PAST PRESENT FUTURE

The Newsletter of Historic Buildings Trust and Building Preservation Trust and The City of Regenerating Buildings Preservation Trust Cost of Printing/Postage: £1.70 – Free to Members ______SUMMER 2018

The Queen Street Gateway Townscape Heritage Scheme see report on page 6 Contents also include Urgent Reminder: General Data Protection Regulations The Chairman’s Blog Project Organiser’s Report Historic : Help Historic Buildings Project Mining Art Gallery, Bishop Auckland Local History Fair Report Events ______Company Offices: Adam House, Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, Stourbridge DY10 2SH Registered Company No. 1876294 Registered Charity No. 516158 VAT Registration No. 669 8183

WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 1 URGENT REMINDER: Weavers’ Cottages in Kidderminster. We were also in GENERAL DATA discussion with the City Of PROTECTION Wolverhampton Regenerating REGULATIONS Buildings Preservation Trust, the trustees of which had made an approach to join our group. In the Spring 2018 edition of this Newsletter, members were advised of the requirements of new General Data Protection Regulations which came into force on 25th May 2018. These require that all members must “opt in” to receive information from the Trust by post or by email.

We are very grateful that so many members have already returned the necessary authorisation but, if you have not yet done so, please complete and return the form as The Thomas Robinson Building soon as possible. If you have misplaced the form, then a further Working together our three Trusts copy can be obtained from the have gained a lot by sharing our Membership Secretary at the expertise, experience and address on the front page of this enthusiasm. All three are now Newsletter. pursuing future projects at various stages, some more advanced than others. CHAIRMAN’S BLOG But, with all of this added ‘gusto’ has come the realisation that we A couple of years ago West desperately needed to step back Midlands Historic Buildings Trust and examine the resources required passed its 30th anniversary with to enable the Trusts to continue very little fanfare. This was the year moving forward successfully. A I took on the role of Chairman and I strategic review was necessary and recall we were very busy having just we have been fortunate enough to completed works on site at The have received assistance from the Thomas Robinson Building (formerly Heritage Lottery Fund to assist us Lye and Wollescote Cemetery with this process. Chapels) and starting work on a new Worcestershire Building We have always been passionate Preservation Trust project at the about saving historic buildings and WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 2 at the heart of our strategic review to get involved in helping us to do has been the desire to do more, this. especially in times when so much of our ‘heritage’ is at risk. At our core is Importantly other goals we have set a group of volunteer trustees who include raising awareness of manage the running of the Trusts heritage at risk in the areas we and whenever we are successful in cover and creating opportunities for obtaining funding for a project we communities and volunteers to take can then employ professionals to a more active role in helping to save organise and implement projects. more buildings.

Managing a business, in fact three We recognise that having a strong businesses, is a complex matter as body of members and supporters for we have found by going through our the work we do is very important so activities in some detail under the we also want to improve the review. We may be charitable Trusts services we are offering to you – our but the work we engage in is a loyal band of followers. Thank you serious business and unless we to everyone who responded to our start to make changes and questionnaire. We are looking at improvements then we will find how we can start to make some ourselves struggling to keep up in improvements based on your future. suggestions. We would also like to recruit more supporters, especially To this end we have set ourselves a younger people to carry our work on number of goals. These include into the future – so please do establishing an office base and encourage friends and family to join employing staff to help co-ordinate us. and drive forward the work we do. This is not going to be a quick As part of the review process we process but we recognise that we have changed the date of the cannot continue in the long term to Annual General Meeting which has rely entirely on volunteers to sustain now been set for the evening of all aspects of our work. Thursday 4th October 2018 (see further details on page 16). So Another goal is to take a more please make sure this date is fixed holistic look at the heritage at risk in in your diaries and we shall allow the areas in which we operate and time for questions on the Strategic to prioritise the buildings we take on Review at that meeting. to make best use of our resources and available funding opportunities. Sue Whitehouse, Chairman We very much hope to encourage our members and other volunteers June 2018

WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 3 The work by a design team led by WMHBT & WBPT conservation architects Rodney Projects Progress Reports Melville and Partners is nearing completion; look out for further news by David Trevis-Smith, to follow in the next edition. Projects Organiser

It’s very satisfying to be able to report that all three Weavers’ Cottages have been let and are now fully occupied for the first time in living memory.

