Journal of Historic Buildings and Places Vol 2 2023
Cleveden Court, Somerset (Photo: Celuici, Wikimedia). |
The Journal of Historic Buildings and Places (Vol 2, 2023), running to 166 pages, reflects the role of what was the Ancient Monuments Society in campaigning for buildings of all periods. Subjects range from the 14th-century Clevedon Court, Somerset, to a reconsideration of the Victoria Centre shopping megastructure, Nottingham, on the 50th anniversary of its opening, and the loss by fire in 1994 of the late- 1950s Norwich Central Library.
These cases help provide a context for the buildings that were considered worth campaigning for at the start of heritage protection; ones now lost to us; and those of the modern era that might justify a re-evaluation in the light of heritage protection reform, particularly where evolution in response to commercial and other pressures may have devalued the special architectural or historic interest to the point of denial of protection.
In the case of Clevedon Court, it was the efforts of the owner to save his family home from probable demolition shortly after the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 came into force. Shortly after, the Historic Buildings Council for England (a department of the Ministry of Works) was established, and Clevedon was one of the earliest test cases for its operation and the effectiveness of the new Act. This involved tortuous negotiations over a further six years (also involving the SPAB, the National Trust and the Treasury) as they all juggled conflicting requirements and priorities. The chronicling of this case puts into perspective evolution of statutory protection and more recent heritage protection reforms, some parts of which are perhaps now taken for granted.
The lost Norwich Central Library is a particularly interesting post-war case. The received view of the building was that it was banal, brutal and ill-favoured. But it should perhaps be considered in the context of the 1959 report of the Committee of Public Libraries, and procurement within the social and political auspices of the post-war welfare state. That might prompt reflection of other difficult buildings of that era.
Particular attention in this issue of the journal should be paid to the paper by Pete Smith, formerly a senior architectural investigator with Historic England. He provides (possibly) the definitive illustrated history and lengthy gazetteer of balconies or pergolas in 17th-century England. The paper looks at their architectural derivation and their Italian origins, and lists the locations of 198 balconies on 128 buildings.
This article originally appeared in the Institute of Historic Building Conservation’s (IHBC’s) Context 177, published in September 2023.
--Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Related articles on Designing Buildings
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC Membership Journal Context - Latest Issue on 'Hadrian's Wall' Published
The issue includes takes on the wall 'end-to-end' including 'the man who saved it'.
Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit developed by City of London and Purcell
The toolkit is designed to provide clear and actionable guidance for owners, occupiers and caretakers of historic and listed buildings.
70 countries sign Declaration de Chaillot at Buildings & Climate Global Forum
The declaration is a foundational document enabling progress towards a ‘rapid, fair, and effective transition of the buildings sector’
Bookings open for IHBC Annual School 12-15 June 2024
Theme: Place and Building Care - Finance, Policy and People in Conservation Practice
Rare Sliding Canal Bridge in the UK gets a Major Update
A moveable rail bridge over the Stainforth and Keadby Canal in the Midlands in England has been completely overhauled.
'Restoration and Renewal: Developing the strategic case' Published
The House of Commons Library has published the research briefing, outlining the different options for the Palace of Westminster.
Brum’s Broad Street skyscraper plans approved with unusual rule for residents
A report by a council officer says that the development would provide for a mix of accommodation in a ‘high quality, secure environment...
English Housing Survey 2022 to 2023
Initial findings from the English Housing Survey 2022 to 2023 have been published.
Audit Wales research report: Sustainable development?
A new report from Audit Wales examines how Welsh Councils are supporting repurposing and regeneration of vacant properties and brownfield sites.
New Guidance Launched on ‘Understanding Special Historic Interest in Listing’
Historic England (HE) has published this guidance to help people better understand special historic interest, one of the two main criteria used to decide whether a building can be listed or not.