Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 County Courier newsSuffolk and issue from the districts, amenity View societies and members The publication of the Suffolk Preservation Society Registered Charity No. 1154806 Issue No:127 Spring 2016

• Annual General Meeting – Friday 3rd June 2016 • The Experience – Planning Inquiry • Conservation Awards reward Lodge • Visit the recaptured landscape of Capability Brown Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Contents

Foreword SPS Director, Fiona Cairns, writes 3 Comment SPS Chairman, Andrew Fane, writes 4 SPS CIO AGM information 5 and 6 The Framlingham experience Is all fair in love, war and planning inquiries? 7 Planning, Conservation and Heritage Overview Update and comment 8 County Courier News and issues from the districts, amenity societies and members 11 From the News-stand Copy and comment – update on matters of local and national interest 14 Heritage Matters Quality of Place Awards 2015 – Letheringham Lodge 16 Windows – an overview of traditional styles 20 Traditional building skills, conservation courses and lectures 22 Book Review SPAB Briefi ng 2016 - Windows and Doors 2 3 Quote of the Issue 23 Membership 24 SPS Events Review Diary Dates 24 and 25 Market Place: Directory 27

Kessingland

Offi ces Patron The Countess of Euston © 2016 SPS. All rights reserved. Little Hall, Market Place, President The Lord DL Printed by Lavenham Press Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk Chairman Andrew Fane The views expressed in Suffolk View are those of the CO10 9QZ individual authors, and do not necessarily refl ect the Director Fiona Cairns, MRTPI IHBC Telephone 01787 247179 position of the SPS Honorary treasurer Patrick Corney, FCA Fax 01787 248341 For editorial matters, queries and Cover photographs: Email [email protected] submissions contact the Editor Front: Framlingham Castle – the inner ward Website www.suffolksociety.org Linda Clapham at Little Hall Back: Lavenham’s vernacular windows

Founded in 1929, the SPS Charitable Incorporated Organisation Number 1154806 is working to safeguard the buildings and Operating as the landscape of Suffolk. County Branch of CPRE Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Foreword SPS Director, Fiona Cairns, writes

The Planning and Housing Bill is set to become law later this year. The media tell us on a daily basis that we are facing a national housing crisis and the delivery of housing is at the top of the political agenda.

The new law will enable the Government to meet its target of one million new homes by 2020. Crucially, it will allow the Government to step in where local authorities have not put a Local Plan in place by 2017, automatic planning permission will be granted on brownfield sites, office to residential conversions will no longer require planning permission, the delivery of Starter Homes will be promoted, the Right to Buy programme will be extended and planning reforms introduced to support self-build schemes. Council housing sold off Most controversially, there will be a requirement that local authorities sell off high value vacant housing and reinvest the proceeds into affordable driven by over-ambition rather than but they should be in the right places homes. These changes are being housing need which is resulting in and of a quality and size that meets underpinned by further reforms to the ever higher housing targets and the the local need. The SPS’s recent National Planning Policy Framework unnecessary release of countryside for involvement in a housing case in (NPPF) which, in particular, will require development. Framlingham, see page 7, is a case in local authorities to plan for the needs of The research showed that of the 54 point. Planning Overview on page 8 those who aspire to home ownership, Local Plans containing a housing target, also sets out our recent campaigning push for higher housing densities the average housing requirement was work on housing schemes. around commuter hubs and back new 30 per cent above the Government’s settlements. household projections and 50 per cent On a brighter note While the Government’s efforts to above the average build rate. There are some really good events for improve access to housing for all are you to join in with this year including welcomed, there are some reforms Defend our special places Park, detailed in the last Issue, which raise genuine concerns about Setting targets far higher than what Letheringham Lodge and the impacts upon our countryside. The can realistically be built means that Hall, see pages 25 and 26. I do hope ever growing relaxation of planning developers have the pick of the most we will see you there. All our events control combined with the expotential profitable, usually greenfield, sites. are important as they help us to raise growth in housing numbers is a recipe It does not mean that high quality funds, increase our membership and for serious harm to our special places, affordable homes are being delivered. allow members to meet socially while our village edges and our undesignated The relaxation of planning control and furthering our understanding on landscapes that make up the majority inaccurate assessment of housing need, interesting subjects. of our rural countryside. are a recipe for unmitigated disaster On page 16 you can read, under for a rural county like Suffolk. We need Heritage Matters, the conservation Flawed housing numbers to robustly defend our special places journey of Letheringham Lodge which The CPRE’s recently commissioned and remind the decision makers that is the venue for one of our visits. independent research “Set up to Fail: sustainable development includes the Please don’t forget your AGM on Friday, why housing targets based on flawed protection and enhancement of our 3rd June at Lavenham Guildhall. I look numbers threaten our countryside” shows natural and historic environment. forward to meeting you there. that local housing targets are too often It is vital that we build more homes,

3 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Comment SPS Chairman, Andrew Fane,writes

SPS continues to evolve and develop, and I consciously repeat my message from earlier editorials that our focus is on professionalism.

Sound opinion recognised not exist to carry big developments – This now shows itself in a number for example, small towns served poorly of ways, all of them helpful to our by transport and lacking infrastructure cause. We are increasingly becoming like schools and medical centres. recognised by local planning authorities across the County as being a ‘sound Heritage legislation key opinion’. After careful analysis of So our battle goes on and we fight for policy, our professional planners write the best interests of the historic towns, pertinent letters of representation to villages, buildings and landscapes of the the majority of significant planning County. applications arising throughout the Planning officers sometimes make County. In some cases the principle their own task harder in seeking to of development is already established resist inappropriate or unsustainable but they argue for better designed developments by failing to maximise resident groups and communities, housing and improved layout. To this on the heritage legislation which feel isolated when seeking to resist end we have access to outside experts remains in place and can be effective unsustainable development pressures. to supplement our planning skills – in resisting these poor developments. SPS is the only independent Suffolk an urban designer and a landscape Sometimes, SPS, along with other charity fighting for the preservation of architect. In some cases we the County. When one considers argue forcibly for a refusal of a the drastic loss of conservation development where we believe officers right across the country this is not sustainably planned it is not entirely surprising that and would have an adverse heritage considerations are not impact on interests of real in the minds of case officers or value to the County such as the heard sufficiently before planning heritage of valued towns, villages committees. and historic buildings. Our place in the County Open door to new It is, therefore, important that we housing continue to increase substantially The better our response to the SPS membership to support planning applications, however, all the hard work that we do the more pressure we are finding on behalf of the County. With in the development demands the life-blood of a buoyant of the County and its planners. membership to back our efforts More housing numbers are comes the authority to speak continually sought particularly strongly on the County’s behalf. where local authorities do not I appreciate I am speaking to the yet have a sufficient five-year converted when writing in Suffolk housing supply in place. In View but I would like you to tell these cases, in the opinion of others about our exemplary the Inspectors, applicants and work which goes mainly unsung. appellants often enjoy an open If everyone recruited just one door to substantial numbers member that would greatly of new housing, often in an assist our standing in the County. inappropriate location. SPS Please consider this. recognises this pressure but does believe sustainability arguments should be adhered to and we protest vigorously, when it is demonstrable that vital infrastructure and resources do

4 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Suffolk Preservation Society Charity Incorporated Organisation Annual General Meeting 2016 Registered Charity No: 1154806

Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of Suffolk Preservation Society CIO (the “CIO”) to be held on Friday, 3rd June 2016 at 7.00 pm at The Guildhall, Lavenham (registration from 6.30 pm) for the following purposes:

1. To note any apologies for absence;

2. To receive the trustees’ Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2015;

3. To receive the Trustees’ Annual Report;

4. To note the retirement of Mr. Patrick Corney, a first Trustee as named in the Constitution of the CIO and Honorary Treasurer; and the resignation of Trustee, Ruth Stokes;

5. To re-elect Ralph Carpenter and Nicholas Pearson, who retire by rotation in accordance with the SPS CIO Constitution;

6. To elect the following persons as Trustees, co-opted by the CIO Trustees in accordance with the Constitution during the year – Jessica de Grazia and Lois Hunt;

7. Resolution to update the Constitution;

8. To re-appoint David Roberton & Company, Registered Auditors, as auditor of the CIO, to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid before the CIO.

9. Questions to the Director and Trustees.

Paid-up members of SPS CIO (including Suffolk CPRE members who gain automatic membership of SPS CIO) may attend and vote in person at the Annual General Meeting by registering at the Registration Desk which will be open at The Guildhall, Lavenham from 6.30 pm on Friday, 3th June 2016. Voting will take place by a show of hands.