An inspection at the end of the 12 months rectification period has been carried out. Completion of work by Willow Court Farmhouse the contractors, Croft Conservation, to rectify the minor defects will mark the end of this successful project by The Worcestershire Building

Preservation Trust (WBPT).

Subject to approval by our funders

(Heritage Lottery Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund and Pilgrim Trust), work has also been completed on the Conservation Management Plan Weavers’ Cottages, Kidderminster and Feasibility Study reports looking at Hall kitchen garden, east And good progress has been made yard and lodge commissioned by with the Options Appraisal the West Midlands Historic Buildings commissioned by WBPT to Trust (WMHBT). investigate new uses for Willow Court Farmhouse (formerly known In the context that, to satisfy as Boycott Farmhouse) in Droitwich. planning consent conditions, any WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 4 scheme will need to repair the would be approximately £4 million statutorily listed historic structures plus VAT, including the cost of and be of a design that is changes to improve road access. acceptable to the planning Costs are similar for the other viable authorities, three viable new uses of new use options. the walled garden have been identified: an animal-based visitor The Feasibility Study identifies attraction; return to use as a kitchen potential sources of external garden; or re-purpose to provide an funding, although it suggests it enhanced entrance and car-parking would be difficult to secure the level arrangement for visitors to Himley of funding required and that the Hall and Park. chances would be improved by having a robust business plan for Support facilities appropriate to the the chosen new use and by being chosen new use of the walled shown to be part of a clear vision garden space would be provided by and development strategy for the the adjacent lodge and by overall Himley Hall estate. WMHBT converting historic glass-houses and trustees have concluded that other buildings in the east yard, regrettably the Trust should not located between the lodge and the commit further resources to the walled garden. Additional facilities Kitchen Garden project as those could be provided by new buildings elements are not currently in place. designed in a complementary style and constructed on the historic The World Owl Trust had expressed footprint of previous glasshouses. an interest in basing their operation in the walled garden, which would Following a traffic census and be in line with the animal-based specialist highways consultancy visitor attraction option identified by advice, ways to improve road the Feasibility Study, but have access have been identified that unfortunately since withdrawn their would remove a current constraint interest. on any new use of this part of the Himley Hall estate and that could Nevertheless, WMHBT trustees potentially benefit all uses of the believe the two reports to be of overall estate. benefit for future interested parties in revealing key challenges to be Taking the animal-based visitor overcome to bring about a new attraction option as an example, the secure use for the walled garden study estimates the cost of and east yard. A greater developing a scheme in a style understanding has been gained of suitable to satisfy planning the heritage value of this part of the conditions and to potentially attract Himley Hall estate and the external heritage-related funding commitment of additional resources WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 5 has been avoided until a scheme is THE QUEEN STREET agreed that can satisfy planning conditions and demonstrates a (WOLVERHAMPTON) viable business plan for the new GATEWAY operation. Urgent measures TOWNSCAPE required to protect the historic HERITAGE SCHEME structures pending the introduction of a new use have also been identified. The City of Wolverhampton Council has secured Heritage Hopefully then the Conservation Lottery Funding to support The Management Plan and Feasibility Queen Street Gateway Study provide useful guidance for Townscape Heritage Scheme. The Council in the pursuit of a Scheme provides grant secure future for the Himley Hall assistance towards the cost of kitchen garden and the wider estate. external repairs and Thanks are due to the World Owl enhancements to buildings of Trust for sharing their plans for the historic interest in Queen Street. site and to Dudley Council officers and staff at Himley Hall for their help The Scheme is supported by a and support during this project. partnership of local groups and organisations and seeks to Meanwhile the WMHBT project to advise the Council on the delivery introduce a secure future for the of the objectives of the scheme, former Master’s House and St and scrutinises the delivery of its Michael’s Chapel in Saltisford, various objectives, including the Warwick has moved forward, with review of grant applications. approval of funding contributions by Warwick District Council and AHF. A working group of the The scheme involves repair and Partnership meets on a bi- conversion of the two historic monthly basis and includes the buildings supplemented by new- University of Wolverhampton, build to develop the complete site Wolverhampton Civic and for social care housing for young Historical Society and people, currently a high need in the Wolverhampton and District area. It’s proposed that WMHBT will Society of Architects. Its work with partner organisations to Chairman is our Trusts’ Vice create “assisted living” Chairman, Ed Barron, accommodation for 18-24 year olds representing The City Of with complex needs, as research Wolverhampton Regenerating work indicates that historic buildings Buildings Preservation Trust. are well suited to creating a suitable environment.

WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 6 In the following article, the Queen Street remained a key Scheme’s Community location for thriving businesses and Engagement Officer, Ashleigh became the home of a new Hudson, describes why the prestigious headquarters building for Scheme is important and what it the Express and Star newspaper in hopes to achieve . the 1930s. Queen Street has survived various phases of Our front cover shows a picture development over the course of the of historic Queen Street, 20th and 21st centuries. Today, it is Illustrated Midlands Weekly an important gateway for News, reproduced by kind commuters arriving into the City by permission of Wolverhampton train or bus and remains one of the City Archives. most complete historic streets in the City Centre Conservation Area. Wolverhampton’s Queen Street was laid in the late 18th century and Funding has been approved to contains some of the City's most renovate three late Georgian important historic buildings including townhouses, dating from around the town's first dispensary providing 1815. The properties are remarkably medical care for the poor, the first intact, both externally and internally, free library and the assembly rooms with many surviving features of which were later converted into the interest and are therefore listed at County Court. The middle of the grade II. 19th century saw the opening of Wolverhampton's two rival railway stations and Queen Street became the main route into the town centre for those arriving by rail, until the 1880s when Lichfield Street was widened and extended.

Scheme photograph

Queen Street, circa 1860: Dave Midland Conservation Ltd, who Clare specialise in working on historic WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 7 properties, will complete repairs to the external envelopes including re- slating, making good chimney stacks, new leadwork, new gutters and downpipes, the overhaul and replacement of windows, and renovating brickwork, stone detailing, the front walls and railings. Work has already started on number 48, which is home to a local firm of solicitors, and work will soon begin at numbers 45 and 47. The three properties will benefit from grants totalling £165,000-00, with works Exhibition Photograph: Bantock expected to be completed by mid- Bodger Rag Rug summer 2018. The exhibition also features a The Scheme has also supported a wonderful collection of sketches, vast community engagement paintings and illustrations of key programme which has included buildings in Queen Street by the training opportunities, talks, tours Urban Sketchers. and events. The project has Most of the artwork was completed engaged a group of local volunteers during a Queen Street ‘sketchcrawl’ who have been busy researching event organised by the project. the history of various buildings in Buildings were selected based on Queen Street and uncovering the their historic importance, fascinating stories of those who architectural value or aesthetic lived and worked there. This appeal. research forms the basis of the ‘Walk Along Queen Street’ exhibition currently running at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

The exhibition also showcases artworks produced by various community groups. The Bantock Bodgers and Bantock Craft Group worked individually or in small groups to produce fantastic textile Black Country Urban Sketchers, pieces based on selected buildings Ron Macklin in Queen Street. They worked with a range of materials and techniques The project also enjoys a close including bodging and felting. relationship with the students and WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 8 staff at Wolverhampton University. perspectives on production and First and second year students from installation, including a tour of some the School of Architecture and Built of the City’s iconic terracotta Environment have produced a buildings. The project also delivered physical model of each of the a session exploring methods and individual buildings along Queen materials that can improve the Street. The models were thermal performance of older constructed in the University’s buildings. workshops using a laser cutter programmed to follow CAD In early October, there will be a final drawings. Students have also workshop exploring traditional recently completed a laser scan of shopfronts facilitated by Mark Queen Street in advance of Womersley, a former conservation producing 3D graphic images for our officer and today the proprietor of upcoming Queen Street ‘app’ which one of the country’s leading launches mid-September 2018. suppliers of conservation and ecological building materials. The University of Wolverhampton’s School of Architecture and Built Environment have offered to make available their workshops and the City of Wolverhampton College will provide specimen items of joinery to demonstrate good and bad practice. The session will also include a walking tour of the City centre.

