The Head of Parks and Gardens Registration Moor Pool, Harborne
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The Head of Parks and Gardens Registration English Heritage I Waterhouse Square 138-142 Holborn London EC IN 2ST Our Reference: Your Reference: Direct Dial: (0121) 625 6855 Direct Fax: (0121)625 6821 II May 2010 Dear Colleague Moor Pool, Harborne, Birmingham I attach a proposal for the consideration of Moor Pool, Harborne, Birmingham for addition to the Parks and Gardens Register. hope that the proposal is fairly self-explanatory. It is submitted in the light of the significance of Moor Pool as a garden suburb in which the open space network is integral to the overall design. Planning permission has been granted, but not yet taken up, for housing development in parts of the open spaces including part of the central valley. Local residents are concerned to strengthen the case against further infill development or against renewal of planning permission for the current proposals should this become applicable, In the regional team we support these aims and are thus co-operating in compiling and submitting this proposal. Registration, if granted, would add an additional material consideration to be taken into account if new permissions or renewal of existing permissions were sought. I should be happy to advise further or to arrange a site visit which could be accompanied by colleagues from Birmingham City Council and the local residents' association, Yours sincerely Michael Taylor Historic Areas Adviser MOOR POOL, HARBORNE, BIRMINGHAM Proposal for addition to the Parks and Gardens Register ". ..the Moor Pool Estate remains a visual delight, constantly throwing up surprises. Indeed it is hard to imagine a more enchanting setting for sport, recreation and sociable living within a modern city."1 Fig 1 View of Bowling Green from the Circle 1.0 Location 1.1 Moor Pool is a garden suburb in south-west Birmingham. This proposal is for the open space network that interlaces the area and includes gardens, allotments, sports facilities and greens. The site lies north and east of Harborne High Street and Lordswood Road. The OS grid reference is SP 031850. Moor Pool is within the administrative area of Birmingham City Council. Moor Pool was designated as a conservation area in 1970 and a conservation area appraisal is currently in preparation. In 2006 Birmingham City Council applied an Article 4(2) Direction to the Moor Pool Conservation Area. Steve Beauchampe & Simon Inglis Played in Birmingham: charting the heritage of a city at play English Heritage 2006 Chapter Six p60 2.0 Ownership 2.1 The site is owned by Grainger pic. Some individual houses remain in Grainger's ownership but the majority are owner-occupied. 3.0 Special interest 3.1 Moor Pool was developed from 1907/09 to the design of Martin and Martin, one of the leading architects' practices in Birmingham of the time and successors to the Chamberlain and Martin practice who provided the main architectural expression of Joseph Chamberlain's 'Civic Gospel'. The founder of Moor Pool was John Sutton Nettlefold a local industrialist, Chairman of the Council's Housing Committee and related to the Chamberlain family. HAKODRXt ■|*">»\ n W.. !':ii-llirn- Jem. I'UB H. Fig 2 Martin and Martin plan of Moor Pool Estate 3.2 Nettlefold was a leading advocate of town planning and would have been aware of garden city and garden suburb development around the country and of philanthropic industrial villages such as the nearby Boumville. He would also have been influenced by of the Co partnership movement in housing provision on which Moor Pool was based. The first sod was cut by Nettlefold's wife Margaret in October 1907 and the first house occupied in May 1908 leading to completion of the over 500 houses by 1913. Originally known as City Gardens, Moor Pool became Harborne Tenants' Estate based on the idea of progressive purchase of the managing company by the tenants leading to democratic and co-operative management. From the start the vision included facilities for sport and recreation as well as a pleasant and sociable residential area within a network of open spaces. Fig 3 Sod-cutting ceremony October 1907 IITTON NETTLE FOLD 1866-1930 FOUNDER OF THIS ESTATE PION^EROFTOWN PLANNING FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE TOWN PLANNING COMMIT OFTHECITYGOUNCVL Fig 4 Memorial plaque to John Sutton Nettlefold 3.3 The design of the individual houses reflects the garden city theme with cottages and flats arranged along sinuous, narrow tree-lined roads designed to reflect the contours of the site. Some houses and other buildings are listed, all in grade II, namely: 124-134 Ravenhurst Road 108-122 Ravenhurst Road 25, 26 and 26A The Circle Moor Pool Hall, The Circle Harborne Tenants Estate Office, The Circle The whole site is in the Moor Pool Conservation Area. The focus of this proposal is the open