The Newsletter of Civic Society Issue 11 | June 2018

Your regular update on how we are working to keep CHELTENHAM a great place to thrive

Stall at Midsummer Fiesta, Montpellier Gardens

A plethora of signs and ‘orphan’ post Civic Day map A busy summer ahead Civic Day and Midsummer Fiesta

Feedback at our AGM in March the protection of our own conservation organised a competition that involves highlighted how seriously our members areas, including on-street parking, people visiting the community groups take the ‘streetscape’ of our town, street paraphernalia, poor street represented there to find out more including signage, footpaths and street furniture and equipment on buildings. about the great work that they do. furniture. In view of this we have Street Pride is particularly concerned Hollywood Bowl, Leisure@Cheltenham, decided to mark Civic Day on 16 June about unnecessary bollards, signs, Paint Yourself Pottery and the by participating in the national Street posts and guard rails, of which there Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Pride campaign, led by Civic Voice. are plenty in Cheltenham! Our team will Railway have already donated prizes We will focus on the High Street within note all these issues and we will report and vouchers - and there may be more! the town’s Central Conservation Area, the offenders to the relevant authorities. The Civic Society will also have its own between Barratt’s Mill Lane and the The Civic Society is also participating stall and will encourage new members Honeybourne Bridge. Cheltenham’s in the Midsummer Fiesta in Montpellier to join. Do come along and support us Local Development Framework Gardens on 7 July . Volunteering is a on the day. And maybe win a prize! identified a number of challenges to crucial element of the fiesta and we’ve Maxine Melling

What’s in this time From the Chair page 2 EVERY part of Cheltenham matters page 6 Diary dates – upcoming events page 3 High Street improvements begin page 7 The Quadrangle page 4 School remembers page 8

Masthead image: Montpellier Gardens From the Chair Maxine Melling

It was good to see members at this our charitable aims – to promote high the damaged Penfold letter box on year’s AGM on 21 March. standards of planning, to educate, and College Lawn (see update below). We said goodbye, and a heartfelt thanks, to secure the preservation of features of I represented the Civic Society in to trustees who stood down this year - historic or public interest. We erected February at the launch of the Bob Keevil , Freddie Gick , Alec Hamilton two blue plaques to notable women Gloucestershire 2050 initiative. This is and Duncan Smith . We welcomed associated with Cheltenham and we ran a county-wide exploration of how we some excellent annual events - Civic Day Andrew Chard (new chair of the Parmoor want Gloucestershire to develop and (extended to a fortnight in 2017 in co- House Committee), Chris Healy (Honorary it includes some ambitious proposals. operation with Cheltenham West End Treasurer), Andrew North (Honorary To date the initiative has developed six Partnership, the History Department Secretary) and Peter Sayers (new chair ‘big ideas’ for the county, which include at the university and Chapel Arts), as of the Planning Forum). I remain indebted a ‘super city’ created by Cheltenham John Lewis, Cheltenham Members’ Summer Garden Party at Parmoor House well as Heritage Open Days and the and ; a cyber park in West to all trustees for the time they give and Civic Awards . We had many excellent Cheltenham; regional parks in the Forest their commitment to the work of the speakers, including Tristram Hunt, of Dean and Severn Vale; a new crossing Civic Society. Director of the V&A giving the Paterson to connect Sharpness and Lydney; and My annual report noted the wide range Memorial Lecture . We also continued a new Cotswold airport. Consultation of activities we carried out, and which to campaign to preserve and protect continues until the end of July and have been covered in the newsletter, on important heritage sites in the town, we have put a link on the front page our website or on Facebook. I was very including public access to Pittville of our website if you wish to read more pleased with what we achieved in meeting Pump Room and the replacement of and comment.

Industrial buildings: Flowers Brewery Diary dates Everyone is welcome to attend our talks and lectures.