Exhibition, University Architectural HISTORIC ENGLAND: Model: Giovanni Agro HELP HISTORIC BUILDINGS The project has also delivered numerous conservation skills training sessions exploring the materials and techniques that are appropriate when working on older Historic England already records the buildings. condition of all Grade I and Grade II* Listed Buildings, and Grade II Listed Buildings in London, through Sessions explored slate roofing and its Heritage at Risk programme. It is lead workings, historic ironwork, now developing a national volunteer brickwork and plasterwork. Visiting project that will bring local people lecturers delivered a session on together to capture the condition of terracotta and shared varying all Grade II Listed Buildings across WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 9 the country. Working with other heritage sector organisations and the help of volunteers, this project will complete the record of the condition of all of our Listed Buildings.

The overall risk assessment for a building is calculated by a combination of condition and Historic England is testing an occupancy/use although online survey which can be used structures which cannot be by local volunteers to record the occupied/used are assessed on condition of the buildings and the condition alone. This information assessment asks participants to will tell which buildings are most look at the condition of the main at risk to ensure that, where building elements including roofs; possible, they survive for future rainwater gutters and downpipes; generations. wall structure; doors; windows; architectural details; boundary walls, gates and railings; and the interiors of any buildings which are open to the public.

The survey will also include Listed Buildings which are not “buildings” in the conventional sense of the word such as statues, a phone box or a memorial. Once the survey is complete, then participants will be asked to assess their condition as good, fair, poor, very bad, not visible or not applicable.

WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 10 If you want to find out more, or inspiration for places within the participate in the project, search works of author J.R.R.Tolkien, who “Historic England Help Record the lived nearby and would have known Condition of Grade II Listed both buildings intimately. Buildings” or contact the Historic England Condition Survey Team The folly once stood dominant on on [email protected] ’s skyline, overlooking a vast park corresponding to the old manorial , a former deer PERROTT’S FOLLY park. This had been acquired by WATERWORKS ROAD Humphrey Perrott in 1628 and BIRMINGHAM inherited by wealthy landowner John Perrott in 1737. Rising 30 meters high, the building was constructed in 1758 by John as a folly adjacent to I recently took advantage of a rare his house which has long since opportunity to visit Perrott’s Folly been demolished. (sometimes known as The Monument or The Observatory), which is Statutorily Listed Grade II* and one of the entries on the Historic England Register of Buildings at Risk for the West Midlands.

It is a six-storey octagonal building, built of brick on a square base with a round stair turret attached. There is a single pointed window to each of the lower four storeys, with circular windows on the fifth, and more pointed windows within an There is much folklore that arcade with stone dressings on the promotes Perrott’s Folly and top. The top room internally has a Edgbaston Waterworks as complete Gothic plaster ceiling, which is in poor condition, and the WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 11 roof is concealed behind a stone industrialist with a keen interest in cornice and battlements. meteorology, and he converted it into a weather-recording station for There are a number of explanations the Birmingham and Midland as to why he might have built the Institute, which then brought the tower including his wish to view his building outright in 1913 and wife’s grave in Belbroughton (which continued to use it for this purpose is not actually visible as the Clent until the late 1970s. Hills block the view!); to spy on his mistress, who apparently enjoyed The building was subsequently run liaisons with other men in the by a series of volunteers from within village; to spy on one of his the local area and opened as a daughters who would meet her lover tourist attraction and then, in (a local gypsy) in the woodland 2007/2008, Birmingham’s Ikon nearby; for his young daughters to Gallery used the building as an off- watch him hunt and see the meet of site exhibition space but the Gallery the hounds at Smethwick; or simply was unable to sustain the funding to display the extent of his wealth. required for the project and the building fell dormant.

