CASEWORK
 Tim Bridges |
The Casework Committee is the scrutinising body that looks at planning matters relating to or affecting Victorian & Edwardian buildings in the region. The Committee is chaired by Birmingham architect and urban planner, Joe Holyoak. Other members of the comittee are:
|
 Joe
Holyoak |
After studying history at Exeter & medieval studies at York Universities, Tim has worked at Worcester City Museums as Keeper of Archaeology and for the past twelve years as Collections Manager. His experience from the Museum includes contributing to a book which interprets the built heritage of Worcester, a major exhibition on the porcelain industry in the early 19th century, the promotion of Worcester's post-medieval archaeology and buildings through collections and records, and more recently the day to day management of the beautiful 1896 Museum and Art Gallery building.
Tim has a keen interest in the architectural history of Midland buildings, and churches in particular. He lectures and leads guided visits around local churches including those of the 19th and 20th centuries, and has published a book on the churches of Worcestershire. He also serves on both the Worcestershire & Dudley Historic Churches Trust and the Worcester Diocesan Advisory Committee.
SEPTEMBER
2010
22
Ladywood Road, Four Oaks. Our comments have been submitted on
several aspects of a retrospective planning application for alterations to this grade II*
listed house in the Four Oaks Conservation area of Sutton Coldfield. We continue to stress
the importance of this house which was erected in 1902 to designs by W.H. Bidlake. The
house featured in Herman Muthesius' Das Englische Haus in 1908 and so is important
at a European level as an example of an Arts and Crafts house in the English suburb. We
regret that so much work has been done without appropriate consents to date, but have
requested that a fabric analysis be undertaken and conservation management plan be
implemented to ensure that proper procedures are followed with regard to future works on
the house.
St
Barnabas, Erdington. We continue to maintain our objections
to three particular aspects of this scheme to reconstruct this church following a major
fire in 2007. The church has a nave and tower by Thomas Rickman of 1822, which constitute
one of of the last surviving pieces of his ecclesiastical architecture within Birmingham.
The east end was rebuilt and extended by J. A. Chatwin in 1883. Whilst we are sympathetic
to the desire of the parish to rebuild after such a traumatic event, the plans include
removing some of Rickman's north nave wall including two cast iron windows, a substantial
curved glass extension to the north side of the building, and a sweeping roof of terne
coated steel to the entire church, all of which we consider unacceptable alterations to
the grade II listed building, though it seems that the tracery from the cast iron windows
is to be relocated to an interior space. The plans now have consent from the local
authority, but a decision on faculty which includes reference to interior works is still
awaited.
322-336
Hagley Road, Edgbaston. We have objected to proposals for the
total demolition of these unlisted Victorian and Edwardian houses on the south side of
Hagley Road within the Barnsley Road Conservation Area. The houses include number 324, the
last house to survive in Birmingham to have been designed by Ernest Barnsley, and numbers
334-6 which were the work of George Henry Devall. Although most of the properties are now
in a very poor state of repair following years of neglect, Government Policy directs that
this should not in itself be seen as a reason for demolition. The Barnsley Road
Conservation Area was identified last year as an area at risk by English Heritage, and we
have long been concerned about the condition and vulnerability of several properties
within the area. However, we feel that complete demolition of such a significant group of
buildings is too great a step. The present proposals for their total replacement with a
retirement village complex, which would cover most of the site, and result in substantial
tree loss, is also unacceptable. The buildings should be restored and incorporated within
a more sympathetic scheme to regenerate the site on this main route into Birmingham.
17
Rotton Park Road, Edgbaston. Proposals to remove the hedge and for
its replacement with a wall and gates to the frontage of this grade II* listed house have
also been the subject of an objection from us. The house forms a pair with number 19 to
make a delightful expression of English vernacular architecture through the Arts and
Crafts movement, for which the hedge constitutes an important part of the planned rural
type of setting. We hope that a more acceptable alternative can be achieved.
Archway
of Tears, Western Road, Winson Green. Sadly English Heritage declined our
request for listing of this gateway on the City Hospital site. It is the last remaining
part of Birmingham New Workhouse buildings, a vast complex designed by J. J. Bateman in
1852. The building is derelict and surrounded by car parking. We hope that a future use
can still be found for this extraordinary building, which has considerable historical
interest as the place where families entering the workhouse would have been separated.
