Better Bristol The Bristol Civic Society magazine - Issue 09 Autumn 2016

This beautiful listed building is boarded up and unused – why? l Ferguson, Concrete and Gentrification l Conservation at Tyntesfield l Plans for Castle Park l Speeding up the Buses

an independent force for a better Bristol The Bristol Civic Society, Registered Charity No. 244414 Chairman’s piece CHAIR Contents Shouting with a louder voice 3 t our AGM I was The Society is playing a leading role in struck by the very establishing the Bristol Heritage Forum, an initiative aimed at championing 6 strong message the heritage of the City. At the launch, 20 from members that earlier this year, I recall a number of Athe Society has far too low a the audience identifying the need for particularly well-designed buildings. profile in the City. Our past the Forum to have a ‘loud voice’ if it is to be successful. We haven’t achieved Learning from experience in 4-5 19 history has often been one of other towns and cities, there is an News UWE Student this yet! However, we have been busy high profile campaigns against organising our annual Conference – to opportunity to use social media in Front Cover: Award 2016 order to involve a much larger number The Grand Spa Pump Room, horror developments, yet today be held on 27 October – which has the 6-7 theme ‘The Future of Bristol’s Historic of Bristol’s citizens in nominating Clifton – See page 30 many residents probably know A Unique and 20-21 Estates’. The event will cover parks, developments and even in voting transformational little about us. gardens, buildings and a range of other for favourites. We will be trialling A Garden for the innovative ways of raising the profile of In strategic terms, we must surely be building for the City Three-Cornered Trade our Awards, and of the Society, in next an independent voice fighting for the The Society is playing a leading year’s Award process. Chairman future of Bristol as a leading UK and role in establishing the Bristol 8 22-23 European City, fighting for quality of What do you think? Would you like Simon Birch Heritage Forum, an initiative ’Fares Please!’ – Ferguson, Concrete design across all aspects of the urban to get involved in the three projects aimed at championing the I’ve described above? If so, please do EDITOR Speeding up the Buses and Gentrification fabric. Turning to specifics, we have heritage of the City. get in touch. Are there other initiatives Tim Mowl identified three initiatives where we intend to make a bigger splash. that you would like us to consider? 9 24 historic structures. Such estates are We are always keen to welcome fresh DESIGNER It’s been great to see scaffolding on The latest planning Bristol Walking complex and potentially very expensive ideas and proposals and to welcome Tracey Feltham St Michael-on-the-Mount-Without to maintain but are cherished by local additional volunteers. Looking to application proposals Alliance – a new church, which has been boarded up and communities, and there is scope for the next few months our priority will EDITORIAL PANEL seemingly abandoned for nearly twenty force for good? significant community involvement therefore be to gain a higher profile, to Alan Morris, Simon Birch, 10-11 years. Working with the Diocese, we in their future. Again, this is a great shout with a louder voice, and to put Eugene Byrne, Jeff Lucas Castle Park –The Broken are putting together a profile-raising opportunity for the Society to drive an the Society firmly in the spotlight in 25 campaign to find and secure a sustainable Heart of Bristol those areas where we feel we can really The future of historic future for this wonderful building. In important new initiative which would CONTRIBUTORS make a difference in fighting for the my view, practical action of this sort is have a very positive and wide impact. Simon Birch, Peterjohn Smyth, estates in Bristol future of Bristol. James Freeman, John Payne, 12 a tremendous way of publicising the Our Design Awards have been in John Frenkel, Willie Harbison, Major Sites Group 26-27 Society’s commitment to making positive existence for many years and are a Maurice Fells, Peter Floyd, improvements in the City. well-regarded way of celebrating Simon Birch 13 Conservation Matthew Montagu-Pollock, at Tyntesfield James Gray, Alan Stealey, Reviving the Lost Quarter Eugene Byrne, Alan Morris, of the Mediaeval City Susan Hayward, Dan Tyndall, 28 Anna Farthing, David Martyn 14 Roundabouts, The Lavatory Attendant PHOTOGRAPHY Renewal and Redcliffe Jeff Lucas, who cared for Prostitutes Contributors 29 15 Open to Ideas DISTRIBUTION TEAM Post-War Planning for Led by John Payne Bristol’s Future 30 WEBSITE In the Spring Issue www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk 16-17 The Lost City at 31 PRINTERS River’s Mouth Bristol Civic Society Sebright, Bristol John Nash’s forlorn Orangery at Blaise Castle House Another unused garden building at Blaise – the Dairy Membership Articles are the opinions of individual 18 authors and do not necessarily Architects and developers 32 Not already a member? Why not join TODAY! represent those of Bristol Civic Society – come forward! Events See page 31 for more details...

BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETYSOCIETY www.bristolcivicsociety.org.ukwww.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk NEWS Peterjohn Chatterton’s House Restoration Clifton village’s mini

NEWS Ashton Smyth Project – Chatterton’s Café shopping precinct Gatehouse 4 of ESHA Michael Doble, Chairman of the Thomas Chatterton Society, Ashton Gatehouse on the edge of 5 reports on the restoration of the poet’s birthplace. to be redeveloped Ashton Court, which was featured in the last issue, is on track to Architects commercial accommodation over three or some time now the open at the end of this year. The floors, together with a setback attic storey. reports on a 1960s concrete former plastic covers were removed shopping precinct on The brutish angularity of the building in July to reveal this stunning and its towering form would dwarf Campaign Clifton Down Road Regency Gothic lodge. Stonework completely the homely and varied has been repaired and cleaned, Fhas remained undeveloped, ranges of shops in Boyce’s Avenue new windows, modelled on the for Better alongside, and in Kings Road to the rear. an eyesore in the heart of one remaining original, are now The character of this area, unlike the in place.Huge glass panels encase Planning and Georgian Clifton. stony uniformity of the great terraces of In 2015 the Council rightly refused an Clifton, is loose knit and humanly scaled, the Gatehouse entrance giving Design application to develop the site because with mixed buildings dating from the the sense of a void while creating the design was not good enough for eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. a new indoor space. The upper room, with its ornate roses, is It has been clear for some time that such a sensitive part of the Conservation Its small streets have a particular charm plastered ready for decorating. the quality of the great majority Area, bordered, as it is, by many listed and intimacy, which would be totally Whether the original green walls of later twentieth- and twenty- buildings. Now THAT CLIFTON shattered by such a loutish block. Why first century buildings and urban COMPANY LTD has come forward is it that such proposals fail to take any and yellow ceiling is reinstated environments are of very poor with a further proposal to demolish and account of the aesthetic environment or an alternative colour scheme quality, especially when compared redevelop the precinct to create mixed in which they are to play an important adopted, is yet to be decided. with their predecessors. So action www.ashtongatehouse.org Michael Doble at the opening, with the Lord Mayor future role? How does such a brash, to substantially improve this could overweening mass signal its suitability Chatterton’s House, a small cottage City Council, the cottage owners, hardly be more urgent. for classical Clifton? in the shadow of St Mary Redcliffe employed John Perkins Construction The reasons for the decline seem to Church where the poet was born as the primary contractor and the New buildings must respect their be as follows: in 1752, had been allowed to fall overall project cost £150,000. Sadly, the neighbours and actively enhance an area rather than muscle in on it like some • The loss of good craftsmanship into disrepair and consequently a wonderful foreman Grantley Parker, renovation project was undertaken. heavyweight architectural bully. The following the Industrial who worked so passionately on the This included replacement of the Council must reject this proposal out of Revolution renovation died during the project chimneys, the repair of the roof hand and encourage the architects and • The use of poor quality materials structure and wall plate, while and did not see it to completion. developer to think more intelligently by developers whose sole motive retaining the original timbers, the However, Chatterton’s House is now about the urban streetscape they would is profit tying together of the front and ‘Chatterton’s Café’ run by a Bristol wish to infiltrate. To reiterate our family with every indication that it Chair’s rallying call, and to paraphrase • The loss of design quality back walls, and re-rendering with Ashton Gatehouse (Nick Church) arising, at least partly, from breathable lime render. Bristol will be a great success. John McEnroe, ‘They cannot be serious!’ the introduction of Modernist architectural design • The introduction of planning control leading to the Green Flag News New homes for South Bristol inappropriate segregation of The University of Bristol has been awarded of well-managed parks and gardens that ristol City Council is different uses in housing estates, its first ‘Green Flag’ for the Royal Fort are biodiverse, safe, clean places in which currently undertaking business parks, leisure parks, etc gardens at the centre of the main campus to study and to live. Full credit goes to the a feasibility study to • The failure to properly off Tyndall Avenue. This 6-acre, Humphry dedicated Garden and Grounds team of Repton-designed landscape surrounds the External Estates, led by Alan Stealey. Royal distinguish visually between see how a number of mid eighteenth-century Royal Fort House, Fort garden, although privately owned, is public and private buildings and Bkey sites in South Bristol can once owned by the Tyndall family. Green open to visitors, as well as students and elements in a town or a village Flag Awards are managed by Keep Britain contains significant public artworks. provide much needed new • Low-density suburban Tidy and presented annually in recognition homes in the City. development, which is Hengrove Park is the largest and most fundamentally unsustainable significant site within the South Bristol • Very poor quality urban design Housing Zone. Phase 1 has already delivered the Leisure Centre, Skills We are therefore trying to pull Academy and South Bristol Community together a campaign group to Hospital and Kier Living is currently arrest the decline and substantially working up plans for approximately 250 improve design quality all the way new homes on the remaining plot. The 50 from city planning to the design hectares in Phase 2 have been allocated of individual doors and windows. for at least 1000 new homes, office space Let us know if you think Bristol and a new park. The Council’s vision is Civic Society should be at the to make this a great place for people to linked in to existing communities and A typical example of housing forefront of this campaign. live, with good quality housing across with appropriate infrastructure. Public built by the Kier Group a mix of tenure, size and type, which is consultation is planned for early 2017. BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk 6 Arena FEATURE BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY B conferences. from sportsexhibitionsto from musictocomedyand host over100eventsayear, Meads station,theArenawill a stone’sthrowfromTemple – theBristolArena.Located a tributetoBristol’spastandtheextraordinarysettingofArenaIsland The PopulousTeampresentthedesignconceptforArena– City’ building forthe transformational ‘A Uniqueand entertainment venue class, 12,000capacity home toanew,world ristol willsoonbe

