Hamworthy Heating has supplied 2 x 27kW Tyneham 290HT heat pumps to St Mildred’s Church in Tenterden, Kent, as part of a major heating refurbishment at the Grade 1 listed building. The British manufacturer and supplier of commercial heating and hot water products set out details of the project in a release issued on 11 November. It described the work as a modern, energy-efficient solution tailored to the needs of the historic church.
Dating back to the 12th century, St Mildred’s is an active Church of England parish church that hosts regular services, functions and community activities. The church needed a new heating system to replace its ageing cast iron gas-fired boiler and single-pipe heating system. The aim was to improve comfort for its congregation and visitors while supporting its sustainability objectives.
01Underfloor heating and a hybrid system
Following an assessment by PCS Consulting Services, underfloor heating was selected as a suitable solution for the church’s low-temperature heating requirements. According to the release, this would also provide more consistent internal conditions while helping to protect the fabric of the historic building. Readers concerned about moisture in their own older homes may find our guide to a damp patch under a bay window after rain useful.
The Tyneham heat pumps are arranged in a cascade and work alongside a third-party gas-fired boiler through a common buffer arrangement. They provide the primary heating load during milder weather, with the boiler supplying additional heat when outdoor temperatures fall and heating demand increases.
The cascade arrangement allows the heat pumps to operate in response to the building’s heating requirements, while the hybrid configuration provides additional heating capacity when needed. The release said this approach supports the church’s varied pattern of use and maintains comfortable conditions.
02Why the Tyneham units were specified
The decision to specify the Tyneham 290HT units was based on several factors, including their temperature profiles and seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP), which suited the requirements of the underfloor heating system.
Adam Rawlinson, Director and Chartered Engineer at PCS Consulting Services, said: “Tyneham 290HT heat pumps were a good fit for this project, particularly given the low-temperature requirements of the underfloor heating and the church’s varied pattern of used. The support from the Hamworthy team was also important throughout the specification process, with good access to product information and technical advice when required.”
03Installation and performance
The heat pumps were installed by Grummant Heating and Services Limited and are housed in a custom external plant compound alongside a new plantroom in the churchyard. The installation formed part of a nine-month refurbishment programme that also included extensive flooring replacement, joinery and redecoration. A Building Management System (BMS) was also installed to manage the hybrid system’s changeover points and pump operation.
The release said the system was approaching a year in operation and had been monitored by St Mildred’s Church, with operation and comfort reportedly excellent. The installation also supports the wider ambition to reduce carbon emissions across the Church of England estate, which has a set target of reaching Net Zero by 2030.
Hamworthy Heating has over 50 years of standalone experience and 100 years as part of the Hamworthy Engineering Group. Since 2008 it has been a subsidiary of Groupe Atlantic, a French-owned pan-European heating company.
Details and image via Hamworthy Heating.
