Regency Review considering the past...framing the future Issue 11 www.regencysociety.org December 2004 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE REGENCY SOCIETY Proposed Albion Stadium at Falmer he Society objected to Like the Inspector at the Tproposals by the Brighton initial Inquiry, we feel that one and Hove Football Club for a sustainable strategy would be for 22,000 seat community stadium the Albion to stay at Withdean at Falmer, next to Brighton and make better use of the University. Those proposals also site’s potential until a suitable involve a new access road to brownfi eld site becomes available, Sussex University which would which it will, given time. impact on the listed Lodge Nonetheless, given the scope Gatehouses to Stanmer Park. of the re-opened inquiry, if At the initial Inquiry we Falmer is to be defeated, it will be confi ned ourselves to supporting important for us to explore the the case of the Sussex Downs potential of other sites, but we Conservation Board which shall focus on brownfi eld sites. was ably presented by Martin Sheepcote Valley was favoured Small. The Inspector found in by the Local Plan Inspector; it’s an unequivocal report that the not in the Area of Outstanding Post Withdean…Whither? proposals should be rejected. Natural Beauty and is largely a Planning Offi cer of Adur District Council. She was The report was presented to brownfi eld site, having been used President of the Royal Town Planning Institute in John Prescott and that should as a tip. Shoreham Harbour may 1994 and only the second woman to hold the offi ce. have been the end of it. But have more potential than was At the original inquiry she gave persuasive evidence following intensive lobbying, Mr found at the initial inquiry, and against the Falmer proposals and from discussions, Prescott decided to re-open the two other sites worth exploring we feel she shares our stance. In preparing her Inquiry, indicating that he needed are Shoreham Airport and East evidence she will liaise with our Planning Sub- to know more about potential Quay at Newhaven. Committee through its convenor, Dr. Michael Ray. alternative sites. The Inspector wants all written A preliminary meeting for the proofs of evidence submitted by re-opened inquiry was hld on 7 January 2005 for preliminary 13 October 2004 with a new scrutiny prior to the inquiry he 2005 Study Tour of the Society will take place inspector presiding. The inquiry re-opening on 2 February. The Tfrom June 27th to July 2nd and will be based in is to examine seven named Inquiry is scheduled for 12 Bath where accommodation has been arranged at alternative sites vis: Brighton working days, sitting three and the Frances Hotel. The itinerary is still in preparation Station, Brighton Greyhound a half days per week, and should and is expected to include visits to Tyntesfi eld, Bowood Stadium (in Hove), Shoreham fi nish on 22 February. A detailed House, Lacock, Clevedon Court and Pier, Wells Harbour, Sheepcote Valley, programme will be published as Cathedral, Dyrham Park and the American Museum Toad’s Hole Valley, Waterhall soon as it is available, so Members in Bath as well as a guided walking tour of Bath itself. and Withdean Stadium, and any can come along and lend support A number of members from previous Study Tours other realistic sites advocated by to our case. have already asked to be included in the 2005 Study objectors to Falmer. Because of the widened Tour and a waiting list may have to be introduced– Since the initial Stadium Inquiry importance of the inquiry, the particularly for single room accommodation. opened planning permissions have Society has instructed Hazel Inclusive prices (except travel to Bath) have not been issued and construction McKay, a member of the Society been fi nalised but are expected to be in the regions of work started that will probably who lives in Hove and a graduate £530 for those in a single room and £430 for those in preclude both Brighton Station of Sussex University, to act for a double room. and the Greyhound Stadium. us. Hazel has had a distinguished Enquiries to Stella and Tony Mercer at This is regrettable as we fi rmly career in town planning involving 01372 458641 or e-mail to considered that both these sites private consultancy and senior [email protected] were preferable to Falmer. posts with local authorities, So what’s our strategy now? including a spell as Deputy James Gray Online

