WHALEBACK

HERITAGE STATEMENT: DUNFORD HOUSE, WEST LAVINGTON

Address Dunford House Dunford Hollow West Lavington Midhurst West Sussex GU29 0AF

Date: August 2019

Revision: 2

Our Ref: W1952

Size: A3

WHALEBACK LTD Trinity Cottage Strettington Boxgrove PO18 0NW

Chichester Office - 01243 514945 Brighton Office - 01273 234354 [email protected] 1 WHALEBACK

CONTENTS

Introduction 3 Assessment of Heritage Significance 4 Assessment of impacts 21 Appendix 22

2 WHALEBACK

Introduction

WHALEBACK is instructed to prepare a Heritage Statement for Dunford House, near Midhurst.

This statement responds to the SDNPA Guidance Note: Heritage Statements for the South Downs National Park Authority: A Guide for Applicants.

Paragraph 189 of the NPPF states that “In determining applications, local planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance.”

The guidance advises that the Heritage Statement should also

• describe the proposed changes; and • provide a justification for any ‘harm’ which arises from them and set out a mitigation strategy

In this case, the proposed changes and the impacts of these changes are set out in the submitted Planning Statement.

3 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Dunford House is a Grade II Listed heritage asset. Its Guillard’s Oak. Conditions did not improve and by Listing Description states: 1814, after several more moves, the family eventually settled as tenant farmers in West Meon, near Alton in (YMCA) Dunford House 18.6.59 (formerly listed as Hampshire. It is evident, however, that Dunford College) - always regarded Dunford as home. 1852-3 Villa style. House. Richard Cobden was born in the farmhouse that stood on this site on the 3rd June 1804. His education and career in business and politics This was sold by his grandfather in 1809 but in 1847 he took him away from his roots at Dunford. On 16 May repurchased the property and in1852 or1853 rebuilt the 1846 his long campaign to bring about the repeal of house, which he continued to occupy until his death on the the achieved its goal. It is stated that he 2nd April 1866. His daughter, Jane Cobden Unwin, and her sacrificed his business, his domestic comforts and for a husband, T. Fisher Cobden, gave the house to the Cobden time his health to the movement. His friends therefore Memorial Association to form an institute in memory of the felt that the nation owed him some substantial token of life and work of Richard Cobden for peace, and gratitude and admiration for those sacrifices and public goodwill, as a tablet in the porch records. It contains pictures subscription raised the sum of £80,000. and books that belonged to Cobden, and others and is listed for historical reasons. Stuccoed. 2 storey. 7 This sum enabled him, in 1847, to repurchase the old windows facing south. Modillion eaves cornice. Hipped slate family home at Dunford. In 1848 he also moved his roof. 2 bays on ground floor. Doorway between with side family from Manchester to Paddington, taking a house lights, these and the doorway itself flanked by pilasters at 103 Westbourne Terrace. with cornice over. Tower at the east end behind the porch. Romanticised depiction of Dunford Farmhouse, the birthplace of Richard Cobden (from print at Dunford House) Modern additions behind. Richard Cobden was a Commissioner of The Great Exhibition of 1851 and considered a leading figure in The description states that the house is Listed for its success: “If there is a single person who represented its historical association with the Radical and Liberal internationalism at the time of the Great Exhibition it statesman Richard Cobden. Nonetheless, it is not was Richard Cobden... [it] provided a great opportunity without architectural value in its own right, being of to promote his internationalist beliefs, he largely shared some age and quality. with Prince Albert... [stating] at a public meeting in Birmingham ‘We shall by that means [the Exhibition] Richard Cobden was born on 3 June 1804 at the break down the barriers that have separated the farmhouse which previously existed on the site. His people of different nations, and witness the universal family had lived in the area for many generations, republic...’” (The Great Exhibition of 1851: A Nation on occupied partly in trade and partly in agriculture. Display, edited by Jeffrey A. Auerbach, 1999). His grandfather Richard Cobden owned Bex Mill in Heyshott and was a successful maltster who served as It seems that it was through his involvement with The bailiff and chief magistrate at Midhurst and took part in Great Exhibition that Cobden was introduced to the county matters. His father William, however, favoured designers of the replacement Dunford House. In 1853 farming over malting and took over the running of its architects, Wehnert & Ashdown of Charing Cross, Dunford Farm when Richard died in 1809. had developed proposals for a grand cosmopolitan hotel to face the main entrance of the Palace. However William Cobden did not succeed in the farming this was never built and the site excavated for the enterprise and sold the property when the farm failed Dunford Farmhouse, from Illustrated London News, 1847 Higher Level Station. Significantly, Joseph Paxton is cited and moved the family to a smaller farm at nearby as being the designer of the solarium at Dunford. 4 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

