ST DAY OLD CHURCH St Day Old Church, is a unique and remarkable Gothick structure, described by Betjeman as “an ecclesiastical toy fort.” It closed in 1956 and lost its roof in 1985, then underwent a major pro- gramme of stabilisation in the early 2000s, funded by public money. It has been open to the public almost every year since, with many hundreds of visitors. It has provided a much-loved venue for plays, concerts, exhibitions, and educational visits. The Diocese of Cornwall now wishes to dis- pose of it, probably for residential development. St Day Historical and Conservation Society, which instigated the restoration programme in 1988 and has had the day-to-day management of the building ever since, strongly opposes these plans, and is working towards forming a trust to take on the church. The Society now has the help and the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. and support of the Cornwall Heritage Trust and THE CHAIRMAN the strong backing of the local community, and, CBG has been watching this for many years, to the modern era; indeed so popular were the with the help of crowdfunding, is raising funds and supports these efforts which have been lead The past year has been a busy one for your papers and themes that we were twice over- for the maintenance of the church. More moral by our members Mark Johnson and Bernadette Council. In March we organised an interdis- subscribed with delegates. On behalf of our support and financial help is always welcome! Fallon. ciplinary conference at the National Maritime Group I would like to thank those who made For updates, photos, and more information see UPDATE: A request for pre-application advice Museum in Falmouth. Hosting such an event it such a memorable event particularly all who the St Day Old Church Facebook page. This is a on the possible conversion to residential use, following the publication of the new Pevsner attended, our partners the Cornwall Heritage unique opportunity to put conservation principles was made to Cornwall Council by the Church Guide seemed an obvious step given our input Trust, Yale University Press and the National into action and return an iconic structure to its Commissioners in January 2016; we await further and long-held interest into this much anticipated Trust and the speakers for making it a fascinating rightful place as the focus of the local community news of this! Editor project. The conference delivered two days of couple of days. Later in the year a volume of the quality lectures that examined the architectural conference papers will be published in partner- . .MORE OF INTEREST AT OUR WEBSITE ADDRESS: https://sites.google.com/site/cornishbuildingsgroup history of Cornwall from the Conquest through ship with Francis Boutle Books. Because of the right: Spotted by Jo Mattingly, on display - with other Who looks after our built awards - in the entrance to the Porthmeor Studios, in heritage? St Ives. Our 2013 Award plaque is partially obscured This is Cusgarne Manor, near by the RIBA award but, since ours is slate and theirs is Gwennap, recognised as of glass, the inscription can still be read! national importance with Grade II* Listing. Cornwall Council attempted LIST OF OFFICERS 2015-16 to take over complete CHAIRMAN Paul Holden, FSA responsibility for seeing such buildings are kept suitably VICe‑CHAIRMAN John Stengelhofen, AADipl 01736 755268 repaired - with no interfer- SECRETARY Jenny Gason, MBE 0788 7901520 ance from Historic England. Kea West, Halvarras Road, Playing Place. Truro But given their recent track TREASURER Anne Knight, record here and in other II* Wingfield, 5 British Road, St. Agnes TR5 0TX cases we would ask are they MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY really fit-for-purpose now, Lindy Stengelhofen even with the help of Historic 15, Fairglen, Hayle TR27 4DL England? In January Cusgarne was sold THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE THOSE and so we look forward to its 20 OF THE RESPECTIVE AUTHORS AND NOT NECESSARILY saving, with care, by the new © Cornish Buildings Group, 2016 Edited by John Stengelhofen owners. photo: Eric Berry, 2015 success of this event and the demand for another Old Fire Station at Redruth which have been left by our member Lesley Price at Rosewarne, a what will be cherished in the future. Cornwall I am happy to announce here that we will host a derelict for over a decade. splendid early 19th century Greek Revival house has an amazing array of buildings, from Gothic second conference early in 2017 based around A consequence of our concerns has been the in Camborne. This year we ended with the hen houses to grand stately mansions, from listed the subjective theme of good design. compilation of a register of buildings at risk. Such Autumn Party at the Elizabethan manor house roadside signposts