Members who are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting in person may appoint the Chairman or another person to attend, speak and vote in their place at the meeting. The appointment of a proxy must be notified to the CIO in writing using the proxy form overleaf and delivered to the registered office of the CIO, Little Hall, Market Place, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9QZ at least 72 hours before the date and time of the Annual General Meeting.

By Order of the Trustees

Andrew Fane Chairman

Note: The CIO accounts ended 31st December 2015 will be made available on the website from 2nd May 2016, and at the AGM. Personal profiles of Trustees offering themselves for election are on the CIO’s website and also available at the AGM. www.suffolksociety.org

The business of the evening will include light refreshments: an indication of attendance would greatly assist us with this provision – 01787 247179 or email [email protected]

For reasons of economy AGM papers will not be mailed out to Members unless requested.

✁ We look forward to welcoming you.

5 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Suffolk Preservation Society Charity Incorporated Organisation Registered Charity No: 1154806

Form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday, 3rd June 2016 in accordance with the Notice of Meeting.

To be valid this form of proxy must be signed by the Member and received at the offi ce of the CIO at least 72 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting.

I/we, the undersigned, being a Member/Members of Suffolk Preservation Society, CIO, hereby appoint the Chairman of the meeting or the person hereby named –

...... as my/our proxy to attend, speak and vote in respect of my/our voting entitlement at the AGM of the CIO as set out in the Notice of Meeting, overleaf.

Resolutions: VOTE FOR AGAINST WITHHELD 1. Apologies

2. To receive the Statement of Accounts

3. To receive the Trustees Annual Report

4. To note the retirement of Trustees Patrick Corney and Ruth Stokes

5. To re-elect Trustees Ralph Carpenter and Nicholas Pearson who stand down by rotation

6. To elect the co-opted T rustees during the year Jessica de Grazia and Lois Hunt

7. Resolution to update the Constitution

8. To re-appoint the Auditor to the CIO.

Signature of Member: ...... Date: ......

✁

6 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 The Framlingham Experience Is all fair in love, war and planning inquiries?

Report by Fiona Cairns, SPS Director

In January 2016 the SPS agreed to act as expert witness for the Framlingham Residents’ Association in their campaign against a housing scheme in their town.

The SPS had raised objection to the be unfair to the appellants. But just how the process and end up on the back erection of 163 houses on a 6 hectare fair is the public inquiry process? foot, rushing to catch up with the other greenfield site to the south of the town parties who have been involved in the on the grounds of the heritage and On the back foot case for months, if not years. landscape harm, especially given that The Public Inquiry process is the scheme would destroy key views predicated upon the need for SPS support of the Castle, Church and College from professional representation, whether Finally, the Public Inquiry process numerous highly sensitive observation it is legal, planning or other technical is a gruelling and intimidating one, points on this prominent site on the areas of expertise such as highways and requiring enormous reserves of courage valley side. design. It requires significant levels of and dedication to see a challenge like resourcing to employ the professional this through to the end. What is Rule 6? skills required to participate in the The SPS was proud to support the The residents’ group FRAm had process. This is a huge financial FRAm Rule 6 party and, whatever recently formed and been granted Rule commitment with no guarantee of the Inspector’s decision, wish to 6 status by the Planning Inspectorate success. congratulate the group on coming which allowed them to take an active Secondly, the time-scales are together to put a defensible case against part in the Public Inquiry: to give frequently punitive for Rule 6 groups unwanted development in this very evidence, be cross- examined and who invariably come together late in special place. cross-examine the evidence of the other parties. FRAm invited SPS to act as their heritage witness and the SPS took this important opportunity to highlight the serious heritage impacts which the Council and Historic had not objected to. The residents had raised funds to employ legal representation and Highways and Landscape advice. However, the SPS offered its services for free, in line with its charitable objects of protecting and promoting the special heritage and landscape qualities of Suffolk. Is the process fair? Only five per cent of planning cases are heard at Public Inquiry and they are generally restricted to the large scale and controversial ones. The Inquiry process is intended to allow issues to be fully unpacked, analysed and cross- examined in order to arrive at a fair and transparent decision, balancing all the material planning considerations. During my time spent at the twelve- day inquiry, the word fairness was frequently discussed, not least because the FRAm Rule 6 party did not always have expert evidence to rebut the other side’s statements. This was claimed to

7 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Planning, Conservation and Heritage Overview Update and comment

Valuing our Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The distinctive character and natural beauty of England’s 34 AONBs make them some of the most special and loved places in England. Here in Suffolk we enjoy two designated AONBs – the integrity is challenged by incremental been refused. SPS had urged for the Suffolk Coast and Heaths development where one poor scheme application to be turned down as this AONB and the Dedham Vale justifies the next. sensitive site is adjacent to the Coast AONB straddling the Essex/ At SPS we recognise the need to and Heaths AONB and is prominent Suffolk border. They are build more houses and that our AONBs within views into and from the must function as living and working tranquil area of AONB by the Deben. protected in law and through landscapes. But we too have been Moreover, the site plays a vital role in Government policy for concerned by some recent planning maintaining the separation between their landscapes and scenic applications and decisions which will the two settlements. Whilst District Council’s (SCDC) beauty. impact upon our AONBs. We await a decision on the decision on this high profile application application for 43 houses in is welcomed, the decision regarding a Local authorities have a duty to ‘have on the former brickworks site. Although housing application in was regard to the purpose of conserving arguably brownfield land, it is highly disappointing. SPS attended and spoke or enhancing the natural beauty’ sensitive, being an open site on the at the meeting in December where an of AONBs when coming to any estuary. SPS voiced its concern over application for 13 houses was decided. decisions. However, a 2015 study the impact of such a large number We had joined the Parish Council and by the National Trust highlighted of houses on the AONB landscape, residents in resisting the development worrying shortcomings in the way this particularly as other more accessible on the edge of the village. We felt that duty is being applied. In particular the sites are available in the town. These this major development in a deeply ‘presumption in favour of sustainable are less controversial and could deliver rural village, within the Coasts and development’ as set out in the NPPF the required number of houses for Heaths AONB, did not offer sufficient should not apply within AONBs, but Aldeburgh. public benefits, as required by national the Trust’s study found that decision- Fortunately permission for over 200 policy, to justify harmful development makers regularly give insufficient weight houses on a greenfield site between within an AONB. The planning officer, to the quality of an AONB and that their and Woodbridge has however, concluded that the harm to the AONB landscape was not so severe as to justify the refusal of much needed Aldeburgh awaits housing decision housing. The committee members were split in their decision but unfortunately the application was eventually approved. The Bawdsey application highlights the problem of providing new homes in Suffolk towns and villages which are wholly within an AONB. In these cases any building on greenfield land is likely to harm the protected landscape to a degree, and yet local planning policy directs some development, and in particular affordable housing, to the smaller settlements. With this conflict in mind, SPS responded to SCDC’s recent consultation on housing

8 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

Bawdsey AONB under threat site allocations, including planned moves increasingly towards allowing extensions to the physical limits small developments adjacent to villages, boundaries of some AONB villages Neighbourhood Plans could: influence which could make it easier to gain where and what type of development permission for new houses. should happen in their area; include The 2014 contribution to the policies regarding design and materials economy by the Dedham Vale and of new buildings and highlight what it Suffolk Coasts and Heaths AONBs was is important to promote or protect in In recent months we have reviewed the estimated at £242 million. Suffolk’s the neighbourhood. Neighbourhood plans at , Framlingham, AONBs provide real value, both Plans cannot be used to prevent East Bergholt, , directly from tourism and related development and must not conflict Mendlesham and Lavenham and employment, but also from the ability with policies set out in the Local Plan. know there are more in the pipeline. of unrelated local businesses to recruit They must be primarily about the use and retain staff due to the quality of and development of land and buildings Worth Keeping? the environment for leisure and outdoor but can be as narrow or as broad as There have been many applications activities. How far can we afford to you wish. If your community would around the county for the demolition of neglect our most prized landscapes like a greater say in the future of the or sacrifice their tranquillity in neighbourhood, this may be for you. Great Bealings has a Neighbourhood Plan in progress order to provide much needed SPS is happy to be consulted on all the housing? Neighbourhood Plans that communities throughout Suffolk are busy preparing. NPPF changes to threaten our Alongside other key issues which are important to communities, we are keen villages? to promote the opportunity that they We responded to Government present to protect the heritage and Consultation regarding proposed landscape features which add to the changes to national planning policy. special qualities of each town or village. CPRE had covered many of our concerns in their response but we Lavenham’s Neighbourhood Plan well on the way felt that one issue in particular had ramifications for a county such as ours with its historic villages set within rural hinterlands. The edges of these villages are sensitive to change in terms of the impact on landscape and heritage. In a bid to boost housing the government proposes to encourage the development of small sites on the edges of villages but our concern is that this will increase land prices and discourage landowners from releasing these sites for affordable homes. The need for affordable homes for local people will remain, putting greater pressure on greenfield land.