1841 Sale map of Dunford Farm 1865 Map of Dunford Estate (following death of Richard Cobden)

5 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

The Cobden Papers at West Sussex Records Wehnert & Ashdown are not well known architects Office contain Statements of account and some and there is minimal information relating to their correspondence for building and other work done at output in the RIBA archives. A summary of their known Dunford (1847-1856). The description states that this works is included as an appendix to the Heritage binding includes: Statement. Their most notable work was the laying- out of the town of Llandudno and design of many of Mainly by Gawen Gosden (per W. C. Rhoades) and James its buildings. The house, however, is listed for historical Grist; wages and other monies paid by F. W. Cobden; rather than architectural reasons. measured account by Thomas Rassell, Chichester, for carpenters’ work done by W. Etherington (1852); agreement A comparison of the 1841 map of Dunford Farm (13 April 1853) between Richard Cobden and James Grist with that of 1865 illustrates that the replacement for alterations and additions to Dunford House according house occupied the same position as the earlier to drawings and specification prepared by Wehnert & farmhouse. However, the very different qualities of the Ashdown, architects, of 42 Charing Cross, London two buildings suggests that none of the original farm structures were retained. In its introduction by Anthony Howe, The Letters of Richard Cobden includes the following passage, which The oldest parts of the extant fabric of Dunford further contextualises the building of Dunford House: House and its coach house are therefore considered date from c.1853. Richard Cobden occupied the By December 1853 Cobden was also in the throes of a vital replacement house for the next 12 years until his death change in the organisation of his family life with the decision Overlay of 1841 and 1865 maps showing overlapping positions of the farmstead and later Dunford House in 1865. to abandon a permanent London residence in favour of living in Sussex, with lodgings in London. This was a move Original architectural drawings of the house and coach precipitated partly by Cobden’s love of his native countryside house have not been found although may exist in his but perhaps more so by his wife Catherine’s obvious dislike library. for London society and preference for rural domesticity. … [She] looked forward to creating at Dunford the centre for An understanding of the historic development of the her growing brood, rather than fulfilling in London the social site is has therefore been obtained from historic maps, obligations of a political hostess. Cobden had employed the etchings, photographs, planning history and the extant architect Wehnert to redesign Dunford, ‘a little old-fashioned fabric itself. farmhouse without a good room in it’, while Frederick Cobden, beginning to suffer from the neuralgia which lead The first evidence are two photographs dating from to his death in 1858, had moved to Sussex to supervise the 1860s, before Cobden’s death. One depicts the the building works and especially the garden on whose domestic staff at the front entrance and the second planting Cobden himself lavished much attention. A fraternal is of the family, arranged on the lawn in front of the correspondence which had enveloped the rise and success eastern, garden elevation. Richard Cobden himself is of the Anti Corn Law League was now engrossed in the identifiable by his top hat. minutiae of roses and quicksets. During the building works Cobden himself frequently retreated to Dunford for days or Lizzie Clare is recorded in the 1861 Census as being an weeks at a time, while his two elder daughters were sent to unmarried, 17 year old Nurse Maid, so was 19 at the school in neighbouring Bognor preparatory to the family’s time of the photograph. moving into Dunford for Christmas 1853. Lizzie Clare & staff, 1863

6 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Cobden family at Dunford House 1860s

7 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Funeral of Richard Cobden, The Illustrated London News, 1865

8 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Dunford House, Illustration from an article in The Illustrated London News printed immediately after Cobden’s death in 1865.