Talks at Parmoor House, the HQ of the Civic Society, are £7.50 per person (£5 for a member), payable at the door. Tickets for lectures at outside venues usually need to be booked in advance and prices may vary depending on the venue.

Tuesday 5 June why some buildings survived and others Wine, canapés and conversation in did not, and compares Cheltenham’s the garden behind Parmoor House. Full John Lewis, Cheltenham – cases with examples further afield. details on the enclosed application form. Adrian Barlow and Maxine Melling at Civic Awards Lecture 2018 Mayor and FOP Chair at Earengey plaque unveiling a regeneration and 7.30pm | Parmoor House Book early as this event is very popular architectural journey 13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SX and places are limited. April events in pictures Welcome Andrew Mills , Development Manager, 6-8pm | Parmoor House will speak about the challenges of this Saturday 7 July 13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SX The Mayor at the time, Cllr Klara Sudbury , A sombre topic, but Adrian (pictured here to the most major project. Midsummer Fiesta unveiling a blue plaque on 10 April in with Chair, Maxine Mellin g), opened our eyes recent new 7.30pm | Parmoor House We will be participating in the Midsummer Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 honour of suffragist Florence Earengey at to a host of hidden details in WW1 memorials 13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SX Fiesta this year. Organised by a team from September only 3 Wellington Square, with Friends of Pittville’s here and abroad. members the Borough Council, The Cheltenham Chair, Judie Hodsdon , enjoying the joke. You can read more about the two events Saturday 16 June Trust, the West End and the Hester’s Way Open Days at Parmoor House Adrian Barlow delivered the annual on our website Home/Latest news page. Civic Day - celebrating Partnerships, and Studio 340, the fiesta Heritage Open Days runs over two Civic Awards Lecture, The architecture of Credit for both photos goes to our ‘official’ • Derek Dale-Lace celebrates the artistic and social strength long weekends this year, 6-9 September remembrance , on 11 April at Chapel Arts. photographer, member Jim Markland . where we live of different Cheltenham communities. and 13-16 September . We are opening • Tom and Bridget Civic Society members have been asked The Civic Society is working with other our doors to the public for two days Pettigrew to help with the nationwide Street Pride voluntary groups on a competition to and plan to display panel exhibitions campaign which aims to identify and make everyone’s work better known. being compiled by students and staff College Lawn letter box update • Mike and reduce street clutter. More on page 1 . More on page 1 and come along to learn from the University of Gloucestershire’s more about us and the other groups. History Department. These are about Our December issue, page 8, bemoaned at which point an identical Penfold from Dr Rosemary Tuesday 3 July 12noon-6pm (the Fiesta runs until 9pm) the women’s suffrage movement in the damage done to this letter box and another part of town will be temporarily Richardson Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham its subsequent removal. removed to allow a mould to be made Industrial buildings – Cheltenham and the aftermath of WW1. GL50 1UW We will also have a talk by local historian, Progress on fixing or replacing it has been (so, don’t be shocked if ‘your’ Penfold • Andrew and their use and reuse Neela Mann , on Saturday afternoon. painfully slow but we can report that listed disappears); the new College Lawn box Cheltenham is not thought of as an Saturday 25 August Louisa Simon More information in September’s issue. building consent was granted in mid-April; will not be in place for possibly another industrial town but it was (and still is to Members’ Summer Royal Mail is expecting ground searches three or four months. • Richard Smith some extent). Amber Patrick , industrial 11am-4pm | Parmoor House to be back in the next couple of weeks; Fiona Clarke buildings archaeologist, will explore Garden Party 13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SX