Do you need a Neighbourhood Plan? In the last Issue of Suffolk View the potential of a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) was highlighted on page 5. As the direction of national planning guidance

9 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Neighbourhood Plan considered appropriate for Kessingland

historic buildings. We think that where edition of Private Eye which stated that cottage is set in a traditional kitchen possible buildings which contribute to the the Suffolk Preservation Society was ‘not garden which adjoins meadowland character of their surroundings through much concerned’. and this reminder of a bucolic way of their appearance or social connections We followed a similar approach when life is now lost, to be replaced with a should be retained and restored. This was calling for a full structural survey of disappointing executive-style home. the argument we used when we called for the Gig House in Clare, a curtilage More encouragingly, Waveney District a conservation approach to be used for listed building which was to be partly Council successfully fought to prevent the White Cottage in Framlingham. demolished and replaced with a 3-bed the demolition of The Kings Head We believe that, although dilapidated, house. The application was withdrawn coaching inn in Kessingland which this modest weather-boarded cottage and we hope that the owners will now originates from the seventeenth century. contributes to the character of the explore options to restore the building, We joined the district council in calling conservation area and are encouraged which originally housed estate workers for its retention as a rare surviving that plans to demolish it were resisted at Chilton Hall. Unfortunately, an historic feature in the neighbourhood by SCDC officers and members. Local application to demolish a traditional and were pleased that the application opinion is divided on this building’s cottage within the AONB at Dazeleys was recently dismissed at Appeal, see future but our comments to SCDC were Lane, East Bergholt was deemed County Courier on page 12. unequivocal. It is therefore curious that acceptable by we were misrepresented in a recent Council’s planners and councillors. The All of our letters are available in full on our website.

White Cottage, Framlingham Demolition of cottage in East Bergholt

10 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 County Courier News and issues from the districts, amenity societies and members

SPS District Chairs can be contacted via the Lavenham office

are simply not suitable in so many cases. District Suffolk Coastal There is a huge problem and we feel the Report by Phil Butler, SPS Mid Suffolk District District weight of it, see page 8. This is my first report since taking on this Report by Jo Rogers, Chair SPS Suffolk Coastal role for SPS Mid Suffolk District and as you District Committee can imagine it will take a while to fully pick Borough of St. this up so if there are any others who would SPS Suffolk Coastal District committee Edmundsbury like to become more actively involved across have concentrated on developments in Mid Suffolk please get in contact with me Framlingham attending Suffolk Coastal Report by David Rees, Chair SPS via the Lavenham office. Even if it is only District Council’s (SCDC) Planning meetings St. Edmundsbury District Committee occasional support you can offer it would be at Melton and also the Public Inquiry which It is some time since I reported for SPS St. good to hear from you. is still on-going as I write. The SPS planning Edmundsbury District. Unfortunately I have Most of my focus for these first few team has contributed fully to the Inquiry on been incapacitated. Now that I am mobile I months has been mainly around gaining a the heritage aspect and we can only hope have noticed the changes that have occurred better understanding of how we can help to that their efforts will carry weight with the in six months – the successful ‘Wolf Trail’ ease the burden on the SPS planning team Inspector, see page 7. around the town; the flats at the corner of by attempting to identify the local planning There was controversy also over Maynewater Lane and Southgate Street cases that merit further investigation by a planning application in New Road, them. What has become clear is that with so Framlingham where a developer followed are almost ready and look far more attractive many applications entering the system it is Hopkins Homes on the Station Road site than we anticipated; the Gasometer in not always an easy task to pick up on ones and pleaded non-viability as a reason to Tayfen Road has been demolished and the with real material concerns for our heritage, decline affordable housing in the scheme. site ‘designated’ by some as a wilderness. be it individual buildings, the more general In a private session financial matters were This feature of the town will be missed. I built environment or our fast changing looked into and the developer was allowed have a charming watercolour of the rust- landscape. to go ahead without the affordable housing. coloured structure ‘now you see it, now Within Mid Suffolk a proliferation of small In the New Year, I represented SPS at you don’t’. We hope that the area will be to moderate housing developments are the SCDC’s Planning meeting regarding an detoxified soon and attractively developed. starting to flood through because of Mid AONB development at Bawdsey. We were There are yet more cafes, restaurants Suffolk District Council’s failure to define an objecting on various environmental grounds and coffee bars. A Mexican cafe has been adequate five-year housing land supply with – effect on the landscape, unsuitable layout replaced by a Thai Tapas bar and two the consequence that their housing policies of the site and the absence of ‘need’ for restaurants have taken over the site of within the Local Plan will no longer be this housing. However, the vote was 8-3 in Barclays Bank; there is a new pub in enforceable. Instead a more general favour despite objections from the District St. Andrew’s Street South and at last the presumption in favour of approval will prevail Councillor and Parish Council. The Planning long vacant derelict area next to what was for the time being. Not a comfortable Committee considered that the housing Woolworth is now a thriving coffee shop and situation for safeguarding our area. I am would regenerate the village population, bar. The whole town is changing – solicitors’ particularly concerned about potential bringing in younger people and increasing offices are now residential, whole streets ‘patchwork’ developments that appear to numbers in the school, but it remains to be now lack retail, but the place seems to be have little regard to their setting and impact. seen and doubtless the mix will more likely thriving, and run-down shops are no longer For example, at Palgrave concerns have be second home buyers and people retiring evident. The Arc and the Apex are doing been raised around the implications of an to the area, see page 8. well but the tatty street that separates the old additional 21 dwellings upon the local Another major application at town centre from the cattle market remains infrastructure in the heart of a conservation Martlesham, now refused, had a scruffy barrier, no satisfactory solution has area. At Barham a14-dwelling development overwhelming objections because of its yet emerged. has been refused on grounds of flooding, proximity to the Deben estuary and the Nationally, 2015 was the 800th anniversary archaeology, lack of open space provision, adverse effect of over 200 houses outside of Magna Carta but we celebrated it a overdevelopment and impact upon the boundaries of both Martlesham and year early because the Barons planned the biodiversity, but SPS was frustrated that the Woodbridge thereby filling in a valuable document in Bury St. Edmunds in1214. harm to the setting of the adjacent Grade II open space between the two settlements. Local historians have always been sceptical farmhouse through the removal of its last Another scheme for 300 houses along the about this historical jewel but a recent book remaining connection to its rural setting was road in indicates this particular by Professor David Carpenter conclusively not cited by MSDC officers despite our area is under pressure. confirms that this meeting took place in strong objection. Aldeburgh also has a problem with a Bury in 1214 albeit in October rather than proposal for 43 houses on the ‘old brick November. Last month he lectured about this Editor’s note: Please do get in touch via 01787 kiln’ site which is well outside the town chronology in Moyses Hall after unveiling 247179 if anyone from Mid Suffolk would like to centre and impacts on the AONB estuary a new sculpture in the Abbey Gardens support Phil. landscape. commemorating this important event. Now We are well aware of the continuing we can forget the Barons for another century! need for affordable housing, but most of I can testify personally that the proposed developments do not provide Hospital has endured well as a building but nearly enough of these and the sites chosen transport to it, access and parking remain

