Information update from The City of Trust June 2019 Chairman’s Jottings

It is becoming evident that the way in So how are these assets best developed, which we traditionally have developed bearing in mind climate change and my list land could become redundant thinking of potential social impact assessments? even in the short- term future. There are I would think that housing is probably many influences around that promote such the key, not as we build them today, but thinking ,the most important of which is buildings that are far more flexible. The climate change. However other influences current way in which housing development are: is approached by all concerned is archaic 1. One in seven of the working population and not fit for the way we should be living. works from home. As much as 95% of Layouts are inefficient and a poor use of U.K. businesses employ fewer than 10 high value land. Current housing layouts are people. This fact has nearly doubled in socially destructive and provide little sense the past twenty years and continues to of community. grow fast. Perhaps we ought to stop thinking in terms 2. Shopping habits are changing of ‘housing schemes’ but ‘community dramatically reducing the amount of schemes’ instead, so that the idea of floor space required. community is at the heart of the design thinking. 3. The way in which we commute is in question and the way we move around Communities should embrace living areas, is fiercely debated. incorporate a variety of work spaces, provide various leisure facilities, etc. Community 4. The health system is faltering, and there schemes would obviously vary depending is a constant debate as to how health on inner or outer city development. Cars care is provided. Could more healthcare are socially disruptive and a radical re-think facilities be provided locally to reduce needs to be considered in the way we move the need for people to have to travel to around and use vehicles. hospitals for basic treatments? So my fundamental question is: is the brief 5. Modern communication: how is this for development proposals on the Carfax now and in the future likely to affect the site, the central Winchester area, sub-urban way we think and live? Technology has housing sites, likely to be fit for purpose in already influenced us all in a very short 25 years’ time? period of time and is likely to accelerate its influence over the way we operate. Keith Leaman Winchester is currently in an interesting position: it has developable areas in the centre, as well as to the north of the City.

Front cover: The wonderfully harmonious Arts & Crafts proportions of Meadowlands on the corner of Woodpecker Drive and Stockbridge Road - see page 8 Photo by courtesy of Carter Jonas

2 Planning Appraisal Group

Our Panels have certainly been kept busy We also objected to part of the application during March and April when they reviewed to build in the grounds of Goodworth nearly 80 applications. Many of these have House. The Trust is supportive of the been for relatively minor modifications but level of local consultation on this scheme those which were not are noted below. and the applicants’ evident willingness to incorporate the conclusions of the One to which we objected, but which consultation exercises into the proposals, was allowed, was a proposal to develop something which we would encourage to the land adjacent to Stanmore Primary happen more frequently. Clearly there would School. We objected to the design and be considerable benefits to local residents, layout of detached houses, some only with the school and the public realm generally two bedrooms. However, outline panning and that is reflected in the levels of local permission had already been approved and support already manifested. So the Trust we have learned one lesson from this which supports in principle the layout, number is that much more attention has to be given and the group value of the vernacular to outline applications. In general we feel style of dwellings 4–8. But we expressed that much more attention should be paid to serious reservations concerning Block 1–3 issues of design, layout and the efficient use fronting onto St Cross Road and the likely of land available and have been considering impact of this large neo-classical block on how to raise the profile of these issues. Goodworth House, no.51 St Cross Road and the general street scene. It was felt that We objected to plans for demolition of the block was falsely grandiose, too large in Prospect House on Magdalen Hill (formerly height and bulk, and that the neo-classical the Station Master’s house for Chesil detailing was alien to the character of this Station). We felt that if an historic asset end of St Cross. were to be demolished a much stronger justification should be provided and that The Station Approach application was any replacement should fit well into the reviewed by two PAG panels whose Conservation Area context. We also had comments fed in to the Trust response concerns about the numbers of trees which is included as a separate item in this which might not survive. In general we are newsletter. becoming more concerned about the loss We seem recently to have objected to an of trees in Winchester, since this does affect unusually high proportion of the reviewed the overall impression of the city, so the applications. There are several in Weeke PAG chairs have agreed that proposals to – 49 Stoney Lane and various Alfred fell trees will be added to their list and that Homes developments around the site of Winchester should be urged to adopt the Meadowlands. There has been an increase policy, in place in some other cities, that if in requests to remove conditions previously a tree is to be felled two replacement trees attached to approvals and of requests, should be planted, possibly on another site made by developers, to demolish existing but within the same ward. houses and replace with relatively dense

