Greenwich’s garden suburb Analysing and recording in Northamptonshire No 88 March 2005 Institute of Historic Building Conservation
FReD needs your help! The Historic Buildings Fire Research Database (or FReD) was set up by English Heritage on behalf of the Historic Buildings Fire Research Co-ordinating Committee (HBFRCC) to foster the exchange of information on fire research relevant to historic buildings in order to aid the sharing of unpublished knowledge and encourage the development of joint research. The database has recently been redesigned to make it more user friendly, and is well used but its usefulness depends on the willingness of those active in the field to participate by contributing their own information. The database identifies contact points for all reported projects, whether planned, current or completed, as well as details of relevant published information. Any building owners or consultants who have any completed, current or planned research which is relevant to the treatment of historic buildings against fire can submit material by completing a standard proforma from the website. More information can be found on the website at www.english-heritage.org.uk/fred or e-mail [email protected]
C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 1 Context THE INSTITUTE OF HISTORIC BUILDING CONSERVATION www.ihbc.org.uk Registered as a Charity Number 1061593. Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England Number 3333780. Registered Office: 3 Stafford Road,TunbridgeWells, Kent TN2 4QZ. IHBC Officers President: David Lovie email [email protected] Chairman: JohnYates email [email protected] Vice Chair: Dave Chetwyn email [email protected] Secretary: Richard Morrice email [email protected] Treasurer: Michael Knights email [email protected] Membership Secretary: Mike Lea email [email protected] Consultations Secretary: Dave Chetwyn email [email protected] Law & Practice Coordinator: Vacant email [email protected] Education Secretary: John Preston email [email protected] Publicity Secretary: Sarah Buckingham email [email protected] Director: Seán O’Reilly email [email protected] Branch Officers North: John Pendlebury Tel 0191 284 2119 NorthWest: Anthony Blacklay Tel 01270 610050 Yorkshire: Keith Knight Tel 01904 658482 West Midlands: Karen Holyoake Tel 01384 826891 East Midlands: Fiona Newton Tel 01507 601111 South: Gill Butter Tel 02380 285324 SouthWest: Colin Ellis Tel 01305 838334 East Anglia: Mike McConnell Tel 01284 735057 South East: Paul Barker Tel 01825 760705 London: David McDonald Tel 020 8881 6724 Scotland: Charles Strang Tel 01835 822560 Wales: Nathan Blanchard Tel 01824 708048 Northern Ireland: Sharon BrownTel 028 9754 3087 Republic of Ireland: Bernard DeeTel 00353 1 873 7226 Business Office Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA England Tel 01747 873133 Fax 01747 871718 email [email protected] Cover: The Progress Estate in Greenwich, begun in 1915 to house munitions workers, became an inspiration for much inter-war housing design. See p21. Briefing 2 Out of Context 3 Periodically 5 IHBC conference reports 8 Legal Briefing Charles Mynors and Alex Booth 12 New directions for training at Banffy Castle Dave Baxter 17 Celebrating the Progress Estate Graham Tite and Steve Crow 21 Analysing and recording in Northamptonshire Jenny Ballinger 24 Protecting the Kerikeri Basin from floods Karl Cooper 28 IHBC responses 30 Notes from the chair 31 Membership notes 32 Vox pop 32 Book reviews 33 Products and services 37 Editorial Culture, media, sport and pantomime With the historic environment in England being led by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, an obvious question arises. Is heritage a culture, a medium or a sport? Fortunately, before we have time to answer, IHBC chairman JohnYates (p31) identifies heritage as something else entirely: a hard-done-by pantomime heroine. Heritage,Yates writes, is the Cinderella of the culture ministry. That makes Tessa Jowell the wicked stepmother, favouring the ugly sisters while condemning Cinders to a life of drudgery and torment (well, what else did you expect from a career in built heritage?). The ministry of fun and games has never been comfortable with its heritage responsibility. True, there are visitors to manage, so there is some connection with the department’s more familiar functions. But the DCMS finds its duty of handling the fourth dimension strange and unwelcome. The ODPM would be a more natural home for the historic environment.Who knows what might happen after the general election? Joined-up government is never easy. Everything is connected to everything else in one way or another, so painful administrative divisions have to be made. But the logic of handling the historic environment through the department responsible for planning and local government seems inescapable. ‘Do you not have a third daughter?’ asks the prince after the ugly sisters have failed to fit a foot into the glass slipper without loss of blood. ‘Only Cinderella,’ the wicked stepmother replies. ‘She will be of no interest to you.’ ‘Bring her to me,’ demands John Prescott (for it is he). Cinderella is summoned from the kitchen, where she has been blacking the hearth. The slipper fits. The prince embraces her delightedly and declares his love. The rest – we dare hope – is history.