Upon his death, the building passed via his daughter Catherine into the Noel family via her husband, Walter A series of low-key arts-related Noel, and continued to be passed events happened at the building down through the family until it was until 2014, when the arts and sold to the pen manufacturer architecture group Re.Future Joseph Gillet for nearly £100,000, Collective secured funding to run an amount which caused a Waterworks Community Action considerable sensation at the time. Network. This was funded by Big In 1880 the building was rented by Lottery and was designed to Abraham Follet Osler, a Victorian promote the health and wellbeing of WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 12 the Waterworks estate by opening closed by the time this Newsletter is up and connecting underused published but hopefully further resources for the local community, opportunities to visit the building will which included the Edgbaston arise in the future. Reservoir, the Edgbaston Park Rangers’ Lodge and Perrott’s Folly. Although urgent repairs to address immediate structural problems have been carried out, the building remains on the Buildings at Risk Register until further repairs and a business plan for its long-term use have been completed.

Nick Hogben.

THE MINING ART GALLERY, BISHOP AUCKLAND, COUNTY DURHAM.

The surrounding parkland has now largely been lost to development Philip Adams, one of our Trustees, and the folly stands as an isolated has recently had two of his lino relief relic of 18th century Birmingham. prints (illustrated below) accepted However, it has now been acquired into the Collection at this new and by the Collective and the opportunity very beautifully housed Gallery in to visit came in June when an the centre of Bishop Auckland. installation entitled “Aeolian Harp and Sculptures”, designed by renowned artist Max Eastley, was The town of Bishop Auckland is brought to the building in famous as the previous seat of association with the Ikon Gallery. power of the Prince Bishops who ruled the area both spiritually and For this installation, eight aeolian politically throughout the medieval harps were positioned on the roof of period. In more recent times the the folly and the sounds made by Bishop’s Palace became a costly the wind were amplified and fed headache for the church authorities, through loudspeakers at the lower until the Church Commissioners levels, combining with sounds decided to sell. The last Bishop to emanating from a number of live there, the Rt. Rev. Tom Wright, acoustic sculptures inside the counselled retaining the Palace but building. This installation will have to no avail. Fortunately a buyer has WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 13 taken over the Palace and is set on collection. Over time they appealed a scheme to rejuvenate both Palace for a building which could house and area. their collection and, ‘out of the blue’ and as part of a ‘spin-off’ of the One welcome outcome has been Palace project and The Auckland the successful rescue of the Project, which is focussed on paintings of Jacob and the revitalising the town, they were Patriarchs by the Spanish painter offered a gallery. Zurbaran (bought in 1756) which were due to be sold and would have left the Palace. These will subsequently, again, be on show in the Dining Room of this great house.

Cobb’s Engine House, Windmill End. (size 18 ins x 12 ins) Lino relief print. 1976.

This new Gallery is situated in a house next to St. Anne’s Church in Canal Junction, Windmill End, the market square. It is typically Netherton. (size 5 ins x 3 1/2 ins) Victorian with heavy bargeboards Lino relief print. Circa 1980. and a delightful corner turret. The interior has been very agreeably The Mining Art Gallery has come adapted to serve as a gallery and about (and opened first in October will form an excellent home for the 2017) through the endeavours of collection of over four hundred two local collectors, Dr. Robert pictures which have formed the McManners and Ms. Gillian Wales, basis of this exciting new venture. In who began collecting art to do with addition to the Gallery being a very mining in the north east. They good reason to visit the town, the pooled their pictorial resources and careful conservation of this central began giving talks about the WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 14 area is yet another good reason to The Grade II* Birmingham and visit. Midland Institute is a city centre curiosity with a wealth of history of Philip visited in February 2018 and its own and perhaps deserves an was very impressed with the wealth article devoted to it – but on this of pictures on show and the occasion West Midlands Historic accompanying information about Buildings Trust Trustees and mining, but a little disappointed to members spent a day in its august see that mining in the Midlands was surroundings to ‘sell’ the wares of not shown. This prompted him to our preservation trusts. offer these two prints which are representative of the mining in the There was a variety of heritage and Black Country – an area with the history groups showing their famous ‘ten yard’ seam of coal. Both activities and ours was not the only show the very interesting buildings group which has buildings as its of Windmill End, Cobb’s Engine core interest. So it was good to be House and the very attractive able to compare notes with others bridges of the junction of the Dudley and to see that they, too, often No. 2 Canal with the Netherton struggle to bring projects to Tunnel branch. conclusion.