– theBristolArena and renownedartist,JonasDahlberg. arts consultantFieldArtProjects, specialists VanguardiaConsultants, BuroHappold Engineering,sound Bradley Studios,internationalpractice locally-based architectsFeildenClegg and sportsdesignfirmPopulous, brings togetherglobalentertainment The teambehindtheArenaproject their doorstep. shows, theywillnowberighton or furtherafieldtoseetouringarena travel toCardiff,Birmingham,London No longerwillBristolianshaveto

Maracanã Stadium,tonamebutafew. the SingaporeSportsHubandRio’s Dublin, theFirstDirectArenainLeeds, O2 ArenasinLondon,Berlinand projects: theLondonOlympicStadium, worked onanimpressiveportfolioof project. Betweenthem,thisteamhave preferred buildingcontractorforthe have alsorecentlybeennamedasthe company, LiveNation.BouyguesUK international liveentertainment in partnershipwiththeworld’slargest world’s largestarenaoperatorSMG, The Arenawillbeoperatedbythe

as flexiblemodes for4,500theatre-goers, shows, conferences andmeetings,aswell perfect forpublic exhibitions,fashion a rangeofdifferentactivities, withspaces The BristolArenaisdesigned tocaterfor area forpicnickingorrecreation. terraces willcreateaninformal seating cinema, festivalsandmarkets, andgreen and temporaryeventssuchasoutdoor spaces thatcanbeusedforpop-up year. Itwillbemadeupofarange and vibrantlocationrightthroughthe ensuring thatArenaIslandisanactive for theArena,asitwillbekeyto public plazaisavitalaspectofplans village tothenewpublicsquare.The river topark,andintimethrough and aseriesofterracesthatflowfrom animated throughdynamiclandscapes extraordinary settingofArenaIslandis the connectionwithground.The surfaces oftheCivicSquaretoreinforce The materialsoftheplinthmatch grounds thebuildinginitssetting. the lowerplinth,withitssolidmasonry, to life.Meanwhile,theelegantformof seasons andbringingtheBristolskyline reflecting thechangingweatherand steel claddingwillcreateasubtleeffect, railway yards.Darkened,perforated the historyofsiteandadjacent the façadehasastrongreferenceto city fabric.Thechoiceofmaterialsfor all mappedintothecontemporary exploration, industryandengineering, links successivegenerationsoftravel, begins withthecity.AhistoryofBristol The designforthisuniqueArena Above, BristolArenaInspirationPallete handball andgymnastics. ice hockey,tennis,basketball,boxing, comfortably hostlarge-scaleeventsfor carefully consideredandtheArenawill fans. Sportingeventshavealsobeen comedy showsand12,000livemusic and sustainably sourced. all buildingmaterials willberesponsibly harvesting systems willbeinplaceand efficient fixturesandfittings, rainwater consumption willbereduced through carbon heatnetwork.Inaddition, water also beconnectedtoBristol’s local,low panels ontheroofandbuilding will energy generationfromphoto-voltaic Excellent rating.Therewillbeon-site achieve industrystandardBREEAM in thecountry,withambitionto The Arenawillbethemostsustainable The Arenawillbethemost sustainable inthecountry, BREEAM Excellentrating. achieve industrystandard with theambitionto Above, BristolArenaPublicPlaza

and theregion. transformational buildingfortheCity Centre, willset itapartasauniqueand and itscloseproximitytothe City iconic TempleMeadsRailway Station with itsdramaticlocationnext tothe events. Theboldandelegant design, from BristolParkwayforlarge Arena a ‘parkandrail’shuttletrainwillrun extended toserviceallArenaeventsand facilities. ParkandRideserviceswillbe Meads andimprovedway-finding floating pontoonwalkwayfromTemple pleasant arrivalexperience,includinga schemes willensurevisitorshavea front oftheArena,andahostother Road willleadtothepublicplazain A pedestrianaccessroutefromBath close towherethebridgestandstoday. Bristol whoranasuccessfulbusiness an entrepreneurandbuilderinVictorian Society. WilliamBrock(1830-1907)was Knowle andTotterdownLocalHistory through apubliccompetitionwonbythe was recentlychristenedBrock’sBridge and CommunitiesAgency(HCA).It £11m ofinvestmentfromtheHomes has alreadybeencompletedthanksto from CattleMarketRoad.Thelatter a cycle,pedestrianandroadbridge and theRiverAvonFootpath, pedestrian bridgefromAlbertRoad routes toArenaIsland:acycleand bridges willformtheprimaryaccess future citywidestrategy.Twonew has beenakeyelementoftheCouncil’s transportation plan,accesstothesite As partofBristolCityCouncil’swider (Picture credits:PopulousArenaTeam)

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Arena 7 FEATURE 8 Transport FEATURE I BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY company found thatrevenueincreased set off.Onthe otherhand,thebus and ticketsissued beforethebuscould because thecashhadtobecollected it tookforbusestooperatetheir routes Enter immediatelyincreased thetime conductor retiredin1980.Pay asyou gradually acrosstheCityuntil thelast route 19inBristolandwhich spread Enter methods,firstintroducedon cause oftheconversiontoPayasyou inflation increasedcosts.Thiswasthe their loveaffairwithcars,andwage buses grewharder,aspeoplestarted In the1960seconomicsofrunning enjoyed anetweightloss! the onlyjobIhaveeverhadwhere the nextstop.Icanvouchforthis–it’s all thefaresandissueticketsbefore conductor racedagainsttimetocollect could makeforastressfuljobasthe with onthemove.Onabusybusthis fare collectionandenquiriesweredealt boarded quicklyandalltheissuesof and wageswererelativelylow.People times whenworkerswereplentiful an efficientwayofcollectingfaresin The provisionofabusconductorwas charts thejourneyfromClippiestoSmartTicketing Managing DirectorofFirstBristolLtd,JamesFreeman, horses, in1829. the firstomnibuses,pulledby George Shillibeerintroduced been donecontinuouslysince a way,moreorless,thathad I wascollectingthefaresin the ancientcapitalofWessex. Bristol, butinWinchester, as abusconductor,notin buses overfortyyearsago started mycareeronthe answer toBristol’sproblems. user-friendly, soIdon’tthinkthisisthe certainly efficient,butitreallyisn’tvery load ontothebusesreallyquickly.It’s overpay, nochangeisgiven,butpeople beside thedriver.It’sexactfareor you dropyourcashfareintoa‘farebox’ has tobeused.IfyougoBirmingham, a fail-safewayofearningtherevenue who havetopayfortheirowntravel,so heavily subsidised,inBristolit’stheusers other partsoftheworld,whicharevery So, what’stodo?Unlikebusesinmany PayPoint outlets, butyoucan’tasyet and, curiously, onbuses,aswellat These canbetopped upintraveloffices introduced inBristoltwoyears ago. electronic ticketing.‘Touch’ cards were have smartcards,andwedo have or privatesector.Wedo,however transport providers,whether public and beyondthereachofprovincial are huge(andhugelyexpensive) that theback-officesystemsforOyster all. Greatforspeed,butthetroubleis you can’tbuyaticketonthebusat its nowubiquitousOystercard,where Of coursewealllooktoLondon,with getting onandoffthevehicles. except that’smoreandpeople 25% overtwoyears.Brilliantnews, number ofridersonBristol’sbusesby of thischangehasbeentoincreasethe in, basedonastrictmileage.Theeffect consultation, FairerFareswerebrought was when,followinganextensive a revolutiononBristol’sbuses.This In November2013therewasabitof very slow,especiallyatbusytimes. However, theresultisthatbustravel immediately becauseeverybodypaid. Speeding Please!’ – What adifference itwillmake! passengers will beathingofthepast. queues anddreary waitsatbusstopsfor be toolonghereinBristolbefore the but nowIbelieveit’sinevitable. Itwon’t driver. Ineverthoughtitwould happen, you don’tbuyyourticketfrom the possible thatwe’llgettoasystem where Bristolians overthenexttwoyears.It’s to asmartrevolutioninticketingfor found todothis.Firsthascommitted machine, waysandmeansarebeing technology tothehumblebusticket straightforward totransferthis way forward.Whileitisnotwholly debit andcreditcards,pointsthe spread ofcashlesspayment,using Technology isonourside.Therapid foot whenboardingandalighting. also needthecustomerstobefleetof will requirenewtechnologyandit boarded ontoaconventionalbus!This time ittakestogetaboutthreepeople to 20secondsperstop,whichisthe Indeed, theaimistoreducedwelltimes able tobuytheirticketsfromthedriver. been takenthatpassengerswillnotbe question, asthedecisionhasalready not beoperatedbyus,re-opensthe current busroutesandmayor next year,whicharedistinctfromthe launch ofMetrobusservicesinthecity But wheredowegofromhere?The stop andyoucantopuponline. journey ticketwhilewaitingatthebus students. Youcanbuyadiscountedten- and easyespeciallypopularwith smartphone technology.Theyarequick mTickets. Thesearesmartticketsusing – andgrowingmorequicklyare top themuponline.Muchmorepopular up the ‘Fares Buses reviews thelatestproposals Planning ApplicationsGroup, John Payne,Convenorofthe Whilst notobjecting,inprinciple,to from overdevelopmentofthesite. the disadvantagesthatwouldarise Montpelier ConservationAreaand would accruetothecharacterof here betweentheadvantagesthat site. Thereisabalancetobestruck redevelopment ofthisfillingstation proposals fortheresidential application ideas,andtwosubsequent The Societyhascommentedonpre- St Pauls Seven WaysServiceStation,

our objection. provision, andsowehavemaintained submitted, butagainwithnoparking with threefewerdwellingshasbeen street parking.Arevisedapplication there wouldbeanincreaseinon- public transportfacilitiesinthearea, the siteandthat,inviewoflimited indeed over-intensiveforthesizeof PAG consideredthattheproposalwas original applicationfor15dwellings. the Societylodgedobjectionsto residential developmentatthislocation, exacerbate this trend. raise objections toproposalsthatwould approach toBristol. Wewillcontinueto unwelcome commercialisation ofthis to thesafetyofroadusers,but isan appearance oftheareaandpossibly in thisareaisnotonlyharmful tothe minimal andthatintensification ofit that advertisingandsignageshouldbe in Brislington.TheSocietyconsiders adjoining theA4gatewaytoBristol in tradingestatesandretailparks advertising onlandandbuildings of applicationstoinstallorincrease PAG hasbecomeincreasinglyaware Brislington Advertising onBathRoad, in lateAugust. application goestoCommittee,possibly and willmakeastatementwhenthis so wehavere-iteratedouropposition principle ofdevelopingthislandand scheme, butourobjectionsaretothe have submittedsomerevisionstotheir a ConservationArea.Theapplicants this importantpieceofopenspacein opposed residentialdevelopmenton Bristol thattheSocietyhadconsistently I reportedintheSpringissueofBetter Henbury Land adjoiningWesleyCollege, neighbouring ListedBuildings. Conservation Areaandthesettingof and beharmfultothecharacterofthis involve thelossofamatureplanetree, residents ofCanyngeSquare,would cause overlookingproblemsforthe dwellings. Theproposalwouldalso set-back fromtheroadofneighbouring and blockofflatsdidnotrespectthe accommodation. Thethreetownhouses exacerbated bytheproposedapartment and anover-developmentofthesite, PAG consideredittobetoohigh viable. Regardingtheproposalitself, for providingworkwerenolonger residential useofthesiteifits in twoblocks.PAGdidnotobjectto and replaceitwitheightdwellings proposal todemolishSomersetHouse There havebeenmanyobjectionstothe 18 CanyngeRoad Somerset House, www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk

Planning Applications Group Applications Planning 9 GROUP PA 10 MSG – Castle Park FEATURE E BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY Mary-le-Port Church. between HighStreetandSt intended todeveloptheland because theCouncilhasalways boundary iscontroversial has happened.Thewestern master plans,butnothing have beenfiveimprovement opened asaparkin1978there and it’shereagain.Sinceit of StMary-le-Port’s towerandruins. new publicspace toimprovethesetting small businesses. Itshouldalsocreatea Market andprovideforindependent a glassarcadetoextendStNicholas’s iii. reinstated StMary-le-PortStreet. crossing fromStNicholas’s Market toa ii. for amixofuses. i. site; itsmainpointsare: the Council’scurrentthinkingon The CentralAreaPlanof2005setsout from thedemolitionofbuildings. the opportunitiesthatcouldaccrue advance ofthispre-applicationabout to thedeveloperandCouncilin Group decidedtosendsuggestions western boundary.TheMajorSites international propertygroupforthe Developments, anAustralian a planningenquiryfromGoodman Later thisyeartheCouncilwillreceive Central AreaPlan ended withthepropertymarketcollapse. of thedecayingbuildings.Thescheme would nottakeanygreenlandtotheeast Council decidedanynewdevelopment was suchaprotestatthetimethat remainder ofthePark.However,there Building andraisefundstoimprovethe of EnglandandtheNorwichUnion the dilapidatedLloydsBank,Bank In 2006,theCouncilplannedtoreplace considers thecurrentstateofCastlePark,Bristol’strueCentre John Frenkel,ConvenoroftheMajorSitesGroup(SG), Broken HeartofBristol Castle Park–The The developmentshouldinclude High Streetneedsanewpedestrian The ‘StMary-le-Portsite’issuitable Park comesaround, regeneration ofCastle redevelopment and very tenyearsorso, St Peter’sChurchfromtheair Back ofBridge StreetandBridgeStreet, the greenbank andtreesbetweenthe to stopatBridge Streetandconserve walk. TheMSGwantsthedevelopment runs downtothesouth quayside i. causes concern: Street/High Street/BridgeStreet’ – infrastructure onandaroundWine the existingandimportantgreen development andtheretentionof a balancebetweentheneedsof must recognisetheneedtomaintain policy statement–‘Thedevelopment The MSGsupportstheseaims,buta as trafficcalmingorsharedspace. measures toreducetrafficimpact,such closer totheirhistoricproportionswith opportunity toreducethestreetwidths High Street and Wine Street. There is an high qualitynewpedestriansettingin v. quayside walk. ground floorusesontotheParkand area andtheParktoincludeactive transition betweentheredeveloped iv. The redboundarylineofthe site The developmentmustprovidea There mustbeaproperlydesigned development. Planning policysupports proposed height andmassofthenew A majorconcernfortheMSG is the social areaundertheplanetree canopy. to createnewrentablemarket spaceanda buildings andHighStreet WineStreet unattractive gapbetweenthe decaying trees andsupportthelandscaping ofthe passionate abouttheretentionof However, manyBristolresidentsare plane trees. Street wouldoutweighthelossof build-out intoHighStreetandWine from moredevelopmentthrougha Reluctantly, theMSGacceptsthatgain Street tocreateatighterurbangrain. of thebuildinglinetowardsWine iii. square. where therecouldbespaceforasmall High StreetandWinejunction, site ofthemediaevalHighCrossat of dualcarriagewaythatcelebratesthe development couldremovethelength ii. to theParkfromBristolBridge. thereby creatinganattractiveentrance The MSGsupportsthere-alignment The MSGsuggeststhatthe

St Mary-le-Portringedbyconcretedereliction Peter Randall-Page’s‘BesidetheStillWaters’,thoughnowaterflows Street putoffpedestrians. TheParkis walls andterraces besideLowerCastle from CabotCircus, whilethesteps, lacks anentrancetoattractvisitors needs agatewayfromOldMarket and are unexploited.TheParkdesperately important remainsofBristol Castle, is silent,whiletheVaultedChambers, children’s playground,theBandstand Council hasremovedtheunder-used but afterdarktheParkispoorlylit.The soon connectFinzel’sReachtothePark, bridge acrosstheFloatingHarbourwill used bypedestriansandcyclists.Anew The quaysidewalkisattractive,heavily Weaknesses The Park–Strengthsand the Citycannotbeoverstated. are heritageassetswhoseimportanceto historical churchtowersinthearea,which new developmentmustnotoverbearthe as anindicatorofacceptablemass.The Building onWineStreetshouldbetaken on thissite.TheheightofthePrudential would vigorouslyopposeatallbuilding of theexistingbuildings.TheSociety building heightsthatexceedtheheight built withinthe ruinscouldpromotethe consider whether acommunityspace civilian wardead. Isnowthetimeto designated asamonumentto Bristol’s preserved ruinsofStPeter’sChurch are destination tojustifyitsmaintenance. The but theareamustbecomeavisitor Square andrestoretheSculpture Garden, The Councilisabouttoimprove StPeter’s liners visibleanddecaying. ‘Beside theStillWaters’isdry,itsrill maintained, PeterRandall-Page’s choir. WhiletheHerbGardeniswell a SculptureGardenbeyondtheruined Garden tothesouthofchurchand pattern ofuse.ThereisaterracedHerb events, butappearstohavenoregular Edith’s Well.TheSquarehostsvarious Street andPeter–aswellSt the mediaevalstreetplan–Dolphin lie buriedtheremainingvestigesof Under thetree-linedStPeter’sSquare lower thewallsandbreachthem? enhanced? Woulditbetooexpensiveto that facesNewgateandTheGalleriesbe Shopping Quarter.Howcoulditsborder not adestinationforvisitorstoBristol’s improve thePark? lines? Whattypeoflightingwould the existingpathsfollowpresentdesire rubble positiveornegativefeatures?Do Are thehillocksthatcoverdemolition will givethegrassedareaanactiveuse. for theParkeastofStPeter’sChurchthat challenge istofindafunctionanddesign Bristol ShoppingQuarter.Theprincipal St Mary-le-PortStreetandconnecttothe spaces aroundStPeter’swouldlinkwith memorial’s significance?Thecomplexof Now isthetime foraction. We mustnotwait foranotherdecade. surrounding residential developments. complement andintegratewith allthe service, butitmustberevitalised to Castle Parkcanprovidethat important need agreenlunginthecity centre. Dwellers in the neighbouring apartments boundary includearesidential element. feel. Goodman’splansforthewestern will haveaverydifferentlookand If theseareallachievedtheCityCentre homes inthecentreofcityby2026. Bristol’s CoreStrategyplans7,000new Beyond theParktoFuture

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MSG – Castle Park Castle – MSG 11 FEATURE Current Reviving the Lost Quarter FEATURE MS GROUP 12 major 13

of the Mediaeval City Site Mary-le-Port St Willie Harbison schemes Above, the Assembly scheme as envisaged from Temple Way and the Floating Harbour of ESHA Architects The MSG welcomes Below, the extent of the site to expand Cabot Circus any member who offers a radical wishes to join solution to the Please contact St Mary-le-Port [email protected] Site on Castle Park