2 3 The Quadrangle – a homage to classicism Douglas S Ogle

Nimes and Évora are both centred commercially viable building to be bulk, neither overwhelms nor grates around magnificent classical temples; erected there), came up trumps. Neither with its neighbours. Rome has its Pantheon. conceding to a slavish copying of The planning authority should hang its surrounding architectural styles nor At Cheltenham’s epicentre stands The head in shame for allowing through a (heaven forbid) producing a precursor Quadrangle, a worthy disciple of ‘70s scheme which makes such a mockery of ‘90s post-modernism, they managed architecture, in its discreet way paying to produce a well-mannered and well- of The Quadrangle through a series of homage to classicism. By no means the proportioned answer, whilst giving alterations and incongruous and brash only 20th century building Cheltonians more than a nod to classicism in the ‘add-ons’ which totally fail to understand love to hate as an intrusion in their relationship of its principal elements and the qualities of one of the town’s very beloved ‘Regency’ town, it forms a highly in the rhythm and make up of its detailing few 20th century buildings which merit visible landmark. To my Beaux Arts and fenestration. It has the presence and protection – a view strongly supported trained eye, its architects, (especially assertiveness which this key site demands by both English Heritage and the C20th considering the inevitable bulk of any and yet, despite its contrasting style and Society.

The Quadrangle The Quadrangle – Changes afoot at a blot on the townscape The Quadrangle Bruce Buchanan British architecture reached construction and it was deemed more articulation or visual interest and makes a low point in the late 1960s economical than traditional methods. no concessions to its surroundings, Peter Sayers and early 1970s. Cheltenham did not escape; ‘worthy’ other than the stone colour of the panels. The optimism of the immediate post- examples include the extension to The thin aluminium sash windows with war era was beginning to fade as a Boots on Albion Street, WHSmith, glass spandrels are badly proportioned. What an introduction as the new The proposal was passed with conditions, result of public reaction against large- Eagle Tower and The Quadrangle. This The roofline is a clutter of mechanical Chair of the Planning Forum, to arrive one of which was to take note of our scale system-built housing and office development replaced a fine Victorian engineering equipment set above the at a point where such an interesting point about light streaming from the developments. There was growing building occupied by The New Club, top floor of dormer windows, which and important proposal came before us restaurant at night and to request a concern regarding the loss of Victorian and was a serious loss of Cheltenham’s compromise the ‘modernity’ of the - The Quadrangle. full lighting scheme to be approved. heritage, e.g. Euston Station, the Coal Victorian heritage. building. The recessed ground floor does This is the large building between Such is the location and size of this Exchange, and even St Pancras was The reason I dislike this building is that provide an element of visual interest but Cheltenham Town Hall and Promenade, building that we feel it is of interest threatened with demolition. A series it forms a large monolithic block in a it is dark and dingy, and not pedestrian built in 1970. Hard to miss. The developers to readers of Our Town and caused of articles in The Architectural Review , prominent position in the town centre friendly due to the number of angled would like to add features to this block, some heated debate at our meeting. criticising some recent modern adjacent to Imperial Square, with its fine steps. including a roof top restaurant. I’ve asked two professionals (both developments, reflected public unease. Regency terraces, and the grandeur of The proposed refurbishment will provide previous Chairs of the Planning Forum) The consultation period has ended but System building, usually in the form of Queen’s Hotel and Cheltenham Town Hall. some enhancement but, in my view, to put their views forward. the comments on the Borough Council’s large concrete panels fabricated off-site, The elevation is repetitive and dull, due to it would better to demolish this blot on planning website make fascinating reading. was introduced to help rationalise the use of prefabricated panels; it lacks the Regency townscape and start again.