3 developments. The Trust is not in principle make them well built and designed town opposed to dense development and has houses with fewer external walls and thus in fact argued that for new developments, better heat insulation. The orientation of such as Barton Farm, the density should buildings is also important if one is to have be increased. But on many infill sites usable gardens, maximal passive heat gain developers are trying to cram too much from sunlight in the winter and minimal gain onto a single small site without really in the hottest part of the summer, but with paying enough attention to the character effective roof space for solar panels/hot of the neighbourhood, the layout of the site water heating. Of course houses also need (including the orientation of the houses), to be attractive and imaginatively designed. and the quality of the buildings themselves. The likely needs of residents should also be Often it seems that the motive is to make the considered since older people’s needs are maximum profit (which from a developer’s different from those with young families and point of view may be rational) rather than the facilities required for life in the City centre to deliver good quality but still affordable are not those required for developments on housing that works for the neighbourhood. the edge of the City or in villages. For a planning system to be justified it has PAG in conjunction with the Trust will be to balance out the competing interests and trying out measures to increase engagement provide a counterbalance to the natural with the planning system, as the next few inclination of developers, or others seeking years are going to be very important for the to maximise their profit from land, which future shape of Winchester. Details of these is often itself overpriced. Cramming as will be announced both on the web site and many (just) detached houses onto a site in the next issue of Trust News. as possible makes little sense; better to Mary Tiles Members and Public Comments

The Trust welcomes informative comments their Ward Councillors, who have more from local people, but must avoid influence over such matters. If you would being influenced by vested interests or like to see details of Trust objections to personal matters. Individuals who believe planning applications and their fate, please their interests are being threatened by go to the monthly PAG reports on our web proposed schemes are advised to contact site.

Membership

I am pleased to report that 25 new please encourage them to look at members have joined the Trust in the year the Trust web site (click on “Join Us”) to 30 April (when for historical reasons, our or contact me on 01962 851664 or subscription year ends). [email protected] If you know or meet anyone who would is interested in joining the Trust, Tessa Robertson

4 Chesil Street Station On Friday 1 May 1885 there was a grand to supply materials for the construction of opening of Winchester Chesil station railway buildings. which was then the southern terminus of The station master’s house, now called the Didcot, Newbury and Prospect House and under the threat of Railway. From photographs of the occasion demolition, is no architectural gem, but it it must have been a cold day as there is a is not only part of Winchester’s history but covering of snow over the surroundings. of railway history as well, for it was built Photographs also show that the station in the style developed for this railway line master’s house (visible in the photograph, from Winchester to Upton, Upton being the on the hill behind the station buildings) was last station before the northern terminus at complete and was painted in the G.W.R. Didcot. livery, which much later was changed to the It is interesting that on the original line green of the Southern Railway. survey, population numbers were noted, The bricks for the tunnel, signal box Winchester’s being 16,000. The DN&SR and station master’s house were almost never reached Southampton as intended, but in 1891 the line was extended over the certainly supplied by the Pinewood Brick Hockley viaduct to connect with the London and Tile Company, based on the Pinewood and South Western Railway near Shawford estate north of Newbury, for a railway line was extended to the works presumably Keith Leaman