2 C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 Context Editor Robert Cowan Editorial Coordinator Nigel Barker, 65Worplesdon Road, Guildford, Surrey GU2 9RT. Tel 01483 562 851 email [email protected] Editorial Board Nigel Barker (chair) Susan Brook (treasurer and IT) Nigel Crowe (main features) Peter de Figueiredo (book reviews) Julia Smith (IHBC branches) Michael Taylor (main features) Cartoons by Robert Cowan Context is distributed to all members of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation. © Institute of Historic Building Conservation 2005 ISSN 0958-2746 Publisher Published for the Institute of Historic Building Conservation by Cathedral Communications Limited, High Street, Tisbury,Wiltshire, England SP3 6HA Tel 01747 871717 Fax 01747 871718 email [email protected] www.buildingconservation.com Non-member subscriptions to Context Context is available to non-members of the IHBC at an annual subscription rate, including postage, of: United Kingdom £50.00 Elsewhere £75.00 Subscription orders, together with remittances payable to Institute of Historic Building Conservation, should be sent to the IHBC Business Office at Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA. The views expressed in Context are not necessarily those held by the IHBC nor the publisher. Neither the publisher nor the IHBC shall be under any liability whatsoever in respect of contributed articles. We gratefully acknowledge the support of firms whose advertisements appear throughout this publication.While every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this issue of Context is current and correct, neither the IHBC nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions which may occur. Briefing Copy deadlines Context is published five times a year, in March, May, July, September and November. Remaining copy deadlines in 2005 are: Issue Date May, Issue 89 18 March July, Issue 90 20 May September, Issue 91 15 July November, Issue 92 16 September President’s Appeal The Gus Astley Memorial Fund As you will recall, after the untimely death in September 2003 of Gus Astley, our indefatigable membership secretary, the institute set up a memorial fund with the support of Gus’s family (Context 83, March 2004, p2). The objectives of the fund are twofold: • To provide an annual financial award (and publication) for the student thesis with the greatest potential for increasing understanding or raising standards within the building conservation sector. • To assist cases of genuine hardship for those embarking on a recognised full-time conservation course. Both objectives were close to Gus’ heart. The fund still needs more core funding from members and supporters to reach its establishment target so that we can make our first award in 2006. As your president, I ask you to dig deep for someone who generously gave the institute that most precious commodity, his own time. Our Foundation Target of £15,000 amounts to a contribution of £10 per member, although obviously more would be appreciated. We have included an addressed envelope with this issue of Context to make it easier to send your contribution. So please, in memory of Gus, give generously to his memorial fund so that together we can encourage the further raising of our professional standards, and provide some relief of educational hardship within our sector. Although contributions will be welcome into the future to build the fund up, I would be grateful if you could respond to this current appeal by Easter 2005, so that we can celebrate our successful achievement of the Foundation Target together at our AGM in the summer. I am grateful for your attention. Thank you on behalf of the Memorial Fund. Please make your contributions payable to ‘The Gus Astley Memorial Fund’. David Lovie Brian Morton MBE Congratulations to regular Context contributor Brian Morton, awarded the MBE for services to heritage engineering. Award for Denbigh THI The Denbigh Townscape Heritage Initiative (Context 85, July 2004) has received a planning achievement award in the Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru Awards.The initiative, for which Nathan Blanchard is project manager, has led to more than 60 important buildings being repaired and brought back into use. A key element of the project was the restoration of Bronyffynnon. Dating back to 1582, the Grade II* listed building Nathan Blanchard outside the Bronyffynnon surgery is one of only three known surviving medieval town houses inWales. Denbigh was one of the largest towns inWales during the 16th century. The Denbigh Townscape Heritage Initiative is managed by Denbighshire County Council. It coordinates the investment of funding partners which include the Heritage Lottery Fund,Welsh Development Agency, ERDF Objective 1, Cadw, Denbighshire’s Housing Regeneration assistance, Cadwyn Clwyd and Denbigh Town Council. Situations vacant: Editorial Board Chairman After five tremendously enjoyable years as chairman of the editorial board I have decided to step down at this year’s IHBC AGM inYork (see the AGM papers when issued).This means that the board is actively looking for a volunteer to step into the role.