7-12
Bartholomew Row, Birmingham. We have objected to the proposed total
demolition of these grade II listed buildings on Birmingham Eastside. These Georgian town
houses, which were adapted in the Victorian period for industrial and commercial uses
including a brassware factory, represent a classic Birmingham story of domestic premises
being altered during the nineteenth century industrial growth of the city. Such examples
are increasingly rare outside the Jewellery Quarter, and we consider that these important
buildings must be preserved in an area which is undergoing huge redevelopment leaving few
historical points of reference.
APRIL 2009
BBC Screen Victoria Square. We have objected to another
application by the City Council for this highly unsuitable addition to the fine city
street scene in Victoria Square. It would seem that the setting, with listed Victorian
buildings in the conservation area, which will provide the high quality of the backdrop to
be shown during the broadcast of live events, constitutes the fundamental reason for
continuing to consider this venue over Centenary Square. In our opinion it would be much
better located there. Something about geese and golden eggs comes to mind!
Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield. Despite the economic
downturn, we have recently commented on several individual proposals for new large homes
within this conservation area of significant Arts and Crafts houses, many in expansive
grounds. We have generally felt that the new developments would have a negative impact on
both the conservation area and the setting of listed buildings. These new homes would, on
the whole, extend across plots, display large garage facilities to the frontages, and have
doors, windows and other features designed "in the spirit of the Arts and Crafts
Movement", yet which in our opinion are poorly detailed and unworthy of their
beautifully designed early twentieth century neighbours. We hope our objections to such
developments in Luttrell Road, Bracebridge Road, Ladywood Road and Barker Road will
continue to be supported by refusal of planning permission by the City Council.
Red Lion, Soho Road. An update. One of our top
ten threatened buildings for 2008, this wonderful grade II* listed pub by James and Lister
Lea remains closed and vulnerable after over a year since time was last called. Vital
repairs are still necessary to the staircase, and high levels of security must be kept in
place to ensure that this pub does not go the catastrophic way of other listed Victorian
pubs in Birmingham such as the Bellefield or the Duke of York. We would like to see a new
occupier continue to run the Red Lion as a pub or establish a restaurant. The Barton Arms
in Aston makes an excellent and highly successful model. A solution is needed urgently!
Beorma Quarter, Digbeth. We have been consulted
informally for some months on proposals for this significant site opposite the east end of
St Martin's Church. The planning application has now been submitted for a 30 storey tower
on the site together with a new square and redevelopment of the cold store, a listed
building of 1899 by Ernest Bewlay. Some of our thoughts have been incorporated into the
current scheme, but a number of objections still remain. The impact of such a high tower
on the church, and on an area with buildings of generally less than four storeys in
height, is of great concern. We are opposed to the loss of a rare though unlisted music
hall building, and the partial demolition of the cold store itself. Economic pressure for
development in Birmingham at present is playing a strong role in the debate over this
site.
Eastside Locks. Although we had many
objections to this mixed use scheme, now approved, next to the canal at the north end of
the Warwick Bar Conservation Area, we have welcomed proposals to restore the locally
listed Belmont Works. The works will remain as a key Victorian building in an otherwise
almost totally redeveloped part of Birmingham. The building was badly damaged by fire two
years ago, and the surviving ruinous structure remains a source of concern, and we urge
all parties to proceed as quickly as possible with restoration. It is a shame that the
proposed surrounding new buildings with their canyon like streetscapes with timber and
copper clad facades are unlikely to form more complementary neighbours to this traditional
brick and terracotta Birmingham factory.
St Barnabas, Erdington. We are being consulted in
pre-application discussions on the rebuilding of this grade II* listed church by Thomas
Rickman of 1822 with an east end by J. A. Chatwin of 1883, following the devastating fire
in October 2007. Sadly, all the interior fittings including the stone font have been
extremely badly damaged or totally destroyed, though the reredos on the chancel east wall
has largely survived. Whilst this is an exciting opportunity to enhance the potential of
this church in Erdington's main street, we wish to see as much of the existing fabric as
possible retained to preserve the character of Rickman and Chatwin's building. Just one of
the Victorian stained glass windows, depicting the Good Shepherd, is left. It was saved
because it was located behind the concrete and steel of the meeting rooms built into the
west end of the nave in the 1970s. We understand that this glass is to be restored and
relocated to another window in the restored body of the church, which will be very
welcome.
Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield. We are also being consulted
at the pre-application stage on plans for a wide-ranging reordering of the interior of
this grade I listed medieval church, which has a complex history reflected in its
architecture and remarkable furnishings. These include much important Victorian work. The
north aisle is of 1875 by Yeoville Thomason and the west vestry is of 1900 by W.H.
Bidlake. Much of the fine woodwork at the east end is seventeenth century from Worcester
Cathedral, but was brought to Holy Trinity in 1874 when the Cathedral was restored by Sir
George Gilbert Scott.
Proposed
interior and exterior alterations to the church have been developed over many years, and
we have also commented on previous designs. Current plans affect the pews, galleries,
organ, pulpit and chancel furnishings, along with the Thomason north aisle and Bidlake
vestry. Together with other heritage organisations, we continue to welcome dialogue with
the parish on this scheme through the Diocesan Advisory Committee
Moor Pool. Hidden from view from
main roads, Moor Pool remains a little known but charming residential area by the Chad
Brook in Harborne. The estate was laid out from 1907 following the principles of a garden
suburb, to provide better quality housing by the Harborne Tenants. The initiative came
from John Nettlefold, then Chairman of Birmingham's Housing Committee. Moor Pool is a fine
surviving example of such a suburb.
The estate is now a conservation area and some of the houses and the central community buildings are statutorily listed. However, we are concerned with plans to build new houses on sites currently occupied by garages, which were previously allotments. There are flooding issues on one site and current plans show overdevelopment of all three. Any new development here must be of a sufficiently high quality design to be worthy of this special location.
JUNE 2008
The Grove, 47 Wollescote Road,
Pedmore, Stourbridge. An update! Since the last newsletter, we
can report that permission for demolition of this fine Arts and Crafts house of 1908-9 by
W.J.H.Weller of Wolverhampton has been refused by Dudley Borough Council, and English
Heritage have listed the building at grade II with special reference to its unusual part
timber framed architecture, as well as the completeness of the interior with its good
quality woodwork. We understand that the property is now on the market again, and hope
that it will soon be acquired by sympathetic new owners.
Ladypool Junior and Infants School,
Stratford Road. Since the tower of this grade II* listed
board school of 1885 by Martin and Chamberlain was damaged during the tornado in, the
rubble and materials have been in storage. We are concerned that despite receiving
planning permission for reinstatement a year ago, no action has been taken, and so far our
attempts to press councillors and officers of the relevant departments of Birmingham City
Council for a commitment to the works have proved unsuccessful. We will persevere.
Red Lion Public House, Soho Road,
Handsworth. A possible sale by auction of this
remarkable grade II* listed pub of 1901-2 by James and Lister Lea in December did not take
place, and the building with its fantastic interiors stands empty and vulnerable. We have
urged Birmingham City Council to take action, and a full record of the building is
currently being made. Efforts are also underway to resolve structural problems, negotiate
new tenants and find a suitable use. We are particularly concerned that this building
should not suffer a similar fate to other local pubs, as was highlighted through the
Society's "Crawl to Save our Pubs" last August, and resulted in some positive
media coverage, including a short piece in the Guardian. Last year the grade II listed
Duke of York, Hockley was lost, though its fittings and those of the now derelict but also
grade II listed George and Dragon, Albion Street had been stolen some years ago. The grade
II listed Wharf Inn, Cradley Heath is about to be demolished following several fires, and
the interior of the grade II* listed Bellefield Inn in Winson Green was destroyed in a
fire three years ago, and is now being converted to housing. Across the region unlisted,
but nevertheless often interesting pubs of the 19th and 20th centuries are being closed at
an accelerating rate and stand boarded up, many of them awaiting almost certain demolition
or less than suitable conversion to other uses. We take action to help prevent this and
raise the profile where we can.