5 Trust comments on ‘Station Approach’

This application (19/00601/OUT) on active frontages is recognised (other than behalf of Winchester City Council is for an along Gladstone Street) along with the area east of the railway station known as needs of pedestrians. It acknowledges the “Carfax site”, currently occupied by that this scheme is an improvement over the former registry office, the Gladstone that which was previously proposed and Street public car park and two private car that interesting architectural features are parks. It is for a mixed-use development included. However, the fact remains that involving the erection of buildings up to too much is being demanded of the site 5 storeys from street level, lower ground leaving the architects with the impossible floor level and basement to provide up to task of trying to meet these demands while 17,972 m2 of office space and up to 1,896 also producing buildings which will fit the m2 of mixed-use space including potential context. retail, restaurant/cafe, bar and leisure The Trust objections, itemised below, uses, refurbishment of the old registry stem from this over-arching problem. We office, associated car parking in basement have seen no financial justification for the (up to 135 spaces) and minimum of 156 considerable increase in the number of cycle parking spaces. The application also square metres of office space planned proposes important changes to traffic over that which is set out in previous WCC routing in the public roads to and from the station. Because of the importance of development/design briefs, some of which the site, the Trust’s comments submitted covered both this site and the Cattle Market to the Council are reproduced here in full. site. The comment period for the application Problems have been identified with the has expired and the application is likely to follow aspects of the scheme proposed: go before the WCC Planning Committee in 1. number of car parking spaces June or later. 2. scale of the buildings (height and mass) This is an outline proposal, which means and their impact on the area that illustrations cannot be taken as indicative of what will actually be built on 3. appropriateness/overall impression as an the site. The parameter drawings attached important gateway to Winchester to the application are however definitive 4. plans for pedestrian routes, cycle and do indicate the maximum amount provision and public realm (including of development that would be allowed removal of trees) on the site in terms of total floor area, car 5. management of traffic flow in the station parking and building heights. There is also forecourt and surrounding streets no guarantee that the actual developers will use the same architects as those that have 6. Process produced the plans thus far. 1. Given the exceptionally sustainable The Trust welcomes the fact that the Old location next to the railway station with its Registry Office building is to be preserved. parking as well as the proximity of the Tower It is also pleased to see that the need for Street and Cattle Market car parks, the

6 Trust believes this is a great opportunity to that ‘Overall the magnitude of impact on provide minimal car parking rather than the the character of TCA4 is considered to be small reduction proposed over the current negligible and result in a negligible/neutral capacity. A significant reduction would also effect.’† help in addressing the traffic management 4. The proposed pedestrian route via a problems around the station (see 5). passageway between 5 storey buildings to 2. Our objection is not simply to the Sussex Street, across to Tower Road and height of the buildings but to the footprint Tower Street with the multi-storey car park over which this height is to be permitted, alongside, would give the visitor a very poor especially on the frontage to Gladstone introduction to Winchester, unless this can Street. The stepping down of the roofline be alleviated in some way to overcome toward Sussex Street is welcomed. As the ‘canyon effect’. The loss of the trees proposed the buildings would dwarf the is regrettable, however we consider that station building, as well as the old Registry a reasonable compensation would be to Office; even the Records Office specify trees of at least a similar or even would look relatively small in comparison. greater number elsewhere in Winchester. 3. As the application acknowledges, 5. The Trust is not convinced that space the Station is an important gateway to for taxis, drop offs/pick ups, service and Winchester and development here needs to delivery vehicles and bus services has been reflect the very special and historic nature adequately taken into account in the plans. of the City. As proposed the development 6. Since Winchester City Council has the is contrary to adopted policies such as double role of developer and planning the Local Plan Part 2 with its desire “to regulator for this site, it is imperative in our protect and enhance the special character view that past practice should be adhered to of Winchester”. WIN 6* in particular requires and that a major development such as this that any development respects the scale should receive independent Design Review. of the existing and adjacent residential This is recommended in the National Policy properties as well as provides a fitting Planning Framework where it says that the entrance to the town centre by enhancing outcome will be a material consideration. and extending the public realm. It should Bodies such as CABE or the SE Regional also be noted that this site borders on the Design Review Panel have been used in the Conservation area and is visible from a past. It would be far more cost-effective to variety of locations. We therefore do not have the review done at this outline stage of agree that, as stated in the Visual Impact the planning than to wait until a final planning Assessment, ‘The proposed development proposal is submitted. will have a low magnitude of impact on the overall character of TCA3, resulting in a The Trust therefore OBJECTS to this potentially minor/moderate beneficial effect application. as the proposal will enhance the south- western gateway to the character area.’ Or † TCA3 and TCA4 are “townscape character areas” identified in the application, north of * WIN 6 is the policy in Winchester Stockbridge Road–City Road–North Walls District Local Plan Part 2 which sets out and respectively east and west of Worthy requirements for the Carfax site. Lane.