4 5 EVERY part of Cheltenham matters Part 1: The area Bernice Thomson , Cheltenham West End Partnership (CWEP)

Proposed changes to High Street High Street improvements begin

Some of you will have seen the recent moved to the council estates which had Tracey Crews , Director of Planning, C4 TV programme featuring Cheltenham been built from 1919. The size and design and Professor Alice Roberts. of the houses that replaced the slums Cheltenham Borough Council Quarry in Forest of Dean The area where I work, around the in the streets leading off the Lower Lower High Street, may not have the High Street suggest that the area By the time then are as current today and we need But… it has been an exciting time! continued to be home to Cheltenham’s attractiveness of the more opulent you open this to make progress. Discussions with • we have found a local supplier in the areas of Cheltenham (and on which the working classes. June edition Cheltenham Development Task Force and Forest of Dean for pennant stone and programme focussed) but it does have The area has very little in terms of social of Our Town the John Lewis Partnership reinforced it was great to see this being dug out its own character and vibrancy. Most housing, but does have a long history of work will the timing of the works – Phase 1 works on our site visit importantly, it has its own history as providing supported housing (housing have started to be complete by October with funding it is part of the original Cheltenham. for those people who need additional on Phase 1 of committed for £750,000 put in place • we have built sustainability into the It may not have the history of the rich support such as the elderly, the homeless, the High Street by Cheltenham Borough Council and design through use of planting, materials and famous, but it has the history of prison leavers, care leavers and addicts). masterplan. Gloucestershire County Council. and sustainable urban drainage the people who did much of the actual This brings additional issues and needs. A patchwork of Remaining phases will require a further • we have worked with Cheltenham building of the most ‘complete Regency There are currently five different types tarmac infills, cracked £2 million and there is a clear commitment Business Improvement District and town in ’. of supported housing within a few and damaged paving and, in poor from the Borough Council to work with local businesses and retailers, and Being away from the developing minutes’ walk of our offices in Grove weather; standing water which I’m sure partners to secure this funding. Street. Grove Street incidentally, in the share their pride and excitement Montpellier and Pittville, the area we have all had the annoyance of shaking It has been a challenging time for the early 20th century, had three homeless for the future became, well into the twentieth century, out of our shoes! Yes, these are all reasons team in working through the practicalities hostels, of different levels and costs. • we have a better understanding and the poorest part of Cheltenham and for investment, but part of a wider vision of delivering the masterplan: home to the worst of the town’s slums. Our part of Cheltenham has long been to help define Cheltenham as desirable closer working between key stakeholders • investing in sorting out infrastructure It was the location of the children’s poor the place where immigrants have settled. place to live and visit. with a shared focus on investing in that you will never see – there are a house in what is now Knapp Road, and We now know, from census data and Since the early 2000s there has been Cheltenham the Union Workhouse, which was on the local research and consultation, that myriad of services together with historic ongoing discussion about the High Street. interventions that have tested the • we have created a new space for events land next to Francis Close Hall, where there are people living in Cheltenham Some of you will recall the Civic Pride St Paul’s Medical Centre now stands. from well over 40 different ethnic or engineers • finally, we hope, reinforced the identity initiative that sparked debate, with the of the High Street as a place to shop, The Union Workhouse, incidentally, geographical backgrounds. Cheltenham objective of securing Cheltenham as the • finding cost effective materials that visit and enjoy. did not finally close its doors until the is a diverse place and the Lower High most beautiful town in England. Civic withstand the demands of pedestrians introduction of the 1948 National Street area is the most diverse part of it. Pride shone a spotlight on the town’s and vehicles Next stop is having our contractors on Insurance Act, when part of it became In the next issue I will write about what public realm, highlighting that it fell short • working through the realities of traffic the ground, works starting at the end of St Paul’s Maternity Hospital. CWEP is doing to address the problems in defining Cheltenham as a cultural and enforcement and finding design May and I look forward to sharing with As the slums were cleared, many families in the area. retail centre of choice. The issues raised solutions that restrict vehicle movements you the progress through to October.

