THE ST. SOCIETY NEWSLETTER Number 336 Registered Charity 274082 Autumn 2012

View of substation from the bridge. TRANSFORMING MARYLEBONE As the final vitreous enamel panels are It’s always interesting to re-visit the Westway the structures nestle fitted into place on the LUL substation Society’s planning committee’s original comfortably behind the railway station at , Jacqueline Poncelet’s comments when a building is completed wall. There’s a lightness and delicacy to installation is finally taking shape and and consider whether our initial the patterns and colours that disguises the abstract ideas she presented at our objections and observations were valid. this essential element of infrastructure The substation did not even need to AGM in 2009 will soon be unveiled as a which provides hundreds of tonnes of apply for permission and we all felt that tangible and exciting new public we were fortunate to have an artist of transformers to improve the electrical artwork for Marylebone. Jaqueline’s caliber involved. Her connections on the Underground. The opportunity for a piece of art in an attention to detail and eye for colour and Glimpsed like trinket boxes from afar urban setting on this scale is rare and it pattern have created a wonderful filigree they provide intricacy and vibrancy in an works on many levels. Visually it is screen-like motif on the facades; totally otherwise drab disjointed setting. seen from near and far; standing still or appropriate for the middle-eastern It would be wonderful if the north character of the Edgware Road. From at speed from the Westway; from above elevation could be illuminated at night, Chapel Street at close quarters the through residents’ windows and from so that its kaleidoscope-like rotating and bright, repetitive, abstract patterns below by commuters on the station swirling patterns shine across the visually enliven the streetscape and Westway like a beacon. platforms, where the canopy edgings provide a backdrop for pedestrians superimpose triangular ‘gable ends’ on hurrying to the station. The project has Artists working in the public realm take to the façade. echoes of Eduardo Paolozzi’s mosaics at on an enormous responsibility and need Tottenham Court Road and like the courage and real conviction to see radical art by Anri Sala in Tirana, through their ideas amidst so many Albania, introduces the idea of a building conflicting subjective reactions to their as an artist’s canvas to create a catalyst work. Jaqueline Poncelet has given us a for urban regeneration. new landmark in Marylebone, a unique We originally felt that the proposals did artwork and a treasure for us all to not relate to the site context in terms of enjoy. massing. However, as built, the ambiguity of scale has the effect of Art on the Underground are launching reducing the perceived bulk of the the project on 20 Nov 2012 at 6:30pm transformer boxes and from the at The Chapel pub on Chapel Street. W E ’ R E G O I N G T O T H E Z O O , Z O O , Z O O . . . Members of our planning committee sadly dided in May, played a key role in the The new enclosure will provide a central visited Zoo this summer to catch design of the pool, and was also involved hub for ZSL's tiger conservation work, and up on recent ZSL projects. Graham in a number of significant wildlife projects, will enable tigers to be bred at the zoo, so Roden, Head of Estates Development, and such as the reintroduction of the that more can be learned about these beautiful and elusive animals, which will Project manager Harry Everest met us to corncrake to the Norfolk Fens. be helpful in ZSL's field projects. explain the current projects to improve The Regent Building (1928-9), which has The new projects at London Zoo arise the zoo for visitors and animals alike. been used as a restaurant ever since it was built, is about to be upgraded. It is a partly out of the needs of the society's A new exit onto the Broadwalk in quiet building with fine period windows conservation work, partly as ongoing Regent’s Park has been completed this and staircases, and currently also contains upgrades, and partly to provide new year. facilities for 300 staff members, and a exhibits both to inform the public and to raise money for conservation work. The reception room which may be hired. In the high quality of recent projects is to be 60s and 70s, insensitive extensions were applauded, and we look forward to the added and these obscure the most completion of these latest works. distinctive features of this building: the Footnote: round, double height arches and projecting Decimus Burton and the beginnings of bays. ZSL have permission to replace London Zoo them with a more thoughtful modern The zoo opened in 1828, and the grounds extension which will reveal some of the were laid out by Decimus Burton, and original features and provide the many of the original constructions in the opportunity to reconfigure the interior zoo that still exist are of his design. He layout. A new mezzanine will increase the was the zoo's official architect from 1826 capacity of the very well used restaurant. to 1841, and also designed several of the Perhaps the most exciting project, now villas in Regent’s Park, such as Grove underway, is the new £3.6m Sumatran House, The Holme, and St John's Lodge. Tiger enclosure, “Tiger Territory”, which Within the zoo, he designed the will open in spring 2013. The 2500sq m clocktower, its first building, which cost area, five times the size of the present £100 including the clock and its installation. This building still exists: it tiger enclosure, will be formed by a was rebuilt as a Gothic house for Llamas stainless steel mesh tent large enough to in 1844, reconstructed in 1898, suffered Members in front of the restored Parrot House enclose some mature trees. The work can from bomb damage in 1940, was rebuilt entrance. be seen from Regent’s Park, and at the We saw the wonderful new Penguin again by Burnet Tait in 1946, converted time of writing, the poles to support the Beach, which was built on the site of the into shops in 1988, and is now a first aid tent have already been erected. The mesh semi-derelict Parrot House, and which station as well as providing nests for the tent will be constructed by specialised reused the basement of this building for zoo's colony of sparrows in the eaves. riggers who will “sew” the long strips of Also by Decimus Burton, and still extant, the deepest part of the pool. The Penguin mesh “fabric” together with wire. The Pool has a naturalistic form, and is partly are The Raven's Cage (1829), one of the area will be planted to mimic the tropical icons of the zoo, and the East Tunnel glass-sided, so that the penguins can be foliage of Sumatra, to provide an seen diving, and there are lots of beaches (1829-30) linking the north and south interesting environment for the tigers to parts of the zoo – which was used as a and rocky areas for the birds as well as explore, and will incorporate a large pool bomb shelter during WWII. In addition, quiet areas away from spectators. There as, unusually for cats, these tigers love Burton built the Giraffe House (1836-7), are currently 70 penquins of different water. The tigers are also excellent and Three Island Pond (1832), which is species, and the pool could accommodate climbers and the tall trees and high now partially incorporated into the New up to 200. Remnants of the Parrot House, feeding poles will provide opportunities Lion Terraces. All these buildings are such as the entrance arch, have been used for them to do this. Mindful of the tigers' grade II listed and will be preserved for as architectural elements in the landscape talent and curiosity, ZSL checks the future generations to enjoy. around the pool. integrity of their enclosures everyday! Cynthia Poole John Ellis (Senior Curator of Higher One of the glazed viewing pavilions will St Marylebone Society Vertebrates & Horticulture at ZSL), who reuse part of the 1960s sea lion house. Planning Subcommittee