7 Meadowlands: an everyday tale of demolition and redevelopment in the ancient capital of

The City of Winchester Trust, as often and by whom the house was designed. happens, was asked in April to view What follows is an account of guesswork some changes to a plan for housing. The and wild goose chases, of attempted links application on the council website was and frustrated hope. headed Meadowlands, Stockbridge Road, Several hours in the Hampshire Record and was minor amendments to unspecified Office revealed that the house was not work. This set alarm bells ringing for nearly as old as I had assumed. It looks people who knew the house, on the corner like something from the William Morris/ of Woodpecker Drive, set back from Philip Webb era, that is, from the last third Stockbridge Road behind wide lawns, and of the 19th century. In fact it appears to have with wonderfully harmonious Arts & Crafts been built in the late 1920s or early 30s – it proportions in red brick and tile. makes its first appearance on the OS map It turned out, however, that the application, that was surveyed in 1932. The plan of the filed in February this year, was not for house then is just as it is now, as seen on Meadowlands itself, but for changes to Google Earth. Unfortunately that is about a plan by McCarthy & Stone for a 61-bed all the Record Office revealed, although I did retirement home on a nearby site. It must find that after Ethel M. Dell’s death in 1939 be said it was not well received by the it was bought by Herbert Johnson who had architects and others on the consultation commissioned Marsh Court, down the road, panel. from Lutyens 35 years earlier. Meadowlands Meadowlands itself, however, then turned looks to me not unlike several of Lutyens’ out to have been the subject of an earlier small-scale works. application, in 2017, when demolition There is nothing to be found about consent was granted by officers’ delegated Meadowlands’ architect or whoever powers, never having been seen by a commissioned it. It has similarities to Salters planning committee. This emerged from – the two plots were once adjoining, before two letters to the Hampshire Chronicle, in large slices of both were taken off and sold late March and early April, the second of for development. I prodded the archives to which had a photo. I immediately thought see if the houses might share an architect, I should try to get the building listed, to to no avail. protect it. If it’s too big for current occupiers Salters was designed in 1928 by G. Gordon it could be divided into two or three, but Stanham, 1857–1931, not a household should not be demolished. name but who appears to have been a very I contacted Andrew Napier at the Chronicle, successful architect who who kindly put me in touch with Caroline studied in his father’s practice. He was a Hayes, the writer of the second letter, who Common Councillor in the City of London, has known the house since the 1950s. She and designed for the City of London Brewery had written that Meadowlands had been the Company and for the Orphan Working home of early 20th century romantic novelist School and Alexandra Orphanage, said by Ethel M. Dell. As one reason for listing is the Shoreditch Observer when reporting on a building’s connection with a significant its annual festival dinner at the Savoy (no person, I set about finding out about Ethel irony, I’m sure, intended) in 1911 to be the M. Dell and also trying to establish when oldest charity of its kind in the Empire. He