Major Sites Group These edited highlights continue the theme of extensive he site around St Mary- redevelopment in the City Centre le-Port Church close to Bristol Bridge is part of Assembly the Saxon settlement The scheme comprises three high Tthat grew to become the quality energy effective office buildings containing 42,000sqm and significant historic centre of Bristol. The public realm works on the site of the area was blitzed in November demolished Clerical and Medical building. 1940 and now contains three The Society supports the long delayed unloved office buildings dating development of this important site but has reservations about the overall mass of the from the 1960s, which surround building, which substantially exceeds the Redcliffe Quarter Scheme the foundations of the church existing planning consent. The site creates hange Real Estate has 18-storey tower of flats in Redcliff Street and its surviving tower. Castle Park, parallel to the existing come forward with any proposals for an opportunity to maximise the historic avenue of cherry trees, and leading to applied for planning that would be taller than the neighbouring As we have seen from John Frenkel’s this sensitive site. The sale has gone relationship with the Floating Harbour Robinson Building, which extends the Newgate-Union Street junction. through without any consultation with and the SS Philip & Jacob’s churchyard. permission to build 274 earlier article, the whole of the site is fourteen-storeys above its podium. Council owned and is in a deplorable Although extending Bridge Street the citizens of Bristol or, apparently, Callowhill Court flats, a 186-bed hotel, The City’s planning policy specifically state, with the remains of the church may be considered controversial, it any definition of what should be does eliminate any conflict between This is a major retail and leisure Ccafé, restaurants, a food hall, identifies the Redcliffe Conservation Area languishing forgotten behind two built there. So, once again, there is pedestrians and through traffic on development with a potential residential as being inappropriate for tall buildings derelict buildings. the possibility of stalemate when the office space on the site formerly and Historic England has criticized the Wine Street and High Street, and developer comes to make a formal element. It would demolish nearly all of The Bristol Central Area Plan states occupied in part by Patterson and plans, which it describes as ‘incongruous accommodates all existing traffic flows, planning application. As a result, the buildings between Broadmead and that redevelopment would allow for and overly assertive’, concluding that including buses. the site could remain a shameful Bond Street and to the east of Merchant Miles Druce in Redcliff Street. reinstatement of some of the historic the blue ‘feature’ on the top will add Street to increase Cabot Circus’s capacity street layout and provide a strong link The property company that has leased embarrassment in the heart of our City While the Society supports a higher the equivalent of an additional two by nearly 50%. The developer is between Broadmead and St Nicholas the site from the Council has yet to for many more years. density in the city centre, and an increased storeys. The scheme must be thrown out exploring with the Council whether bus Market. My proposal seeks to repair building height, it is opposed to the on heritage grounds and then perhaps routes can change to close the Horsefair this ‘lost quarter ’of the mediaeval city, construction of extremely tall buildings meaningful dialogue can begin on more and Penn Street to traffic to make the including a new Dutch House on the to support densification. At the heart of realistic proposals sensitive to the nature area easier and safer for shoppers and site of the original, the reinstatement Redcliffe Quarter Phase 2 is a whopping of the surrounding historic assets. visitors. The Society supports the of St Mary-le-Port Street leading to principle of redevelopment and waits to St Peter’s Church, a quiet garden The banal, yet aggressive, bulk of the tower block see drawings of possible schemes. square incorporating the footprint of Temple Circus St Mary’s, with a covered food market alongside. We might even encourage The scheme comprises 27,870 sqm of a new re-interpretation of the Bristol office space, a new hotel and a public area High Cross, the original having gone to on the ‘island’ between the George and the landscape garden at Stourhead. All Railway Hotel and the Grosvenor Hotel. new buildings around the site would The site will include land to be released by be of varying heights from six storeys the removal of the Temple Gate Gyratory. fronting Wine Street to three and four The Society supports the redevelopment storeys overlooking Bridge Street. and the retention of the façades of the listed George and Railway Hotel but is The proposed narrowing of High disappointed that the proposal includes Street and Wine Street would return large buildings. A close-grain, lower-rise them to their historic alignments as work quarter would create a greater sense shared surface streets. Traffic from of place. The Society would like to retain High Street and Wine Street would be the façades of the Grosvenor Hotel, which diverted onto Bridge Street and thence create a local identity. onto a new route running through A reinstated St Mary-le-Port Street would provide a link between High Street and Castle Park BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk 14 Blue Plaques FEATURE N BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY introduction inLondon. 150th anniversaryofits of themall.Thisyearisthe plaque isthe‘grandfather’ history groups.Buttheblue various amenityandlocal other colour,installedby are plaquesofalmostevery traditional blueones,there are inBristol.Besidesthe their tradeon the Downs. her workplace tothewomenwhoplied Victoria offered teaandsympathyat ‘befriended andcaredforprostitutes’. decades. Theinscriptionsays thatshe where sheworkedformore thanthree on CliftonandDurdhamDowns, one. Itisoutsidetheladies’ toilets in thecountrytobehonoured by is probablytheonlytoiletattendant blue plaque.VictoriaHughes who arecommemoratedbya scholars, scientistsandinventors But it’snotonlythelikesof of fame’inAnchorRoad. city centreonanengineering‘wall and anothercanbefoundinthe marks hisbirthplaceinBishopston physics andanti-matter.Aplaque to revealthesecretsofquantum Laureate, PaulDirac,whowenton them isforthe1933NobelPrize alumni ofitsuniversity.One has manyblueplaqueshonouring Befitting aplaceoflearning,Bristol Blue PlaquesScheme–considersfamousandnotsowellknownrecipients.* commemorating Bristolnotables–theCivicSocietycurrentlyadministers Maurice Fells,whohasjustbroughtoutabookonplaques for Prostitutes who cared Attendant The Lavatory plaques there commemorative just howmany o oneknows in PrincessVictoriaStreet,Clifton Émigré architect,BertholdLubetkin’shouse home in Fishponds where a blue plaque workers gathered outsidehisformer half acentury later friendsandbank the faceanddiedinhospital. Morethan in 1950.Unfortunately,hewas shotin armed bankrobbersinWestbury Park selfless heroismashetried to stoptwo awarded theGeorgeCrossfor his Robert Taylorwasposthumously

renowned forblowingitsown trumpet. easy publicviewing;Bristol isn’t like Frank’s,arealmosthidden from Sadly, manycommemorative plaques, to crimeand,later,writing. time inchildren’shomesbeforeturning his naturalparentsandspentsome was abandonedinchildhoodby career whenyouconsiderthathe novels, animpressiveliterary Altogether hewrotenearlythirty into musicals. Norman’s bookswerealsoturned Barbara Windsor.Anotherthreeof Theatre withacastthatincluded than twoyearsattheGarrick They UsedT’be.Itranformore musical calledFingsAin’tWot was turnedintoahitWestEnd prison forpettycrime.Hisbook Rights aftera3-yearstretchin he wroteabookentitledBangTo came topublicnoticein1960when occupying thebuilding.Frank or sonameplatesoffirmsnow almost hiddenbyhalfadozen high upinarecesseddoorway fascinating story.Theplaqueis it isthereorevenknowingFrank’s plaque eachdaywithoutrealising Thousands ofpeoplepassbythis was bornatthisaddressin1930. career ofFrankNorman,who seem todojusticetheliterary Whiteladies Road,Clifton,hardly ‘playwright’ onaplaque The twowords‘author’and was unveiled. paying tributetoRobert’sbravery *Bristol Plaques, publishedby TheHistoryPress at£12.99 A Basin flyovercomplex (1962-5) The greatgulling swingbridgeovertheCumberland Works atAvonmouthandmanymore Stormwater Interceptor;theSewage flood preventionscheme;theNorthern a regionalsewagesystem;theFrome Cumberland BasinBridgesScheme; of TheParkway(nowtheM32); The nextdecadesawthecompletion since wequestionedengineeringprojects. were also,Ifancy,abitofnuisance, consulted uponmattersofdesign,we big teamand,whilstwewereofficially Section wasaverysmallpartof John wasHonorarySecretary.Design members oftheCivicSociety,which another architectplanner.Wewereboth architect, andwithJohnTotterdill, direction ofMaRafeek,aharddriving new DesignSectionin1964underthe As ayoungarchitectplanner,Ijoinedthe roads necessarytokeepthemgoing. with alltheengineeringservicesand around theedgesofCity,together projection ofvastnewhousingestates of theBlitz-ravagedcitycentreand roads, thecomprehensiveredevelopment comprised thebuildingofnewring Plan, publishedeventuallyin1956,which analysis in1952forthefirstDevelopment JBB andhisteamoversawthesurvey Engineer, SurveyorandPlanningOfficer,JamesBBennett(1949-72) Peter Floydre-assessesthesignificantachievementsofCity for Bristol’sFuture Post-War Planning and PlanningOfficer. become CityEngineer,Surveyor to BristolfromSwansea during thewarandhereturned in hisearlierworktheCity Bennett hadprovedhimself Bristol hadtoberebuilt.James parties agreedthat both mainpolitical the SecondWorldWar fter thedevastationof Basin BridgesScheme(SylviaCroweArchive,LandscapeInstitute,heldatMERL) Transport MinisterErnestMarplesattheopeningceremonyofPhaseICumberland separated junctionstoaidfreeflow. an OuterCircuitRoad,alltohavegrade- Inner CircuitRoad,buttheadditionof to include,notonlythecompletionof the publicthatnewroadsystemwas following publication,itbecameclearto produced withoutpre-consultation.But, subject tonormalprocedure,soitcouldbe it –oneofthefirstincountry-andnot Policy Reportwasanon-statutorypartof system wasneeded.TheCityCentre of moderntrafficaradicalnew that withthedemands engineers demonstrated JBB andhishighway Bristol oftheFuture, published in1966entitled a summaryofwhichwas For thefirstDevelopmentPlanReview, essential partsofBristol’sinfrastructure. projects, themajorityofwhicharestill changes upon the historicfabric. realised theimplications forthese outside intheCity, asthepublic departments began to be reflected tensions insidetheCouncil bulldozed. Asyoumayimagine, historic areasthatshouldnot be beautiful citywith,especially, to appreciatethatBristolwas a at amazingspeed,butitfailed programme thatwasmovingon It wasamassivelyambitious B P ersonalities that have ristol shaped should begrateful. his teamachieved andforwhichwe upon thepost-war facilitiesthatJBBand so thecityhascontinuedtorely heavily projects havebeenachieved since,and Bristol stopped. Few large infrastructure most largeengineeringprojects in nationally shortlyafterwards, when opinion formers.Themoneyranout Bennett’s reputationamongstthe changed markedlyandwiththem, 1972, publicandpoliticalattitudeshad By thetimeJamesBennettretiredin Council decidedthattheCityDocks Plan Reviewwaspublished,theCity In 1967,theyearafterDevelopment built environment. instead theimprovementofCity’s by bothpublicandCounciltofavour brought aboutachangeinattitude Fortunately, theproteststhatfollowed multi-level junctionacrosstheDocks. the OuterCircuitRoadwithitshuge prepare aschemewhichincluded and SirHughCassonwasaskedto to removehistoricnavigationrights should beclosedtocommercial promoted abillinParliament

shipping. TheCity by water.TheCity www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk Engineer wascharged for theareacovered with findingnewuses