C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 3 The Conservation Register website helps individuals and organisations find a local conservator by choosing from the wide range of categories such as paintings, textiles, books or ceramics; view detailed information on each practice including contact details staff training and qualifications, professional accreditations, charging policies and descriptions of recent work; and follow online links to conservators’ email addresses and websites. Additional support and a postal enquiry service are available by contacting 020 7721 8246. The Conservation Register is owned by the UK Institute for Conservation, which operates it in partnership with Historic Scotland and the National Council for Conservation-Restoration. What does it all mean? The Dictionary of Urbanism is the latest publication by Context editor Robert Cowan.The 500-page dictionary is expected to become a standard reference. It defines and explains almost every word or phrase that a councillor, developer, built environment professional or community activist is likely to hear, read or write. It explains the key concepts of urban design, planning ‘PRIVATE OWNERS [of listed buildings]… are at the mercy of sometimes chippy conservation officers and English Heritage officials, whose ambition is to act as architectural traffic wardens – inflexibly applying the letter of the law regardless of expense and convenience. “What’s the difference between a conservation officer and a terrorist?” runs a slightly risqué joke in architectural circles. “You can negotiate with a terrorist.” ‘Delay, expense, the frustration of being embroiled in an often unhelpful, nit-picking bureaucracy, the rage that results from discovering personal aesthetic judgments can be vetoed by a petty functionary of the nanny state… this agony, in striving for consent to make even the most modest of alterations to a listed building, destroys the pleasure of living in it… ‘Most councils no longer employ qualified conservation officers – perhaps architects who are used to the small compromises that must be made if an old house is to serve as a living family home. Instead, they offer the sort of salary that attracts only a newly qualified graduate, if that. The new breed of conservation officer – and sometimes English Heritage official – appears, to the average homeowner, like a member of Chairman Mao’s Red Guards, armed with the certainty of youth, and apparently indifferent to the domestic misery his decisions can inflict… ‘Not surprisingly, Simon Thurley, the dynamic chief executive of English Heritage, does not see it like this. Most owners of listed buildings are happy that the quality of their homes is recognised, he says. But even he acknowledges a smidgen of a problem: “There are not enough conservation officers. They do not have the right training. They do not have the right sort of political support.”’ Clive Aslet, editor of Country Life, writing in the Sunday Telegraph. ‘CLIVE ASLET… showed a surprising lack of understanding of why and how our historic buildings are protected… ‘Historic buildings are protected by the community’s laws because they The chairman’s responsibilities are to coordinate the board’s activities. The board meets four times a year, currently alternating between London and Birmingham, and the chairman acts as the link between it and the IHBC. Currently the chairman attends Internal Affairs Committee (four meetings a year) and at present is a member of council, although this is to be reviewed. In addition he or she acts as principal point of contact for Context (usually via email) for press releases and enquiries from IHBC members and the general public. The editorial board comprises six members, each currently with a defined editorial role: commissioning features, regular contributors, the IHBCYearbook, and reviews. It is very ably supported by the editor, Rob Cowan, and Cathedral Communications, the publisher. It sets editorial policy and looks to develop Context as the principal journal of record for the world of building conservation. Over the past five years the board has established a system that relies on cooperation and communication, which means that the meetings themselves are usually good opportunities for exchanging ideas and thoughts on wider themes and issues in the historic environment.The challenge as always is to maintain a focus on producing Context while looking forward to ensure that it remains the institute’s shop window. The role of chairman brings with it responsibilities but also opportunities. If you are interested in knowing more about it please contact me ([email protected] or telephone 01483 562851) to discuss.We hope to hold interviews on 23 June in London. Nigel Barker Historic farms conference The Historic Farm Buildings Group Annual Conference will be held in Herefordshire on 16–18 September 2005. The theme will be the development and change of farmsteads over time. Despite the quickening pace of change, Herefordshire retains large numbers of traditional farmstead layouts, with some holdings inheriting collections of buildings spanning three centuries. Contact Joan Grundy, Old School House, Ullingswick, Hereford HR1 3JQ [email protected] Conservation Register online Detailed information on conservationrestoration practices in the UK and Ireland is a now available at www.con servationregister.com for the use of all those concerned with the care of art and heritage. and regeneration, describes the work of pioneers who have inspired new ways of thinking, and shows how urban life is portrayed in the arts and popular culture. The dictionary is illustrated by Lucinda Rogers, whose drawings of urban life appear inThe Guardian, Daily Telegraph andNewYorker. Order the book (hardback, £29.95) online at www.urbanwords.info, a dedicated website that uncovers the latest terms, trends, ideas, concepts, personalities and policies in the field.