9 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Entrance porch and north elevation East, garden elevation The next historic images were produced at the time of Cobden’s coffin was conveyed down to Dunford, Richard Cobden left 5 daughters, of whom Mrs Jane emptied of its contents or whether the neglect caused Cobden’s death in 1865. These give a valuable indication accompanied by a 20-carriage train carrying mourners Cobden-Unwin [wife of the publisher Mr Fisher any lasting damage. It is noted that the ivy is trimmed of the appearance of the house at that time. and he was buried at West Lavington church, on April Unwin], Mrs [wife of the painter] and below the line of the eaves so perhaps it was receiving 7 1865. The grave was surrounded by a large crowd Mrs. T. J. Cobden-Sanderson [wife of the well-known more care than the image suggests. A comparison of the 1860s photographs and etchings of mourners, among whom were Gladstone, Bright, artist in bookbinding], afterwards became prominent with the extant fabric shows that there has been Milner Gibson, Charles Villiers and a host besides from in various spheres, and inherited their father’s political Between 1919-1926 Dunford House was used by the relatively little change to the appearance of the historic all parts of the country. In 1866 the Cobden Club was interest. Jane Cobden-Unwin lived at Oatscroft on the London School of Economics for summer retreats and parts of the house since this time. The principal founded in London, to promote free-trade economics, edge of the Dunford Estate woodland. a number of photographs have been obtained from changes which can be discerned are the removal of and it became a centre for political propaganda on their archive and are reproduced on the following the upper portion of the water tower and alterations those lines; and prizes were instituted in his name at A photograph of c1898-1900 (posted March 1903) pages. In 1928 the family turned the house over to a and extensions to the service wing that extends to the Oxford and Cambridge. shows that the house had by that time taken on a trust to run as a conference centre to further Cobden’s west, to the right of the main porch. derelict appearance. It is not known whether it was ideals and discuss political issues. 10 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Postcard of c1898-1900 (posted March 1903)

11 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

LSE Student at Dunford House, 1920 LSE students on lawn of Dunford House 12 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Music Room (RO.15) in early C20 Ante Room (RO.16) in early C20 Drawing Room (RO.17) in early C20

Library (RO.22) in early C20 Conservatory (RO.25) in early C20 The Coach House in early C20 13 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Cobden Bedroom (R2.12) in early C20 Jane and Anne Bedroom (R?) in early C20 Frederick Bedroom (R?) in early C20

Fisher-Unwin Bedroom (R?) in early C20 14 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

YMCA work at Dunford House, 1952

15 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Photograph taken for National Buildings Record, 1956 Photograph taken for National Buildings Record, 1956

16 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Following the death of Jane Cobden-Unwin in 1947, the bedrooms. It is, therefore, considered that the three Trustees sought to pass on Dunford House to others rooms on the west side of the building have been who could make similar use of it and the estate. modified and inserted in the position of the original staircase. By 1952, the National Council of YMCAs had accepted the endowment of the house for the general Further research and on-site investigation would be educational purposes of the YMCA. Over the next required in the event that alterations were proposed decade, Dunford House established its own reputation internally; at this stage none are proposed. Should this as a centre for critical thinking, new ideas and action. It change then further study to establish a more definitive provided for leaders of ecumenical movements a base picture of the degree to which the original house has where developments in relations between churches been modified through such alterations would be could be taken. A new emphasis developed around the undertaken. It is, though, possible to take a higher-level relationship between industry, training and education. view of Dunford House’s development. This can then There was also use by the YMCA and its local inform an assessment of the relative significance of Associations. each and the degree to which potential development options might cause impact. By the 1970s use by commercial groups, such as IBM for training and senior managers, encouraged The 25 inch Ordnance Survey Map of 1895 (Published development of the property. The farmland and Walkers 1897) provides a good indication of the extent of Farm had been sold and later the old Stables building development at that time. The relatively high level of 25 inch Ordnance Survey Map of 1895 was converted into a dining hall, with seminar room surveying accuracy enables this map to be laid over the and small chapel, with accommodation above. A new recent site survey to assist in an identification of those wing to the main house provided additional bedrooms, parts of primary heritage value. and a new conference room was added. Alterations have been made to bedrooms to provide en suite This exercise shows a high degree of correlation facilities. The Paxton solarium was refurbished in 1991. between the 1895 and current arrangements of the house. The only differences between the two plans Development Phases which may be discerned are: The new buildings associated with the 1970s and later phases of development are easily identified and are 1. The removal of a porch structure from the west shaded on the annotated plans below. It is, however, side of the principal building range. Mortar lines of more challenging to unpick the changes that have been the junction of the house and porch are discernible made to the fabric of the main house since the death of on the west elevation. Cobden in 1865. 2. The removal of the glasshouse on the south side of the long service range extending to the west. The principal rooms are considered to be well This has been replaced with a modern, flat-roofed preserved and contain many artefacts and books structure. which belonged to Richard Cobden and his family. The 3. The loss of some minor glasshouses and ancillary room configurations and fenestration pattern on the structures on the west side of the house. courtyard (west) side of the principal range, however, appears to have been altered. The stairs accessing the This evidence suggests that the original historic fabric is first floor bedrooms do not seem to be original and relatively well preserved. Overlay of measured building survey of main house with OS map of 1895 are strangely positioned in relation to the principal 17 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Main House