Wellington Road, Edgbaston. We have objected to the
demolition of the boundary wall and its unsuitable replacement at 68 Wellington Road. This
fine Georgian style house of 1913 was designed by Birmingham architect E.C Bewlay for
himself, and although unlisted stands within the Egbaston Conservation Area. This episode
has highlighted the problem of inappropriate alterations to buildings within this and
other conservation areas, which are often not discovered until after they have been done.
The necessary consents are then sought, but even if reinstatement is successfully
enforced, the original features have often been lost for ever. Other unsuitable
alterations might include the addition of satellite receivers and excessive cabling or the
replacement of doors and windows. If you are aware of such works to buildings in a
conservation area which may be unauthorised please let me know.
Former Chances Glassworks, Smethwick. This threat of
inappropriate alterations is not confined to domestic property in conservation areas. We
have objected to the retrospective applications for partial demolition of a turret and
other structures at this remarkable grade II factory building which dates back to the
1840s, where the glass for Crystal Palace was manufactured, and which is a well known
landmark by the M5 near junction 1. Unfortunately retrospective means just that; too late!
However, we have been told that in this case safety issues were paramount, and have been
assured that the materials have been retained on site for reinstatement. We await further
information.
Handsworth Wood Road. We are working with the
residents' association on compiling information for an application to Birmingham City
Council for the designation of part of Handsworth Wood with its fine Victorian and Arts
and Crafts houses as a conservation area. The area is mentioned in the Council's
Conservation Strategy as a potential area for designation, and we are pleased to see that
approval of a similar area of Harborne is currently in progress. In order to present a
convincing case to the Council, we are seeking any useful relevant information on the
buildings along Handsworth Wood Road between Brown's Green and Selborne Road, as well as
those on Somerset and Devonshire Road. If you
have any useful information on architects, dates, or interesting occupants of buildings in
this area which may strengthen the case for a conservation area, please contact me.
187 Highfield Road, Hall Green. We were shocked to learn of
the application to demolish this locally listed house dating from about 1850, which is a
landmark at the corner of Highfield Road and Robin Hood Lane. It is one of few Victorian
buildings amongst the mainly twentieth century developments of Hall Green. There was much
local opposition to the proposal and we also objected strongly, expressing a wish that the
building be retained and restored as part of the new residential development of the site.
Whilst we are aware that local listing does not afford buildings the protection of those
on the statutory list, Birmingham City Council states that locally listed buildings such
as this are "important in the city wide architectural or local scene context,
warranting positive efforts to ensure protection." However, in certain quarters
retention was deemed not to be cost effective and permission to demolish was granted. We
are thus very concerned at the status of other buildings on Birmingham's local list.
14 Clarendon Road, Edgbaston. One of three grade II
listed white stucco villas close to the Hagley Road end of this street is undergoing
conversion back from flats to single occupancy. Whilst this is a praiseworthy objective,
the proposals included large rear extensions and an unsuitable design for a new garage. We
objected to these features, and are pleased that amended proposals for a lower extension
on a smaller footprint have now been approved by the City Council. Appropriate conditions
have also been applied to the materials and designs for the details on the new work, all
of which will we hope enhance rather than detract from the appearance of these listed
buildings.
AUGUST 2007
Here is some of the casework from August 2007:
St Peter & St Paul's Church, Aston
The church is listed grade II*, and stands across the park from Aston Hall within a
conservation area. The medieval tower remains with its landmark spire, but attached
is J. A. Chatwin's finest church. Work started in 1879, but was not completed until 1908.
Inside, at the east end is a fine ensemble of fittings by Chatwin including the choir
stalls, sedilia, reredos, pulpit and low chancel screen walls, set beneath important
stained glass by Hardman in the east windows. Although they were installed at different
dates in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, these fittings form part of a
unified scheme by Chatwin which was carried out as funds permitted.
The
church has a growing multicultural congregation and there is a requirement for a larger
dais for worship and performances. We have acknowledged this, and understand that plans
for altering the seating in the nave together with replacement of the heating and raising
the level of the nave floor will be forthcoming. There has been considerable discussion
within the parish over the proposed location of the immersion font. We have been shown plans with alternative
proposals for its location, but although we would prefer to see it towards the west end,
we have been informed that inclusion of the font in the dais is the only practical
solution. We are concerned at the permanent nature of the scheme and its apparent lack of
reversibility.