4 C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 have a cultural value to that wider community. Almost all these buildings earn their living, so the regulation of change to them through the planning system involves a balancing of cultural value with utility – public interest with private interest – an inherently political process. This listed building consent procedure almost always works by understanding, negotiation and consensus: nine out of ten applications are granted. ‘The council conservation officers and English Heritage inspectors advising on that process walk a well-defined path, set out by the government’s own guidance (chiefly Planning Policy Guidance Note 15), as well as case-law and adopted local policies. They are not heritage Lone Rangers, and they can not be ‘dictators’. ‘Training is, of course, crucial. That is why the IHBC centres its activities on training and standards. Conservation officers do not have to be architects or surveyors, as they are essentially a public-interest client in the building process, but they do have to understand the significance of the building, the needs of its use, and the range of options available. ‘I can not defend them against Mr Aslet’s accusation of youthfulness, except to welcome the fact that younger people are coming into the profession. ‘If owners believe that they are the victims of eccentric advice and decisions, they can and should use the planning appeals process for test and remedy. A two-year delay would clearly be inexcusable, and would bring into question the service that the owners have received from their own advisers. A conservation-accredited architect or surveyor would be most unlikely to lead a client into a Kafkaesque standoff, as he or she would understand the guidance, the values behind it, and the appeal procedure. ‘We all find the law irksome when it applies to us, but is Clive Aslet really suggesting an abandonment of historic environment protection? We don’t think he would like the result.’ IHBC chair John Yates in a letter to the Sunday Telegraph. Great stereotypes of our time No 1: The Conservation Officer ‘THIS IS NOT simply a debate about protecting modernist architecture. It is a debate about whether to have a planning system… If the events that led to this inquiry go unchallenged, then what is a historic building today may be a greenfield housing site tomorrow.’ Barrister Richard Harwood, acting for English Heritage, at the public inquiry into the demolition of the modernist house Greenside, quoted in Building Design. ‘FORTHOSE who think they might like to become more involved but are nervous about the embarrassment caused by an election, a word with an existing committee member, before the AGM, may make joining the committee less potentially humiliating.’ Advice in the IHBC North West Branch Newsletter. The nature of the potential humiliation is not disclosed. ‘THE ANCESTOR worship of old buildings is a delusion that is bound to end in disappointment of the most bitter kind. It will not keep us young; it will not ward off the future. As we can see, it will only suffocate our dwindling power to reorder the present, waste our diminishing resources, and immobilise a growing proportion of the building stock of the nation. In the new century that we are locked into, buildings will no longer be treasures to be hoarded; they are tools to be used and improved, altered and replaced over and over again in all the processes of living. ‘The fantastic delusions of the art historical value system are robbing us of the power of action that is the only true relief in the human condition. If environmentalists lay claim to the political high ground of the new century, what remains of undiscovered territory for the exploring architectural mind?’ Columnist Martin Pawley writing in the Architects’ Journal. Managing the Historic Environment in the Digital Age The IHBC and IFA are jointly organising a day school on Friday 20th May 2005 considering the impacts and opportunities for the historic environment arising from current government initiatives. Sites and Monuments Records have become Historic Environment Records, with the prospect of statutory status, but has their scope been broadened to match the new name? The ODPM is introducing new e-government requirements for local authorities, seemingly without coordination with the DCMS, or thought for their implications for historic environment services. Can we really work with paperless offices, and how do we manage both hard copy and digital records, including those generated through the planning system?What resources and approaches are available to historic environment professionals? The government has seen historic environment record centres and architecture centres as separate strands, but can they be integrated? Venue University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education, Rewley House, 1Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JA Contact Hazel Richards on 01865 270380, [email protected]
C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 5 Periodically… Conservation expertise is acquired from life-long experience. There never seems to be any practical aspect where a long-standing and definitive position is maintained. The more one knows, the more one realises one doesn’t know. While this sounds like a Donald Rumsfeldism, it appears particularly true of one of the black arts – the uses of lime. Those who may have mastered the nuances of cold-manufactured mortars will find the subject of hot-lime mortars covered in the November 2004 issue of the Journal of Architectural Conservation (Vol 10, No 3) of great interest. Hot-lime mortars are defined as those that are made by mixing quicklime and sand rather than slaked lime and sand, but little is understood about their physical and chemical performance. Although they appear to offer better durability, so far this is based largely on anecdotal evidence. The article by former SPAB Lethaby Scholar Alan Foster of the Scottish Lime Centre Trust looks at the potential for altered hydraulic properties, bonding characteristics between the lime and the aggregate and the pore structure of hot-lime mortars. These appear to be the key factors in enhanced performance over cold mortars, but the author acknowledges that further research and debate are required. Also of interest is a timely item by Lisa Foster on disabled access to historic buildings. Foster is the author of the recently revised English Heritage guidance on Easy Access to Historic Buildings. She argues that what is ‘reasonable accommodation’ under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) must by definition be unique to the individual building or site, and she stresses the importance of the exercise of judgment by the conservation professionals in making the decisions. Foster emphasises that