THE CONSERVATION STUDIO NEWSLETTER
June 2008

Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales

Merthyr was once the iron capital of the world and the largest settlement in Wales. Now, as it has to adapt to the post-industrial age, its inheritance is taking on a new significance.

We have prepared a Heritage Strategy for Merthyr Tyfil that assesses the survival of heritage assets and develops an action plan to address designation, funding, policy and management. This includes a programme for designating 15 new conservation areas and priorities for tackling the 10% of Merthyr’s listed buildings that are at risk.

Delivering the action plan will be a large task so we have spread the responsibilities widely. Recent election results have indicated a sea-change in the local politics of Merthyr and we look forward to strong support for the Heritage Strategy as a new driver for regeneration.

Priory Park in Dudley, West Midlands

The layering of history at Priory Park is fascinating. Standing remains of the Cluniac priory and evidence of its fish-ponds survive in the superimposed early 19th century parkland of the Earl of Dudley’s estate. In the 1930s, the site was then laid out as a public park by Edward Mawson as part of the expanding suburbs of Dudley. Half of the park is now a scheduled ancient monument.

In March, we submitted a bid to the HLF, under the Parks for People programme, for improvements to Priory Park worth over £3.5m. This was the result of six months intensive work with Dudley Council staff, the Friends of Priory Park and many other stakeholders. In addition to repairing historic structures and landscapes, the proposals will provide a horticultural training scheme for unemployed people and full-time Park Wardens.

Frinton in Essex

Our work in Frinton has been initiated by the Town Council in association with Tendring District, so community engagement is vital. Following the adoption of our Conservation Area Management Plan for Frinton, we have been asked to take forward two of its proposals:

Article 4 directions. We are developing three directions to cover the Arts and Crafts influenced Avenues, the main shopping street and Frinton Park, which has perhaps the best collection of houses in the International Modern style laid out by Oliver Hill.

Shopfront design guidance. The guide will underpin the regeneration of Connaught Avenue, once the ‘Bond Street’ of Frinton, but it will also provide principles that can be applied district-wide.

Tavistock in West Devon

This ancient stannary town is highly significant in its own right, but now it is part of the Cornwall and West Devon World Heritage Site. We are preparing a conservation area appraisal and management plan for the town, which will align policy and procedure with rising expectations on the Cornish side of the Tamar and will guide new investment in the historic fabric.

Glamorgan – Valuing Distinctive Places

Following the completion of on audit of the Borough’s historic areas last year, we have nearly completed 19 conservation area appraisals with management plans for Glamorgan Council. These mainly rural settlements have involved stakeholders’ meetings and exhibitions for each phase of work.

Castle Park, Bristol

We are currently finalising a detailed Conservation Management Plan for this important site in the centre of Bristol, overlooking the river Avon. The site contains the remains of Bristol Castle Keep, and both Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings. A detailed desktop assessment of the archaeology of the site has been undertaken to inform proposed changes to the area in association with the redevelopment of the adjoining site.

Lewisham, London

Following the recent completion of appraisals for two conservation areas in Lewisham, the Council has now asked us to prepare two more. The first is for the Deptford High Street with its interesting maritime history, which may be extended into the adjacent St Paul’s Conservation Area, notable for its Thomas Archer church and for the rows of high quality terraced houses (all listed grade II*) in Albury Street – which Chezel remembers from her GLC days when they were being refurbished by the Council.

A walkabout with local stakeholders and the town centre manager produced some interesting background which will help us prepare the ‘Issues’ section of the document. The second conservation area is Forest Hill, home of the world famous Horniman Museum. Again this work involves stakeholders’ walkabouts and should be complete in the autumn.