Malvern Civic Society
News
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Dudley
Brook
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26
March 2018
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In It is with great sadness that I have to report that Dudley Brook, our much-loved Civic Society President Emeritus, died peacefully in his sleep today (Saturday) with his family at his bedside. He was admitted to hospital last week, but his condition deteriorated a few days ago when he slipped into unconsciousness. Our thoughts and prayers will be with Dudley and his family at this time. A thanksgiving service for the life of Dudley Brook will take place in Malvern Priory Church at 2.00pm on Thursday 19 April 2018. |
A collection will be taken at the end of the service to contribute towards a memorial fund for Dudley.
Clive
Hooper, Chairman.
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Certificates
of Excellence
for
Two Contrasting Houses
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14
June 2017
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Certificates
of Excellence will be awarded by Malvern Civic
Society for two very different buildings this
year. A new, fairly small house, 366
Pickersleigh Road, built by Steve and Lee Bone,
was praised for its pleasing design, its high
standard of workmanship and its thoughtful
eco-friendly and low -maintenance features.
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Another
certificate will be awarded to 'Copper Beeches',
a fine Edwardian house in Albert Road South.
Richard Southall, the owner since 2004, has
brought the house back to life whilst preserving
its authentic period detail and atmosphere. In
this Conservation Year, celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the Civic Amenities Act which
created Conservation Areas, the Award
Sub-Committee thought it was appropriate to give
Richard a Special Award for Excellence in
Conservation.
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There
were four other nominations. One was the new
shop, Rhubarb Home, opened by Nigel and Sara
Morris on the corner of the Exchange, in Church
Street. The Sub-Committee praised what had been
done, particularly the preservation of 'Fishy'
Davis's ceramic pictures inside, and considered
that it had had an uplifting effect on that
whole area of the town.
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Three
other projects saved important Malvern buildings
from near dereliction. Local property developer
Steve Hickman converted the old Town Club in
Worcester Road into six modern apartments. They
are different in size and character but all are
energy-efficient and well sound-proofed and
insulated. The elegant Grade ll listed façade
of the building now looks very handsome.
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Another
local property company, Crystalight Ltd., has
rescued 'Ivydene' in Albert Road North, a fine
old Victorian mansion, formerly occupied by the
Girls' College. Great ingenuity was shown in
planning 17 modern apartments, with very
high-quality fittings and wonderful views. The
building has regained its former grandeur.
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'Ivycrest',
at 33 Worcester Road, is a semi-detached Regency
villa built in 1820, which makes it one of the
earliest buildings in the fledgling spa town.
When Lizzie Mepsted first saw it in 2014 it had
stood empty for 15 years and had been severely
vandalised. She set to with her builder, Sean
Andrews of Pershore, and completely renovated it
and has created an elegant, comfortable family
home with an attractive terraced garden.
The
Award Sub-Committee praised all the nominees for
what they had achieved. The town as a whole is
the beneficiary. The Certificates will be
presented to the winners at a Society meeting
later in the year.
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Final
call for entries for building design award
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7
March 2017
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Malvern
Civic Society is putting a final call out for
entries to its Civic Award which recognises
buildings - old or new - which add 'something
special to the built environment of the
area'. John
Dixon, who organises the Award for the Society
explains: |
"This
is an opportunity to recognise the architects,
builders, and craftsman whose work has gone into
the design and build of a property, or to its
conversion.
"The
winner will receive a small plaque which has
become highly regarded by Malvern’s builders
and developers. It may also present the
opportunity for some publicity, if
desired."
He
adds: "The Civic Award has been running for
over 20 years now. Last year’s nominations
included one newly built development, two
renovations of large Victorian houses, and three
quite radical renovations which completely
changed the character of the original buildings.
The winner was Elmslie House (pictured above) on
Avenue Road. In 2015, the Civic Award was made
to Malvern Link train station."
For
a building to be eligible, the work on the
property must have been finished before 31
December 2016.
