Heritage Statement

This document should be read in conjunction with the Heritage Statement.

13/05/19

London

N16 9PX

Contents 1. Introduction ...... 2 Proposed Development...... 2 2. Description of the heritage asset ...... 2 Site Description ...... 2 Existing site usage ...... 2 Existing building ...... 2 Site context and local area ...... 3 Assessment of history and significance ...... 3 History of the building...... 4 3. Design Proposal ...... 5 Proposed works ...... 5 Impact of proposed works...... 6 Sources ...... 6

1. Introduction This document forms part of the Listed Building Consent Application submitted by Katie Le Beron on behalf of the leaseholder, Alun James. Please read in conjunction with the other documents, drawings and photos submitted as part of the application. Proposed Development The owners of 53 Newington Green have asked Katie Le Beron to design and coordinate minor revisions to their existing ground floor lighting at their Grade 1 listed property at 53 Newington Green, within the terms of their 975 year lease from their freeholder, English Heritage.

2. Description of the heritage asset

Site Description The property is in Newington Green, Islington, and is part of what is the oldest surviving terrace of houses in England. The terrace is an early example, and possibly prototype, of formal, terraced, London town housing. Nos 52-55 Newington Green are dated 1658 by a carved brick panel above the central pilaster in the main façade.

Fig 1. Location map Existing site usage The current use of the building is as private residential accommodation, and it is intended that this use is retained. Existing building The building forms part of the grade 1 listed terrace of 52-55 Newington Green. The properties were first listed in September 1954.

No 53 Newington Green was given a basic fabric restoration first by the GLC after a compulsory purchase, and then by English Heritage between 1987 and 1989, and the repairs are documented in drawings now in the EH London Region, Drawings Collection.

A report written by Richard Lea and published in July 2004 by English Heritage gives an account of the historical development of the entire terrace and contains a guide to the most recent drawing records made during the restoration of the building. The report discusses the buildings’ initial layout and facade, and the subsequent alterations which occurred in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Fig 2 53 Newington Green Exterior

Site context and local area The property is in the London Borough of Islington, on Newington Green.

Assessment of history and significance The property is located within the Newington Green conservation area, designated in 1970, which is centred on the old village green around which houses have been clustered since Tudor times.

The building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Historic England List Entry Number: 1293320

‘Terraced Houses. Dated 1658 in a panel above the central pilaster; later alterations. Poss No 55 restored c.1983-4 by the Greater London Council, nos 53-4 c.1987-8 by English Heritage. Red brick laid in English bond, roof of slate to no 52, the rest of tiles. Four and five storeys, two windows each. Unusual plan, each house having a central dog-leg staircase, between chimneybreasts. Ground floor has central round arch to passage to rear, C19 pilasters with bracketed fascia stops, and C20 shop fronts between. First and second floor have flat-arched windows between a giant order of Doric pilasters with entablature; the windows are in frames set almost flush with the wall at these levels, those to nos 53-55 having 6/6 sashes of original design, all or most presumably replacements; there is a round arch over each of the first-floor windows, slightly projecting, with a square panel recessed in the tympanum;(...) no 53 is rebuilt from the entablature upwards with flat-arched windows set under a slightly projecting segmental arch, brick coping to gable;(..). Rear elevations of brown brick with mostly segmental- arched windows, probably of later date than the front, and much rebuilt.’

Regarding the interior, the listing mentions the following about No 53:

‘No 53 has a staircase with square newels having ball finials and turned pendants, bulbous turned balusters, chamfered rail and closed string. There are closets either side of some fireplaces and some original floorboards. The ground-floor back room has a back door with hooks for door bars, panelling to the lower part of the wall, and a C18 flat-arched moulded architrave with keystone to fireplace; late C18 or early C19 grate in first-floor back room; second-floor front room has flat- arched moulded architrave to fireplace of late C17 date with early-to-mid-C19 grate, and the back room has a strap-hinged plank door connecting to no 52.

In 1994 the three houses were structurally sound, weather-tight and vacant, and were sold to Christopher Christou for conversion to domestic use. English Heritage concludes that ‘these houses are extremely rare survivals of pre-Restoration and pre-Great Fire town houses, and are thus one of the most remarkable groups of seventeenth-century buildings in London.’

(Historians’ file, English Heritage, London Division, accessed here: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1293320

History of the building Richard Lea’s report ’52-54 Newington Green Islington – The historical development of the oldest surviving terrace of houses in England’ written for Peter Watts of English Heritage in July 2004, details the various stages in the life of No 53.