The Penguin Pool. Gardens of the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, 1828. 2 C H U R C H S T R E E T F U T U R E S P L A N : T H E S H O W H O M E S P R O P O S A L for the proposed new affordable homes. different possible solutions. The There is now a project to build three finishes are similar to those in the homes in Orchardson Street to Athletes' Village at Stratford. demonstrate the standards and finishes The exterior is to be in blue Telford which will be delivered when the Brindle brick, and the staircase will be Futures Plan sites are developed. aluminium clad with vertical strips of Planning permission is expected to be green, “living wall”. The plants will be a granted in November, and completion is mix of evergreen and seasonal varieties, likely to be at the beginning of 2014. and will be maintained by City West Public Consultation at the Showhome Gallery. The showhomes will then be open to Homes. The project has been funded by For some time now, Westminster City the public for six months so that Westminster Community Homes and Council has been working on a residents can see the quality of housing facilitated by Paddington Development regeneration plan for the Church Street proposed. Trust. The architects are Fielden Clegg area aimed at revitalising the area, The project consists of a three storey Bradley Associates. improving affordable housing stock and block of flats with a shared rear garden encouraging shops and other and private external spaces for each businesses to move in, and bringing unit. The flats are intended to be homes more visitors to Church Street market, for life and follow the guidelines issued Edgware Road and other local by the London Mayor for high institutions such as the Lisson Gallery, environmental standards, high levels of Alfies Antiques Market, etc. accessibility, high quality design, and As part of the Housing Renewal good natural light. All the flats are three programme, the local community has bedroom family-sized units, and the been participating in the design process layouts have been varied to show The architect’s visual of Orchardson Street.