Nomination
is simple: contact Malvern Civic Society’s
John Dixon on vicechair3@malverncivicsociety.org.uk
or by phone on 01684 574144, before 31 March
2017..
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MHDC's
Rejection of Application Concerning the Depot in Priory
Road
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20
February 2017
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A
planning application on the Depot in Priory Road
has been rejected by MHDC's Southern Area
Development Committee. This application was to
restore No.10 Priory Road and Garden House, and
to demolish No.12 Priory Road (known as The
Coach House). A 3-storey apartment block was
also to have been built on the site, adjacent to
the eastern boundary of Priory Park. Clive
Hooper, Chairman of Malvern Civic Society, said:
"I am delighted that the District Council
has rejected the planning application concerning
the Depot in Priory Road. The whole of the
uppermost floor of the proposed apartment block
would have been visible over the top of the
wall. This would have significantly obstructed
the splendid eastern view from the park, and
also affected the privacy of park users. It is
good to note that MHDC has listened to the
objections which have been raised about this
application." He
continued: "The Civic Society has strongly
supported the advice of Historic England, and
particularly the Victorian Society, in opposing
the proposed demolition of The Coach House. This
would have resulted in the loss of a notable
historic building and unjustified harm to the
significance of the Malvern Conservation
Area." As
the NPPF [National Planning Policy Framework]
makes clear, developments within conservation
areas should respond to local character and
history, and reflect the identity of local
surroundings and materials; account should also
be taken of the desirability of sustaining and
enhancing the significance of heritage assets
and putting them to viable uses consistent with
their conservation. Mr
Hooper concluded: "The rejection of the
planning application is a victory for those who
care about the town's wonderful heritage. It
should also now give the applicant, with the
Council's support, the opportunity to explore
the option of re-designing proposals, including
retaining and converting The Coach House, so as
to preserve its intrinsic merits and the
positive contribution it makes to the Malvern
Conservation Area."
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Future
of Hayslan Fields
REJECTION
OF 'ASSET OF COMMUNITY VALUE' APPLICATION
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14
February 2017
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The
application made by Malvern Civic Society for
designating Hayslan Fields as an Asset of
Community Value (ACV) has been rejected by
Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC). Clive
Hooper, Chairman of Malvern Civic Society, said:
"There is no appeal against the decision
which is understood to be made by a panel of
MHDC officers under the control of the Community
Services Department: there is no elected member
involvement in the process, unlike the practice
in other authorities. There is, however,
provision for groups to make a complaint if they
consider that the correct procedure has not been
followed. "In
the circumstances, the Civic Society will be
lodging a complaint on the grounds that the
conclusions reached are not consistent with the
requirements of Section 88 of the Localism Act,
nor MHDC's stated views regarding the Fields'
value to the community as amenity land; so
therefore the authority has misdirected itself,
and its procedure has been flawed." The
Localism Act 2011 provides for buildings or land
to be protected where it can be demonstrated
that they are used for furthering the social
well-being or social interests of the local
community, or have been used to do so in the
recent past and could do so in the future. Once
ACV status has been conferred, it means that if
the 'asset' is ever offered for sale, then the
local community is given the opportunity to make
a bid to buy it. Mr
Hooper explains: "In the case of Hayslan
Fields, this would have meant that more
protection could have been given to the land, in
addition to that which has been secured through
the recent public inquiry and through MHDC's own
designation of the area as having QL2 status
(signifying its value to the health and
well-being of the community as amenity land) and
subsequently in the South Worcestershire
Development Plan when the fields were designated
Green Space. "I'm
sure the local community will be as disappointed
as I am with the rejection of the application.
The reason given was that 'the nomination does
not meet the definition of an asset of community
value as set out in section 88 of the Act', and
that 'the nominated area of land is private
property with no evident permissions for access
other than the Public Rights of Ways, as
marked'. "It
seems that the MHDC officers are implying that
there is no actual current use of the land, and
therefore no furtherance of the social
well-being or social interests of the local
community. Yet these Rights of Way pass through
the fields, giving access to them, and the
community clearly is enjoying and benefiting
from them." "The
rejection also goes against the comments made by
the Appeal Inspector in her report after the
public inquiry which rejected the application to
develop the land for housing. She had noted that
'I find that the area of Hayslan Fields proposed
for development is significant in helping to
meet the existing community's needs for access
to and across open space for recreational
purposes and for health and well-being'."