11 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

by as much as 26 per residential use, see page 10. cent. Now, we will have In , a few miles south, evidence to find the money. It all gathered for its Neighbourhood Plan shows seems too good to be that only 44 per cent of its housing stock true. is now inhabited by full-time residents. Its Finally, good schemes community hospital, built entirely through in prospect are to contributions from Southwold residents in save the former Tolly the early 20th century, and transferred to Cobbold Brewery on the NHS in 1947, is scheduled for closure. Cliff Quay; reinvigorate Concerned that a developer could purchase the south-east corner of it to build more second homes, the Town the docks by creating a Council obtained its listing as a community conference centre with asset. Southwold has lost other community a 250-seat auditorium, facilities to housing projects and now there some commercial is a dearth of space for community and business uses that are essential to a vital Stone commemoration to Magna Carta accommodation and the possibility of locating town. NHS Properties Ltd. has appealed there the to Waveney District council to reverse this a problem despite much consideration. Transport Museum. All would be supported decision, and if this is not successful, the Perhaps swapping the bike for the car is not financially by a block of apartments and a developer has the option of appealing to a appropriate for many but I look forward to Heritage Enterprise Grant from the Heritage Tribunal. resuming my cycling. Lottery Fund. This scheme has received Finally, an application to redevelop a outline planning permission and we hope redundant service station at the entrance that the developers can get it off the ground to Southwold, which sits within the AONB, Ipswich Borough this time. shows why parishes need to press on with drafting design guidelines. Southwold’s Report by Mike Cook, Ipswich Society Neighbourhood Plan was not sufficiently far Waveney District advanced to influence the proposal. Instead, As I write the media is advising that agreed the local authority referred it to the Suffolk funding has been secured for the re-designing Report by Jessica de Grazia, SPS Waveney Design Review Panel. The developer, his of the Cornhill area as illustrated in Suffolk District architect and Waveney lpa continue to work View, Issue 126 page 10. This £3.5 million A three-year battle to save The King’s Head towards achieving a high standard of design exercise is aimed at making the centre of on Kessingland’s High Street reached a for an important site. Ipswich more attractive and encouraging happy end when the Planning Inspector more shoppers. Ipswich Society members dismissed the developer’s Appeal for an have almost unanimously expressed their application to demolish the public house Babergh District opposition to this, favouring a less radical and replace it with housing. Although the approach of repaving the entire town centre pub’s architectural significance was modest, Babergh planning committee has given the and improving the Town Hall steps. The its historic associations (as an 18th century green light to a number of new housing remainder of The Vision of Ipswich is now court house and the site of the founding of schemes in recent weeks. Plans for over being discussed and hopefully we will see the Suffolk Humane Society) coupled with 400 homes on the Wolsey Grange site significant changes. its positive contribution to the character of in Sproughton were controversially given Completed is the revamping of Tower the High Street, outweighed the benefits the go-ahead in February. The application Ramparts shopping arcade, now named of creating a housing estate that lacked had been refused in November 2015 by Sailmakers, which has been improved affordable housing. Equally important, the the planning committee citing design and externally as well as internally with additional Inspector invoked the NPPF’s and the Local transport concerns inter alia. The proposal shops. Work on the Buttermarket shopping Plan’s protection for community facilities; was brought back for re-consideration mall is nearly finished and the enlarged the developer had not proved that the public following the threat of a legal challenge TK Maxx store on the ground floor is now house could not have been viable for a non- and, despite no material amendments being open. The multi-screen Vue cinema, with its The King’s Head, Kessingland in 2012 restaurant and free on-site parking, will open soon. Ipswich Borough Council is to build a two-storey car park on the former Charles Street site; and NCP are selling the Tacket Street car park and Woolworth store. These changes could be positive and congenial improvements to the town. Consulting engineers to Suffolk County Council are to assess the business and technical case for a crossing at the Docks with a bridge across the river plus a second bridge across the ‘cut’ and, additionally, a pedestrian and cycle crossing at the lock, which would reap a 5.73 times reward of its initial £80 million cost over a 60-year life. They claim it would attract investment into the Dock area, particularly the ‘Island’ and reduce traffic around the Star Lane gyratory

12 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

Controversial approval for 400 houses at Wosley Grange Ministry of Defence’s announcement in January which finally confirmed the sale of land at RAF Mildenhall. Forest Heath District Council had pushed for a prompt decision on the site since the US Air Force announced its decision to leave the air base by 2022. The district council, together with St. Edmundsbury Borough Council, Suffolk County Council, Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough LEP, New Anglia LEP and the West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group has been successful with its £230,000 funding bid from the Government’s One Public Estate programme. This will be earmarked to create a plan for the future use of the site which will include a substantial new area of housing as well as employment uses. Whatever the future of the site, its effects will be felt not just in the Mildenhall area, but in West Suffolk and the wider sub- region and, therefore, a careful integrated response to this opportunity is required. made to the scheme, a different outcome was houses in the village which would be contrary Meanwhile, the Mildenhall Hub reached. We understand that Sproughton to the draft NP, placing doubts locally on the development brief is out to public Parish Council is considering a judicial review worth of the Localism Act. consultation. This is a project to bring a range to challenge the way that this application has of public services, which are currently spread been dealt with. throughout the town on 8 sites, together Ipswich Borough Council had expressed Forest Heath its concern over the development of so on to one accessible site in Mildenhall. many houses on the Wolsey Grange site District The concept is for a flexible space to meet which will have inevitable consequences on the current and future needs of the area. services and transport links in their area. As I write, a public inquiry is under way Education, health, leisure and council A masterplan for the area to the west of into the outline application for 63 houses services, the CAB, Job Centre, voluntary Ipswich was called for which would involve on the Meddler Stud site at Kentford. sector groups, library, police and fire services collaboration between Babergh and Ipswich The outcome of this will be interesting could all be located on the single site at councils. as it represents a test of strength of the Sheldrick Way which would accommodate a In Bildeston residents were disappointed planning policy protecting land used for shared public facility and various specialist and not a little baffled that a development the horse-racing industry in the face of buildings. More information on the project is of 48 houses on a greenfield site was given a general requirement for new housing. available at www.mildenhallhub.info permission whereas a proposal for the same A long term need for housing land in site was refused by Babergh only months the district may have been eased by the previously for the reason that no local need for the RAF Mildenhall finally sold housing existed. Meanwhile, long awaited progress is being made in the development of the allocated site at Chilton Woods to the north of Sudbury. An outline planning application showing the phased development of the site for a mixed-use of employment and 1,100 houses is currently being considered. The plan also includes a 60-bedroom hotel located adjacent to the current Tesco store, and open space for both formal and informal recreation. Despite an advanced Neighbourhood Plan at East Bergholt the district planning committee approved a development of 144 houses and a further 10

13 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 From the News-stand Copy and comment

Land – the unsustainable dilemma Readers of Suffolk View are unlikely to need much convincing that our land is in demand from building development and energy infrastructure on the one hand and for growing food and countryside enjoyment on the other. Farming is under immense pressure to produce more food from home – the sustainable way forward for food security and a balanced environment, but is not helped to do so. In a recent article in Country Life HRH the Prince of Wales came out strongly in support of the small farming enterprises that struggle hard to survive and upon which partly depend other rural amenities like village stores, post offices, pubs, primary schools and country churches. They all feed off each other for support in their fight for survival. If they erode or disappear the rural countryside Orford - the blight of overhead wires becomes a less living, breathing, working place – and we are all the poorer for economically and become self-sustaining Suffolk AONB improvements it. British farmers are under immense as an important part of rural life Following presentations from the AONB pressure to sell at even lower prices supporting our historic landscape. team in December 2015, the Ofgem to satisfy the ever-demanding but Undergrounding Steering Group has faltering giant supermarkets – price C - landscape assessed agreed to over £1million of investment is everything. Food supply within this The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in to undergrounding low-voltage power country is too important to allow this (AONB) Special Qualities document cables in Orford within the Suffolk to continue. There needs to be a strong produced at the end of 2015 sets out Coast & Heaths AONB. In addition to recommitment to British food sourcing the Natural Beauty and Special Qualities this investment, the scheme at Shingle and refusal to sell below the cost of of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area Street, worth nearly £500,000, will production so that farming can survive of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The receive the final green light providing document has been developed by EDF the agreements can be made within Energy, as part of their preparatory six months. The £163,000 scheme at work for the proposed Sizewell C nuclear Flatford, in the Dedham Vale AONB, is plant, in consultation and agreement due to start 2016. with the AONB Partnership, Suffolk Coastal District Council and Suffolk County Council. It follows a rigorous Historic environment support criteria-based approach, building on Civic Voice, the national charity for the Natural England’s process for the civic society movement, held the first designation of protected landscape, meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary and forms an important part of the Group for Civic Societies. Their focus baseline to help inform the design during the first part of 2016 is the of the proposed development, and historic environment specifically against which to judge its effect on the referencing the impact of the loss of protected landscape and its special conservation staff, the importance qualities. This should be of significant of community involvement in local wider benefit to the AONB Partnership heritage listing and the impact of in articulating what is characteristic and development on Cathedral cities. valuable about this nationally important Chairman Craig Mackinlay said “I call landscape. However delays with funding on all communities across the country at Hinkley Point C in Somerset, still to tell their MP to join the All-Party under discussion between the British Group and to give Civic Voice examples government and majority French owners of what is happening to your local EDF with associates China GNP, may historic environment. We will debate have also delayed progress at Sizewell C. these issues in future meetings.”