standards provide guidance but not answers, and considers the impact of Part M of the Building Regulations and BS8300. She also looks at cost implications and the particularly difficult issue of how far DDA duties extend to churches, where comparatively few permanent examples (good or bad) have been implemented by comparison with the commercial sector. As English Heritage now requires an access audit as a condition of a church repair grant (even if for the roof), the position is now changing. In the same issue IHBC member Rory Cullen (with Nikita Hooper) outlines the work of the National Trust’s building department, and the different physical and legislative challenges – and diversity of materials and construction methods – faced in maintaining three examples (Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire; Rosemount Cottage on the Anglesey Abbey Estate, Cambridgeshire; and the Clockhouse on the Coleshill Estate, Oxfordshire) within the context of the of the trust’s overall responsibility for an estate of over 25,000 buildings. This article, although illustrated, would have benefited greatly from far more photographs of the works described. DavidYeomans writes about the inappropriateness of applying to historic structures the methods of analysis of modern ones, and repair recommendations framed to comply with modern design codes. He describes the background to a set of recently drafted recommendations, pointing out the dangers and describing more appropriate methods drawn up by the scientific committee of ICOMOS. Finally IHBC member Dennis Rodwell describes the strategic conservation challenges of Asmara, Eritrea – described as ‘Africa’s secret modernist city’, having inherited many exceptional modernist buildings (courtesy of the Italians) from the 1930s, and having been largely untouched since the 1940s. The latest Cornerstone, the newsletter of the SPAB (Vol 25, No 4) continues to have a thematic focus – in this issue, historic glass. A generous sequence of articles over 30 pages cover its history, repair and conservation, in particular craftsmanship as exemplified by theYork Glaziers’ Trust; medieval manufacturing methods; the importance (and continuing loss) of old plain glass; a clear seven-point guide to avoiding double-glazing; the work of three UKICaccredited glass conservators, Peter Campling, Derek Hunt and Stephen Clare; guidance on commissioning new glass in ancient buildings (with acknowledgment of the outstanding contribution of John Piper); and SPAB’s long-standing concern about isothermal glazing to protect old glass. The technical advice section deals with French (not) drains and makes a useful comparator article to the technical advice on IHBC’s own website. Also in the issue is a policy statement from the SPAB Mills Section Committee on hydro-power installations. As the potential of mills for small-scale electricity generation is explored, there is potential for these historic installations (leats, ponds and weirs) to be restored – but not at the expense of the capability of existing mill machinery. The section is broadly in favour, and sensible caution and dialogue rather than opposition is advocated. In the latest issue of the RICS Building Conservation Group Journal (No 37 2004) the main theme is understanding the principles of structural movement (a wonderful photo of a chimney-breast supported on two struts of perforated angle iron), with some of the common defects and failures – including the seven main causes – clearly explained. The issue also describes an accessibility solution for English Heritage by architects Buttress Fuller AlsopWilliams to Helmsley Castle, NorthYorkshire, a scheduled
6 C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 ancient monument containing several individually listed Grade I buildings; and Geoffrey Sharp investigates old remedies and practices from the 18th and 19th centuries to combat dampness in buildings. The thematic content of TheVictorian (No 17, November 2004) deals with buildings at risk, inspired by the publication of the English Heritage Register. This area of work remains a low priority area of local authority workload. The society laments the absence of any similar central register inWales. To counterpoint this, it sets out its concern about ‘Hafodunos’, a 1860s masterpiece by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott which may be the No 1 Victorian building at risk in the principality. English Heritage is currently funding a number of conservation officer posts around the country with the understanding that part of their time is spent on buildings at risk. However, there are four places – all inner city areas – where the problem is so acute that separate building at risk officer posts have been created: Liverpool, Manchester, Islington and Hackney. The magazine interviews all four officers about the challenges they face. When buildings are at risk it is not often that the developer’s voice is heard. An interesting insight is given by Ralph Brocklehurst of the P J Livesey Group Ltd, which concentrates on converting and refurbishing historic buildings. A recent project has been the transformation from the near ruin of Ingress Abbey, Kent, vacant from 1989. It has been so successfully converted that Tony Blair recently launched the Thames Gateway development proposals from the building. Finally, the magazine has some helpful and sensible advice to anyone lobbying for the retention of unlisted buildings threatened by redevelopment. There seems to be a trend for rebranding publications. The Theatres Trust proves no exception, simply retitling their newsletter Theatres. Issue No 1 (Autumn 2004) looks at recent transformations of Frank Matcham’s 1904 London Coliseum for English National Opera; the 1930s art deco Whitehall Theatre by E A Stone, venue for may of Brian Rix’s farces in the 1950s and ’60s; and the Prince of Wales Theatre, recently made over by Sir Cameron Mackintosh for £7.5 million. Issue No 2 (Winter 2004) looks with pessimism at the decreased likelihood of completing the refurbishment of many theatres using Heritage Lottery Fund money, despite all the good work by the fund in its first ten years. The trust’s director Peter Longman considers that in London’s west end £250 million still needs to be spent over the next 15 years, and £750 million over the rest of the UK. This is despite a view within government that after 10 years of the Heritage Lottery Fund most of the heritage has been dealt with. The issue also makes amends for criticisms that too much attention is devoted to the work of Frank Matcham. It highlights the centenary of two theatres – the London Lyceum and the Glasgow Pavilion – by Bertie Crewe. Past editions of this column have highlighted analysis and discussion by Michael Borozdin-Bidnell of unusual or interesting interior joinery details