The plan to the left has been shaded to illustrate the building phases and relative significance of the principal house.

High significance The area coloured brown are considered to retain a high proportion of historic fabric and to have been subjected only to relatively minor degree of alteration. The fundamental building form is considered to represent that originally built. The fenestration pattern of the long service range, which projects to the west, is considered to be relatively modern. The Crittall windows could suggest that it dates from the YMCA’s creation of additional bedrooms in the early 1950s. The internal layout of the wing and potentially the first floor itself appear to be heavily altered from its likely original form, including many modern partitions.

Medium Significance (potential to be enhanced) The area coloured teal was originally built at a single storey. Its southern section was an external walkway whilst the northern part housed ancillary or garden functions, perhaps a boiler room for the heating of the glasshouse. Plans for the conversion of this section into two-storey accommodation are preserved on the microfiche planning records at Chichester District Council.

Low Significance(negative impact) The areas of the plan shaded orange are of modern construction and date from the 1970s. These building elements are not of architectural quality and have a detrimental impact upon an appreciation of the historic significance and appearance of the house.

Overlay of measured building survey with OS map of 1895 18 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Coach House

Overlaying the measured building survey with the OS map of 1895 illustrates the high degree of overlap between the historic and current arrangement. The coach house (stable) plan can be seen to have contracted in depth since 1895, perhaps through the removal of a single storey element against the west side. An additional detached structure can also be observed on the map, although no trace now survives.

The coach house is considered to be intrinsic to the design of Dunford House and its grounds and is, therefore, considered to be of high significance.

The timber structure currently in situ to the north side of the coach house is of no architectural quality or significance.

Overlay of measured building survey of coach house with OS map of 1895

The coach house is considered to be of high significance

19 WHALEBACK

Assessment of Heritage Significance

Grounds

The whole of the remaining part of the Dunford Estate, as depicted on the Estate Map of 1865, is considered to contribute to the setting and significance of the heritage assets.

The area shaded darker green on the plan opposite is, however, considered to make up the primary domestic setting for the house. This area encompasses the approach drives towards the house and coach house, the main lawn to the southeast and part of the kitchen garden area to the west of the house.

The north-western boundary edge which follows the river is classified Ancient Woodland. The Ancient Woodland also extends northeast following the river on the other side of Dunford Hollow and various existing paths and trackways give access.

Overlay of layout and garden area depicted on 1895 map with current OS map

20 WHALEBACK

Assessment of impacts

It is considered that all modern additions associated with the institutional use of the property have a negative impact on its heritage value. Removing these would deliver significant heritage enhancements both to the house and its setting. The removal of structures to south and west of the house would enable its appearance within its site to be restored.

Historic maps show that there was previously a rectangular structure to the west side of the coach house and this could be taken as a precedent for a replacement building in this location or nearby. It demonstrates that there was previously more development in the vicinity of the coach house and that more could be justified if of appropriate design and located with sensitivity.

The viability of the restoration of Dunford House and its coach house relies upon the replacement of the modern development proposed to be removed. Any new development should be approached with the objective of delivering the maximum amount of enhancement and causing the minimum of damage to the heritage value of the assets and their setting. These objectives, however, need to be balanced against the requirements to maintain long-term viable use and providing public access and education.

There may be potential for the long, rectangular garden to the south of the house to be used as the location for sensitive, unobtrusive development. Buildings might be located here whilst causing a minimum of disturbance to the appearance and heritage value of the property. This could include a new barn which also benefits from an existing separate pedestrian access.

21 WHALEBACK

Appendix

WEHNERT, FREDERICK J.

