T H E G A R DE N micro-news HISTO R Y SOCIETY SUMMER 2008 83a

Jellicoe Urban Landscape Under Threat John Clark, GHS Conservation Officer, SouthWest Region

Plans to ‘modernise’ the cathedral Processional Way by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe precinct in have highlighted should be listed. growing concerns about the unprotected On 16 April 2009,the Department for nature of such spaces, which can tend to Culture, Media and Sport, on the advice be overlooked during the listing process. of EH added the County War In the case of Exeter’s Cathedral Close, Memorial and the Processional Way to and following discussions with Jonathan the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Lovie (GHS Principal Conservation Officer, Historic Interest at Grade II*. The reasons for ), I wrote to English Heritage designation include the statement ‘Jellicoe’s on 16 March 2009 to request that they landscape design for the cathedral green assess the Cathedral Close (or Green) uses the Processional Way to enhance the for inclusion on the Register of Parks and important alignment of the war memorial Gardens of Special Historic Interest. with ’s west end and altar.’ The principal interest of the designed On 21 April EH wrote to the Society to landscape of the Cathedral Close today is the say that they had decided that Cathedral contribution made by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Close falls short of being of national John Clark in 1974. All the elements of the Jellicoe importance and does not merit inclusion A pre-WWII aerial photograph shows Exeter’s scheme survive essentially intact and it is on the Register. Whilst the Grade II* listing Cathedral Close in its wider urban setting on the basis of the quality of this scheme gives statutory protection, in our opinion, that we asked for its assessment. The design the listing does not adequately recognise dictated the line of the paths today. is an important example of his work in an the landscape signi�cance of the site. The Close is a superb designed landscape urban context, where he sought to provide The Close has a long and complex comprising many elements: listed buildings an appropriate setting to a signi�cant historic development. From at least 1270, (many Grade I & II*), the Hooker building. Unlike many comparable examples the Close was main burial ground of Exeter, statue, the original old river-stone paving of his work, the Cathedral Close survives and it is still consecrated ground. There are extending along The Close & New Cut, substantially intact and remains a highly references to it being levelled soon after on under the Mayor Patch Bridge spanning effective designed landscape. 1637, so presumably that is when it started the City Wall, to Southernhay, all of a Coincidentally the C20 Society had to become an ornamental/recreational high quality. It is of special historic and requested that the War Memorial by landscape. It is clear that in the C18 it archaeological interest as an ancient burial Sir Edwin Lutyens (we had presumed, was being used at least in part as public ground with underlying archaeology from wrongly, that it was already listed) and the walks with tree-lined paths, some of which the Roman and Saxon periods. It is interesting to note the following quotation from Thomas Sharp’s plan, Exeter Phoenix a plan for rebuilding (Architectural Press, 1946): ‘The Close at Exeter has a peculiar quality of personality that is hard to

83 de�ne, impossible not to be aware of, difficult to get away from. There are many solid, beautiful, NEWS quaint old-world and historic squares in England: but there are very few gay ones. ... the general effect is, like that of the front at Brighton, gay. Almost continentally so.’ Thomas Sharp also advocated the removal of St Mary Major Church, which he described as ‘an Imposing Ecclesiastical Edi�ce whose tower vies with the Cathedral in size but not in looks... This Edi�ce, it is hoped, will eventually be removed, the Cathedral authorities being themselves alive to its unsuitability’.