The Engine House had conservation work to conserve it in the 1970s and the canal bridges have had restorative attention in the recent past. Sadly, the beam engine, housed in the Engine House, was purloined by Henry Ford for his museum way back before WWII!

We wish the Mining Art Gallery, and all the other conservation developments in their town, the very Trustees Nick Hogben and Philip best of success for the future and Adams and Trust member Sheelagh also offer sincere congratulations to Parker man the Trusts’ stand at the Philip on having his pictures local history fair displayed at the new gallery. Our neighbouring stall, in the hall, displayed many old maps of the city, BIRMINGHAM AND interesting to browse when there MIDLAND HISTORY was no one to speak to – how FAIR EVENT REPORT Birmingham has changed! What have we lost from those times and WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 15 what are we still losing year on EVENTS year? Archaeology is a current concern as the arrival of HS2 means the arrival of earth moving on a large scale and so the disturbing ANNUAL GENERAL and possible destruction of lots of MEETING: ‘remains’ and little time in which to 4th OCTOBER 2018, carefully investigate any ‘finds’. Work has already meant the BONDED WAREHOUSE, removal of a whole city centre STOURBRIDGE graveyard. The Annual General Meeting will be Other interests at the Fair were held in The Dadford Room in The books, books, books. Topics to suit Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street, every taste and a promise (from the Stourbridge DY8 4LU at 7.30pm on stall holders) to find anything else Thursday 4th October 2018. you might require – just ask! After the formal business of the Footfall to the Fair was moderate meeting has been completed, and mostly from the ranks of senior Cambridge University student, citizens but there were interesting Gillian Roberts, whose studies have conversations and some good been supported by The City of contacts made. No new members Wolverhampton Regenerating were signed up on the day but the Buildings Preservation Trust, will work of our Trusts was, we hope, present her findings on the life and made more widely known. work of William Weller who was one of the most important “arts and Taking part in this event was first crafts” architects of the 20th century time for us but probably worth working in the town at that time. repeating in the future, if only to make contact with those of other groups as well as the general public. We would like to suggest to BMI that more could perhaps be done to advertise the event, especially ‘on the day’ street advertising to direct passing persons to the event. BMI is a ‘hidden gem’ and hosts many very excellent events, of which this is one and should unashamedly and loudly state its presence. William Weller’s Barons Court Hotel, Philip Adams. Wolverhampton WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 16 Chartered Architects and Historic ascend the tower, which has Building Consultants, Rodney become something of an icon of the Melville and Partners, have very area because it can be seen from generously offered to sponsor miles around, and so we hope for refreshments for the meeting. the views to be good.

ABBERLEY HALL, The main block of the house has ABBERLEY, NR GREAT arched ground-floor windows, with WITLEY, blank shell pediments. The main entrance to the house is protected WORCESTERSHIRE by a deep porte-cochere. There is a WR6 6DD. chapel and a theatre, which is decorated with murals depicting SATURDAY 6TH OCTOBER rural Worcestershire life and said to 2018. 11 AM – 1.30 PM. be one of the earliest examples of its type. We hope for a fine day for this visit as the Clock Tower at Abberley Hall Features of the grounds also include can be seen from miles around and water garden and balustrade, walled visitors can climb to the top and see garden, ice house and lime kilns. seven counties when the weather is This visit should cater for a variety fine and clear. of interests.