The
proposal for the replacement of the dais included the truncation of the low chancel walls,
retaining just one bay with a single quatrefoil design of the northern section, and the
complete removal of the southern section. We have objected to this proposal as it would
necessitate breaking up the group of significant chancel fittings, which we feel should
remain intact and in their current position. The pulpit adjoins the northern section of
the two walls and all are in alabaster and marble. The pulpit and walls were, it seems,
conceived as a piece when installed in 1885, to enhance the demarcation between nave and
chancel, which is otherwise not indicated by a structural division such as an arch, but
merely marked by a pair of slender shafts on the walls and hammerbeam trusses in the roof.
To truncate these low walls would have a detrimental effect on the internal appearance of
the building as a whole and the chancel in particular. The area of floorspace taken by the
walls has been given as a further reason for their removal, along with safety
considerations of their height when the dais is in use, which we find difficult to
understand. We have expressed a preference for the dais to be extended to the front
allowing the walls to remain undisturbed to the rear next to the stalls if it is necessary
to create more space . We have also suggested as alternative solutions the use of
furnishings, or well-designed portable rails, which could be positioned in front of the
walls for the duration of the use of the dais.
We
also felt that this proposed truncation of the walls and creation of the dais result in
the awkward treatment of the pulpit with a drop in floor level by its side, which has then
to be protected by a new metal balustrade railing. The proposal to reuse the remaining
sections of the low chancel wall in the construction of the ramp to the Erdington chapel
creates an awkward feature in the south aisle and we considered that the reused section of
the wall would look out of place. We would find the loss of any sections of the wall
unacceptable, as any works undertaken should have the potential to be reversible.
Nevertheless
the faculty was recommended for approval in June for the truncation of the walls back to
the line of the clergy stalls. The scheme including our objection has been passed to the
Chancellor for judgement, which is expected in the near future.
This grade II listed Georgian and Victorian building in the Jewellery Quarter Conservation
Area has been all but destroyed over the last ten years. We wrote to English Heritage to
object to an application to remove this building from the statutory list. We made clear our dismay at this, and asked that
every effort should be now made to reinstate the building using as many of the original
materials as possible, so that it could remain on the list in its restored state,
especially given its landmark position at the corner of Hockley Hill and Key Hill. We
questioned how the building has been allowed to come to be in its present condition, a
decline which started with the theft of its
important Victorian interior fittings in the mid 1990s. The fabric of the building behind
the facade seems to have subsequently been removed, and now the facade itself taken down.
We have questioned whether any of these works to the listed building were properly
authorised, but we have not yet received a satisfactory response.
100 Sampson Road, Sparkbrook
This attractive grade II* listed building of 1901 by W. H. Bidlake is the former vicarage
to St Agatha's church, although it is located a few streets away. Currently boarded up and
in a poor state of repair awaiting restoration, it is ironic that the building is situated
opposite the now cleared site of Christ Church, Sparkbrook, which the Society fought to
try to save from demolition last year. The house is divided into flats, and we supported a
proposal for internal alterations to change the number of units from seven to five and the removal of the later internal partitions to the landing.
However, we questioned the treatment of the brick wall to the side elevation, requesting
that as much surviving original material as possible be reused, particularly the coping
bricks. The application has now been approved taking our comments into account.
Flatted Factory Building at the Site of
the Museum of Science and Industry, Charlotte Street
We have objected to the erection of an office block and hotel at this important location
close to Victorian buildings within the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area. We considered
that the scheme does not form an adequate replacement for the unlisted 1930's flatted
factory and that the relationship of the proposed new build with the adjacent listed
Queen's Arms of 1901 is no improvement on the present square design which seems to take
little account of the rooflines of its neighbour. We noted with concern that yet again
there seems to be little reference in the proposals to the guidance in the Jewellery
Quarter Design Guide, in terms of the architectural detail of the Charlotte Street facade
and particularly regarding the section with copper cladding to accommodate offices. We
were also disappointed at the apparent failure to take advantage of views through the
building from the street to the water feature which is to be created on the line of part
of the vanished Whitmore Arm of the canal. The demolition of the factory has now been
approved, but permission has yet to be granted for the new buildings.
