No 89 February 2020
THE WINDSOR AND ETON SOCIETY
Incorporating Windsor Heritage
NEWSLETTER No 89 February 2020
NOTE FROM YOUR CHAIR
This year there is going to be a National Celebration of the end of the Second World War with the Bank Holiday moving from the first Monday in May to Friday 8th, to commemorate VE Day. I am concerned to associate the Society with national events as Windsor has played a part in these because of the troops who have been stationed in the town and individuals from the Royal Borough who were, for example, at Bletchley Park.
Accordingly, our guest for the Annual Dinner which takes place on 21st February is Geoffrey Pidgeon, (awarded the Legion D’Honneur by the French Government) who worked with the Special Liaison Units travelling to feed intelligence from Bletchley Park to Generals in the field. On 13th May our inaugural Annual Lecture is to be held at Holy Trinity/the Garrison Church when James Holland will talk about the Battle for France. There is a flyer on the event included with this newsletter and there will be full details on the website.
I have been working with Busy Buttons in Windsor during their December/January ‘The Little Great Exhibition’ activity in Windsor Yards. The organisers have been allowed to use the former Next shop to mount an exhibition of Victorian life and they hold talks which attract all ages, but principally children and their parents, and which focus upon the history in their local town. I attended a talk about Wombwell’s Zoo which visited Windsor and held a show for Queen Victoria and her children. Children and some adults were able to dress in copy Victorian costumes provided by the Royal Collection.
Anne Taylor and I represent the Society at the Heritage gatherings arranged on a quarterly basis by the Royal Borough. This is an opportunity to meet other organisations across RBWM that are engaged in promoting and protecting our history and inheritance.
Our talks continue, arranged by Philippa, which cover such interesting and varied topics and I do enjoy seeing you all at the talks, events and in the town. Although we now have a new Treasurer, Fred West, we do still need a Secretary. Please is there someone in the Society who will take on the role? Catherine Sutton who acted as secretary on a temporary basis has now stepped down and we are so grateful to her for all her hard work as we are to the previous Treasurer, Chris Simon.
HERITAGE AND ENVIRONMENT
The committee has been looking at the usual number of varied applications, and updates on our communications are given below.
A Planning Applications
Letters written after November meeting
38 Frances Road, Windsor – rear and side dormer to facilitate a loft conversion (PA 19/02754)
Concern that changes would alter the roof-scape and appearance of the road which is in a conservation area.
Permitted
59 Grove Road, Windsor – installation of vehicular entrance gate to the side elevation – (PA 19/02682)
Concern expressed that there would be loss of general parking and access could instead be made through a back alley and not affect on-street parking.
Permitted
There were no letters written after December meeting
Letters written after January 2020 meeting
Adelaide Square Windsor – two storey side extension – (PA 19/03353–2)
We endorsed the view of the Conservation Officer that the symmetry of the building would be spoilt.
Withdrawn
Ruddles Pool, Maidenhead Road, Windsor – part change of use of dwelling to a place of worship with new vehicular access and associated cycle parking – (PA 19/03287/FULL)
We wrote as before querying the impact on parking and the character of the waterfront.
Pending
Thames Hospicecare, Pine Lodge, Hatch Lane, Windsor – redevelopment to provide retirement housing of 50 dwellings – (PA 19/03351)
We do not object to redevelopment of the site but are concerned by the density, poor layout, dominance of car parking and lack of space for meaningful planting on the site. The application does not achieve a high-quality development as required by NPPF section 12
Pending
Ye Harte and Garter Hotel
We are concerned about various changes at this hotel which is a listed building in a prominent position opposite the castle. Some changes are being carried out without planning permission. (See October letters)
B Updates to Planning Applications mentioned in previous newsletters
Windsor Physiotherapy, Essex Lodge, 69 Osborne Road Windsor SL43EQ – demolition of existing building and construction of a new building comprising 10 x two bedroom and 2 x one bedroom flats and associated parking alteration to existing access and new bin enclosure – (PA 19/00916 FULL)
We were concerned about loss of this heritage asset on this prominent site and the design and lack of landscaping of the proposed development which are not in character with the area.
Appeal Refused
207 St Leonards Road, Windsor – demolition of outbuildings, 2 storey extension and conversion of resulting building to 4 x one bedroom dwellings – (PA 18/03181)
Concern about lack of parking and resulting vehicle movements on already busy, congested road – B3022
Still Pending
151-153 Clarence Road, Windsor – Reserved matters application (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) pursuant to outline planning permission PA 17/02566/OUT (allowed on appeal) for demolition of 151-153 Clarence Road and construction of a 3 storey building with accommodation in the roof and associated car parking and landscaping [25 April – Amended design and scale. Floor plans, elevations and site plan have been amended] – (PA 18/03584/REM)
These were amended plans and we were unhappy about the additional height
Permitted
S G Autopoint 437-441 St Leonards Road, Windsor SL4 3DT – construction of 50 bedroom hotel – (PA 19/01513/FULL)
We are still unhappy about the amount of traffic this would generate and the architecture of the proposed
Refused
Site of Former 61-63 Dedworth Road, Windsor SL4 5AZ (Mahjacks site) – mixed use development with retail unit at ground floor and 13 apartments above, with access, car parking, servicing and landscaping following demolition of existing buildings (Part Retrospective) – (PA 19/01714)
Our objection was based on the poor standard of amenities in this proposed over development of the site.