14 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

government review, the role of the the Charter of the Forest restored and historic environment in local plans protected people’s right to access the remains crucial to ensure that there royal forests, important for grazing live- are locally distinctive policies and stock, foraging for food and collecting proposals, and an understanding of how firewood. Now campaigners say we need heritage assets can inform and shape a new charter, as the UK’s woodlands the development of places. There has and trees face ‘unprecedented pressures’ also been an upsurge in the number from development, diseases, pests and of neighbourhood plans (NPs) being climate change. Spearheaded by the produced by communities across the Woodland Trust they have stated that area, almost one hundred to date. Most woods and trees deliver £270 billion have yet to proceed to adoption, and worth of benefits to the UK. there remain many opportunities for the Editor’s Note: Elm trees are making a comeback historic environment to be reflected in in the Dedham Vale AONB. New Elm saplings have Duncan Wilson, OBE – Appointed First Chief them, see page 9. For example, in Essex, been planted along a stretch of bank on the River Executive of Historic England Burnham-on-Crouch Neighbourhood Stour on National Trust land. They are resistant to Plan includes a chapter specifically Dutch Elm disease which decimated the elm tree ‘Focus On’ heritage population across Britain, killing over 60 million dedicated to heritage. The Suffolk From a recent government survey it is trees since the 1970s. villages of Lavenham, Great Bealings The Universities of Birmingham and apparent that nearly every adult agrees and East Bergholt have heritage Southampton have indicated that more tree- that it is important to them that heritage much in evidence in theirs, while the planting on a very large scale would assist buildings and places are looked after vulnerable areas to become more flood-resistant well, and the British countryside and NP for Drayton in Norfolk included but the Environment Agency says there are good consideration of the historic insufficient funds to attempt the magnitude of scenery came out on top as the asset works proposed. that makes us most proud. The ‘Taking environment. Part, Focus On’ survey, one of ten reports Local and neighbourhood planning is on various topics, also measured the a time and resource intensive process engagement through volunteering, within the context of ever-decreasing donations and membership of heritage local authority capacity. However, organisations. Fourteen per cent of the importance of local conservation adults had donated money to heritage expertise cannot be underestimated. in the past 12 months and 24 per cent Conservation and archaeological said they had carried out voluntary professionals help to shape policies and work in the heritage sector in the past proposals to ensure that plans maximise year. It was also noted that children who the opportunities to sustain and enhance visited historic sites when young had the important historic environment, see a significantly more positive attitude Comment on page 4. towards the historic environment. Historic England’s Chief Executive, Protect our woodlands Duncan Wilson, said “I am delighted to Some 45 conservation and cultural see how many people take pride in our groups are proposing a UK Charter for heritage and how highly they regard Trees, Woods and People, which is to the historic character of our towns and be launched on the 800th anniversary cities and rural landscape. It’s further of the original Charter of the Forest. proof, if we needed it, of the importance Signed in November 1217 by Henry III, of England’s distinctiveness, and how this heritage needs to be valued and Suffolk woodland in Spring integrated with new development rather than disregarded and eroded.” Well said.

Policy development in East England There is renewed emphasis from central government to get Local Plans in place as soon as possible. A ministerial statement indicated that government would intervene in local authorities where, by early 2017, no local plans have been produced. At present this could affect approximately one-third of local authorities in the area. The government is looking also at streamlining and accelerating the local plan process. Within the context of

15 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Heritage matters Letheringham Lodge, a late-medieval hunting lodge

SPS has long been an advocate for the care and repair of Suffolk’s old buildings and recognises the need to encourage outstanding quality craftsmanship in building Suffolk Coastal District building company R. & J. Hogg Limited. conservation and repair Council Quality of Place The role was complemented with work as well as high the expertise of two historic building Awards 2015 consultants and an archaeologist – standards in all forms Leigh Alston, Philip Aitkens and Edward of design, architecture, Winner in the Building Martin respectively, all providing planning and sustainable Conservation category documentary evidence together with development. conservation officers’ reports and Letheringham Lodge support, see letheringhamlodge.com This Grade II* Listed and Scheduled evidence confirmed the importance of Awards reward conservation Ancient Monument the building which overturned previous These aspirations are the criteria for Letheringham Lodge, a former theories on the history and nature the Suffolk District Council’s Awards late-medieval hunting lodge at of this now three-jettied property Scheme which has been running since Letheringham, near , surrounded by a moat and informed the 2010 and has the support of the SPS. is the home of Matthew and Pauline cautious and analytical approach to the The Quality of Place Awards Bickerton. The lodge, built by Sir John repairs. The building is recognised as are presented in two categories – Wingfield who was related by marriage a type unique in East Anglia and rare ‘Building Conservation’ and ‘Design’. to the de Vere family (Earls of Oxford), elsewhere, (originally with a fourth jetty The Awards represent a celebration has been dated to 1472, with later which was found incorporated in the of the efforts made by people across additions in 1610, making this moated later additions), enabling 360 degree Suffolk Coastal District that add property a rare and prestigious early views of the former deer park which quality to Suffolk’s environment, see building. surrounded it. Three heavily carved also Suffolk View, Issue 123. It was acquired by the present owners dragon posts were already visible and the fourth was exposed during the The judges for the Awards were – in December 2012 just at the time an repairs. Tony Fryatt, Suffolk Coastal District enforcement order was to be served by Council (SCDC) cabinet portfolio SCDC on the former owners. However, holder for Planning, and Chairman the local authority recognised that an Overview of repair Judge: Fiona Cairns, conservation appropriate repairs programme would requirements and planning professional and be put in place and allowed the new It was imperative to reinstate 23 Director of the Suffolk Preservation owners to proceed with the expertise illegally removed softwood Society: John Lamont, local architect: of lead consultant Tony Redman of window frames (subject of the and David Crawford of the Whitworth LLP, charted architects repairs notice), remove risks caused by Society. and surveyors, and vernacular repair unsuitable repairs especially cement

16 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

Work commences render and pointing, and remove materials were reinstated to ensure the traditional timber repairs. In the low also some inappropriate external and historical accuracy of the fabric and the level brick repairs and repointing, internal alterations. The recording continuation of original load paths. lime mortars were incorporated and of all timber framing exposed during Modern intervention using locally sourced new handmade soft red repairs helped to ascertain a better new technology was limited to bricks introduced to repair damaged interpretation of the building and the incorporation of lead flashings brickwork. inform the historical analysis. This over the brick plinths and at exposed The presence of the moat on all four needed to be accomplished with areas to roof abutments. Stainless sides of the building made access to minimal structural intervention, using steel fixings were used only where repair work difficult at some points and traditional jointing techniques and absolutely necessary as were casein- the fact that the building was also a matching materials where appropriate, based wood glues for gap-filling. Later lived-in home during the repair process and all to be recorded to inform future repairs were only removed where this gave specific difficulties which needed building repairs. Also required was seemed expeditious (to better read to be sensitively overcome. Parts of the the removal and repair of a minimum the structure) and all infilling between building required caution as their age or amount of worm-eaten timbers without timbers was retained and recorded as history were unclear. defrassing (abrasive cleaning) them. found. New insulation was incorporated There was a need also to undertake Later repairs were simply left in place where no infill was present. alterations to window openings by unless removal could be justified. alternative means to minimise heat Important also was the retention Conservation techniques used losses created by reinstatement of the of all lime render that was in good and specific difficulties to be original single glazing: removal of the order, regardless of date, consolidating overcome modern double-glazed oak frames, where loose. The jettied areas were It was necessary to apply Chemical installed without approval, effectively assessed to establish the nature of poultices to remove the external removed the historic building’s the original render, and a haired chalk masonry paint from the brick-face and chronological changes. This required render used as the nearest match to the lime render, and replace cement render careful consideration and the heat- oldest. Like-for-like replacements with haired-lime following analysis. loss was only partially remedied by were secured using three different Traditional tallow lime wash was upgrading the roof void insulation, timbers – oak (original framing timbers), used on the lime rendered elevations. relocating some of the internal Baltic pine (window frames and some Where sections of defective soleplates radiators and the owners undertaking later main frame repairs) and modern and jetty beams were identified the task of secondary glazing. European redwood (later repairs to half-lapped timber repairs using The result of removing the both windows and main timber frame). matched wood-type and grain were external cement render was the Where joints were damaged, the same carried out along with other identified revelation of several mullioned