8 Meadowlands: an everyday tale of demolition and redevelopment in the ancient capital of England

was chairman of the Streets committee; interest. Ethel M. Dell had, according to when the same newspaper reported in 1913 the Dictionary of National Biography, on its annual dinner one of those present nine million followers, and was the subject was one John Stopher. It’s interesting to of jealous derision from Rebecca West, wonder if there is any relationship to the George Orwell and other litterateurs. She Winchester Stophers, father and son, both never sought to appeal to their readerships. architects at much the same time. One of her books was, at the time of When Stanham died the architectural press researching, for sale on eBay for over £300. barely noticed. He received a few lines in And there is no mention in the HE decision the RIBA Journal and a note with his name of the Herbert Johnson connection because and date of death only in the Builder. His the HE officer in charge went on leave City work looks to be standard Edwardian before I could prove it and send it in, and it baroque. If his late work mostly resembled appears no-one else picked up his urgent Salters – that is only a guess as there is so casework, although I had made it clear at little on record - he had been left far behind the outset that demolition consent had by the modern movement. been given. Only when the wrecking ball The Lutyens Society reports that they is poised nowadays will HE consider most can find no connection between Lutyens listing applications. and Stanham, although Lutyens went I’m told there are moves by developers to on designing brick buildings on a similar acquire much of Woodpecker Drive, built domestic scale until his death in 1944. in the grounds of Meadowlands. (This may His reputation was secure, so being be the McCarthy & Stone plans.) I shall not unfashionable was unimportant. be defending their architectural or aesthetic Unfortunately being unfashionable has merit, although there are trees worth doomed Meadowlands, whoever designed protecting. But a similar move to flatten Salters would not surprise me in the least. it and whoever it was built for, to ignoble As the setting and context of these lovely, redevelopment. craftsmanlike, houses is compromised, they The response from Historic England was become harder to defend. If these houses that Meadowlands is “a late example of for the rich were replaced with houses that an Arts and Crafts type house, which is ordinary people could afford, it might matter conservative and largely derivative in design; less, but large detached houses, even in the elevations do not form a particularly cramped grounds, will be unaffordable to strong or cohesive composition and do not most. The losses will not solve Winchester’s have the necessary design quality for listed real housing problems. houses of the period; there is no claim At least it’s an easy journey to Stockbridge, that the fixtures and fittings are of special where there are still independent shops and interest, and no mention of any particular considerable character. Although there are features are referred to in the 1949 sales designs on the meadows there too … brochure provided with the application.” Judith Martin So that’s that. Ethel M. Dell is similarly dismissed as a best-selling author and her connection with the house as of local

9 Summer Walks

Thursday Thomas Micklam, Judith Martin 6th June Winchester’s lost Victorian at 18:00 architect Meet at Water Lane on the green between Durngate & Blue Ball Hill Thursday 13th A Sally round the Soke – Colin Cook June at 18:00 from Magdalen to Michelin Winchester City Registered Meet outside the Tourist Tourist Green Badge guide Information Centre, Winchester Note: The walk will include steep Guildhall, High Street,SO23 9GH paths and steps so it will not be suitable for those with mobility problems and stout footwear is recommended. Thursday Water and waterways Richard Baker 20th June Meet outside the Heritage at 18:00 Centre, 32 Upper Brook Street, Winchester, SO23 8DG Thursday The Enhancement of St Andrew Rutter 27th June Thomas Street Retired Winchester City Council at 18:00 Meet outside Lloyds Bank, Conservation Officer and Trust 49 High Street, Winchester, Member SO23 9BU Thursday Walk along the Minster Streets Tony Sexton 4th July Meet at High Street end of Little at 18:00 Minster Street Thursday Winchester City Mill - Stuart Divall 11th July building resilience in an age of Civil and Environmental at 18:00 climate and urban change Engineering, SFK Consulting Meet outside the front entrance and to the City Mill, 174 High Street, Ric Weeks, Mill Manger Winchester, SO23 8EJ Thursday Aspects of current Louise Dandy and 18th July conservation in Winchester Rachel White at 18:00 Meet outside the Heritage Historic Environment Team Centre, 32 Upper Brook Street, Leaders, Winchester City Winchester, SO23 8DG Council Thursday 25th July Walk to be arranged Thursday Canon Street area John Pilkington 1st August 100 years ago Travel writer and broadcaster at 18:00 Meet at the Southgate Street end of Canon Street