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Old
Community Hospital
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3
October 2016
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In
May this year, Malvern Hills District Council (MHDC)
had refused a planning application submitted in
2015 to demolish the former Malvern Community
Hospital in Lansdowne Crescent and replace it
with a 50 bed care home. That decision fully
supported the strong stand Malvern Civic Society
has maintained for the retention of this
heritage asset.. Clive
Hooper, Chairman of Malvern Civic Society,
commented "The Society has argued that if
the proposals were implemented they would have
an adverse impact upon the town's historic
environment and would result in substantial harm
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the
Great Malvern Conservation Area. This applies
equally to the new planning application recently
submitted to MHDC. The building is in good order
and not in a ruinous state and should be kept.
The Society's Planning Sub-Committee discussed
the new plans at its meeting on 28 September and
will be writing formally to MHDC." Mr
Hooper went on to say "Malvern Civic
Society has always recognised the local
importance of the old hospital building, and
this is reflected by the building's submission
by the Society to MHDC, together with other
properties, for consideration for its Local
Listing. We also recognise the value which MHDC
has attached to preserving the building: it
produced a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
in 2006 outlining the desirability of keeping
it."
"The
new planning application submitted by the
developers, Montpellier Estates, notes that they
had prepared a paper 'to prove that the existing
hospital could not be viably converted to
residential housing due to the physical and
financial constraints imposed by the existing
building'. Evidence submitted on this as part of
the consultation process was flawed and
completely failed to make the case. We
understand that there are other developers keen
to purchase the property in order to convert it
into residential accommodation, but that they
are currently locked out from making an offer to
purchase it by the NHS trust through the
agreement it has with Montpellier."
"Mention
is made in the current application of the MHDC's
planning policy SWDP 6 on the Historic
Environment: this requires that development
proposals should conserve and enhance the
significance of heritage assets including their
setting, which includes conservation areas and
undesignated heritage assets. However, no
mention is made of the SPD in this context, or
the extensive report from Historic England, both
of which underline the desirability of retaining
the building."
Malvern
Civic Society had previously campaigned for the
old community hospital to be given a Grade II
statutory listing. The former hospital was built
between 1909-11 by William Henman FRIBA and was
given to the people of Malvern by local
benefactor C. W. Dyson Perrins; it has heritage
connections with development of hospital
architecture and interesting innovative
technological features (such as the early use of
reinforced concrete) and quality design and
internal fittings. Historic England's criteria
for assessing whether a building should be added
to the national heritage list for England is
that the building in question should be under
serious threat or have national significance if
built after 1840. As the former hospital was at
risk of demolition, it fitted the criteria for
assessment as under threat. The Secretary of
State had concluded that the building was not
nationally significant enough to have statutory
listing, but that it was protected under local
policy and was in the Conservation Area.
However, the report accompanying the minister's
decision, in noting the strong local
architectural interest of the building, did
mention 'its strong local presence, expressed in
the scale and massing of its design, its quality
features, and its local historic significance,
which was recognised by its inclusion in the
conservation area'.
Clive
Hooper, Chairman.
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Civic
Week 2016
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Saturday
25 June - Saturday 2 July 2016
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Dudley
Brook unveiling plaque commemorating site of
medieval parish church of St Thomas and
Spytalway (now Church Street) |
After
walking down from Belle Vue Island to Malvern
Theatres behind Mike Fray, our Town Crier, our
President, Dudley Brook, welcomed everyone to
the Opening Ceremony, including Harriett
Baldwin, our MP. Councillor Hannah Campbell, the
Deputy Mayor, opened the proceedings and then
Councillor John Raine, Chairman of Malvern Hills
District Council, presented the prizes for the
Malvern Civic Society’s Schools’ Literary
Competition.