space network which was an equally significant part of Nettlefold's vision. Although neglected in parts and threatened by development proposals which gained planning permission in 2009 this network remains largely intact. Fig 6 North Gate 3.4 The central axis of the 54-acre site is a valley running roughly south east to north-west through the site which includes the pre-existing Moor Pool (used by a fishing club). Within this valley are located allotments, a bowling green, and the Circle - the centrepiece of the development which includes tennis courts, on what was originally the village green, and indoor sports facilities (snooker, skittles and shooting). The skittle alley with both a flat and a crowned alley next to each other is the last of its type in Birmingham and possibly Britain2. The central belt of open Beauchampe and Inglis op cit p 65 space is linked by roads and footpaths through the estate to smaller areas of allotments, greens and a second tennis club. In particular allotments although reduced in number since the building of the Estate are located to be close to residential properties and accessed easily from gardens through the network of paths. Social and economic change has left its mark on Moor Pool but the area still attracts residents who subscribe to elements of its original ethos. Many of the allotment areas are well-cultivated and there is active participation in the sports clubs. Fig 7 View across the Valley from Margaret Road to Moor Pool Avenue Fig 8 Allotments in Valley Site Fig 9 Moor Pool looking towards Ravenhurst Road Fig 10 Moor Pool Hall and Tennis Courts 3.5 During consultations on development proposals in 2009 Moor Pool was subject to representations from two leading experts on the Garden City movement both of whom know the site well. Dr Mervyn Miller3 considered that "...Moor Pool originally represented, and still reflects, best practice in Garden City style housing and development. It has a coherent plan, within a boundary which gives it identity and integrity, and the feeling of a self-contained neighbourhood." Dr Miller adds that, "The central circle with its shops and Tenants Hall makes a logical heart of the community, as do landscaped areas around the Moor Pool and the remainder of the valley site across Ravenhurst Road. The more intimately located smaller green areas, many used productively for allotments, is a similar layout concept to that found in the Artisans' Quarter at Hampstead Garden Suburb " David Davidson, Architectural Adviser to the Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust4, considers that"... Moor Pool is a residential area of considerable historic interest in the development of co-partnership housing, carefully designed and laid out as a unified whole. This is a planned settlement, the original plan is complete and all spaces have been allotted to their specific use." Pevsner5 referred to Moor Pool as "an important and early example of the work of a co-partnership building enterprise". Finally English Letter from Dr Mervyn Miller to Birmingham City Council 30 June 2009 4 Letter from David Davidson to Birmingham City Council 25 June 2009 5 Nikolaus Pevsner and Alexandra Wedgwood The Buildings of England: Warwickshire Penguin, Harmondsworth 1966 p 186 Heritage Territory Landscape Architect, Kim Auston, visiting in April 2009, called Moor Pool "an exceptional survival". 4.0 The site as it is today 4.1 Nettlefold's vision, as expressed in Martin and Martin's design, survives largely intact today and with the benefit of decades in which it has matured into a sylvan rus in urbe landscape. Roadside verges and footpaths are maintained and many of the allotment areas survive in a good state of cultivation and maintenance. Tree cover is generous and the commitment of residents ensures that during spring and summer the area is resplendent with flowers. The sports facilities around the Circle and the Moor Pool itself are excellently maintained. Inevitably some marginal open space areas have suffered from neglect and the central valley has been the site of lock-up garages, now disused. But all these areas are capable of recovery subject to the success of existing planning permissions for housing. Moor Pool retains a quality of delight and a strong sense of identity in relation to the more commonplace suburban development around it. 4.2 Features of particular note include the Moor Pool and adjoining bowling green within their wooded setting and the designed centrepiece of The Circle. The Moor Pool Hall has a main upper hall, complete with stage for theatrical productions, and a lower hall (shooting and small meetings) as well as the wooden skittle alley. Besides this the Circle also comprises the Harborne Tenants Estate offices with snooker club above and shops facing Moor Pool Avenue. To the outside of the Circle is a group of flats. Although they are not listed their design is original.