in The Georgian. These are always informative and worth looking out for. The Summer 2004 issue anatomises a staircase at Dawtrey Mansion, Petworth, of c1652 – one of the earliest known examples of a spiral baluster. That issue also discusses Kew Palace, and research and paint analysis at Sir John Soane’s Moggerhanger House in rural Bedfordshire. In the Autumn/Winter 2004 issue, scrutiny of joinery turns to examples on the island of Jersey. The theme of proximity to the sea is taken up by six other articles about different aspects of Georgian resorts, includingWhitby, Brighton and Hove, and Hastings. And 30 years after the Destruction of the County House exhibition at the V&A changed attitudes and expectations, the recent concerns about Toddington Manor, Gloucestershire and Hafadunos Hall in NorthWales shows that all is still not well with large country houses. New work within historic cathedrals is often contentious. Natural Stone Specialist (November 2004) has a feature on an astonishing scheme of precision engineering and high quality stone masonry brought together at Litchfield Cathedral to create a retractable stone two-stage 38 square metre nave altar platform designed by Martin Stancliffe. The scheme was highly commended in the Natural Stone Awards 2004 (covered in the December issue) – just losing out to the re-flooring of the 14th century Lady Chapel at Ely Cathedral. The problematic existing 20th century wooden chapel floor responsible for humidity problems was replaced in Purbeck limestone as used in the original construction. The winning scheme was designed by Purcell Miller Tritton & Partners with Mowlem Rattee & Kett as the main contractor. Finally, a word of encouragement to seek out the occasional Friends ofWar Memorials Bulletin (No 23, Autumn 2004), which continues to promote English Heritage grants for war memorials, and illustrates a range of recipients of this excellent scheme. Grants of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs are available (up to a maximum of £10,000) – but possibly not for much longer if cutbacks at English Heritage continue. Bob Kindred MBE
C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 7 Shaws of Darwen, Waterside, Darwen, Lancashire BB3 3NX Telephone: 01254 775111 Fax: 01254 873462 MANUFACTURERS FOR OVER A CENTURY, SHAWS OFFER CRAFTSMANSHIP COMBINED WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY FOR ARCHITECTURAL RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION For terracotta, faience and glazed brick enquiries, site surveys or quotations, contact Jon Wilson Client: Royal Albert Hall Architects: Building Design Partnership Construction Managers: Taylor Woodrow Main Contractor: HBG Construction Terracotta Installation: Paye Stonework and Restoration NEW SOUTH PORCH SUPPLYING TERRACOTTA TO THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
8 C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 IHBC conference reports IHBC North West Branch Conference Access to the historic environment: mind, body and soul The IHBC North-West Branch held its annual conference at the Manchester City Art Gallery, recently extended by Michael Hopkins and Partners with grant from the HLF. The conference dealt with matters of access – not just physical constraints but wider aspects as well. Intellectual barriers can limit access. Social and cultural barriers can exist alongside financial ones. Organisational barriers, such as sparse information, can limit enjoyment. The conference explored ways in which doors could be opened to allow wider appreciation of the historic environment. The chair was Dr Stella Butler, head of special collections and principal keeper of the John Rylands University Library, which is in the middle of a programme for improving all forms of access to its facilities. Peter Howard, professor of cultural landscape at Bournemouth University and editor of the International Journal of Heritage Studies, set the context for the day and provided an intellectual challenge to perceptions of heritage. Interestingly, one of the best books on access and inclusion was written many years ago: How to Run a Stately Home. The Duke of Bedford realised that the public was drawn more toWoburn by the freedoms arising from the motorcar rather than by his paintings. Landscape perception was not just one of vision, Howard said. Sound, smell, touch and taste were often more powerful triggers for emotional reaction. Visual perception of landscape for excitement was based on the concept of hide-and-seek, and the stimulation of contrasting verticals rather than horizontals. Age groups and nationalities perceive their heritage differently. The experiences of a ten-year-old constitute ‘normality’, and change is referenced back to perceptions at that time. The Germans are obsessed by springs, forests and river sources, while the French prefer cathedrals. Insiders have different perceptions from visitors. The web of daily life of people, places and events predominate; insider secrets define the group. Cultural preferences can change rapidly – Dartmoor as a landscape type was identified in the 1870s, the Cotswolds in the 1920s. Lisa Foster, discussing ‘Physical access: creative solutions for historic properties’, developed a thought-provoking theme by looking at Swedish examples and an approach based on considerate accessibility. In many ways Britain is more advanced – for instance meeting the needs of disability at the Royal Academy has been the stimulus for creating a pleasant urban space for all users. By contrast the Riddarhoust Museum in Stockholm uses a simple utilitarian handrail on the front elevation and a staircase lift on the rear elevation. It may be an honest approach but it is not integrated. Access is provided but feels segregated. In examples where physical access could not be provided, information was variously provided by tactile model, Braille, audio cassette and high-quality video to meet the needs of diverse groups in accessible parts of the complexes. Foster’s talk continued with a brief review of the Disability Discrimination Act. Private clubs are to be included in the Code of Practice needs to be tightened up to reflect the new Part M, which is only concerned with access and not evacuation. Three case studies looked at the intellectual, educational and citizenship aspects of access. Karl Creaser, regional policy officer of English Heritage, examined the particular challenges of historic houses in the NorthWest. He focused on themes or issues to attract and assist target audiences in which avoidance of information overload was the key. Studies of managerial, organisational and physical access were supported by the HLF. Dilys Horwich, education officer with English Heritage NorthWest, cited citizenship studies in Liverpool. The urban regeneration of the Ropewalks area – combining