The
Woodman Public House, Albert Street
The regeneration of Birmingham’s Eastside has recently drawn attention once again to
the plight of the famous Curzon Street Station, for which a new sustainable use has been
sought over many years. However, the Society is also very concerned as to how any plans
for the station and the creation of a park in front of it may affect the grade II listed
Woodman public house on Albert Street. The brick and terracotta façade of 1896 by James
and Lister Lea faces the imposing station building across New Canal Street. Inside the
original public bar and smoking room remain largely intact. It is a good example of such a
Victorian pub, but today the blind facades face the open space away from the street, and
the building appears vulnerable in its current setting. What will its future be?
Preservation is essential. It is still a functioning pub business. The opportunity could
be taken to enhance its situation with sensitive landscaping of the surroundings and
including its use in any plans for the park. So many pubs like this are in areas where
there is no longer a need for a place to eat and drink, and so to develop the role of the
Woodman to serve refreshment to park users would secure its future doing what the building
was designed to do.
A
press release was issued in June by the Society highlighting the potential threat to the
Woodman along with the plight of other significant listed pubs in the city. Subsequently
Birmingham City Council has stated that it is unaware of any current plans to demolish the
Woodman, but that "the sites adjacent to the pub are subject to further planning
applications.... which we may anticipate will alter the broader setting of the pub".
Further news is now awaited, but it must not suffer
the fate of so many Birmingham public houses in recent years. The Woodman will feature in
the planned Victorian Society Protest Pub Crawl during August.
111-120
Icknield Street
We have objected to the demolition of 111-120 Icknield Street on the north west side of
the Jewellery Quarter Conservation Area. These unlisted mid 19th century properties are in
a key position at the junction of Carver Street, Warstone Lane and Icknield Street and
form an interesting terrace of two and three storey houses with shops to the ground floor
frontage. They are brick built with slate roofs with an interesting variety of rooflines
and details such as shopfronts, doors, windows and chimneys. Numbers 113-116 are of
particular interest as examples of back-to-back houses, once common throughout the
Jewellery Quarter, but now rare survivals.
The
site is part of the large Chord Deeley development which will dramatically change the
appearance of this part of the Quarter. There is to be extensive demolition of buildings
across the site for the proposed redevelopment, but some of the unlisted 19th and 20th
century buildings reflect the smaller scale industrial development of the area. Their loss
will contribute further to the erosion of the character of the Quarter, especially when
they are to be replaced by such large scale developments as this. The part refurbishment
for residential use of the Kettleworks of c1900 between Pope Street and Camden Street
represents the sole reuse of an existing Victorian building in the development. The
properties at 111-120 Icknield Street would be replaced by a hotel.
We do
not accept that the poor state of repair of 111-120 Icknield Street can be a justifiable
reason for demolition. If restored and incorporated into the proposed development, they
could make a most attractive landmark on Icknield Street reflecting and introducing the
historic character, scale and grain of other buildings in the Quarter. There should in any
case be a presumption against their demolition within the conservation area.
Birmingham
Museum and Art Gallery
The main entrance to the Museum in Chamberlain Square is on the west facade of the
grade II* listed Council House of 1881-5 by Yeoville Thomason, whilst the northern
extension containing the Gas Hall is by Ashley and Newman of 1908-17. We objected to the
proposals for new banners and signage on these buildings within a conservation area.
Whilst we acknowledged the need for the Museum and Art Gallery to attract visitors,
publicise exhibitions and provide details of opening hours, we felt that in general these
proposals were overwhelming for these magnificent buildings.
We
were surprised by the number and size of wall plaques, information panels and freestanding
"totems" which were proposed for around the entrances. The design of the signage
generally appeared too corporate in terms of style and colour, and did not complement the
features of the buildings. We were concerned
at the number of banners being considered particularly on the Edmund Street facade. The
proposed banners matched the corporate image of the signs in style and colour and there
were similar reservations. We were very concerned to note that the high level banners
proposed for the recess behind the portico above the main entrance would have concealed
the sculpture on the back wall and we were not convinced that any fixing to the building
would avoid damage to stonework or sculpture. However, following much adverse comment and
features in the press, the City Council have now withdrawn their application for this
inappropriate scheme.