J B Bennett B J 15 FEATURE 16 Avonmouth FEATURE O BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY environment –andrightlyso. in thatidentityisitshistoric Increasingly, akeyelement has grownfromadversity. of identityandcommunity in recentyearsandanewsense was formerlyknown,hasrallied township atRiver’sMouth,asit negative newsstories.Butthe been thesubjectofneglectand Avonmouth hasmorerecently aspirations. Thearchitectural ambition stillbetraysitsmetropolitan materialised, Avonmouth’sarchitectural Although theplannedcitynever Bristol’s hinterland neglected areaof and heritageofa considers thehistory Conservation Officer, City Council’sSenior David Martyn,the River’s Mouth The LostCityat city initsownright, feted asafuture to theEmpire,and nce Bristol’sgateway architecture itspawned. was aslabouredandponderousthe Miles’s developmentofAvonmouth years previously.Before1900Napier his father’sdock,openedjustfour embryonic settlementscatteredaround Philip NapierMiles,inheritedan Skinner Milesdiedin1881,hisson, estuarial flatsin1865.WhenPhilip house beganthedevelopmentof The MilesfamilyofKingsWeston immediate catalyticeffectonthedistrict. the strugglingdocksneeded.Ithadan from 1901wasthevoteofconfidence Their basingofeightshipsatAvonmouth the contractwasofficiallysignedin1899. begun investmentintheprojectbefore the contract,ElderDempsterLineshad Indies. Alwaysthefavouredrecipientof new fortnightlymailservicetotheWest of aColonialOfficesubsidytoprovide two epochsstraddlingthenegotiation development ofthe‘village’fallsinto A detailofBlighBond’s1915BusDepot The Mannerist-styleParkHouseof1906 Elements ofthe masterplanwereactually in thepressas anewcity. By 1903thiswas alreadybeingvaunted new housingandindustrial premises. squares, commercialandoffice districts, of Avonmouth,completewith parks, laying outofanew1,000-acre extension up anincrediblemasterplan forthe investment plansNapierMilesconjured Andrew’s Church.Intothismelangeof Avonmouth withaterminusbesideSt a directraillinkbetweenLondonand seized ontheopportunitytopromote At thesametimelocalbusinessmen and committedtoavastexpansion. the potentialofAvonmouthdocks rare momentofdecisiveness,realised inaugural sailing,theCorporation,ina had completedpreparationsfortheir Even beforeElderDempsterLines Anne RevivalbreezedintoAvonmouth. ‘Sweetness andLight’oftheQueen was castasideandinitsplacethe approach. Victorianconservatism and occasionallyeccentric,architectural 1898, bringingwithhimafresh,new, Kings Westonestatearchitectinabout Frederick BlighBond.Hebecamethe down totheinfluenceofarchitect can onlyguess,butmuchmightbe Miles attheturnofcenturywe occurred inthe35-year-oldNapier What sortofarchitecturalepiphany

Napier Miles’sDevelopment PlanforAvonmouth down theroad,onjunctionof expression inthenewborough.Further manifesto forthescaleandarchitectural the mainroadtodocks,itservedasa Bond’s designs.Consciouslylocatedon shops ofabout1901,wasoneBligh Richmond Buildings,arankofmodern completed. OnAvonmouthRoad, The AvonmouthBusDepot surprising lack ofstatutoryprotection. to unifyingdesign principles,thereisa architecture, so distinct,anddeveloped long overdue.Foradistrict of suchrich between AvonmouthandBristol is A reappraisaloftherelationship concrete gashoftheM5. of justtwoListedBuildingsnorth ofthe flourish, wasthe1915BusDepot,one no meansAvonmouth’slastarchitectural uses. Theswansongoftheproject,butby the remotemarshylandforresidential far fromBristolanddevelopersshunned reluctant totakeupdevelopmentsitesso plan faltered.Businesseswerereputedly finally in1908,butafterthatthecity new RoyalEdwardDock,whichopened the durationofconstruction Piecemeal developmentcontinuedfor acre urbanextension. have leddirectlytotheproposed1000- along StAndrew’sRoad,whichwould precedent forthescaleeastofpark height nodoubtintendedtosetthe cloche doorcanopies;itsthree-storey reciprocates withalternatingquoinsand of StBrendan’sWay,ParkHouse1906 Opposite it,acrosstheparkoncorner exaggerated, Mannerist corner pediment. Edwardian Baroquethemewithawildly terrace followed,continuingthe Gloucester Road,anothercommercial wherever they arise. heritage, they should beseizedupon celebrate, and protectsuchaunique Whatever theopportunities torecord, to shareitsstorywiththerest ofBristol. the village,butcommunity iseager 150th anniversaryofthefoundation of missed in2015totakeadvantage ofthe few certainties.Anopportunity was for developmentgrows,therecanbe risen 21%intwelvemonths,aspressure where housepriceshavereportedly have alreadybeenfatalities.Inanarea nominated forLocalListing,butthere Many ofthebestbuildingshavebeen

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Avonmouth 17 FEATURE 18 Design Awards FEATURE T BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY Carbuncle oftheYearAward! list werebettersuitedtothe buildings. Manyonourlong omniscient anditiseasytomiss a smallgroup,we’renot put yourselvesforward.We’re about? Developersandarchitects Were thereoneswedidn’tknow buildings beingbuiltinBristol? there reallysofewgoodnew architectural writer;LauraHilton, Professor TimothyMowl,voluminous Simon Birch,acareerplanningofficer; The panelcomprisedtheSociety’sChair, come forward! developers – Architects and personal insightintothisyear’sdeliberations Matthew Montagu-Pollockgivesa Design Awards.Are submissions forthe real shortageofgood his yeartherewasa at Filwood Brise soleil

was politelysquashedonthegrounds filling stationonBlackboyHill,but consider givinganawardtotheAsda same way.Hilary,itistrue,wantedto profs seemedtoseethingslargelythe Interestingly, professionalsandnon- Bristol, havingspent23yearsinAsia. myself, ajournalistrelativelynewto Windemer, formerlyofSavills;and Engineer forA350atAirbus;Rebecca Trym Society;AndyReynolds,UKChief Hilary Long,ChairoftheWestbury-on- of TrusteesatTheArchitectureCentre; Commerce; architectDavidMellor,Chair representing the Bristol JuniorChamber of Asda fillingstation,BlackboyHill that itdidn’tfitthecriteria.Themost interesting buildingalsodidn’tmatch - aShirehamptonhouseusingstraw bale insulationpanelsthatachieves virtually zeroheatingcoststhroughair recirculation andinsulationefficiency. rather thanthearchitecture.Thenew But itsvirtuesweretechnology temporary classrooms broughtinfrom faced thedifficult challengeofusing Childs of &Sulzmann,had largely becausethearchitect,Nick unanimous approvalthanthe winner in ElmgroveRoad,whichwon less place wasColston’sPrimarySchool Finally weagreedontwo.Insecond good enough. Avonvale Roadwasworthy,butnot land. RedfieldPrimarySchoolon left beachedinaDeChiricono-man’s eighteenth-century gardenarchway particularly fromTim,aboutthe Royal Fortpiazzagotgrumbles,

A sociablecourtyardatFilwoodGreen elegance which,Ihavetosay, soldittous. the generaleleganceofbuilding; an green features,themeetingpods, and fresh air),thewidestairs, structure’s carriageway’s noise,whiledrawing in protect roomsfromtheadjacent dual ventilation-silencer systems(whichtotally over details,suchastheamazing We wanderedaroundandenthused originally onthesite. which replaces,like-for-like,thegrasses and workshops.Italsohasaroofgarden deliberately separatedfromtheoffices and somefunctions(theteacorners) which isverysecure,withalargeatrium tenants, thebuildinghasacourtyardplan, encourage creativeminglingamongthe (HCA) andBristolCityCouncil’swishto the HomesandCommunitiesAgency on theentrancecorner.Respondingto no weightorcolumnscouldbeplaced a largesewerrunningunderit,sothat on acomplexasbestos-litteredsitewith required to produce a sustainable building Horner ofarchitectsStrideTreglownwas but therereallyisalottoadmire.James consciously so,todrawattentionitself, building, asfromtheroaditlooksgarish, Park. It is not, in my view, a very beautiful was unanimous–FilwoodGreenBusiness excellent buildingaboutwhicheveryone However, intheendtherewasonetruly between thetwolevelsandgarden. encouraged thechildrentofreeflow suitability tofunction–howthebuilding satisfactory. Whatwonusoverwas of oldandnewwasnotentirely another sitetosavecosts.Theintegration at Colton’sPrimarySchool Garden andbuildinginharmony T its geniusloci–whateveritis,that city anditinhabitants,touncover The tripallowedustoanalysethe our choosing. ‘Old City’andalandmarkbuildingof to connectthemasterplanwith northern cityedge,aninhabitedbridge plan designforDelft’s brief includingamaster wholly inDelft,our studio wouldbebased The finalyear’sdesign ‘Delft Blue’pottery. bridges, windmills,and narrow streets,canals, picturesque with Dutch, quaintand city soquintessentially I wasdelightedtofinda knowledge oftheplace, the DutchcityofDelft.Havinglittle year Architecturestudentssetofffor Early inOctober2015,thirtyfinal by JamesGray Trader’s Alchemy Wendy Pollardintroducesthisyear’sawardwinner 2016 Award Student UWE of theArchitectureandPlanning breathing oftrading,debatingandlearning’ An interior‘attunedtothelivingand by agraduatingstudent outstanding pieceofwork the Societyhasawardedan his isthefourteenthyear Wendy athisdegreeceremony James receivinghisawardfrom

and Iwereimpressedbytheworkof the WestofEngland.SimonBirch Environment attheUniversityof for theDepartmentofBuilt and Architecturedegreecourses thriving community. of aculturallyandeconomically behaviours conducivetothecreation to instil,througharchitecture,the modern age?Theyear’sworksought cultural bloombereplicatedinthe could thisrichperiodofeconomicand a keydrivertotheDutchGoldenAge, tolerant andmobilesociety,combined trade, sciencesandthearts.Holland’s modest citytointernationalfamefor India TradingCompanypropelledthis within itsnarrative.In1602theEast city’s richtradehistoryisingrained makes itquintessentiallyDelft.The culture. Astradewas with tradeandvibrant to bebustlingagain sedentary, yearning Market Squareare and itswaterways 400 yearshavepassed and exchangeideas. minds couldexplore the world’sgreatest thriving culturewhere created adiverseand with itsnewwealth,