The
overall winner was Seb Roberts from The Elms,
the Secondary Schools’ winner was Thomas
Winters from the Chase and the Primary Schools’
winner was Elizabeth Jacob from Malvern Parish
– congratulations to them all. This was
followed by the unveiling of the Mulberry tree
in Priory Park by Di Foster from Malvern,
Australia. |
Priory
exhibitions: people watching 3d slideshow of
2016 MSA well dressings, (note the 3D glasses). |
The
Bands in the Park on Sunday was slightly damp
but the stalwarts remained to listen to the
excellent Cinderford Brass band, to eat cake
from the WI stand and to take part in the
raffles and tombola of the Guides and Rotary.
The Malvern Beavers produced 12 entries for the
Garden Competition. We awarded 2 prizes, one for
the best decorated yoghurt pot and the second
for the best flowers. The title had been a bunch
of flowers for the Queen’s 90th
birthday. This was all due to the splendid
efforts of their pack leader Heather Oldroyd
whose Beavers gave a dull day a splash of
colour. |

The
owners of Elmslie, Anna and Bernard Taylor |
The Week gave us the chance to visit The Dell House in
Malvern Wells, the house and garden including a
Victorian summerhouse and some wonderful tree
sculptures. Elmslie,
Avenue Road, which was presented with the Civic
Society's 2016 Award a few days earlier, was the
other house which drew people to appreciate its
marvellous restoration and to see the slides of
Bygone Malvern.
There were some splendid
talks, two of which were held in the Malvern College
Lewis Science Theatre: Paula Byrne on her best seller
'Kick' about Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy; Ben Cowell,
Director General of the Historic Houses Association
about 'Saving Country Houses';
Rosamund
Wallinger showing wonderful photos of her
Gertrude Jekyll designed garden, which she has
restored and has become an expert on Gertrude
Jekyll’s life and art; |
Robert
Payne portrayed Francis Kilvert
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In
Malvern Priory, Robert Payne portrayed Francis
Kilvert, the curate diarist, with candle, pen
and diary, reading excerpts, with Andrew Huntley
playing the narrator of his life.
Churches
were open, there were displays and tea and
cakes, gardens were open for NGS, The Malvern
Heritage Trail Quiz was launched and can be
bought at the Museum or TIC. Concerts were held
at Malvern Priory and Christ Church.
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Water
Cure Re-enactment, the "descending
douche", with Dr John Harcup as Dr Wilson,
Ken Crump as Bath Attendant and David Armitage
as Patient. |
The
Malvern Bookshop Co-operative hosted an evening
with Colin Clifford in ‘Remembering the Somme’
and Malvern Spa Association re-enacted the Cold
Water Cure, Dr John Harcup aka Dr Wilson and
David Armitage as the victim in the bath and wet
sheets.
It
was a busy, full week of interesting events.
Special
thanks are due to our sponsors – the Town
Council, the District Council and the Great
Malvern Hotel without whose help the Week would
not have been possible. The
purpose of Civic Week is to showcase the
activities of community groups in the town who
use the programme publicity to raise funds.
Of
special mention are the Bygones Evening which
raised £700 for the Malvern Museum and the
Kilvert Talk which raised £200 for the work of
the Friends of Great Malvern Priory. Last and
not least, the Committee would like to thank all
those people who bought tickets for the events
and/or came to support us, not always in the
most clement conditions. |
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Malvern
Civic Award 2016 decision
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For
over twenty years Malvern Civic Society has been
making an annual Civic Award. We are always on
the look-out for new or renovated buildings,
completed during the previous year, which add
something special to the built environment of
the area. The award is only a small plaque but
it is highly regarded by the winning owners,
builders and developers. Last year's winner was
the new Malvern Link railway station and we were
hoping for nominations of similar high quality
this year. We were not disappointed.