The Landscape Institute Archive: currently closed, see currently closed, Archive: The Landscape Institute St Mary Major was eventually demolished Exeter’s principal feature is undoubtedly the stepped Processional Way. Very subtle variations in step in 1971 and the City’s Archaeological width and riser height make the whole much more complex than usual, giving a very understated Field Unit carried out a major excavation, approach from Cathedral ‘forecourt’ to War Memorial. The controlled use of ‘desire line’ paths in the �nding the Saxon Minster and the Roman remaining open space is very Jellicoe, apparently so simple that the design almost escapes notice... Bathhouse & Basilica. By the time the archaeologists had completed their work, events: details in NEWS 83 or on www.gardenhistorysociety.org in 1974, the whole area was a complete places are still available on the GHS events listed below visual disaster with cars parked everywhere; outside the West Front, in Little Style and GHS & NT Celebratory Conference The Walled Kitchen Gardens under the elms along Cathedral Yard. Graham Stuart Thomas: The Life and Works Network International Forum The City Planning Department and the of a 20th Century Horticultural Icon Hampton Court Palace Dean & Chapter worked closely together Potters Heron , Amp�eld & Mottisfont Friday 16 October on a comprehensive regeneration for the 9.45am, Thursday 18 June Close. A scheme to landscape the site Speakers include Antoine Jacobsohn, of St Mary Major and the area in front £60. Applications (with SAE) to Versailles; Herman van den Bossche, of the West Front was prepared by the Anne Richards, 5 The Knoll, Hereford Belgium; Dr Kristin Püttmann, Germany; & Dean and Chapter’s architects (Gundry HR1 1RU, or phone: 01432 354 479 Todd Longstaffe-Gowan on plans for the the Dyer Partnership). The City Planning Royal Kitchen Garden at Hampton Court. Department & the Royal Fine Art GHSS visit to Bonnington House www.walledgardens.net or email Fiona Commission felt that the Cathedral Close Saturday 4 July Grant: [email protected] or phone: merited more sympathetic consideration, £15, includes lunch. Contact Sue Hewer Anne Richards: 01432 354 479 so the Dean and Chapter were persuaded by email: [email protected] to commission Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, as an phone: 01575 560 259, or (with SAE) to: Plant Power: eminent landscape architect, to prepare a Clintlaw Farmhouse, Lintrathen, Kirriemuir, Herb, Physic and Botanic Gardens landscape scheme for the Close. Angus DD8 5JF Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October The letter from EH seems to imply that Oxford Weekend at Rewley House, GHS because they believe (wrongly) that Jellicoe GHS visit to Virginia Water and OUDCE. did not redesign the rest of the Close then & the Savill Gardens Residential and non-residential places from it is of no consequence. ‘The layout of the with London Parks and Gardens Trust £95. Contact Short Courses Administrator, Cathedral Close in Exeter has survived Wednesday 8 July OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford well, but is nevertheless very plain. Jellicoe’s £30, includes lunch. Contact Robert Peel: OX1 2JA. Phone: 01865 270380, email: proposals clearly show that he proposed [email protected]. to retain the existing layout. The focus of [email protected] or 020 7121 8938. his proposal was the Processional Way, and Chiswick House Gardens his proposals for further landscaping of the GHS Study Day Close, apart from some suggestions for tree Edwardian Gardens: The Autumn of Extravagance on the recent restoration replacement, are minimal’. early November This is factually incorrect as Jellicoe’s Ashridge Garden History Summer scheme was for the whole of the Close. School with the National Trust Details and venue will be in NEWS 84. I have personal knowledge of the events Friday 31 July to Wednesday 5 August Contact Robert Peel, as above, to express of the 1970s and remember most of what Contact Lisa Lloyd: 01442 841 179 or an interest. happened, even though it was 35 years email: [email protected] ago. I worked in the Exeter City Planning Department and was involved in the Hartwell, a Palladian landscape: contact us discussions with Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. Henry Keene & Richard Woods The Processional Way was one part of Saturday 15 August [email protected] the comprehensive scheme which saw the www.gardenhistorysociety.org £75, contact Rosemary Jury: 01296 715 491 car parking removed, an extended Green, a or email: [email protected] new stone wall along the entire length of Head Office the Green, and repaved surfaces in front of 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ Gwent Arts and Crafts the Royal Clarence Hotel. Phone: 020 7608 2409 GHS Study Weekend John Sales (GHS vice-president, who has Fax: 020 7490 2974 or email: Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 September written management plans for most, but not [email protected] all, of the English Bishops’ Palace gardens) £84.50, not including accommodation. said that in his view many cathedral Contact Anne Richards as above The GHS in Scotland precincts require to be looked at in their The Glasite Meeting House, entirety for the Register. This was certainly Historic Orchards 33 Barony Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6NX how Peterborough was registered; i.e. the GHSS Study Weekend Phone/Fax: 0131 557 5717 or email: Close, the Palace garden and other designed Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 September scotland@)gardenhistorysociety.org spaces and burial grounds around the £55, contact Sue Hewer, as above. cathedral. He felt this was true of Exeter. Membership applications to: The Garden History Society believes Gardens of the Isle of Wight The Garden History Society, that the Cathedral Precincts comprising GHS Study Tour 47 Water Street, Lavenham, Sudbury, the Close, together with the Cloisters and Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September Suffolk, CO10 9RN Bishops Palace, is of special historic interest Phone: 01787 249286, or email: in the national context, and therefore £96, includes entrances to gardens, tours, [email protected] merits inclusion on the Register of Parks and transport to and from the gardens and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. We have Saturday supper. Contact Chloe Bennett, asked the Secretary of State to review the Dove House, 5 The Street, Thornham micro-news 83a decision, as we believe that the decision by Magna, Eye, Suffolk, IP2 8HB, include Correspondence and items to the EH has been wrongly made. an SAE. Phone: 01379 672 901 or email: GHS Head Office, or email the Editor: [email protected] [email protected]