2016 StudentAwardWinner. and congratulatehimonbeingour skill thathadgoneintohisscheme, research, intellectualthoughtand James Gray,withallthedetailed forever ingrained inmyown. Delft’s narrative, Delftwillnowbe trade willbeforever ingrainedwithin creating somethingofbeauty. Justas modelling, thisprojectwasabout researching, sketching,drawing and classification. Hoursupon hours spent marks tocontributetowards mydegree than merelyameansofachieving This projectveryquicklybecamemore contemplation andintensity. furniture evokesasenseofboth concrete juxtaposedwithrichwalnut of theuserwithinbuilding.Bare but focusesinsteadontheexperience specific architecturalstylesorforms, project thedesignpayslittleregardto and learning.Asaphenomenological and breathingoftrading,debating atmospherically attunedtotheliving a phenomenologicallyrichbuilding, will hostpartnernations,providing of theNetherlands,Trader’sAlchemy culture. FundedbytheGovernment for thetradingofbothcommodityand form ofTrader’sAlchemy,aplatform The landmarkbuildingwouldtakethe define Delft’slargeridentity. narrow streetsandcanalsthathelpto networks intothesite,replicating plan istheextensionofcanal community. Akeyfeatureofthemaster encourage entrepreneurshipand throughout, consciouslyplacedto Mixed housingwouldbesituated building attheheartofscheme. leaning churchspirewithalandmark which wouldconnectDelft’siconic a StPaul’s-inspiredviewingcorridor, The masterplanwasdevelopedwith

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Student Award UWE Award Student 19 FEATURE 20 Heritage and conservation FEATURE B BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY an emerginggardenrestorationprojectatCliftonHillouse Right, Bristol RecordOffice,Ref.SMV/6/5/4/3 Below, ThedeWilstarSurvey:Courtesyof area ofshrubberies,withtworectangular also marksthewallssurroundingalower used fornauticalnavigation.TheSurvey seafaring inthecity–resemblesasextant, – giventheimportanceoftradeand low planting.Thedesignofthepaths garden ofgravelpathslaidoutwithin De Wilstar’sSurveyrecordsaformal Survey oftheManorClifton. shown clearlyonJacobdeWilstar’s1746 at thetopofanexistinggarden,whichis 1747 and1750.Fisher’shousewassited wealthy merchantPaulFisherbetween Isaac Ware.ThomasPatybuiltitforthe man, butbyametropolitanarchitect, Palladian-style design,notbyaBristol is ararityforBristol–chastelycorrect House onLowerCliftonHill.Thehouse recreation isthatbehindCliftonHill long beeninneedofrestorationand One Universitygardenthathas the sideofWillsMemorialBuilding.* recently addedtheCentenaryGardento Michael’s Hill,andtheUniversityhas homeopathic hospitalatthetopofSt in memoryoftwolostsonsbehindtheir laid outbyMelvilleandGertrudeWills A littleknownUniversitygardenwas Alan Stealey,BristolUniversity’sHeadofExternalEstates,describes Three-Cornered Trade A Gardenforthe spar- andshell-encrustedgrotto. in Clifton,withitsdazzling Grade IlistedGoldneyGarden Garden PlanbyNicolaGreavesDesign significant beingthe gardens, itsmost almost adozenhistoric ristol Universityowns the Three-CorneredTrade. views ofthepassingshipsastheyplied aligned ontheriverbelowtotakein the Survey.Theyweresummerhouses of these‘turrets’inothergardenson buildings atthecorners.Thereareseveral as partofthegardenscheme The survivingSummerhousewillberestored

WILDERNESS INFORMAL FORMAL turret renovated © 2016N terrace icola G r eav es. All woodland rights rese terrace meadow wild ower r v formal lawn ed. air raidshelter wild wood

deck viewing woodland clearing Clifton HillHouse light touch,avoidingthearchaeology, brief requiredthatitshouldalsohavea between deWilstarandWare.Thedesign needed toreflectthetransitionalperiod Our specificationforthenewgarden Louise Hopkins. fantastic HeritageVolunteers,ledby would beunachievablewithoutour to maintain,recreatingahistoricgarden gardens. Withover200acresofgrounds staff, studentsandvisitorsaboutthe duty tointerpretthemandinform their potential.Thereisalsothemoral every corner,thentheyfailtoachieve utilised, regularlydrawingvisitorsinto I believethatifgroundscannotbefully always beenpleasantandattractive,but The gardenatCliftonHillHousehas a morenaturalistic,wildernessstyle. Hill House,wedoknowthathepreferred he hadinheritedaformalgardenatClifton grounds aroundhisbuildings.Although also beresponsibleforthedesignof and inithearguedthatanarchitectmust Complete BodyofArchitecturein1756 Isaac Warepublishedhismagisterial circle grass garden wildlife pond

pet cemetery formal lawn meadow wild ower terrace woodland wild wood turret ruined

which canbepurchased at:http://www.bris.ac.uk/external-estate/gardensandgrounds/historicgardens/ * Formoreinformation onthegardenssee MarionMako’sTheUniversity of BristolHistoricGardens , attention onacircularbedand path central stepsandpath–willfocus the formal lawns-subdividedby the grand Liriodendron tulipifera(tuliptrees),the Looking downthegarden,under spring andsummermonths. and perfumedscentthroughoutthe provide awarmandcolourfulwelcome, beds ofDavidAustinroses,whichwill – itsbackdrop,againstthehouse,ofdeep Terrace –abroadCotswoldgravelpath garden thevisitorwillstandonRose the plandeveloped.Uponentering the garden,isagiftedlandscapearchitect, well asvolunteeringhertimetoworkin Working withNicolaGreaveswho,as majority offundstorealisetheproject. are extremelygratefulforprovidingthe the HeritageLotteryFund,towhomwe Officers oftheCityCouncilandalsowith Heritage England,theConservation Clifton andHotwellsImprovementSociety, We discussedtheprojectcarefullywith features, whichalsohaveheritagevalue. and tomakethemostofmorerecent air raidshelter. while themoreintrepidcanexplore the crowning theterracesandembankments, will gainunparalleledviewsofthehouse As visitorswalkbackupthegardenthey from whichrefreshmentswillbeserved. surviving summerhouse,newlyrestored, to pastHallpetsandreturningthe a tree,viewingtheengravedmemorials on aseatbeneaththespreadinglimbsof woodland, notingaruinedturret,sitting through thematureandaugmented style. Thevisitorwillbeledunderand Isaac Ware’spreferenceforthewilderness woodland path,willbeourhomageto The wildersection,threadedbyanew which willincorporateareflectivepool. formal landscapeelementstotheinformal, features allowsatransitionfromthe envisioning oftheoriginalhistoricgarden containing aprofusionofplants.Thisre- been replacedbywildflowermeadows reveal thattheoriginalsextantpathshave out fromthishubthelowerterracewill feature borderedbyboxhedges.Radiating

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Heritage and conservation and Heritage FEATURE 21 FEATURE 21 22 Opinion FEATURE BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY who getbyon pop-up beardsculpting importation of vast numbersofhipsters limits andsoon. Nottomentionhis parking, publictransport,20-mph speed shook thingsupduringhisfour years–in Love himorhatehim,Ferguson certainly wing oftheBristolCivicSociety. of southBristolmadehimthe political as architect,campaigner,andgentrifier have regretted,asGeorge’scredentials something whichsomemembersmay Ferguson’s remarkabletenureofoffice, also markedthepassingofGeorge Rees asMayorofBristol.Rees’ssuccess notice oftheelectionLabour’sMarvin be forgivenforfailingtotakemuch international politicsthisyear,wecan In alltheinsanityofnationaland GeorgianEra Theendofthe The M32underconstructioninthemid-1960s.(BristolPost) and hasasurefireformulaforpreventinggentrification currently facingBristol,getsnostalgicfortheSwingingSixties Eugene Byrnelooksatsomeofthemost(andleast)pressingissues and Gentrification Ferguson, Concrete was beforeandafterwards. which Bristolwasdifferentfromhowit was arecognisably‘Georgian’periodin City willprobablybeabletosaythere their trustfunds.Futurehistoriansofthe shops andcraftbreweries,butmostlyon council houses ayear. a ringofsparkling Corbyniteand2,000 gets downon bended kneetoofferher but truelovewinsoutwhen thelatter an Arenaandagoonhiswater-slide, win heraffectionswiththepromise of Captain Marvin.Theformer triesto and thedashingbutimpecunious and well-connectedSirGeorge Trousers is wooedbytwoswains,thewealthy manners inwhichthefairLadyBristolia eighteenth-century-style comedyof to havemarkedtheoccasionwithan its 250thanniversary.Someoneought year thattheBristolOldViccelebrated Ferguson’s tenurealsoendedinthe would be‘fully air-conditioned’. according toexcited newspaperreports, building overlookingtheCentre, which, forging aheadonthenewBristol &West Dighton Street.Meanwhile,work was was) wasmovingintonewoffices on IBM (UK),whileAlexandraOveralls (as opened andwasmostlyoccupied by Road andQueen’sAvenueinClifton, Embassy House,onthecornerofQueen’s and takenoverbyBristolUniversity. side ofBerkeleySquarewasdoneup the summerof1966alone.Theeastern students. Severalwerecompletedin re-purposed forthebatteryfarmingof in, butmanyhavenowbeenusefully Back thentheywereforpeopletowork offices goingupallovertheplace. vintage yearforconcrete.Therewere In 1966Bristolwaslivingthrougha Fiftyyearsago… anyone willbe celebrating. Hambrook Spur, somethingonedoubts the firstbitof theM32,so-called Bigger newsstillwastheopening of who didn’tmuchlikeiteven then. be someveteranCivicSociety members and tasteschange,thoughthere must design ofthePithaythesedays. Times anyone goingintoraptures about the and WineStreet’.Youcan’timagine levels toAllSaintsStreet,TowerLane ground flooraccessonthreedifferent is thatitbuiltonaslopingsite,giving skinny. One novel feature of the scheme curved ratherthantall,straightand is broad-shoulderedandgracefully BOOM’ reported:‘ThePithay,foronce FAST LANETOWARDSANOFFICES Sunday Times–‘BRISTOLTAKESTHE Pithay. Abreathlessaccountinthe open thatsummer,though,wasThe By farthebiggestdevelopmentto (Bristol Post) cinema, anyone? of theStudios1234 1970s. Fondmemories photographed inthe The Pithay flat surface,includingalloftheGreat signatures plasteredovereverysingle That is,thelittlespray-painted street drinkers,butthetags. clue isnotintheroughsleepersor happening anytimesoon,andthereal there arepreciousfewsignsofthis If youwalkdowntheCroftthough, goes withit. and middleclasstakeoverthat with thesoaringpropertyprices the areaintonewIslington, Hamilton Housethreatentoturn cafés thathavesprunguparound street artandalternativeshops word. Intheviewofsome,all ‘gentrification’. Likeit’sadirty often useaboutStokesCroftis One ofthewordsthatpeople (Picture byJeffLucas) what todoaboutit Gentrification and a coupleofweekslater. you astronghandinpricenegotiations with theirsignatures.Thatshoulddeal nocturnally adorntheneighbourhood have todoishireafewsemi-literates beyond yourfinancialmeans,allyou in aposhpartoftown,butfinditbit So, ifyouaspiretoowninganicehouse bay foranotheryear. gentrification ofStokesCroftiskeptat are keptdownandthemuch-feared In thisway,propertypricesandrents appear edgy,run-downanddangerous. useful purposeinthatitmakesanarea scale. Itdoes,however,serveasocially at thelowerendofevolutionary urine, onlycarriedoutbyhumans an animalmarkingitsterritorywith picture. Taggingistheequivalentof lacking thetalenttopaintaproper Works ofArt,byfecklessyoungsters