warehouse and domestic properties – provided studies of past, present and future for Key Stages 1 and 2 for History and Citizenship Studies. For the 7–8 year olds there was concentration on the physical fabric and, through drama, empathy for past living. For the 10–11 year olds the themes were developed to include professionals, community groups and decision-making processes. Rob Bracewell, the access officer for Lancaster City Council, promoted the need for inclusion in the historic environment of the wheelchair and pram user. Historic buildings needed to be made relevant for their time. Even William Morris pointed out ‘every change whatever it destroyed left history in the gap’. Today’s need is to cater for social diversity while maintaining historical significance. In Lancaster, Bracewell works as part of a coordinated forward planning team working to ensure that accessibility issues are incorporated at the instigation of projects such as THI, public arts and transport schemes. He views accessibility as a pathway of change where the use of buildings can be augmented, and their survival can be assured for all. After lunch there were walking tours of Manchester Art Gallery, Ancoats, Exchange Square and the Triangle, and Manchester Town Hall, which variously illustrated issues of cultural, intellectual, organisational and physical access. Afterwards, Diana Terry and Alison Kershaw of the Victoria Baths Trust explained the activities behind the Victoria Baths project in Manchester, which won the BBC Restoration in amendments published in May 2004. In the revisions to Part M of the Building Regulations the needs of historic buildings are recognised. Access statements need to be completed and kept updated to provide documentation for any inquiry by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC). It is a common misconception among agents that a refusal of listed building consent is required to protect the client from such an inquiry. This is not the case. The issue needs to be examined through the access statement with the corresponding evidence. Guidance
C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 9 Competition. Artists had been drawn to its dilapidation as a canvas to express their response to this powerful Arts and Crafts edifice. The baths were also important to the local community: many generations had learnt to swim there. This stimulated a sense of ownership. Recent increased media interest brought in a wider range of groups, such as Barclays Bank volunteers to clear the boiler house. This enabled the trust to widen its range of tours and public access to the building. Karen Brookfield, the deputy director of policy and research at the Heritage Lottery Fund, reviewed the range and extent of the 15,000 projects supported over the first ten years. Part of the HLF commitment is to improve physical access to buildings for all users and, through measures of security in the Parks Programme, to widen their use by addressing perceptions of danger. Intangible aspects of heritage were also important. A scheme in East Anglia by the Mencap Society produced an oral history of post-war treatment of disabled people. In Northamptonshire a history of black people in the locality was widely exhibited in public libraries and shopping centres. TheYoung Roots programme has been established – it is the only HLF programme for a specific target audience helping to develop their skills and confidence. In ‘Making connections: regeneration, heritage and education’ Suzanne Spicer, access and learning manager of the NorthWest Museum of Science and Industry, discussed the connections from a learner’s perspective to develop community pride in the heritage through four school-based initiatives. The first was Excellence in Cities for gifted and talented pupils through summer schools and advanced learning centres throughout many places in the NorthWest. In the second, Skills for Life, adults were given the skills of numeracy and literacy to help their children early in life and reduce disadvantage. A historic environment and oral history of Belle Vue Park was an example. In the 14–19 Strategy, for instance, excluded children had taken photos of what was important for them in the area and prepared guides and art work for the gallery. In the 5–16 Citizenship Curriculum the emphasis is on the development of skills, knowledge and understanding in terms of social and moral awareness, community involvement and political literacy. The chair posed questions about the need for a proper definition of access and to integrate the concepts fully into the planning process. She hoped the educational programmes would bring forward a committed new age group in ten years time, fired with enthusiasm for the historic environment and its cultural importance. Graham Arnold IHBC London Branch Conference Historic suburbs: their current state and future Betjeman’s apt phrase ‘the poetry of the ordinary’. But as IHBC president David Lovie mentioned in his introduction, a number of suburbs are being ‘discovered’ these days, while others are still waiting to be. Dickon Robinson chaired the morning session. He is usually known for his role as a developer, which made him feel like ‘a fox amongst hens’, he said. But Robinson wears many hats. Apart from his former role with Peabody Trust, he is also a CABE commissioner and chair of CABE Space, as well as a patron of the Urban Design Group. He too detects a lack of interest in suburbs and believes we should find out why these suburbs work. Eddie Booth, who has contributed to the English Heritage book on London suburbs, opened the morning session with a talk on ‘Measuring incremental erosion of character’. He said that ‘London is pretty much all suburbs and they are one of our great exports’, but they were at risk. He went on to give us a list of what drives change, including changes in ownership, fashion and social aspiration, regulatory changes and new technologies such as double glazing. Booth explained the concept of the ‘perception of change’ based on a survey he conducted that recorded this perception in relation to the incremental loss of materials that had been assessed as important aspects of special character. Not surprisingly, alterations to walls were top of the list, followed by doors and windows. We should be able to manage theses changes better once we have identified them and assigned a value. Paul Drury and Anna McPherson of the Paul Drury Partnership reassessed the need to understand how inhabitants value areas, in order to manage change better. Our understanding of special character and values is changing to a broader and more holistic approach. They raised the questions of how extensive these assessments should be and what type of control should be exerted. Spot the difference: incremental changes can erode local character. The IHBC London Branch organised its 2004 Day Conference last November in association with English Heritage. The event took place at the Society of Antiquaries. ‘Historic suburbs: their current state and future’ attracted close to 100 people. Although the majority were from local authorities from London and beyond, private practitioners and representatives from other public bodies were well represented. Suburbs are not obviously identified as a topical subject, especially in London, but this conference confirmed that there are many who see the need to care for them. As the leaflet advertised: ‘suburbs have a crucial role to play in regeneration and development, and can engender fierce loyalties and intense civic pride.Yet their conservation is often misunderstood or sidelined. They have character that needs to be assessed and are valued in different ways by different people and groups that need to be understood’. David McDonald, chairman of the London Branch, quoted John