10 Thursday 8th Middle Age market on Graeme Stevenson August St Giles Hill at 18:00 Meet next to the Chesil Rectory, 1 Chesil Street, Winchester, SO23 0HU, by the pedestrian crossing Thursday 15th West Downs Rob Jackson August Meet at Winchester University, Project Architect, Design at 14:00 West Downs, Road - Engine Architects enter through the pedestrian gate Note: Earlier start time, on the left hand side of the West maximum of 10 attendees. Downs construction site and Maps will be issued nearer the make your way to the turnstile at date. Please provide your shoe the rear of the site size on registering for the walk! PPE will be worn.

If we are able to arrange a walk on 25 July, it will be announced by email Details and conditions for the summer walks: A. Donations of £5 to the Trust are requested from each person on each walk. B. Booking: Strongly advised to secure a place to avoid disappoint. Contact the Heritage Centre no later than midday the day before each walk. Email secretary@ cityofwinchestertrust.co.uk or telephone Winchester (01962) 851664. Generally maximum 25 attendees for all walks unless stated otherwise. Exclusion of liability: Neither the guide of each walk nor the Trust nor any of its members shall be liable for any injury, accident or damage to person or property (including theft or other loss) during each walk to any person taking part in a walk whether a member of the Trust or not.

The content of TrustNews is copyright © City of Winchester Trust Ltd unless otherwise noted. However, views expressed in articles are not necessarily the views of City of Winchester Trust Ltd. The Editor welcomes letters or other contributions: please contact [email protected]

The City of Winchester Trust Ltd, Winchester Heritage Centre, 32 Upper Brook Street, Winchester, SO23 8DG tel: 01962 851664 · e-mail: [email protected] www.cityofwinchestertrust.co.uk

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11 Building Better, Building Beautiful

All-Party Parliamentry Group for Civic Societies Parliamentary meeting held on Tuesday 7th May 2019 in the Jubilee Room, House of Commons.

This was arranged by Civic Voice to present allows more local assertion for the styles interim results of their survey in response of locality and affordability for the area, to the BBBB Commission and to ‘move citing Morris Homes’ new development in the conversation about building homes Stamford, Lincolnshire, as a good example away from confrontation, into one of of this. collaboration.’ The CEO for Grosvenor Britain and Ireland, Craig Mackinley, MP for South Thanet and Craig McWilliam, spoke on restoring public Chair of APPG for Civic Societies, opened trust in place-making and developers the debate by stating the need for 3 million by encouraging closer collaboration new homes and outlining some of the issues between commercial interests and those demands of such building entails, i.e. the of communities since where this fails to conflicts of interests concerning land, costs, meet expectations it inevitably leads to a numbers, affordability, materials and beauty, deterioration of relations. He felt public trust and how we must learn from the past when must be developed from the outset of projects local councils allowed dreadful aesthetic and that new ways of working together mistakes in planning development. Kit should be found to ensure that a balance Malthouse, MP for NW Hants and Housing across interests will aid harmony. Matthew Minister, took this further enthusiastically Carmona, Chair of Place Alliance, followed declaring how much he enjoyed encouraging this by an examination of the local councillor building. He had discovered, however, that perspective on high quality design. Because the prevalence of nimbyism and resistance councillors tend to be woefully ill-prepared to change were obstacles difficult to shift to meet such responsibilities design quality because bad, ill-considered developments is undervalued by councils as it is not taken had made local communities nervous of seriously enough. Often they fail to see that any further spoiling of their areas. His was better design can make development more clearly a political stand to meet the need for acceptable to communities and where this 300,000 new homes on a sustained annual does not occur it is further compounded basis though he was insistent that good by the standard practices of developers design, improved technical processes with (who are manufacturers), the inflexibility sustainability should guide developments so of local highway authorities, the loss and these aspire to become the Conservation lack of design skills in local authorities, Areas of the future. The discovery that new and overdevelopment conflicting with homes proved to be least popular because local character leading to mono-culture often such dwellings had little detail and development. Local authorities need to be variety in the use of architectural language, bolder in rejecting poorly designed projects and, not least, poor construction led him and insist on better local and neighbourhood to state he had confidence in the latest plans that respect character, choice of National Planning Policy Framework which materials, green spaces, prevailing densities,