17 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

windows, some of which had been covered internally – they were recorded and re-concealed with the new lime render. The repairs notice was lifted without problem and the local authority commended the work carried out. A recipe for success Tony Redman, conservation accredited chartered building surveyor and partner of Whitworth LLP, said “satisfactory conservation projects depend upon a number of factors; these include an enlightened client, a good measure of professional expertise and experience, a careful and detailed initial assessment, a contractor with a strong constitution and a measure of good luck. Arguably we had all of these at Letheringham Lodge. The building was under threat of a repairs notice when our clients purchased it, and it was only their ability to negotiate with of the oak double-glazed units installed Owners par excellence the conservation officer and the local without permission by a previous authority’s legal department which Mr. & Mrs. Bickerton’s log book has owner. The replacement of the cement recorded all that has been carried out gave time to assess a satisfactory render with a breathable haired-chalk way forward. The discovery of the and achieved. They have also set up a render also enabled the careful repair original window frames, removed website to expose its history to a wider of the underframe and infill, and the without consent, stacked in a audience inviting local history and neighbour’s garage, together with a removal of later inappropriate works, vernacular building groups to examine key photographic plan, enabled them enhancing some of the original details the Lodge and it has been the subject to be relocated. The contractor was hidden by the unauthorised earlier of a day-conference by the Suffolk able to repair them in such a way that works. All of this informed the historic Institute of Archaeology and History. the majority of the original material analysis. You could almost feel the Editor’s note: Letheringham Lodge is the was retained, including much of the building breathe a sigh of relief when destination of a SPS visit on Friday, 1st July 2016, original glass, reinstating them in place the work was finished.” see page 25.

18

Page 14 of 35

Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

Right of picture - Mr. & Mrs. Bickerton receiving the Building Conservation Award for Letheringham Lodge

19

Page 14 of 35

Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Heritage matters Windows Windows are the eyes of a building. Poorly detailed and ill-proportioned replacements in unsympathetic materials are disfiguring.

Windows and doors in masonry walls such as brick or flint should reflect the solidity of the wall by being inset at least 100mm. In timber framing they should be level with the outside face of the wall to reflect the thinness of the construction and should have a painted timber pentice board at the head for weathering and sometimes also an architrave to add interest. Openings in rendered blockwork can be detailed as either masonry or timber- frame and the solidity of the wall can be emphasised using ashlar markings in the render. Traditional windows are in timber and can be either vertical sliding sash, horizontal sliding sash (sometimes knows as Yorkshire Picture of the Old Brewhouse, Suffolk, with reinstated pentice board. sash) or outward opening side hung, top hung or fixed casement windows. They reproduced with new. It is often should be symmetrical and balanced, usually very thin so should be treated with a vertical emphasis of casements and carefully. Double-glazed windows glazing panes. Fixed lights should match are not normally acceptable in opening lights in appearance. Window sills listed buildings but may be used should be substantial with an outer face of at in most conservation area and least 40mm. conservatory situations. The The earliest casements were metal frames reflection and glazing edge detail with leaded lights. Georgian vertical sliding distinguish double-glazing from sashes became more fashionable from the single. Tinted or non-reflective 18th century and were used regularly until glass has a very different reflection the late 19th and early 20th century. to ordinary float glass or old glass Sash windows originally did not have and is not normally acceptable. horns (the projections at the bottom of Secondary glazing can be used to the upper sash). From about 1875, horns improve resistance to noise and became more common as they provided a thermal loss but should be able stronger timber joint. The horn looks more to be opened for cleaning and prominent if the window has a large section to provide air movement around frame, and therefore if the frame is large the window frame. These can be to accommodate double glazing, windows timber or proprietary secondary should avoid having horns. glazing units. The frame should The casement window regained popularity line up with the frame and glazing from the late 18th century onwards. Side bars of the window. opening casements were sometimes used Trickle vents spoil the on less important elevations in combination appearance of windows but there with sashes on more important elevations. are alternatives like well-designed Opening lights should finish flush with pentice board vents, wall vents the casement, although sometimes the or eaves vents. If they cannot mullions are larger and project further 32 when they were very fine and sometimes be avoided, it is possible to conceal them 33 outwards giving a more pronounced shadow as little as 16mm (5/8”). They had a variety behind a batten fitted to the top of the frame. line. ‘Storm-proof’ casements (where the of fine mouldings of which ovolo, lambs- Twentieth century historic buildings are a casements project in front of the frame) tongue and astragal were the most common. special case and any alteration will need to be are modern and appear more bulky than a Generally, glazing bars for single glazing are informed by an appreciation of the original traditional window. construction and architectural style, which Timber windows may be subdivided 18mm (3/4”) wide and of ovolo section, and the glass is putty fixed. may involve the retention or reinstatement of with glazing bars and the size and design aluminium or steel windows. varies according to the style and date of Existing windows should be retained and repaired in-situ if at all possible and the window. The earliest sash windows of Courtesy of Conserve* Essex Works circa 1700 had very thick glazing bars about any original glass should be retained. The 40mm (1.5/8”), and ovolo in section. Glazing texture and play of light in original crown Editor’s note: see SPAB Briefing 2016 Windows bars then became narrower until circa 1800 and cylinder glass windows cannot be and Doors on page 23.

20 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

Windows

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

1 Old iron casements with 5 20th century Crittall side 10 19th-century Venetian leaded lights opening steel casements window 2 Late 19th century vertical 6 19th century cast iron side 11 Crittall wndow sliding sash window with opening casement windows 12 Early 20th-century horns 7 Horizontal sliding sash windows with top lights 3 19th century side opening windows and stained glass 32 casements 8 Early 19th century vertical 33 4 Early 19th century marginal sliding sash without horns light vertical sash window 9 Georgian sash with thick without horns glazing bars beneath a decorative gauged brick arch

Early 19th-century Gothick vertical sliding sash

28 21 29 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Traditional Building Skills, Conservation Courses and Lectures

The programme for this year has been historic environment. Brought to you by Practical courses designed to enable conservation and Place Services, all courses and lectures Practical, ‘hands on’ courses are either building professionals, contractors, are delivered by leading craftsmen workshop-based, or run from ‘live’ general builders, and the owners and and experts in their specialist fields projects on historic buildings. This managers of historic buildings and in both Essex and Suffolk. For more year the organisers have an excellent sites, the opportunity to increase their information, venue and cost please new venue in Suffolk for their timber knowledge and skills in the technical see website www.placeservices.co.uk frame repair course, and will also be and practical issues involved in the and book either by email – traditional. providing the rare opportunity to learn conservation management and repair [email protected] or historic brickwork repair skills on a 19th of historic buildings and the wider telephone 0333 013 2738. century windmill in Essex.

22 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Book Review SPAB Briefing 2016 - Windows and Doors Douglas Kent and Matthew Slocombe, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Reviewed by SPAB Director, Matthew Slocombe

For 2016, the Society for the Protection does not easily tolerate the gentle of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has added movement of older buildings. Unlike a third title to its series of annual timber or metal, a slightly damaged Briefings. Past editions have covered plastic frame commonly requires total energy efficiency for old buildings replacement. Whatever the material and lime-based materials. To these of a window frame, seals of double- the Society has now added a new glazed units regularly fail and fill with publication on Windows and Doors – a condensation. theme of interest to all who live in or The replacement of sound old care for old buildings. windows with modern substitutes that The SPAB has long championed last no more than a single generation these significant, irreplaceable features, (or less) is hardly sustainable. The though not everyone appreciates their majority of old windows can be threatened as never before. attributes. Some see old doors and repaired. Replacement, then, really The SPAB Briefing 2016 - ‘Windows windows as worthless, troublesome and must be the last resort. Legislation and Doors’ aims, through the words replaceable. Others fail to realise that protects listed buildings, as well as of some of the leading practitioners in retention is viable through care, repair many properties in conservation areas, the field, to elaborate on these themes and straight-forward steps to enhance from unnecessary window and door and encourage better understanding. energy efficiency or security. replacement. Exact controls vary locally Topics covered include: repair methods, A conservative approach frequently for conservation areas, so it is best to thermal performance, glass and means lower long-term costs. check with the local planning authority security. p27-28‘Maintenance iron_Layout free’ 1 03/03/2016is among the 16:34 claims Page 27 to avoid the risk of legal sanctions. The ‘SPAB Briefing Windows and made for PVC-U replacements. Yet, Despite this protection and its many Doors’ can be downloaded free at plastic often embrittles with age and advantages, old windows and doors are http://www.spab.org.uk/briefing/

Iron framed casements with leaded lights are often a principal feature of vernacular buildings. IMAGE: ROGER HUNT

Quote of the Issue “The excitement is in the little noticed buildings that have been looked at with an unprejudiced eye and recorded withIron a sensibility that shows.”and steel Written by John Piper in1944 when taking part in Recording Britain, intended to boost morale by celebrating the country’s natural beauty and architectural heritageMetal through windows art, and established and bydoors historian are Kenneth present Clark, later in Lorda vast Clark, numberin1939. of buildings. Geoff Wallis, of Geoff Wallis Conservation, provides an insight into their history, care and repair.