“ S E R V A N T S ” A S S E E N O N T V - A N D T H E D I A R Y O F A S O M E B O D Y It is interesting to compare this real-life friend” in fact referred to his wife. study of servants’ lives with two recent Presumably William’s reticence was fictional accounts of upper-class life, because he had little privacy and felt his around the time of WW1. Firstly, diary might be read by his employer. “Parade’s End”, based on Ford Madox There is a poignant passage in the diary Ford’s tetralogy (1924-28), in which the where William writes: “The life of a personal lives of servants simply do not gentleman’s servant is something like figure. And secondly, a modern that of a bird shut up in a cage, well treatment of the same milieu, “Downton Abbey”, which devotes as much time to housed and well fed but deprived of the personal lives of the servants as it liberty”. does to their masters. William started his diary as a way of Initially it comes as a surprise that in his improving his handwriting, but he came A painting by William Tayler showing servants helping diary (1837) William actually writes his themselves to food and drink behind a screen in the dining to think that it would also give readers room. family out of his own account of his life. “an idea of what service is”. Indeed it The Diary of William Tayler, first But you have to remember that does. In the view of the presenter of published by the SMS*, has been heard employers preferred live-in servants to “Servants”, Dr Pamela Cox of Essex be single, and although William had a on radio, but it has now graduated to University, the diary is “one of the most television. It featured in the first episode wife and child living in lodgings locally, rare and moving records of service that of a new BBC series called “Servants – his diary goes out of its way to disguise we have got”. The True Story of Life Below Stairs”, this fact. For example there is no broadcast on 28/9/12. The eagle-eyed mention of the birth of his second son, Mike Wood will have spotted a credit to the SMS – instead he devotes his account of that *NB: The published version of the because we assisted the programme- day to workplace events. It was the Diary of William Tayler is available via makers in tracking down the actual diary, detective work of the diary’s editor, William’s scrapbook and photographs of Dorothy Wise, which established that our website: William and his wife Maria. the very brief references to “a particular www.stmarylebonesociety.org 3 THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE RIVER PAGEANT, JUNE 2012

St Marylebone’s “White Heather” tug in the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant. Just before New Year 2012 we heard boats and fishing vessels to old police explaining their histories or even that we had been accepted for the boats and lifeboats. picturing them all. The huge numbers Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant in our The skippers’ briefing on Friday was of spectators who stood in the rain and Grand Union Canal tug, White Heather, attended by several hundred people – wind until the bitter end showed how which was built in 1932 for the Borough some had brought boats from as far much interest there was in the pageant of St Marylebone. The organisers asked afield as Ireland, Scotland and Cornwall. and, despite the weather, it was a that boats be decorated and looking wonderful day and a once-in-a-lifetime their best, so we set to work painting At the parade on Sunday we watched and sprucing up. White Heather retains the royal barge Gloriana make her experience. her original external appearance and we way downstream, followed by the Jennifer Adams decided it would be nice to fly a flag spectacular man-powered boats. Finally representing her home borough. we got underway, our younger crew Unfortunately, we could not trace a flag, members waving to the huge crowds so I decided to make one myself, based and our St Marylebone flag flying on the shield in the borough’s coat of proudly on the bow. As we went under arms. Westminster Bridge the drizzle turned The pageant involved a huge effort of to a deluge and the crew was ordered organisation and preparation. We had to inside for safety, but our son insisted on submit details of the crew for security going back out to dip the red ensign as vetting, complete a passage plan, attend we passed the Queen and was rewarded rehearsals and deal with numerous with a royal wave. emails about boat safety and security, It is unlikely there will be another such lifejackets, moorings etc. We were in gathering of boats, each with a Octavia Hill houses in Ranston Street. the historic and service section of the fascinating story to tell, and it is a shame The SMS AGM will be followed by pageant with everything from torpedo the BBC did not do a better job of a talk by Gillian Darley on