Permitted
Squires Garden Centre, Maidenhead Rd, Windsor – Erection of 37 dwellings etc – (PA 19/01755/FULL)
We raised objections on the basis of poor standard of amenities for occupants of some flats eg no outside space, rooms with no natural light. And lack of internal space.
Refused
6&7 Market Street, Windsor – consent to repaint shop front with internal alterations to the ground floor – (PA 19/02359)
We were happy with the original paint colour but did not feel the amended colour was suitable
Permitted
Windsor Dials, Arthur Road, Windsor SL4 1RS – alterations to the existing roof structures to create an additional office floor, creation of new entrance lobbies and core areas and refurbishment of the elevations and public realm to buildings 1 and 2 Windsor Dials – (PA 19/02416)
Our main concerns are the adverse impact of the size on neighbouring buildings and inadequate parking provision.
Permitted
32 Peascod Street, Windsor SL4 1EA – consent to paint shopfront window frames and wooden soffits including new advertisement – (PA 19/02497)
We have written to Tesco asking if they would reappraise their façade designs in order to maintain some of the character of Peascod Street, quoting their shops in Winchester and Richmond as good examples.
Permitted
The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, 10 – 11 Castle Hill, Windsor SL4 1PD – repainting of the window frames, exterior of the building and addition of 3 banners – (PA 19/02530)
This is a key listed building in a prominent position and we were concerned that some aspects of the proposal were inappropriate
Refused
Harte And Garter Hotel, 31 High Street, Windsor SL4 1PQ – consents for single awning and gold lettering – (PAs 19/02628, 19/02630, 19/02631)
There were various concerns that the developments for this prominent listed building seem to lack cohesion.
Pending
Sel Et Sucre, 7 Church Street, Windsor SL4 1PE – repainting of existing building and shop front, new signage and addition of a step to main entrance. Replica warrant to be refurbished and relocated on front elevation -(PAs 19/01393/FULL, 19/01364/LBC and 19/01394/ADV)<
We were very unhappy about the altered position of the plaque which is a recognised feature of this building.
Permitted
C Other Items of Interest:
Quarterly Meeting
Members of the committee met with RBWM officers in December to discuss the following issues:
(1) Parks & Gardens maintenance, RBWM tree planting policy and upkeep of items in the Public Realm;
(2) RBWM policy on air conditioning units;
(3) Proliferation of Advertising A-Boards, tables and chairs on public footways;
(4) Update on the Cockpit and 34/35 Thames Street following a lack of progress;
(5) Article 4 Direction Area and heritage colour matters;
(6) Enforcement actions in relation to several listed buildings;
(7) Borough Wide Heritage Strategy;
(8) The Windsor “Local List”. This has been embedded in the WNP and “lives” on The W&ES website. It is anticipated that the List will be updated on a 6-monthly basis.
The Windsor Neighbourhood Plan
The WNP is currently undergoing examination. Once this is complete and any necessary adjustments made to ensure legal compliance, it is hoped a Referendum will follow at some point this year (date to be decided by the Borough). The WNP has taken longer than anyone anticipated due to a constantly changing emerging Borough Local Plan and associated documents, amongst other things. However, the WNP Committee has evidence that aspects of the emerging WNP are already being mentioned and considered in some Planning Applications and decisions.
Windsor Guildhall
The condition of this Grade 1 Listed building is of great concern to us and we are in discussion with officers about this, although it is very difficult to make any meaningful progress
OUTINGS
Tuesday 21st April – Rye and Great Dixter House & Garden, East Sussex
Rye is a small town two miles from the sea at the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede. Rye was to become part of the Cinque Ports Confederation in 1189, and subsequently a full member. One of the oldest buildings in Rye is Ypres Tower, which was built in 1249 as “Baddings Tower” to defend the town from the French, and was later named after its owner, John de Ypres. Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd – it was the focus of his energy and enthusiasm over 40 years of writing books and articles. Now under the stewardship of Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust, it is an historic house, a garden, a centre of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world.