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Opinion 23 FEATURE 24 Bristol Walking Alliance FEATURE T BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY an untappedwellofenergy. now, andseemstohavestruck been coherentlyexpresseduntil a commoncausethathasnot environment. Itgivesvoiceto Health partners,withUniversityof environment project,partofBristol the ‘SHINE’healthyneighbourhood Peace (lobbyingaboutsafetyandjustice); but notactiverecentlyinBristol);Road Streets (thenationalequivalentofBWA, (no, theydon’tjustrunwalks);Living they don’tjustdocycling);Ramblers What arethosegroups?Sustrans(no, together hasgiventhemmoreweight. groups forwalking,andbringingthem already anumberofactiveinitiativesand part ofourjourneys.Thirdly,therewere walkers, evenifwegobyothermodesfor cyclists and motorists. Secondly, we are all the needtobalancestronglobbyfor Why isthat?Firstly,peoplerecognise Alan Morris,ChairofBWA,ontakingthestreetsbackforwalkers force forgood? – anew Alliance Walking Bristol Bristol’s walking to campaignimprove Alliance startedin2015 he BristolWalking • of walkers. in streetdesignthatmeettheneeds and urbandesignerstomakechanges with policymakers,transportplanners • of transport,separatelyfromcycling. enable walkingasanimportantmode funding andpoliciestopromote • BWAiscampaigningatfourlevels: BWA isengagingwithallofthese. and afirstpolicyon‘shareduse’routes. mention arevisedWalkingStrategy, and Bristoltransportstrategy,notto in progressforboththesub-regional investment strategy.Therearerevisions is concoctingacyclingandwalking influencing policy.Thegovernment And itcomesatagoodtimefor energetic alliance. the CivicSocietyinsuchawideand active allies.Itisexcitingtorepresent two groupsareparticularlystrongand – 6outof14havejoinedsofar.Thelast expect –NeighbourhoodPartnerships Bristol support.AndsomethingIdidn’t Walkable neighbourhoods:We Space forwalking:Wewanttowork Walking astransport:Wewant bristolwalkingalliance.org.uk events. Pleasecontact:supporters@ keep uptodatewithouractivitiesand • Sohowcanyougetinvolved? groups –twohavealreadyjoinedBWA. Council officers,andwithequalities and withpartychampions, contacts politically,bothatcabinetlevel BWA isalsoreachingout,establishing all agesandabilities their streetsmoreliveableforpeopleof residents totaketheinitiativemake • could bemademorewalkable. actively athowtheirneighbourhood Neighbourhood Partnershipstolook encourage communitygroupsand of HealthyCityWeek. Saturday 15October9.30–1.00,aspart – ‘WalkableNeighbourhoods’on • [email protected] for walkingisneededbycontacting: where morespaceorbettersignage us abouttheplacesandroutesinBristol • You canbecomeasupporter,and Streets forpeople:Weencourage Watch outforBWA’ssecondevent You cancontributeyourviews;tell S champion ofBristol’sheritage. is toactasanadvocateand on request.Theheadlinetask – thefullversionisavailable three ofthese– KingsWeston,StokePark workshops and sitevisitswillfocuson Bristol’s historic estates.Duringtheday Priory. Thethemewillbethefuture of on Thursday,27OctoberatSt James’s Our flagshipConferencewill be held additional executivemembers. Society. We are always open to welcoming Jones LangLasalle,andtheBristolCivic the NeighbourhoodPlanningNetwork, Council, theChurchesConservationTrust, comprises representativesfromtheCity the Forumforwardinitsfirstyear.This We’ve setupaninitialexecutivetotake role ofindividualorganisations. the planningprocess,whichwouldbe Forum willnotitselfbecomeinvolvedin heritage relatedactivities.However,the capacity andpublicparticipationin Lottery Funding,andtobuildcommunity activity, especiallyrelatingtoHeritage In addition,weaimtoco-ordinateheritage estates inBristol The futureofhistoric A RotundaforLeighCourtfromHumphryRepton’sRedBook(UniversityofBristolLibrary,SpecialCollections) Simon BirchontheforthcomingHeritageForumConference initial TermsofReference this yearwe’veadopted Heritage Forumearlier ince thelaunchof Court formanyyears. Curator ofHistoricBuildingsatHampton cathedrals, churchesandhouses.Hewasa sites, fromgreatestateswithlandscapesto led fundedsolutionsformanyhistoric for eightyearsduringwhichtimehe of WorldMonumentsFundBritain Forum. JonathanwasChiefExecutive England andfromourownHeritage together withspeakersfromHistoric just threespeakers-DrJonathanFoyle, The eveningplenarysessionwillhave securing asustainablefuture. many challengesthattheyallfacein around Bristol,andbecauseofthe and importanceofsuchestatesin theme becauseofthesheernumber and CastlePark.We’veselectedthis to theroofand guttering,perhapsthe to undertakemuch neededmaintenance scaffolding finally beingerectedinorder assets, especiallythoseatrisk. With sustainable re-useofvacant heritage in ordertostimulateandencourage the Forum toprovideenergyand leadership have identifiedtheopportunity forthe boarded upfornearly20years. We Grade II*listedchurchwhichhasbeen Michael-on-the Mount-Without–a a difference.AgoodexampleisSt the Forummightbeabletomake continues toexploreinitiativeswhere As wellastheConference,Society Kings Westonin1712,fromSirRobertAtkyns’sGlostershire future forthiswonderfulbuilding. to identifyandsecureapermanent Forum willfindaclearroleinhelping you think?Let usknowyourviews. in preservinghistoric pubs?Whatdo prevent loss.ShouldtheForum assist designation canonlydelayand not of thesolution,butthisnon-statutory out ofuse.LocalListingmay bepart Directions, to help prevent pubs going Wandsworth Council,usingArticle 4 the innovativeapproachadoptedby Bristol. We are looking with interest at preserving historicpubsatriskin CAMRA aboutthechallengein We havehelddiscussionswith energy andskillstocontribute? What doyouthink?Dohave

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Heritage Forum Heritage 25 FEATURE 26 The Tyntesfield Landscape FEATURE S BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY Islands offPeru. droppings) fromtheChincha rights toexportguano(seabird when theysecuredthesole seemingly riskynewventure, Gibbs &Sons,embarkedona William’s company,Antony family for150years.In1840 was hometotheGibbs Tyntes Place(laterTyntesfield) William Gibbs(1790-1875), by Exeterwoollenmerchant, Vale ofNailsea.Boughtin1843 magnificent viewsoverthe ‘winter garden’, orangery,orchardsand a grandornamental conservatoryor estate andparkland, withamodel farm, also usedtobuildaflourishing landed a countryhouse.Guanoprofits were But Tyntesfieldwasmuch more than house toaGothicRevivalmasterpiece. transforming itfromaGeorgian country by architectJohnNortoninthe1860s, fund theremodellingofTyntesfield was guanoprofitsthatwerelargelyto a massivefortuneforthecompany.It horticulture and,intheprocess,made depression. Italsofuelledadvancesin British cropsduringaperiodofdeep shores, givingamuch-neededboostto rich guanowereshippedtoour As aresult,hugequantitiesofnitrate- on theTyntesfieldestate conservation challenges explains the Susan Hayward Conference, Heritage Forum In advanceofthe at Tyntesfield Conservation ridge commanding stands onanelevated of Bristol,Tyntesfield even milessouth-west

The NationalTrust’sVision Kitchen Garden. the centrepiece ofhisexpanded commissioned byAntonyGibbsas fine EnglishRenaissanceOrangery, the mainroofofmansion andthe programme; initialpriorities included funds topushforwarditsconservation then theTrusthascontinued toraise that wasjustthebeginning. Since donors, manyofthemBristolians.But support fromsome70,000individual more extraordinaryduetothescaleof fundraising campaign.Thiswasallthe substantial HLFgrantandamassive the NationalTrustin2002,thankstoa the Nationwhenitwasacquiredby Tyntesfield waseventuallysavedfor journalists –westilldo! their impressiveestatetovisitorsand (1841-1907), regularlythrewopen Both William,andlaterhissonAntony gardens andglasshousesatTyntesfield. that theywerealsousingguanointhe land atWraxall.Sowethinkitlikely of theseexperimentswereonGibbs’ dramatic increasesinyields.Some with theapplicationofguanoshowing due toclevermarketingofexperiments William’s commercialsuccesshadbeen an ambitiousKitchenGardencomplex. massive fundraisingcampaign. was acquiredbytheNational saved fortheNationwhenit substantial HLFgrantanda Tyntesfield waseventually Trust in2002,thankstoa years on,plans arealreadyunderway to achievethis withinthedecade.Six to restorethestructure, andhoped National Trustmadeacommitment and dismantledin2010.Atthe timethe damage toitsstructure,itwas recorded and theriskoffurtherirreversible Due toitsdilapidated,unsafe condition went throughatleast16editions. Fruit-Trees inPotsunderGlass,which The OrchardHouse;OrCultureof of theConferencePearandauthor many claimstofameasthedeveloper Hertfordshire. In1851Rivershad Third (1797-1877)ofSawbridgeworth, nurseryman, ThomasRiversthe built tothedesignofrenowned is needed,butwethinkthatitwas within acurvedframe.Moreresearch combines flatglasspivotingpanels and unusuallean-tostructurethat of theKitchenGarden,thisisalarge Built againstthesouth-facingwall re-constructing theOrchardHouse. lake, replantingtheRoseGarden,and estate. Theseincluderestoringthe of conservationprojectsacrossthe As CuratorIamadvisingonaseries The OrchardHouseProject Victorian Houseandcollection. Bournemouth, anotherspectacular Director oftheRussell-CotesArtGallery, for over25years,mostrecentlyas I’ve workedinmuseumsandheritage visitors. Originallyafieldarchaeologist, Victorian Estateandshareitwith shape thevisiontorestorethisglorious thrilled tohavetheopportunityhelp Tyntesfield lastNovemberandam I tookupthepostasCuratorof

repairandre-useintheOrchardHouse Below right,Windinggearretrievedfor awaiting restoration Below left,OrchardHouseframes Right, Tyntesfieldfromtheair(NationalTrust) the re-namedDialGarden Above, TherestoredOrangeryin the OrchardHousewall Opposite page,Susansurveying peaches, nectarinesandapricots. it isfilledwiththeheadyscentof the focusofsoftfruitground,and can’t waitforthedaywhenitisagain as physicallyaccessiblepossible.I challenge willbetomakethestructure operate asoriginallydesigned.Our pivoted windowopeningmechanisms necessary, toensurethatthetiersof and metalwork,makingnew,where overhauling theexistingtimberribs be re-usingthesalvagedstructureby wall andbrickworkplinth.Wewill involve repairstotheadjoininggarden to bringitbacklife.Theworkwill