10 C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 problem were in his ‘tools for the suburbs’. These are reinforcing local centres; making new development sustainable; improving the existing housing stock; and providing alternatives to car travel. He considered urban design to be the key, and promoted the use of techniques such as neighbourhood scorecards as the way forward. Finally, Falk introduced the concept of ‘smarter growth’: accepting change as part of life; promoting intensification of transport nodes; encouraging diversification of suburban centres; enhancing local character; more efficient organisation of parking; and… cultivating our gardens. The morning session also brought in the importance of setting. It was suggested that gardens should be recognised as part of the special character, as is low density, and not be separated from the buildings’ characteristics. Eddie Booth thought that conservation area designation might not be the best tool to protect the important qualities of suburbs. Nicholas Falk suggested that some other type of designation with specific policies might be more appropriate. David Lovie pointed to the need to increase the building stock, especially where values were high. The centre of many suburbs could be intensified instead of wasting the countryside. Anna McPherson recommended regular monitoring as part of the management of these suburbs, with up-dated appraisals to reassess the designation if much erosion had taken place. The afternoon session was chaired by Ken Powell, architectural writer and critic, who introduced us to Headingley in Leeds. This area, close to the centre, is attracting many academics, professionals and students. Locals are not always welcoming towards the students; houses are modified to accommodate them; and their maintenance and general appearance can suffer. Adam Menuge of English Heritage talked about the housing market renewal initiative area in Liverpool, referring us to Henry Owen-John’s article ‘Pathfinders and the historic environment’ in Context 82, November 2003. The ODPM proposes to improve such areas by refurbishing some buildings, demolishing others and building new. The housing market renewal programme is concentrating on how people live, but it may destroy the fabric of those areas. In response to these large-scale initiatives, English Heritage has developed techniques to assess the collective significance, the patterns of interest and also individual buildings of merit. The problem is that these surveys have to be carried out in a short time, the involve many different people with varying perceptions, and they may lack consistency. Ann Robey, architectural historian and development manager for the Hackney Historic Buildings Trust, identified the main period of suburban growth as 1875–1940. She mentioned the critical survey of suburbs that SAVE has undertaken, which should be published this year. Some of the results may be surprising, particularly in relation to those suburbs without statutory protection, which are apparently better preserved than some in conservation areas. Charles Wagner concentrated on English Heritage’s Streets for All initiative, advocating an integrated town management system. Streets for All had been successful in London and was now being promoted in the regions. What had we learned? First, suburbs are valued by many people, including lay inhabitants as well as the professional custodians of our built heritage.We should carry out assessments to understand which aspects define the special character of suburbs. There is not yet any common method for this, but various studies and surveys are being carried out. There is still time to slow down the damage, as good examples have survived. But we must act now. Florence Salberter, conservation and design officer, and David McDonald, conservation and design team leader, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Peter Larkham of the University of Central England provided a long-term perspective on how suburbs have fared under planning legislation since the second world war. They were initially seen as areas of reconstruction rather than worthy of preservation. Following the Civic Amenities Act 1967, early conservation area designations tended to be the historic cores of towns and villages. Gradually their scope widened to take in suburbs. The lack of a systematic approach to designation was highlighted in the 1990s, and to some extent tackled by PPG15 and English Heritage guidance. Larkham highlighted changing perceptions of conservation from those areas that were considered to be ‘special’ to those which gained in importance because they were ‘typical’. He highlighted the results of three case studies that were carried out in the Midlands, which showed that 92 per cent of residents were aware that they lived in a conservation area, but only 72 per cent were happy with the operation of the planning system. Larkham concluded on a cautionary note, remarking that the designation of lesser areas may debase the currency. Better and more frequent communication with residents was necessary; better tools were required for area management; and increasing residential densities could be harmful. Nicholas Falk, well known as the founder of Urbed, presented his views on sustainability in the suburbs. His perception of threats to the character of suburbs stemmed from ‘polycentric growth’ and ‘new-edge cities’, for example Bristol Parkway. Market forces favoured the edge and consequently suburban centres declined. Falk suggested that the answers to this Not all suburbs are as well maintained as Hampstead Garden Suburb.
C O N T E X T 8 8 : M A R C H 2 0 0 5 11 www.helm.org.uk Easy access to information, guidance, training and case studies Helping local authority decision making in the historic environment
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