Abberley Hall, built by Samuel The house remained in the Jones Dawkes for Joseph Jones in 1846, family until it was sold in 1916 for has been described by English £10,000 to the headmaster of Heritage as one of the finest Lindisfarne School who was looking remaining examples of a Victorian to relocate his school to escape the country house. The interior was Zeppelin raids over Kent. So remodelled by James Lamb in the Abberley has been the home of an 1880s and much of his furniture and independent school since that time. décor remains. The school has expanded but the house has been largely untouched by this and House and grounds are The spectacular tower, which stands surprisingly well preserved. There is at a distance from the house, was wheelchair access to the House but also from this later period and built access is difficult in the grounds. in 1883 by John Joseph Jones in memory of his father. The oriel room at the top of the tower has beautiful A booking form is included with this stained-glass windows and glazed Newsletter. The cost of this visit is tiles around the fireplace decorated £20 per head for Trust members with the initials of John Joseph (non-members £22.50). Jones. We hope to be able to WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 17 Please make cheques payable to to them and to the people who WMHBT and send your payment worked to develop this world famous with names in your party and a weaving town. contact address, email or telephone number to Philip Adams, 36, Beauty MOOR POOL ESTATE, Bank, Old Hill, B65 7HZ. Tel. 01384 NEAR , 562472 or 077 460 52324. The last BIRMINGHAM date to book is 25th August. 18th May 2019 THE COUNCIL HOUSE, We have arranged to visit the Moor BIRMINGHAM AND Pool Estate near Harborne, SPRINGFIELD BREWERY, Birmingham on Saturday 18th May WOLVERHAMPTON 2019. The tour of the estate will begin at 4 pm and be followed with a light tea/supper and the chance to Trustee Mark Balkham is hoping to try your hand in the bowling alley arrange visits to see works in which is a feature of the estate progress at both Birmingham community hall. Council House and Springfield Brewery, Wolverhampton. It looks This Arts and Crafts garden suburb likely that we will be able to visit was founded in 1907 by John Sutton Birmingham Council House in Nettlefold, a member of the Guest September - this will be in the form Keen and Nettlefold family. He was of a talk followed by a walk around a pioneer of town planning and the the building and site. The visit to first chairman of Birmingham's Springfield Brewery is likely to take Housing Committee. Moor Pool was place early next year. built on the principles of providing low density housing centred around KIDDERMINSTER a community hall, interspersed with CARPETS green spaces and provision of sporting facilities for social activity We have arranged for a talk about and to encourage community the Kidderminster Carpet Trade cohesion. entitled "Mills and Tall Chimneys". It is hoped that this will take place at Today it is designated as a the Providence Chapel Heritage Conservation Area, being an almost Centre, Bell End, Rowley Regis on a intact example of a garden suburb Thursday evening in March 2019. as first envisaged. This will be followed in April with a guided tour of Kidderminster to see Further details will be given in due the many fantastic buildings and course but please let us know if you hear the interesting stories attached would be interested in joining all or any of these visits by contacting WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 18 Trustee Philip Adams (contact THE MANAGEMENT details as above). COMMITTEE “WORK IN PROGRESS” HARD HAT VISITS Chairman: Sue Whitehouse; In addition to our pre-planned events we do often have the Vice Chairman: opportunity for last-minute visits and Ed Barron ; these are sometime what can be termed 'hard hat' visits. If you are Treasurer: interested in any of these then Vacant; please let Philip Adams have your contact details so that we can Membership Secretary : contact you easily and include you Steve Mason; in what are often very fascinating behind the scenes trips. Minutes Secretary : Peter Arnold;

WAYS TO CONTACT Newsletter Editor : THE TRUSTS Nick Hogben;

Trustees: If you would like to contact the Philip Adams, Trusts you can write to the Katherine Andrew, Company Offices, at the address on Mark Balkham, the front page of the Newsletter. David Bills MBE, Nigel Brown, You can also contact West Midlands Nic Crombie, Historic Buildings Trust through the Andy Foster, website: www.wmhbt.org.uk or Nick Joyce, Twitter: @WMHBT or Jayne Pilkington, Facebook : West Midlands Historic John Thomas, Buildings Trust (WMHBT). Robert Tolley, Ian Wilson, John Woodall; You can also contact Worcestershire Building Project Organiser: Preservation Trust through the David Trevis-Smith; website: www.wbpt.org.uk or Twitter: @WorcsBPT or Facebook: Company Secretary : Weavers Cottages Peter Copsey.

WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 19

PAST PRESENT FUTURE

The Newsletter of West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust and Worcestershire Building Preservation Trust and The City of Wolverhampton Regenerating Buildings Preservation Trust ______

Perrott’s Folly Visit See report on page 11

Company Offices, Adam House, Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, Stourbridge DY10 2SH Registered Company No. 187294 Registered Charity No. 516158 VAT Registration No. 669 8183 73 WMHBT, WBPT & CoWRBPT Summer 2018 Newsletter Page 20