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The Tyntesfield Landscape Tyntesfield The 27 FEATURE 28 Redcliffe FEATURE E BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY north (Redcliffe Village)andtheeast The General,Redcliffe Wharf)andthe With worktothe west(WappingWharf, Redcliffe isabouttoberebuilt again. Now, another70yearson, Not thatwe’rebitter!! parish churchinallEngland’! fairest, godliestandmostfamous carriageway rightoutside‘the that ‘dumped’trafficontoadual wide asthechurchwithaflyover Post-war gaveusaroundaboutas now, andthefirstroundabout. land tothenorthasweknowit A 1949mapshowsthechurch church wasviathenorthsteps. trams andthemainaccessinto on thewestsidetoaccommodate Redcliffe Hillhadbeenwidened Phippen Streethadbeenbuilt, from agateonthewestside.By1880 porch, theonlyaccesstochurchwas Chatterton’s monumentoutsidethenorth Even inWild’splan(1812),whichmarks excited aboutthefuturevisionforhischurch Dan Tyndall,VicarofStMaryRedcliffe,gets and Redcliffe Roundabouts, enewal north andwestofthechurch. Soaring vaultsatStMaryRedcliffe.(Photo:JeffLucas) tightly surroundingthe (1717) showsbuiltform redeveloped. Lyon’splan very 70yearsRedcliffegets famous parishchurchinallEngland’….. buildings to‘thefairest,godliestandmost we’re goingtomisstheopportunityadd bus whilstRedcliffeisbeingredeveloped all, beingrealistic,ifwedon’tgetonthe have doneanauditofourfacilities.After With oneeyeonthisongoingnarrative,we top 3%ofareas inthecountryformultiple prime responsibility inallthis)isthe out ofofficespace;andourparish (our pressure onthiscitycentreopportunity. Gate) thereisgoingtobeirresistible (the Arena,TempleMeads, edged sword. worn mantracanbeadouble- we’re fullyawarethatthiswell- rather unknown;we’rerunning we have;ourcaféisunseenand because that’stheonlyspace has tobeheldintheundercroft is rehearsing;SundaySchool robe inthesameplacechoir adults whoassistinworship a fireengine!)isinTaunton; engine (Ilovethatwehave no interpretation;ourfire corbels sittingonashelfwith we havethirteenth-century toilet isdownaflightofsteps; What didwefind?Ourdisabled development.html http://www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk/ Dan Tyndall-Vicaronamission regular developmentnewsletters. where youcanalsosignupto receiveour being loggedonourdevelopment website build. Everythingweareseeking todois a settledviewofwhatwearehopingto assured wearealongwayfromhaving winning competitionentry,pleasebe know) havenegativeviewsaboutPurcell’s select adesign,soifyou(orpeople competition wastofindafirm,not – PurcellonKingStreetinBristol.The architectural practicearoundthecorner from aroundtheworldandfoundour an architecturecompetitionwithentries another inthesouthchurchyard.Weran building tothenorthofchurchand of ourfacilitieswhichwillincludeanew actively pursuingamajordevelopment So wearegettingonthebus.We are old,tiredandverylimited. meet someofthosesocio-economicneeds deprivation, andthefacilitieswehaveto A by accidentintotheheritagesector. then abouttenyearsagoIfellalmost and fictioninvariousformats, meaning ofplace.Ihavewrittenfact and stronglyrelatedtothehistory the Arts.Muchofthiswas‘site-specific’ Studio andCanada’sBanffCentrefor laboratories suchastheNationalTheatre opera, developingnewworkincreative my careerasadirectoroftheatreand numerous culturalforms.Ibegan festival programmingencompassing is increativepublicengagementand I amnotanarchitect.Myexpertise visitors’ mindsaswelltheireyes. than everbefore,butalsotoopen parts oftheCityonmoreoccasions is notonlytoopenmoredoorsin Heritage LotteryFund.Ourintention supported byHistoricEnglandand project, OpeningDoorstoHeritage, My roleispartofanewlyfunded Open toIdeas weekend inSeptember. to exploreBristolonthesecond eagerly awaittheiropportunity of over50,000peoplewho and whichhasbuiltupaudiences established overtwentyyears on aprogrammethathasbeen was fortunatetobebuilding Centre thisyear,I for theArchitecture Doors OpenDay s theproducerof year’s OpenDoorsevent Heritage, reprisesthis Opening Doorsto Project Co-ordinator, Dr AnnaFarthing, I wanttointroducenewwaysof planners thatIhaverecentlymet. architects, designers,engineersand shares muchincommonwiththe found thattheunderlyingapproach I dothisthroughevents,buthave through carefullydesignedactivity. harnessing themtopositiveoutcomes capturing humannarrativesand For me,placemakingisabout the RoyalNavyinPortsmouth. Liverpool andTheNationalMuseumof the InternationalSlaveryMuseumin launch contestedsitessuchasMShed, This ledtoaPhDandcommissions (Jon Craig) to thenational Heritage September and aligned weekend of11 and12 2016 filledthewhole Doors OpenDay programme, Bristol month-long 20th Anniversary Architecture Centre’s A keystoneofthe exchange ofideas. dialogue andthe and thatencourage use allofthesenses environment that experiencing thebuilt technology andmedicine. or thehistoryandfutureofscience, of theworkplace,placesperformance through investigatingthechangingface thematic threadscouldbefollowed As wellasexploringtheCitybyarea, around OldMarketandinsouthBristol. with venueclustersinnewareas Eighty-one venuesopenedtheirdoors, an eventattheBristolRecordOffice. Open Dayscalendarbyopeningwith next threeyears. Doors OpenDayprogramme overthe welcoming multipleperspectives tothe diverse voicesandIlookforward to genuinely interestedindeveloping good old-fashionedconversation.Iam visual art,movement,music,foodor creative writing,photography,film, and feelings.Thismightbethrough of communicatingtheirthoughts sphere ofinfluenceandfindways might feelarebeyondtheirscopeor to thinkaboutthingsthatthey my experiencewillenablepeople Day visitorfocused,andIhopethat Our visionistomakeDoorsOpen www.bristoldoorsopenday.org.uk about theevent, see For moreinformation www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk

(Jon Craig)

Open Doors Open 29 FEATURE JOIN 31 Membership

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s well as our usual planning reports, the Spring publication of Better Bristol will have

n the next issue In the next

We continue our new column about personalities who have shaped the look and feel of the City with a profile by Dr Sarah Whittingham, his biographer, of Bristol University’s architect, Sir George Oatley; our Chair, Simon Birch, will assess the current state of redundant churches and discuss their success when converted for other uses; Gavin Bridge of Cubex Land Ltd will tell the story behind the new Finzels Reach Bridge; Rob Gregory of the Architecture Centre will track back over the last 20 years since the Centre’s inception and choose the best buildings from that period; local architect Richard Pedlar will chart the rise of the conservation movement in the City and the ‘Fight for Bristol’; Jeff Lucas, currently preparing a book on the subject, will look at the City’s bridges, vital conduits of communication; the Editor will be writing a nostalgic piece about the lost sculpture trail in Castle Park with a clarion call for its reinstatement, and in his inimitable style, Eugene Byrne will give a frank and opinionated appraisal of the present and future impact on the City of Metrobus. features ranging from good recent features ranging from good recent architecture in the City to listed buildings in serious danger of collapse and decay – the cover of the present issue highlights the forsaken Grand Spa Pump Room on Princes Lane in Clifton.

BRISTOL CIVIC SOCIETY CIVIC SOCIETYBRISTOL BRISTOL A Coming up Coming FEATURE 30 Events Autumn 2016 Saturday 15 October Bristol Walking Alliance ‘Walking Neighbourhoods Event’ A chance for Neighbourhood Partnership groups and local community groups to consider ways to support and improve the pedestrian environment of Bristol. For more information see www.bristolwalkingalliance.org.uk The event is free but booking is through Eventbrite.

Thursday 27 October starting at 10am and finishing by 8pm Heritage Forum Conference An all day and evening event of lectures, workshops and site visits focussing on three historic estates in and around Bristol – Kings Weston, Stoke Park and Castle Park. Venue - St James’s Priory

Thursday 10 November at 7.30pm ‘Building a Sound Future’ by Suzanne Rolt, Chief Executive of St George’s Bristol Suzanne will talk about the £5.5m extension project which will secure St George’s future as a world class performance venue, preserving, extending and enhancing its central Bristol home and transforming the visitor experience. Venue – Redland Church Halls, Redland Green Road, Bristol BS6 7HE

Tuesday 13 December at 7.30pm ‘Bristol Old Vic Past and Future’ by Emma Stenning, Chief Executive of Bristol Old Vic Emma will explore the past of this historic treasure, and look towards the imminent redevelopment. Venue – Backstage Bar, Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol BS1 4ED (entry off The Rackhay)

Cabot Circus (Jeff Lucas)