Key stages of note to the life and changes of 53 are summarised below:

- 1658 – An old house on the west side of Newington Green was replaced by a terraced row of four houses, nos. 52-55 Newington Green. - 17th century – Doors cut through the party walls of 52 & 53 at ground, 1st and 2nd floor level. The uniformity of the work joining the six rooms suggests the same ownership. Doors were also cut through the party walls at basement level for shared tenancy at this level but there does not appear to be any similarity to the doors on the floors above. - Early 18th century – the panelling in the rear ground floor room dates from the 18th century but it is thought that at this time it was reduced to dado level. The fireplace in this room was reduced in width to accommodate an 18th Century surround with a keystone. Panelling was introduced to the first-floor front room and the fireplace also reduced and a plain marble surround inserted. On the second floor the fireplace was reduced, and bolection moulding used to create a surround. - Late 18th century – The windows of the 1st and 2nd floor were converted to sashes at the front and rear. In the basement the fireplace in the front room was reduced (prior to the lowering of the floor) and in the rear room, the fireplace was subdivided into two. - 19th century – A double S tie plate and rod were installed at the 2nd floor level in a central pilaster in front of 53. The gable wall was altered to include a sash window. Further changes took place at basement level to the fireplaces. - C.1895 – The front gardens were removed from 52-55 and the front rooms at ground floor level were converted to shops. The lowering to street level of the ground floor front rooms took place to provide access for shop customers. At basement level the floor was lowered by a dig out of c. 600 cm and the walls below the original floor were lined with brick. Steps were constructed in the stair well between the original floor level and the lowered floors. The fireplace in the 2nd floor front room was reduced in height and width and a brick or stone surround inserted with a late Victorian cast iron grate. By 1987 this had been removed. - 20th century – No. 53 appeared to be designed to operate as a greengrocer, possibly Aubrey’s. The upper sashes in the rear second floor windows were replaced.

- 1970’s – No. 53 was converted for bed-sit operation with east and west partition walls constructed on the first and second floors. - 1987 – Stripping out of No.53 and 54 begun by English Heritage. It was at this stage that the shop fronts were removed, and the houses were converted for domestic use.

Further details of works carried out can be found in 52-55 Newington Green, Islington, a report by Richard Lea on the Historical Development of the Oldest Surviving Terrace Houses of England.

3. Design Proposal

Proposed works These houses have proved to be adaptive throughout their lives and most importantly many of their architectural features have been preserved. It has been possible to respectfully make changes or repairs whilst meeting the needs of the current users.

When English Heritage took the terrace over from the GLC who had made compulsory purchase of Nos 52-55 in the late 20th Century, it was decided to remove the shop fronts and re-create domestic houses. During the conversions and subsequent renovations to the property, the rooms were stripped back to the original structure, as highlighted in Attachment A – Page 1 - Images of restoration of ground floor of 53 Newington Green in the late 20th Century.

The images show that the rooms have been completely re-plastered, panelling had to be replaced and the shop front was removed.

The main goal of the proposed work is to enhance the quality and location of the lighting within the ground floor of the property. Currently the kitchen is poorly lit, and the location of the existing light fittings is not compatible with the kitchen layout. Whilst the provision of light in the dining room is greater, this is provided through downlights which are poorly fitted, unsightly and certainly not in keeping with the heritage of the building.

Islington’s strategic policy covering Heritage & Urban Design, states that spaces should be designed with people using them in mind and that it is possible to preserve history and ensure a space works better. The existing lighting appears to have been designed by a developer rather than a homeowner in mind. The proposed work comprises the following to rectify the situation:

Kitchen

• The relocation of the existing pendant lighting to be positioned over the kitchen island and replacement of the pendant light fittings • The addition of a wall light • The addition of non-recessed ceiling light fittings to provide adequate lighting to the kitchen area • The room needs some repair and a repaint, so this will be undertaken once the proposed works have been completed

Dining

• The removal of the existing unsightly and poorly fitted recessed downlights and subsequent repairs to the ceiling • The addition of pendant light fittings to be positioned over the dining table • The addition of non-recessed ceiling light fittings to provide adequate lighting to the dining room

• The room needs some repair and a repaint so this will be undertaken once the proposed works have been completed

Garden

• Addition of garden lighting fittings (existing wiring is in place which appears to need connection) to provide safety, security and enjoyment.

Originally, we proposed to relocate the downlights fitted in the existing dining room, but considering this is a Grade 1 listed property, we decided this form of lighting is not appropriate.

It is our intention to redecorate the rooms without altering the building fabric of this Grade 1 listed building. The proposed light fittings have been specified in order to allow them to be removed in future, without causing any damage to the original building. Original features will be protected.

Images of proposed fittings can be seen in Attachment A – Page 4. Proposed locations of light fittings can be seen on Drawing 2 – Newington Green Ground Floor Proposed Lighting Plan.

The proposed works will be contained to the ground floor and the garden of the property and will not impact any of the historic features. In fact, the aim of this work is to light the room to draw attention to the original features. The works will be minor room enhancements which are entirely reversible, and which will improve the quality of visibility within the ground floor rooms and garden area.

Impact of proposed works The proposed works regard only the interior of the house. The works proposed are reversible and will not involve any loss of any original features of the house.

Sources We have referred to:

- Islington Local Development Framework and Core Strategy - 52-55 Newington Green, Islington – Richard Lea – The historic Development of the oldest surviving Terrace of Houses in England - bere architects Heritage Statement for 53 Newington Green - 29 July 2014 - Newington Green (North) Conservation Area Appraisal – The Conservation & Design Team – Hackney Council