to post-modern houses on Our Group is no stranger to discussing what a list will focus our attentions where it matters of Trerice, thanks to the National Trust. picturesque creeks, from simple coastal devel- constitutes good design; a tangible reminder of thereby making every letter and communication What maintains the momentum of our Group is opments to huge industrial landscapes and from this can be seen in our Awards scheme. This count. It was gratifying that our risk register has the support of our membership and the continued railway infrastructures to the World Heritage site. year was a particularly good competition with been recognised by Historic England and went work of your Council as has been the case since Together they make Cornwall a landscape to some 40 entries reflecting not only good design on to inform the national heritage at risk regis- 1969 when the Group was first formed. It does revere and collectively our work can make our built environment one and all can be proud. but also exemplary conservation practice. Our ter compiled by SAVE. As a consequence we not take a mathematician to work out that 2019 PAUL HOLDEN, FSA new Awards Administrator Patrick Newberry was attended the book launch in London. You can will be our landmark 50th anniversary; how we ‘thrown in at the deep end’ but what a great view our Risk Register on our website; it is a fluid mark this milestone is yet to be decided. My job he did in gathering the entries and promot- STOP PRESS: list in that buildings can be added or removed aspiration as we head towards the half-century The mystery provenance of the canvas panels ing the scheme around the county. Last year’s hence we urge you to have look and suggest any is that we continue to be a strong and independ- illustrated on page 13 might now be solved – as we winners and shortlisted entries are featured else- buildings that you feel should be included. ent voice and as a consequence our authority are just about to go to the printers! where in this newsletter while a banner display We have also made it known that we wholly and presence continues to strengthen. If we can A suggestion that they were at Godolphin has now been confirmed by John Schofield. They were previ- has toured the libraries of Cornwall during the oppose any powers devolved from Historic achieve this then our contribution in keeping this past year. Our Awards evening, hosted by the ously at Godolphin having been purchased by John’s England to Cornwall Council as laid down in county special is assured. For me our conference parents from the former owner of Trerice - before the National Trust at Lanhydrock, proved to be a the Case for Cornwall. In our opinion it is wrong proved a platform to talk about our built heritage, National Trust. wonderful showcase for our Group, those in for local authority to even consider taking on our casework gives us a voice in protecting what But how long were they at Trerice; were they there attendance included representatives of Cornwall since the 17th century? Editor extra responsibilities when the make-up of the we care for and our Awards scheme champions Council, Historic England, Royal Institute of British planning service is severely weakened through Architects, Cornwall Heritage Trust, Cornwall manpower cuts and when it is clear that the Buildings Preservation Trust, and of course, many CBG BUILDINGS AT RISK REGISTER service is struggling to maintain its statutory duty St Columb Rectory of the competing architectural practices and pri- towards our built environment. (1840, Grade II* listed) vate owners. It is a testament to the hard work of The idea of a Buildings at Risk register is to focus Church of St Peter, Mithians During the past year we have spoken out on the Group that this scheme goes from strength to our casework on the most needy cases in the (1861, Grade II* listed) strength indeed, this year it has received national many new planning applications where we feel county. This list is fluid and will be updated on a design is lacking or where the historic setting of regular basis. Buildings on the list do not need to Charlestown Chapel (1827, Grade II* listed) attention through being featured in ‘Heritage Loggans Mill, Hayle Counts’ published by Historic England. buildings is compromised. We also reserve the be listed nor do they need to be on any other list right to comment on wind turbine applications held by local authority or statutory consultees. (1852, Grade II) Another success this year has been working with We rely on members of the Cornish Buildings Carharrack Methodist Church statutory consultees on various aspects of case- that affect the setting of historic buildings, a case we continue to pursue with local partners is that Group to highlight their concerns and feed into our (1815, Grade II* listed) work.