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY 2012 Octavia Hill, the pioneering social Patron: Lord Montagu of Beaulieu THE ST MARYLEBONE reformer and co-founder of the President: Colin Amery Chair: Gaby Higgs SOCIETY National Trust. Vice Chairman: Mike Wood The talk will start at 7.45pm Hon. Secretary: AGM 2012 Andrew Cooper (non members welcome) Hon.Treasurer: Thursday 15 November Keith Evans followed by refreshments Membership Secretary: Position Vacant The Council House, Please RSVP to the Secretary, Council Members: Andrew Cooper Dorian Aroyo (Social Secretary) Marylebone Road [email protected] Cynthia Poole (Planning Committee Chairman) or by post to: Robert McAulay (Newsletter) Chair – Colin Amery Douglas Temple (Events) The Chairwoman, Gaby Higgs, Mike Wood (Local History) 53 Balcombe Street, London NW1 6HD Ian Wylie (Planning) from 6.00 – Meeting starts 6.30

4 EVENTS CLARENCE GATE GARDENS QUEEN’S JUBILEE PARTY

Head porter, Jim Elliott and his wife Sally, helping partygoers to food and drink.

…and the band played on. Residents enjoying the party. ST MARYLEBONE SOCIETY PROGRAMME AUTUMN 2012-13 Tuesday 30 October, 10.30 am. Tuesday 20 November, 6.30 pm. 19th century who had considerable Coffee Morning, Ten Manchester Launch of LUL substation artwork. influence on the cultural and political Street Hotel W1. £5, cash on the day. The Chapel pub, Chapel Street W1. thought of the Victorian period. He lived A return visit, everyone welcome – no Wednesday 21 November, 12 noon. and wrote in this fine example of a fully- need to book ahead. Dennis Severs House 18 Folgate furnished Victorian house. Meet outside Tuesday 13 November, 11.00 am. Street E1. A fascinating time capsule of 1.55 p.m. £5.00. The Design Museum – Shad 18th century life. Meet outside at 11.55 Friday 11 January. Coffee morning Thames, SE1 (Near Tower Bridge). am. £7.00. A very interesting display depicting the from 10.30 am. To include a short evolution of invention and design in Wednesday 5 December, 3pm. talk, The Polychrome Lens: Colour Afternoon Tea, The Arch Hotel, 50 many aspects of everyday life with in Architectural Photography. Great Cumberland Place, W1. Come specialised areas of contemporary 1st floor cafe at RIBA, 66 Portland design. Meet outside 10.55 am. £9.00. and join us in the Martini Library of The Arch Hotel for a pre-Xmas English Place W1, 020 7580 5533. Pay your Wednesday 14 November. Coffee own way. Book with Douglas Temple. morning from 10.30 am. at Saporito afternoon tea with a glass of champagne. Cafe, 14 Melconbe Street, NW1 6AH, Cost £20, inclusive of service. Wednesday 23 January, 2.00 pm. 020 7262 3377. Pay your own way. To book a place, contact Sheila Green (postponed from 10 September 020 7262 7157, email Thursday 15 November, 6.00 pm for 2012). The Household Cavalry 6.30 pm St Marylebone Society [email protected] Museum – Horseguards Parade, AGM, The Council House, Thursday 6 December 7.00 pm.for SW1. Military history, battle honours, Marylebone Road. 7.30 pm. Society Christmas Party at uniforms, medals etc. over several Sunday 18 November, 12.45 pm. The Briciole Restaurant, 20 Homer centuries. Meet outside 2.00 pm. £4.00. opening of the Wesley Memorial Street, W1H 4NA, Tel 020 7723 Garden. 0040. £30.00. For more information and late bookings Monday 19 November, 6.45 pm. Wednesday 12 December, 2.00 pm. please contact: St Marylebone Society The 2012 Marylebone Service. Thomas Carlyle’s House – 24 Events Secretary, Douglas Temple, Flat 1, The Church of St James, Spanish Cheyne Row, Chelsea, SW3. Thomas 23 Seymour Place, London W1H 5BH – Place W1. Carlyle, a leading literary figure of the 020 7723 6417. 5 St George’s Day Photographic Competition 2012

