APPENDIX 2 Hertford Castle Grounds Draft Greenspace Action Plan (Extract) Ashley Webb Shelter This garden pavilion was erected in 1938 to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and bears the name of a local family. It was constructed in an era when anti-social behaviour was not such as issue and would have provided a pleasant focal point for local residents to gather in view of the river. It now unfortunately provides a shelter for less savoury activities. Despite regular cleaning and the location of nearby toilets, it often smells of urine. The police have worked over the years to relocate various groups who drink alcohol within its confines. Anecdotal records suggest that i n the 1950’s and 1960’s the building was in good condition with oak seating either side of the central entrance arch and oak benches along the walls on the inside. The window frames were in oak with leaded glazing. Either side of the pavilion were brick pillars supporting an extensive oak pergola planted with climbing and rambling roses. Part of the flooring is in ‘Yorkstone’ with heavy ‘Marley’ type tiles in the area where the benches were fixed to the walls. It is evident from this and the relatively unscathed condition of the brickwork that the building was of a high quality for the times during which it was constructed. Current Situation The shelter is currently in a poor state of repair. One of the external support piers of the southern part of the trellis had recently been demolished which had resulted in some instability for the remainder of the trellis on the south side. The piers to the trellis on the north side were also found to be unstable and have had to be removed. Vandalism is an ongoing concern, with the tiled roof of the main structure being a regular target. East Herts Council Development Management advise that the pavilion is curtilage listed by virtue of being in the grounds of the Castle – and therefore a Listed Building consent would be required to undertake any works to the structure. It is expected that the building would require a lot of work to restore it and make it safe. The roof is in a particularly poor condition and has been the subject of direct vandalism both externally and from within. 1 113 APPENDIX 2 Location The pavilion is sited near the main entrance from the town and may have been located there to close off a view of the river on entering the Castle Grounds so that when you enter the building, the river is revealed as an unexpected view. The shelter sits opposite a former rock garden and directly in front of what is arguably the most significant historical feature in the park; the motte. This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. Hertford Castle is one of the best preserved motte and bailey castles in southern Britain. It has a long and well-documented history which illustrates its growth and development as a royal castle. The 1898 ordnance survey plan shows the site and significance of the motte prior to the installation of the shelter: Purpose of the Shelter At present, there is little active use. There is no seating in the shelter; the seats were removed many years ago due to anti-social behaviour. One rarely sees anyone taking shelter other than the aforementioned groups. An option of a refreshment kiosk has been explored in the past. No services (power, water and drainage) are available at the shelter and the provision of these is likely to be a considerable expense. This makes any refreshment use (other than a self-contained unit – that can be wheeled to and from the site) unlikely to be a viable proposition. Previous attempts to attract a concession into the park to utilise the shelter have been unsuccessful. The Council now provides a popular café adjacent to the park in the theatre complex. 2 114 APPENDIX 2 Considerations Risk to the public The structures ’ poor condition and continued abuse through vandalism presents a potential risk of injury if no action is taken. The current structural assessment will clarify this situation and provide up to date repair costs. Need for shelter Sheltered seating areas are now less common in public parks. Teenage shelters are provided at locations where noise nuisance can be minimised. Good quality and sufficient seating has a more prevalent need. Views To the side of the shelter stands a common beech tree whilst the base of the motte is surrounded by a screen of relatively young yew and holly. The yew and holly to the rear of the rock garden could perhaps be removed for a better view of the motte but the motte is currently best seen by visitors to the town when crossing the bridges from the St. Andrew Street car park to the Wash by Hertford Theatre. There is only a limited view of the motte from the rear of The Gatehouse owing to a flowering crab, a wild cherry and a silver birch tree on the edge of the large formal lawn. Consideration to the removal of these could also be given. The above mentioned oak and the weeping willow also obscure a view of the motte from the rear of The Gatehouse. The shelter therefore hides certain views of the motte from the park. Its close proximity to historical monument also detracts from its prominence in the landscape. Heritage The building faces out over a triangular lawn, where the original prospect was probably meant to be unobstructed but a weeping willow and an oak tree were later planted. The oak tree was planted by the Her Majesty, the Queen Mother on 27th June 1973 (inscribed granite stone) to celebrate the 1300th anniversary of the Synod of Hertford in 973AD which was held within what later became the confines of Hertford Castle. There is therefore some connection between this tree and the King George VI coronation pavilion. The shelter and the oak tree may therefore be considered as having some interest and value to present generations. They form a layer of the history of the Castle Grounds. Garden pavilions such as this are perhaps now a rarity in parks. Local affection for the structure There has been understandable concern that the generous gift of the shelter by a local family should not be overlooked. The inscribed stone set into the shelter confirms that “this garden pavilion was given by the Mayor and Mayoress Councillor & Mrs Ashley T Webb. 1938 ”. There is also a stone set inside the shelter “in affectionate remembrance of Ashely Tucker Webb….”. Local attachment to the structure has not been quantified through any public engagement but Council Members have indicated that residents may have affection for the shelter. Mr. & Mrs Ashley Webb lived at ‘Vale House’, 43, Cowbridge, Hertford, a large private house with extensive grounds including a vast kitchen garden now occupied by the buildings of Sanctuary Housing. 3 115 APPENDIX 2 During the 1950’s the Ashley Webbs’ would open their garden for fetes and events to support local organisations. The Ashley Webbs’ could therefore be remembered as local philanthropists. Mr Ashley Webb served as a Councillor and as Mayor in the late 193 0’s on Hertford Borough Counci l. Mrs Ashley Webb served as Mayoress. Presumably they left Vale House to the former Hertford Borough Council and their house was listed in April 1973, just before East Herts Council came into being, at reorganisation in 1974. Motte conservation Formerly there was public access to the top of the then wooded motte. There was a narrow winding path around the motte between chestnut pale fencing and at the top a small grassy clearing but no view because of the self-set multi-stem ash trees rooted there. The ash trees were removed approximately 30 years ago at the request of English Heritage to prevent damage to the monument. When the trees were removed, public access to the top of the motte was discontinued. The motte is now largely hidden from view and surrounded by robust fencing. Discussions with English Heritage in relation to the motte at Bishop’s Stortford Castle Gardens have outlined an aim to raise the profile of these important historical sites. They encourage open access to the public and for these monuments to be as prominent in the landscape as they once were. This could be achieved by removing the fence, thinning the trees and demolishing the shelter. In order to remove the fencing however, the risk of falling from the mound into the river would need to be mitigated. Access Improved access to the motte could be achieved with the construction of a cantilevered boardwalk around the base of the monument. A boardwalk would link the park with the theatre and its café. The recent Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy (HTCUDS) explores the possibility of a similar boardwalk linking The Wash with Dolphin’s Yard. These aspirations could complement each other and, as part of a major town improvement project, may attract significant external funding. Removal of the shelter would open the aspect to the motte and provide more space to develop such access improvements to the park and the theatre. The theatre provides a vibrant cultural centre to the town and could benefit from improved links with the park to broaden its impact. The theatre is currently considering a range of potential improvement’s including the repositioning of the ir café to the River Room which is located adjacent to the river and the area across which a new walkway would pass.