead worldwide is expected to grow, largely because of increased consumption in China, which is being driven by growth in the automobile and electric bicycle markets. Copper is used in electrical and heating equipment because its properties make it such a useful conductor. It is used in electric car motors, household pipes, electrical installations, and many other things we use every day. Like lead, copper is so easily recyclable that most of the copper on earth remains in the ground. It is estimated that only about 12 per cent of all copper on earth has been mined throughout human history and a high proportion of it remains in circulation. However, there is a group of commodity analysts warning about a copper shortage with dire consequences for the world economy. During 2021 investment bank Goldman Sachs published advice calling copper ‘the new oil’ and more importantly, the bank said copper prices could double in the next few years. Although lead is the most common metal roofing material used historically, copper was widely used for decorative effect, as here on the steeple of St Mary’s, West Harptree. (Photo: Jonathan Taylor)