Simple wrought iron frames and casements with glass held in ant, and could be curved for shop-fronts, conservatories, and 23 lead cames have been used in Britain since at least the 16th cen- glasshouses. For doors, cast and wrought iron found application tury, but in the 18th century improved methods of manufactur- in factories, mills, banks and military establishments where fire- ing and shaping metal and the rise of large manufacturing works resistance and security were paramount. facilitated the much wider use of metal. The quality of metals and Disadvantages lay in the cost of fabricating wrought iron the accuracy of shaping them further improved in the 19th cen- frames and casements, the brittleness of cast iron, the flexibility tury and the cost fell. Consequently, the tonnage of metal used in of wrought iron, and the high thermal conductivity of both, with architecture increased dramatically, particularly in industrial and the attendant risk of condensation forming on indoor surfaces. public buildings where, by the end of Queen Victoria’s reign, great quantities were in use. Assessment Then technical advances in making steel reduced the cost of Careful inspection is necessary before any work is carried out to this material to below that of wrought and cast iron. Powerful, metal windows and doors. Often frames and casements are cor- accurate rolling mills enabled complex precise sections to be roded locally, particularly at the bottom where moisture collects. formed, allowing the manufacture of stiffer and better-sealing Rust expands by a factor of at least five so a build-up of rust does casements. Thus, by the early 20th century, vast quantities of steel not necessarily mean that a section has inadequate residual windows were being manufactured, notably by the Crittall strength. Usually the loads on a frame are spread, so that the Manufacturing Company which dominated the world market for weakening or loss of a localised area is often not significant struc- many decades. turally. Steel frames, casements and doors are still manufactured, but the industry is now dominated by aluminium products generally Weathersealing having wider frame-sections. These offer good thermal and By modern standards traditional metal windows and doors are weathering properties, but can change the appearance of window often relatively pervious to wind and water. Moderate air leakage and door openings dramatically. Repair of existing metal fixtures is often beneficial to the room’s environment and its impact can is therefore preferable to renewal on historic buildings. best be reduced by fitting secondary glazing or heavy curtains. Three factors influence the weather-tightness of casements and Advantages and disadvantages doors: Windows made entirely from wrought and cast iron offered the G Frame sections: Early wrought iron frames and casements were advantages of being stronger and more durable than wood, usually made of flat sections with face-contact offering little allowing more slender sections which were elegant, and provided resistance to wind-driven rain. In the 18th century rolled less obstruction to the passage of light. Ironwork was fire-resist- wrought iron, steel and cast iron casements incorporated ‘webs’

SPAB BRIEFING: WINDOWS & DOORS 27 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Membership – A gift or bequest leaves a lasting legacy

A warm welcome to our new members who have joined since September 2015

SPS orgainisations 2 indicate the strength of feeling in Membership Information SPS households 10 Suffolk for rigorous planning based on To discuss legacies and bequests or CPRE households 8 sound principles and policy. request an additional Suffolk View Added to this are, as mentioned, our please telephone 01787 247179 Thank you for your valuable support. enjoyable and informative events, our We look forward to meeting you at the lectures, together with an opportunity New Joiner’s Membership – available lectures and events which have been to meet other members. by standing order online: planned for the coming months, and at Do consider passing your Suffolk Household - £30 per annum the AGM, see pages 5, 6 and 25. View publication to someone who is Parish Council & Amenity Society - The Chairman, in his Comment on not a member and encourage them £30 per annum page 4, has drawn attention to the fact to join. If you do not want to part Organisation - £70 per annum that support is important. Membership with your copy then we will be happy Life - £500 denotes support for the SPS’s work and to forward one to the person you for the mandate to speak on behalf of nominate. Please get in touch. CPRE membership available online from Suffolk communities. £3 a month via the SPS website link Members understand the difficulties www.suffolksociety.org that the County faces in today’s also direct www.cpre.org.uk planning environment, and we are DO WE HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? THIS SAVES US POSTAGE CHARGES. grateful to them, but if every Member OUR WEBSITE IS UPDATED REGULARLY recruited another member that would SPS Events Review Visit to St. Alban’s Catholic High School, hosted by SPS Suffolk Coastal District

St. Alban’s Catholic High School – new sixth-form building block of classrooms, the library and the very attractive roof terrace, though it was not warm enough to spend much time outside. We met with some of the students all of whom said how much they appreciated working in their new building. Ultimately, students and visitors congregated together on the top floor in a lovely light room for delicious little eats and drinks. Many felt the visit to a very modern building had made an interesting change and opened the way to finding more different and intriguing places. We look forward to our visit in The newly built Sixth Form Centre at He gave us a short talk about the origin July to the lovely pre-Tudor moated this very successful Catholic school was of the idea for the building and then he Letheringham Lodge as the guests of the venue for our pre-Christmas party and his assistant each escorted a group Mr. & Mrs. Bickerton. Please see article on 12th December and it made for a pointing out various special features of on page 16, and apply to Little Hall for most unusual and interesting occasion. the design, the reasons for certain quite tickets, see page 25. Architect and SPS trustee Ralph unusual aspects and answering our Carpenter introduced the designer, questions. Report by Jo Rogers, Chair SPS Suffolk Coastal Craig Driver from Hoopers in Ipswich. We enjoyed seeing the three-storey District

24 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Diary Dates Support and enjoy events while raising important funds for the SPS! Check the website for full details www.suffolksociety.org All SPS events are open to members and their guests unless stated otherwise. However, some events may take limited numbers for obvious reasons so early booking is advisable. Please book through the SPS office, unless an alternative is given - Little Hall, Market Place, Lavenham CO10 9QZ, telephone 01787 247179. Cheques are payable to ‘SPS’ and upon receipt names will be placed on a list – tickets not usually issued. However, where tickets become necessary for a particular event, this will be indicated, and we request you enclose a stamped- addressed envelope. 2016 Events Lavenham Guildhall

MEMBERS’ VISIT Hosted by SPS Babergh District

LAVENHAM – Two separate venues to new domestic architecture

May Wednesday, 11th 10.00 am Cost £8.00 Maximum places 20

The Halt This will be an architect-led walk through a development of 44 properties on the former station yard; houses and apartments, including some affordable Directions: on Clay Lane (a small Join the SPS CIO trustees and hear units, designed by Hadleigh architects track that runs from Lower Road, over about its progress and direction over the Wincer Kievenaar. the River Brett and up the hill towards last year and its future vision. Give your Directions: The Halt, former Station Brent Eleigh) the house is at the top of support and join us and fellow members Yard, over bridge, immediately on left the hill. for this annual update in a convivial at the entrance to Lavenham from gathering, see pages 5 & 6. Cockfield direction CO10 9QD SPS CIO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MEMBERS’ VISIT Clay Hill Farmhouse Hosted by SPS Suffolk Coastal This new eco-country house is the only District one of its type in Babergh District and is LAVENHAM GUILDHALL, CO10 9QZ ‘deep green’ with autonomous systems Members’ annual meeting LETHERINGHAM, Letheringham and is newly completed. An architect- Lodge, Letheringham IP13 0NA led tour will include refreshments, a Drinks and nibbles chance to speak with the owners, and a July, Friday, 1st short presentation by Matt Bell, project June, Friday, 3rd 11.00 am and 3.00 pm architect at Modece Architects. 6.30 pm registration for 7.00 pm Cost £17.50 Artist’s impression of Clay Hill Farmhouse A talk and a tour of the moated house, by kind invitation of Pauline and Matthew Bickerton, will take place at 11.00 am and 3.00 pm with refreshments (two sessions). Letheringham Lodge is an intriguing Grade II* timber-framed building on the smallest occupied moated site in Suffolk. The original 1472 structure was square

25 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 Georgian Bury St. Edmunds - the Athenaium