12 history and architectural quality, and to seek poor-quality design and build of housing.” good local advice from the professions and civic societies. • 86% stated that ‘beauty’ is important to how a development looks; From the few questions permitted due to the time limit (the MPs had already left • 72% stated that new developments after Craig McWilliam’s contribution and do not need to be identical with this further curtailed the nature and number neighbouring buildings, but the design, of possible topics which brings into doubt scale and context all need to be given the efficacy of an APPG beyond it being an serious consideration in the decision- opportunity for parliamentary statements making process; rather than discussion), the answers given may be summarised thus: • 68% stated that if the aesthetic appeal or beauty of a development was given The Raynsford Review on Permitted more focus, it would receive more Development Rights and a re-appraisal of community support (the Civic Design the current planning system was referred Awards prove this); to and informed that this is presently being considered. It was generally felt, however, • 67% stated modern buildings can be for expediency the existing system should beautiful; be made to work better by insisting on greater control of developments. It was • 42% stated they want training to remarked that local authority planners understand the benefits of using design were overwhelmed by departmental codes and style guides. constraints and to help improve matters • Communities want greater support to civic societies were urged to engage with their local councils. Suggestions were engage with the design agenda, with made that architects become developers Building for Life, Design Review and and councillors trained so to avoid the Neighbourhood Planning stated as intransigent ‘follow my leader’ approach areas that Civic Voice members want in decision-making. The importance of more training and support infrastructure was raised and this must be Joan Humble, Chair of Civic Voice, had enmeshed with developments from the announced these findings by saying, “We outset rather than being an add-on, and need to rebuild public trust and confidence should come through the local plan. in the planning system. For too many people, Sarah James, Civic Voice Membership planning is about confrontation and not and Policy Officer, gave a review of the one of meaningful participation. This must interim findings from the members’ survey change. Developers, councils, communities conducted earlier, stating “The findings and civic societies must all be prepared will demonstrate to the Building Better, to work together in a collaborative and Building Beautiful Commission, and the meaningful manner to remove confrontation Government, that Civic Voice members and increase certainty.” want to move towards a more collaborative planning system to tackle the challenges of Arthur Morgan

13 Trust Trip to the City of London – April 2019

On 12 April, 24 members and friends made provide such a peaceful oasis between their way through narrow cobbled lanes to the pounding traffic of Fleet Street and the Middle Temple just off Fleet Street where we Embankment. were given a fascinating guided tour of the We then went across Fleet Street and history and development of the Inner and through various narrow alleyways to Doctor Middle Temples. Originally established by Johnson’s House in Gough Square. This the Knights Templar, the order of crusading is a sturdy, plain, early Georgian house monks founded to protect pilgrims on their and presents the life and work of the great way to and from Jerusalem in the 12th lexicographer – perhaps in more detail than century, the area was based round the we had time to absorb! Temple church consecrated in 1185 by the patriarch of Jerusalem and designed to recall Our final visit was to 2 Temple Place the holiest place in the Crusaders’ world: just off the Embankment where William the circular Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Waldorf Astor spared no expense when Jerusalem. Eventually the Knights Templar he commissioned John Loughborough fell out of favour and the area was leased Pearson to design a lavish estate office to two colleges of lawyers, whose rights in neo Gothic style during the 1890s. The were enshrined in perpetuity by a Royal interiors are a riot of gilding, marble, carved Charter in 1608. Our tour encompassed mahogany and stained glass and once again Middle Temple’s Elizabethan Hall with its we had a knowledgeable and enthusiastic magnificent double hammer-beam roof and guide who greatly enhanced our enjoyment many of the courtyards and gardens which and told us many anecdotes about Astor