embers will be aware concomitant costs of time and Mof The James Gray potential damage. Secondly, Collection that the Society we shall be able to make the owns: some forty volumes Collection viewable at all times contain many thousands of without curatorial oversight, historic photographs showing and with no risk of damage to the buildings of Brighton and its originals, by installing a high surroundings. This collection is resolution copy on a computer kept within the Royal Pavilion within the Local History section and is available for inspection at Brighton Museum, and thirdly by bona fide researchers, by by making a copy available on our appointment with the Society. web site. This arrangement is obviously The photographs give a onerous in museum staff time, matchless overview of the and the effects of repeated development and change that has handling of fragile material taken place, and is a reminder cannot be overlooked. The of the continual state of flux to obvious solution is to make a which a dynamic city is subject. From theatre, to Opera House, to Cinema…now the Brighton Centre! digital copy that may be viewed Donkeys and goat carriages on on–screen at the Museum, as the sea front, as well as Embassy well as on the internet. Court with letting signs in 1936, As a start, the first volumeThe and the life and death of the Seafront has been digitally copied Palladium Opera House. All is and been made available on the here. There is much to be done Society’s web site at before this project becomes www.regencysociety.org/gray, reality, but it could make a complete with the comments real contribution, both in an and annotations made by Mr. educational and historic context. Gray in his originals. We shall have to seek financial assistance for digitising the rest of the collection, which is a substantial task. The benefits will be threefold: firstly, a copy of the Collection will then exist, which as well as being a prudent safeguard against loss will allow reproductions of photographs to be made without recourse to the originals, with the Sun or rain? Embassy Court…to let The Western Esplanade, 1902 Your carriage awaits ollowing the refusal of planning permission for Fa development of 36 flats to be built on the site Harold George Turner of 3 family homes in Dyke Road, Hove, the Council is to undertake a characterization study of the area. The Barrowfield Estate, until 1931 in the ownership of the Marquis of Exeter, extends to some 21 acres, and following its sale (apparently to the Stanford Estate) was developed for housing. Barrowfield Lodge, now as flats, remains, while family homes have been built on the rest of the estate. The architect Harold George Turner was appointed, although purchasers of the individual plots were able to employ others, subject to oversight by Turner. The architectural grammar employed is characterized by tile–hanging, exaggerated rainwater brackets and bay windows: all in all this is the vernacular of mid–Sussex, not the coastal fringes, and it is interesting that Turner employed house types he had also used at Haywards Heath and Eastbourne. Clearly, here was a man who was not going to let the genius loci interfere with his preconceptions! Some of the houses illustrate another standard Turner design which looks slightly classical or Georgian, by virtue of their symmetry and porch details. Other houses illustrate Turner’s art deco details and his Lutyens’ like use of creasing tiles. Interestingly, in mid–Sussex a Turner house is considered special and marketed as such, Mid–Sussex vernacular by the coast emphasizing design and quality: no such knowledge apparently exists in Brighton and Hove. We are fortunate that the Society will be able to share the knowledge of committee member architect Peter Bareham, who has Forthcoming Lectures become the leading authority on Harold George Turner, at his lecture on January 4, 2005 at The Old Market, Hove. Tuesday January 4 at 7pm Perhaps now is the time for the work of this architect to receive The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove some posthumous local appreciation, and possibly for his work to gain Peter Bareham, Architect some measure of protection. Certainly pressure for redevelopment Harold George Turner, architect: cannot be ignored, and increased traffic that has been concerning his houses in Sussex and the the area of late must be considered in evolving policies that reflect Barrowfield Estate in Hove changing circumstances. Signature details: tiles and brackets Tuesday February 1 at 7pm The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove Stuart Page, Architect The Restoration and Conservation of Ightham Mote, Kent Tuesday March 1 at 7pm The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove Patrick Conner Director of the Martyn Gregory Gallery, London Oriental Architecture in the West Tuesday April 5 at 7pm The Music Room, Royal Pavilion Paul Atterbury, Historian The Pugins and the Gothic Revival to be followed by the Annual General Meeting of the Society

Admission free to members, others £5 / concessions Florence Mary Wood Artist and Teacher 1908–2004

Mary Wood, well known to all the Regency Society literature many of our members, died in Brighton and Hove: their peacefully on October 23. As knowledge of the lesser–known she wished, she remained in her parts of the city was remarkable. own home until the end. It is In 1980 Mary gave a lecture possible that she was our to the Society on ‘Landscape oldest member, and until a Painters in Watercolour of few months ago she took the Regency Period’ in the an active interest in all our King William IV Room of activities. the Royal Pavilion. About Mary joined the Society this time an exhibition of in 1969 soon after she her paintings was shown at retired from teaching, when Langfords Hotel in Hove. She membership was £1 and took part in nearly all of the lecture guests were charged long week–end visits, Chester three shillings (15p.). In 1979 in 2000 being her fi nal one; she Antony Dale asked her to join always spoke with particular the committee, and she was a pleasure of Guernsey in 1974 and valued member until 1999. As far of Pitlochrie in 1998. And she as we know she never missed a went every year (including this committee meeting apart from summer) by rail, to stay with her the occasional holiday. In addition friends in the Lake District and she and her great friend Pat her former students in Skipton, (Marjorie) Carter gave invaluable some of whom attended her service addressing and fi lling funeral on November 8. envelopes and delivering nearly P. Q.

The Civic Trust Marina and King Alfred set to embers will be aware that hit high–spots Mthe Society is registered with the Civic Trust, as are the he City council recently proposals for housing, designed Brighton Society and Hove Civic Tsigned a legal agreement by Wilkinson Eyre, have Society ( together with some with Karis Holdings for the been released and a planning other local amenity re-development of the King application is expected soon. groups). The Civic Trust Alfred site on Hove’s seafront. Exhibitions of the design is currently running a This signals the start of detailed proposals are currently taking series of short items design development for the place, in Brighton, Hove and entitled Regional Focus housing, by Gehry Partners, at the Marina. Extensive in which our three leisure facilities by HOK Sport consultation has already city–wide societies are with co-ordinating architects occurred with English Heritage, featured. CZWG and a sculptural CABE and English Nature. The The reports about intervention by Anthony Society is concerned that to date Brighton and Hove Gormley. A full planning insuffi cient liaison seems to have were the result of short application is expected at the taken place between Brunswick telephone interviews end of June. Meanwhile, Karis is Developments and BIA, who but the publication carrying out further consultation. are developing their designs for is of interest: any member who A meeting with the Society is the events stadium and housing wishes to receive a copy should planned for mid-February, before at Black Rock, over the co- telephone our membership fi nal decisions on the planning ordination of vehicle access and secretary, Jackie Fitzgerald on application proposals are taken. improved public transport, which 01273 601069 and she will send At the Marina, Brunswick will be essential to service these one to you. Developments Group’s huge developments. Regency Review is published by The Regency Society of Brighton & Hove. Registered Charity No. 210194