Georgian Bury

and jettied on all four sides, with later arranged at this Grade I listed Palladian Sarah read Art History gaining a first- additions in1610. country house. Heveningham was class BA degree and followed this with Congratulates to the owners on being designed by 18th Century English a MA in World Art Studies and a PhD awarded the Suffolk Coastal District architects Sir Robert Taylor and James in Architectural History. She retains Council’s ‘Quality of Place’ Building Wyatt; its garden was designed by active research interests in Italian art Conservation Award for the skilled noted 18th-century landscape architect and architecture and has been teaching restoration work they have enabled on Lancelot Capability Brown and is and lecturing on a variety of art and the building over the last two years, see being restored by Kim Wilkie who is architectural subjects since 2001 about Heritage Matters on page 16. implementing a set of plans drawn up by which she is passionate. She will talk on – Directions: the site is clearly marked Lancelot Brown that had lain abandoned on the B1078 between Charsfield and since 1782. “Maintaining a façade - the Wickham Market IP13 0NA. Mr. Wilkie persuaded English Heritage to Georgianisation of let him create a majestic sweep of grass Bury St. Edmunds” MEMBERS’ ONLY VISIT terracing along the lines of a scheme NUMBERS WILL BE LIMITED that Lancelot Brown designed over 200 The town has many unique Georgian TICKET ENTRY – SAE years ago. buildings, a fashion which made an Sadly he died before it could be impact across the country but in HEVENINGHAM, Heveningham Hall, realised. The current restoration is a Bury it is not understated: it reflected Heveningham IP19 0PN fitting tribute to Capability Brown as we importance, wealth and status in no mark the tercentenary of his birth. small degree. Landscape Garden Visit The Grade 1 listed Unitarian Meeting By kind invitation of AUTUMN LECTURE House, our venue, was built in1711, Mr. and Mrs. Jon Hunt so pre-Georgian by three years, but a BURY ST. EDMUNDS unique building nevertheless. July, Thursday, 14th Unitarian Meeting House 2.30 pm Churchgate Street, IP33 1RH Cost £25.00 – afternoon tea will be served in the Orangery October, Friday 21st 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm A talk and a tour of the lovely Lecture with wine landscaped gardens led by Kim Wilkie, Cost £17.50 international landscape architect, are Speaker: Dr. Sarah Pearson

Unitarian Meeting House, Bury St. Edmunds

Heveningham’s landscape recreated from Capability Brown’s plan

26 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

East Midlands CPRE East Midlands and East of England invite you to 90 Years of CPRE: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Wednesday 6 July 2016, 10am – 4pm, The Fleet, Peterborough Members and volunteers of branches in the East of England and East Midlands regions are invited to join us to celebrate 90 years of CPRE. The day will include presentations from keynote speaker Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE and Oliver Hilliam, CPRE Senior Communications and Information Offi cer, and co-author of “22 ideas that saved the English Countryside”. There will also be a choice of workshops – see SPS website for more details and contact Tracey Hipson at offi ce@cprecambs, telephone 01480 396698.

Market Place – Directory

Could this space be working  e for you? Pargetting Why not advertise with us through this Company publication and help support the Society. Traditional Plasterers & Pargetters, Size Cost per issue Scra tto Artists and Fresco Painters B/W Colour Full page £270 £343 Half page (133mm x 186mm) £166 £218 Quarter page (133mm x 90mm) £114 £135 Eighth page (64mm x 90mm) £83 £104 Banner (50mm x 186mm) £83 £104

Suffolk View is published twice a year with a circulation of around 2,000 per issue and is distributed free to all Members of the Suf- Bank St, Maidstone, Kent 1611 Restored by our specialist in 2010 folk Preservation Society/Campaign to Protect Rural England. In addition, copies are sent to the local media, the county and local planning authorities, professional bodies – architects, doctors and Working in the Art & Craft Tradition health centres, dentists, solicitors, veterinary clinics, the local me- Established 1971, a family tradition since 1926 dia and Suffolk Members of Parliament. It is also sent to libraries, parish councils and amenity societies across the county, plus all Tel: 01359 271779 Mobile: 07748 880823 County Branches of CPRE in England. For more information Web: www.pargettingcompany.com contact the editor/offi ce on 01787 247179.

27 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

Heritage Large Banner_Layout 1 24/04/2012 11:53 Page 1

Heritage Insurance Agency Specialist insurers of • Thatched Properties • Thatched Holiday • Timbers Framed Properties Homes/Second Homes • Barn Conversions • Standard Construction let/ unoccupied Properties CALL 01787 229200 for a quotation www.heritageinsuranceagency.co.uk

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

Cubitt Theobald Ltd Chartered Building Company | Est. 1903

We can assist with all building projects from redecoration to a complete refurbishment or a new hand-made kitchen. Projects in East Anglia & London. ROSEMARYCATTEE Cubitt Theobald Ltd, Interior Design St. Catherines Road, Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 9JU t: 01473 811780 m: 07957 535 589 e: [email protected] www.rosemarycattee.co.uk 01787 371 002 • www.cubitt.co.uk Image courtesy of Mulberry Home S.J. SARGEANT CONTRACTS FENCING, LANDSCAPING & AGRICULTURAL SERVICES www.sjsargeantcontracts.co.uk

Stephen J Sargeant Robert M Sargeant M: 07747 011172 M: 07767 431671 P: 01787 210402 5 Church Road, Lindsey, E: [email protected] Ipswich,Suffolk, IP7 6PS

28 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

FOSTERS, HARTEST HILL, HARTEST, SUFFOLK IP29 4ET Telephone:We are moving01284 830085 to Fax:newly 01284 converted 830425 Email: offices [email protected] in Hartest Our new address will be: Fosters, Hartest Hill, SUFFOLK IP29 4ET We specialise in high quality contemporary design and deep green construction methods that deliver carbon neutral buildings for the benefit of future generations. RIBA East BUILDING OF THE YEAR 2011 PPS7 Eco-house in Lavenham approved 2012 Our offices will demonstrate the design and construction we specialise in -

High quality contemporary design, and deep green construction methods delivering carbon neutral buildings for the benefit of future generations

MOVING IN DATE 2nd January 2008

Fountian House studio tHe street east BergHolt ColCHester Co7 6tB

Traditional Oak Carpentry Conservation and Construction

To view some of our recent work visit our website: www.traditionaloakcarpentry.co.uk Rick Lewis Tel. 01449-782006 [email protected]

Nicholas Jacob Architects We specialise in the care, conservation and alteration of historic buildings as well as design of new building and interior design work.

Nicholas Jacob BA B Arch RIBA AABC

89 Berners Street Ipswich IP1 3LN Telephone: 01473 221150 Fax: 01473 255550 E-mail: [email protected] www.njarchitects.co.uk

29 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127

30 Suffolk Preservation Society | Suffolk View | Spring 2016 | no 127 R&CS 2015 qtr page_Layout 1 17/03/2015 14:58 Page 1

R & J HOGG LTD

Coney Weston Bury St. Edmunds Phone: 01359 221711 Phone/fax 01359 221221 Specialists in repairs and alterations to listed buildings following SPAB principles

Advice given on likely extent and cost of repairs even at pre-purchase stage Specialists in handmade rugs and carpets Restoration & cleaning workshop

Lime wash and lime putty Open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 5.30pm for sale The Old White Hart, Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 9HX 01787 882214 | www.rugandcarpetstudio.co.uk

e Country Property Specialists

Last year, over 50% of our buyers came from London, the Home Counties or abroad. Su olk attracts National buyers.

JACKSON-STOPS & STAFF ARE NATIONAL AGENTS

For a free valuation please contact Tim Dansie or Jonathan Penn 01473 218218

31 Little Hall Market Place Lavenham Suffolk CO10 9QZ A publication of the Suffolk Preservation Society Telephone (01787) 247179 Fax (01787) 248341 email sps@suffolksociety.orgLittle Hall, Market Place, Lavenham, Sudbury, Suffolk C010 9QZ Respecting the past, shaping the future www.suffolksociety.org tel: 01787 247179 www.suffolksociety.org

SPS registered charity no 249981 County branch of CPRE

Suffolk View is the publication of the Suffolk Preservation Society The SPS ethos is to protect and enhance the quality of the countryside, towns and villages of Suffolk. Its work promotes protection for the built heritage and wider landscape and supports sustainable development while agitating for improved design in new build. With planning and conservation professionals based in Lavenham, and with the support of members throughout the County, it is well placed to take effective action through the planning system to retain the integrity of Suffolk for the benefi t of everyone, and for future generations. It is the only non-political, independent charity in the County to represent this interest.

Please join today and become part of the action to protect Suffolk. www.suffolksociety.org