14 and his collections. 2 Temple Place were walk from one side to the other – and saw also holding an exhibition to mark the an extraordinary variety of buildings with bicentenary of John Ruskin which was so widely differing histories and with the added well attended that it is clear that the great bonus that for most of the time we were in a Victorian is well and truly back in fashion. pedestrianised environment. We spent a whole day in a very small area of the City of London – perhaps 15 minutes Sue Owers

Petersfield meeting of civic societies

Graham Brown, Chairman of the membership. One society appeared Society, initiated this meeting to be in terminal decline – a warning on 20 May of civic societies in the against complacency, perhaps! Southern Region in order to have an opportunity to share common interests Much of the open discussion following and concerns. Ian Harvey and Sophie highlighted how local and national Mason of Civic Voice had also been issues such as planning procedures, invited so that they could explain their conservation, climate change and organization (some societies were not sustainability, green infrastructure, etc, members), the Building Better, Building etc, were common problems and by Beautiful Commission and to contribute sharing one might find solutions to to our discussion by offering advice from help deal with Local Authorities. Civic a national perspective. Voice emphasized how important such collective engagement could be as Keith Leaman and I attended. Fortunately, the national membership of CV is over two scribes were ‘volunteered’ to keep 75,000. Such a figure can become exhaustive minutes that would be later a significant lobbying force with the collated for a report to follow (as this will Government, and Ian Harvey proudly indubitably be a fuller and more accurate cited the recent grant of £44 million account, I shall resist the temptation to towards High Streets as an example of pre-empt their report). Attendees were their influence. about 30 from around 20 societies and we were split into 5 discussion groups Keith and I considered this had been so our exchanges of experience, views a worthwhile exercise and one that and ideas could be more effective engendered camaraderie invaluable for and manageable. This worked well the smaller societies. Also it was felt by insofar everyone was able to have a members present that out of this body say and also give a thumbnail sketch a useful network could be established of their society. It became apparent for the future – though this would be no that CWT is more fortunate than some mean task. as by comparison small societies were struggling to stay solvent and maintain Arthur Morgan

15 Wadworth’s brewery and Crofton beam engines

We had an educational and enjoyable April day in Wiltshire, and were blessed with good weather and excellent guides at both venues.

In 1875 an enterprising young farmer, Henry Wadworth, bought a brewery in Devizes, made a go of it, and ten years later moved the firm to its existing, more imposing, premises in the town centre. Beer sounds simple to make – consisting of only four ingredients, of which by far the largest by volume is water – but we down to eat tasty pies and sample seven learnt that in practice, producing it safely, different ales (well, some of us did); perhaps consistently and in large quantities is not predictably, most of us would have voted for straightforward. We tasted the barley, the old favourites, IPA and 6X. smelt the hops, viewed the vats, learned some splendid new words (eg. ’wort’ A few miles along the Kennet & Avon Canal and ‘sparge’), met the sign-painters (the is another marvel of Victorian engineering, brewery’s pub signs are all done by hand) even older than the brewery: the pumping and two beautiful dray-horses, and then sat station at Crofton. The two beam engines there (the older built by Boulton and Watt in 1812 and still in working order) were designed to move large quantities of water uphill from nearby Wilton Water to the summit pound for the canal, forty feet higher up. They are magnificent and well worth a visit.

Carol Orchard

16