Karen Perry with her winning photograph. J D Keller’s runner up photograph. Eman Mustafa receiving her prize from Tony Frazer-Price. This year’s St George’s Day photographic Rain, Reflection’ perfectly summed up history and the accompanying book ‘A Day competition was another resounding with great humour 2012’s Jubilee summer. in the Life of Marylebone’ showcases all success and some of you may have noticed Eman Mustafa in third place presented us the exhibited 50 images. The book would that the Marylebone Association used our with a beautiful, atmospheric shot of the make a super gift and is available at a cost photographs in their Annual Report to bandstand in Regent’s Park. In high of £19.99 on our website publication page. illustrate the wonderful diversity of contrast black and white, two empty After five years Tony Frazer-Price is people and places in Marylebone. deckchairs look on as ghostly clouds float The winning shot was a night view of above; a poignant reminder of the tragedy stepping down as Chairman of Art in Marylebone High Street by Karen Perry. that occurred here in 1982 when IRA Marylebone to concentrate on his painting It captures the drama of the street, almost terrorists killed Royal Green Jackets and we thank him for all his hard work like a still from a film noir. There’s an air bandsmen. Eman titled this ‘A New Dawn, making the annual event such a success. of anticipation… the friends relaxing, the A New Day’ and added “Sunshine breaks We need someone to help with this empty phone box, menacing shadows, and through promising a great day and it is all the dazzling car headlights… convey the good”. ongoing event and if anyone would like to sense that, “something is about to The main objective of the photographic be involved please contact us as we will happen”… competition is to create an archive of start planning next year’s event in January Runner up J D Keller’s candid image ‘Red, Marylebone’s social and architectural 2013.

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS MEMORIAL GARDEN UPDATE Abbey National Charitable Trust Limited Alliance Française Berkeley Court Tenants’ Association garden will be in bloom and thriving. We Blandford Estate Tenants’ Association CAMBARD RTM Ltd are establishing a ‘Friends of the Garden’ Chiltern Court () Residents’ Limited Group, with trustees to ensure that the The Chiltern Railway Co. Ltd. garden is well maintained and help raise Clarence Gate Gardens Residents’ Association The Crown Estate funds for future maintenance to assist Crown Estate Paving Commission CRTMCL Westminster Parks. Looking to the future Dorset House Tenants’ Association we hope to realise the idea of a statue of Dorset Square Hotel Dorset Square Trust Charles Dickens in the curved corner of Fellowship of the School of Economic Science Fitzhardinge House Tenants’ Association the garden. Goldschmidt & Howland With new York stone paving to match the Howard de Walden Estate Following five years of negotiations and Hyatt Regency Churchill Hotel existing the design has allowed for Ivor Court Residents’ Association discussions the renovation of the Old The Landmark Hotel additional bench spaces and anyone who London Clinic Church Garden is nearing completion on Mac Services site. The Charles Wesley memorial is would like to sponsor a bench can do so Madame Tussauds through the Westminster bench scheme Trust relocated close to the High Street, in its Marylebone Cricket Club post-war position, where it creates a or contact the Society for more Marylebone Police Division Merlin Entertainment landmark for the High Street and where information. This historic Garden at the Octavia Housing and Care its inscription can inspire passers-by. A birthplace of Mary-le-Bourne is a very Old Philologians Open Air Theatre (Regent’s Park) new north boundary wall encloses the special place, a wonderful place to Peoples Travel garden to provide a sheltered, calm, green The Portman Estate remember a loved one and your 15 Tenants’ Association oasis amidst the bustle of the city for us all contribution would be greatly appreciated. Queen’s College to enjoy and the Marylebone School has a Regent’s College Rossmore Court Leaseholding Ltd. private access which will allow smooth We hope that you will be able to join us at St. Marylebone Parish Church the opening ceremony on Sunday 18th St. Marylebone School running of its daily activities. The Seashell Restaurant The planting beds are in place and the old November at 12.45, following the 11 am Terry Farrell & Partners The Angling Society stone urns which once adorned the church choral service at St Marylebone Church. University of Westminster We would like to thank everyone who Westminster City Council pediment have been incorporated into the Wyndham Place Management design. Planting will take place this contributed funds, time and support to York Estates autumn and we hope that by spring the make this community-led project a reality. Zoological Society of London Published by the St. Marylebone Society, October 2012. ©St Marylebone Society.