Architect. Charing Cross, London, later Llandudno, died and buried at Milford Pmbs. 1806-71. 1862-3 office at 22 Strand London. Born London, seems to have begun in Oswestry 1828, m Emma Jones of Oswestry 1834, sister of Wm Jones, agent to Mostyn estate 1855-69. Pupil WF Pocock, assist Samuel Daukes at Colney Hatch Asylum, then w Scott & Moffatt. 1852-6 partnership w John Ashdown (W&A), planned Maitland Park estate, London, des villas for Haverstock Hill Orphan School, London. 1853 Crystal Palace Hotel, Anerley, London; Lambeth Cemetery, Tooting, London, 1854, W&A; BoE; 185? adds Highgate Cemetery. Comps(W&A): 1852 Workhouse, St George Hanover Sq 1st; 1853 East Moulsey Ch 4th; 1853 Birmingham Spring Hill College entrant. 1854 laid out town of Llandudno, des ‘many mansions, public bldngs, baths, Pwllheli Schools, CM chapel, bank, library’; APSD; working for Mostyn estate. FW was agent to Greville estate Milford Haven cl856-67, extensively involved in town. Died at No 1 Hamilton Terrace, buried next Milford church, exhumed after quarrel with vicar of Steynton over whether Milford was licenced for burials, finally reburied by N aisle (1828-30 alts Forden ch, Mont; ICBS; enl, gallery; FW of Oswestry; dem; (1839-40 Vicarage, Llandudno, Caerns; FW surveyor; TCHS 55 1994 12; George Davies contr; £374; (1842 View of upper court, Plas Mawr, Conwy, Caerns; RA 1842) (1845 Drew plans for sale of Pengwern estate, Llangollen, Denbs, and allotted the plots for 2nd Ld Mostyn; Hiller 178; (1845 Alts Gloddaeth Hall, Llanrhos, Caerns; for Lord Mostyn; Hiller 178-9 (l845-7 Pontfadog ch, Denbs; in l852 R.K. Penson was working here in place of Mr Wegenhert who had gone bankrupt, acc to Cered 7 99 on Llanrhystud ch; BoW Clwyd) (1854 entr Newport Cemetery comp, Mon; W&A; RHH (l854-7 Plans new town Llandudno, Caerns for mostyn estate; W&A; ‘many mansions, public bldngs, baths, Pwllheli Schools, CM chapel, bank, library’, APSD. Plan is signed W&A of Eastbourne & London; Hiller 179-81. Engraving of planned town undated in Jim Roberts, Llandudno in old photographs, 1997, 10, said to date from 1854; also EVA 13 30. In 1862 Wehnert was proposed as agent for the Mostyn estate by Sir Reginald Cust but FW did not take it up, Hiller 186. PH says later ‘town map’ including ‘many admirable designs for architectural elevations’ was by W&A, though 1848 plan was by Williams & Jones, ?inf J. Hicklin, Handbook to Llandudno, 1858. (1854? British Schools, Pwllheli, Caerns; W&A; Seaborne; largely burnt, AV. ?Infl of Mostyns, hereditary mayors of Pwllheli) 1855 Assembly Rooms & Baths, for Llandudno Baths Co, Llandudno, Caerns; dem; Hiller 182; £7000; By JA acc to J. Hicklin, Handbook to Llandudno 1858. 1857 Slaughterhouses, Llandudno, Caerns; by JA acc to NWC Nov 1857; 1854-67 involved w dev of Milford Haven, Pmbs, for Col Greville. 1854 tried to persuade S Wales Railway to have Irish port at Milford not Neyland. Drew up many plans to induce business to the area, built two bridges and paid personally for railway line. Collapsed with d of Greville 1867 and bankruptcy of Greville estate. l857 Plans for new town and docks at Milford Haven, Pmbs; RA 1857; W&A; Murray Crescent House, The Rath, was the only exec part; l857 Reservoir etc, Milford Haven, Pmbs; PH 26.6.57 l857 Forty cottages on Milford estate, Pmbs; CJ 25.9.57 l858 Black Bridge, Castle Pill, Milford, Pmbs; dem 1872 and Hakin Bridge, Milford, Pmbs, dem 1887; wooden bridges; McKay, Hist of Milford, 2, 27 and 32 1859 Wooden Pier, Milford, Pmbs; dem; Mc Kay Hist of milford 2 28; ?des toll-house and hotel at the pier.

22