6 7 for exhibitions to be mounted in schools and other locations, including Parmoor House and, we hope, another venue. They will also prepare materials that can be accessed on the internet by other remembers Freddie Gick schools interested in conducting similar projects for their own local memorials. A professionally produced booklet will be about the men commemorated on the published and launch events will be held crosses. Several experts will assist the in the school and by the Civic Society to pupils. Neela Mann , author of Cheltenham assist in maximising the public benefit in the Great War , will explore the part derived from the project. played by Cheltenham and its people during the war. Joe Devereux , co-author Following conservation, the crosses will be of Leaving All That Was Dear has details of on display to the public and then placed thousands of soldiers of the Gloucestershire in appropriate secure storage pending Regiment, trench maps, war diaries eventual removal to a weatherproof location, associated with the new WW1 wooden crosses (written in the field, not personal diaries) . Others contributing are Jimmy James , crematorium building. This last aspect As readers of Our Town (September who created the acclaimed website of the work is beyond the scope of the 2017) will know, the Civic Society is www.remembering.org.uk specifically on present project but will ensure their leading a project which will restore Cheltenham soldiers in the Great War, long term protection. twenty-two WWI battlefield crosses and David Drinkwater , a specialist on that are currently fixed to a wooden local WWI military history who has For more information about these fence in Cheltenham cemetery, where mapped the homes of all Cheltenham wooden trench crosses visit the they are too exposed to the weather. WWI casualties. The pupils will also visit exhibition at Open The Society has applied to Heritage the Imperial War Museum in London and Archive. At Last Fighting is Over , Lottery Fund for financial support. possibly the National Archive in Kew. which runs from 9 June 2018 until To strengthen this application, the scope They will use the information obtained 31 March 2019 . There is also the of the project has been broadened, with to prepare text for informative panels to fascinating Borough Council website pupils from Pittville School learning be displayed beside the crosses when www.cheltenhamremembers.org.uk about the conservation process and they are eventually relocated; materials

amplifier and Michael Jackson from both showed sympathetic interest in my Letter to the Editor another only twenty metres away, and fervent dislike of the market and I felt Christmas market tacky merchandise being flogged from pleased with myself that I made my voice Madam: As one of your members I wonder wooden sheds. It felt like a car boot sale heard. However, I see that the market will if you may be interested in my one-woman with fairy lights and I found it embarrassing take place again this year and I now campaign against the Christmas market. that this was considered to be a major wonder if the Civic Society felt able to Last November I walked through it at attraction for Cheltenham; it was a blot add its voice to my disapproval. dusk with a friend from Devon, and was on the landscape for 3 WEEKS. Pamela Masson, Fairview ashamed that this might be the memory she took away from her visit to Regency My sudden and incandescent fury Note from the Editor: we encourage members developed into a fairly rational need to to raise their views about the public realm and Cheltenham – an ugly mass plonked would be very interested to hear the views of down on the Promenade, disguising its make my indignation felt. I contacted our others on this subject. We also have an ‘open beauty, with the stink of frying onions, MP Alex Chalk, and Kevan Blackadder of forum’ at our AGM in March and would the sound of Queen bellowing from one Cheltenham BID. I have to say that they welcome further comment there.

Cheltenham Civic Society trustees Maxine Melling Chair Fiona Clarke Communications and Other key people James Hodsdon Vice-Chair and Editor, Our Town Commemorative Plaques Richard de Carteret Membership Mike Bottomley Heritage Open Days Andrew North Secretary Peter Sayers Planning Forum Phil Collins Parmoor House Christopher Healy Treasurer Lloyd Surgenor Mike Duckering Website Bruce Buchanan Civic Awards Lesley Whittal Events Douglas Ogle Paterson Memorial Lecture Andrew Chard House Committee

Enquiries Photo credits m [email protected] Cheltenham Borough Council, Cheltenham Civic Society, , Cheltenham Civic Society, 13 Lypiatt Terrace Fiona Clarke, Tracey Crews, Neela Mann, Jim Markland, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham GL50 2SX Andrew Mills, Amber Patrick, Peter Sayers. w cheltenhamcivicsociety.org.uk Designed by G facebook.com/cheltenhamcivicsociety Art Works, Cheltenham 01242 572559 j Registered charity No. 1166580

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