Tuesday 16th June – Leeds Castle, Kent
Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain. The resulting New Leeds Castle has externally changed little today and was finished by 1823. Unfortunately the cost of the rebuild caused Wykeham Martin financial difficulties and he was forced to sell the contents of the Castle at auction, but his son Charles, with the help of his wife’s substantial dowry, was able to rebuild the family fortune. When the Wykeham Martins acquired land at Hollingbourne in 1895, Leeds became one of the largest private estates in Kent. By 1925 the family was forced to sell the property to pay death duties and it was acquired by the Anglo-American heiress the Hon. Olive Paget, then Mrs Wilson-Filmer, who, looking for a country retreat in Kent, saw its potential, and had the style, imagination and funds to carry out the necessary modifications.
ANNUAL LECTURE 2020 – CHANGE OF DATE
The Society is inaugurating an Annual Lecture, the first of which will take place on Wednesday 13th May 2020 at 7pm at The Garrison Church/Holy Trinity, Windsor. This is a change of date from that published in the last newsletter. The lecture will be given by James Holland, an English historian, author and broadcaster who specialises in the history of World War II and who, along with his brother, was identified by the Economist as one of the leading historians of his generation. A flyer with details of this event is included with this newsletter. Please share the details with friends who you think might be interested to attend.
TALKS
Our December talk was given by David Jenkins on The history of the Order of St John, the Order in England and its connections with the Royal Family and members of the Order of the Garter. David told us how the first brother knights had travelled from their beginnings in Jerusalem via Aqaba, Syria (where they built Crac des Chevaliers), Cyprus, Rhodes and then to Malta. Eventually a branch of them came to England and worked alongside the Red Cross during both World Wars. A branch of the charity funds the eye hospital in Jerusalem, linking the present day back almost 1000 years to their beginnings there. Their work still continues in England and we are very glad to see them at various public events.
In January Richard Poad, Chairman of Maidenhead Heritage Centre, told us the story of The Dunkirk Little Ships, as 2020 is the 80th anniversary of that historic event. He showed us illustrations and told the stories of various ships of all types and sizes, many of which had been built locally and some can still be seen on the Thames. Operation Dynamo was extraordinary in the response from owners of little ships to the call to rescue the thousands of troops stranded on Dunkirk beach. Luckily the weather was on their side and the sea was calm enabling a greater number of troops to be rescued than had at first been anticipated. It was fascinating to learn of local ships having taken part in such an historic event.
Future Meetings
Wednesday 4th March – 8.00pm – Upton House School
Malcolm Lock will tell us about Daniel Gooch – Locomotive and Telegraph Engineer.
Sir Daniel Gooch, 1st Baronet, was an English railway locomotive and transatlantic cable engineer. He also sat in the House of Commons as a Conservative from 1865 to 1885. He was the first Superintendent of Locomotive Engines on the Great Western Railway from 1837 to 1864 and its chairman from 1865 to 1889. Gooch lived in Clewer and is buried in the churchyard there.
Wednesday 1st April – 8.00pm – Upton House School
Rebecca Seear will speak on Hackney Carriages in Windsor – past & present.
The concept of a ‘Hackney Carriage’ (what we now call a cab or taxi) dates back to the first licences issued by Oliver Cromwell in 1654.
ROYAL ALBERT INSTITUTE MUSIC EVENT 2020
It is anticipated that this annual Music Event will take place in June but as yet it is too early for details to be finalised. We will let members know the details as soon as they are available.
MEMBERSHIP
The Society’s membership now stands at 328 members a decrease of some 17 members since November.
The committee would like to welcome eight new members who have joined the Society since the last newsletter.
Many of our members receive their newsletter by email and the Society would like this number to increase thus saving the Society a considerable amount of expense. Please let the Membership Secretary know if you are happy to do this. The Annual Report is still sent to members by post.
GRAHAM MORLEY
It was with great sadness that we heard that Graham Morley had died. Graham had been a member of the Society for a little while before becoming Secretary in 2017. He was a diligent organiser and prepared thoroughly for meetings. We are grateful for his contribution to the Society. We send our sincere sympathy to his wife, Sally, and their family.
LOCAL NEWS
Windsor Town Forum – The next scheduled meeting is on Thursday 19th March 2020 at 6.30pm in Grey Room, York House, Windsor. Minutes of previous meetings, the Agenda and dates of future meetings when available, can be accessed through the RBWM website http://www.rbwm.gov.uk
WEA
It is with regret that the WEA has to inform the members of the Windsor and Eton Society that after the Summer Term the Windsor Branch will be no more, as they cannot persuade anyone new to join the committee. Information on the final 2 courses is below.
SUMMER TERM 2020
The Architecture of Spain and Portugal – Tutor Keith Hasted – Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon, 5 weeks from 22nd April, course fee £45
Literature: Poems and Short Stories – Tutor John Still – Thursdays 10am – 12 noon, 7 weeks from 30th April
All classes are at Windsor Youth and Community Centre, Alma Road, Windsor SL4 3HD
Booking is by phone 0300 303 3464
Published by The Windsor and Eton Society www.wesoc.org.uk