There
were six nominations - one newly built
development, two renovations of large Victorian
houses, and three more radical renovations which
completely changed the character of their
original buildings. |
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The
new development is Nightingale Court in Jenny
Lind Grove, Malvern Link. Roy Pendleton of Court
Properties and his designer Steven Salisbury
achieved the difficult feat of fitting two
3-bedroomed duplex units and two 2-bedroomed
apartments into the ground plan of a small
chapel which existed there before, without
sacrificing space or convenience. The new
building fits in well with the quiet,
residential character of the area. |
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No
8 The Lees (off Thirlstane Road) is one of the
Victorian houses which has been renovated. Tom
Wood inherited this fine house, built in 1889,
which, apart from a rear extension added in the
1920s, has survived almost unchanged. It has
been a labour of love for Tom to manage a total
renovation both inside and out using local
expertise. Architect Marcus Cleaver, builders
Jeremy Dean and Horizon |
Construction, stonemason
James Robinson, carpenters Mark Davies and Steve Taine
and metalworker D.A. Walton have all been involved. An
elegant and spacious family home and garden have been
brought back to life with much thoughtful and
painstaking work.
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The
other Victorian house is Elmslie House in Avenue
Road. This has had a significant history. It was
designed and built in 1862 by the distinguished
Malvern architect E.W. Elmslie, with
ornamentation both inside and out by the
Worcester sculptor William Forsyth. It went
through several changes of ownership and name
until it was bought in 2013 by Anna and Bernard
Taylor. They have carried out a thorough and
careful renovation of both the house |
and the garden, using local
architect Steve Davies and a team of local craftsmen
including Pegasus Joinery, Steve Allard the stonemason,
the Swinbourne brothers, Morgan the blacksmith and the
glazier Malcolm Wicherley. The house has now regained
its original Victorian splendour but is also a
delightful family home.
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No
17 Imperial Road was a nondescript 1960s
bungalow. Behind the façade the living area has
now been more than doubled by owner Owen Law,
assisted by local builders Simon Rowe and Jeremy
Dean, creating a spacious, modern home. |
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The
Razak Science Centre, named after a former pupil
who is now prime minister of Malaysia, is a
truly impressive addition to Malvern College.
Two existing science buildings, one built in the
1930s and the other in the 1960s, have been
completely renovated and modernised and
connected together by a new component which
contains a state-of-the-art lecture theatre. The
architects were Squire and Brown and |
the work was carried out by
Keir Construction. The overall impression is of space
and light.
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The
apartment building called 'The Corner' has made
a dramatic appearance at the junction of
Christchurch and Court Roads. There was a dull
three-storey structure here before. Now
developer Ben Guthrie and Matt Banks of Glazzard
Architects have transformed it by clever outside
styling and radical internal planning.
Bricklayers Brooke and Poynton, Walter
Electrical and W.P. Plastering have created a
striking, modernist building which improves the
character of the whole area. |
It
was difficult to compare these six very
different structures but, in the end, the
committee's unanimous decision was that the 2016
award should go to Elmslie House. This iconic
Victorian mansion has been saved for posterity;
the craftsmanship and attention to detail have
been superb and, as the owners are keen to
arrange a series of public events in the house,
the whole community can enjoy what has been
achieved. The winner's plaque will be presented
to Anna and Bernard as part of Malvern's Civic
Week events. (John Dixon, Chair of Civic Award
Sub-Committee)
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National
Trust day passes membership benefit
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Malvern
Civic Society is a member of Civic Voice. Civic Voice has obtained a
National Trust and English Heritage day passes membership benefit for
Civic Societies in membership of Civic Voice.
The
National Trust passes are hard copy only, one per member (two for joint
members) and can be obtained by individual members of Civic Societies
forwarding a stamped address envelope to: Civic Voice, 60 Duke Street,
Liverpool L1 5AA.
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..
Reports
from recent meetings and events
July
Meeting 2017
January
Meeting 2017
November
Meeting 2016
October
Meeting 2016
September
Meeting 2016
July
Meeting 2016
June
Meeting 2016
May
Meeting 2016
April
Meeting 2016
March
Meeting 2016
February
Meeting 2016
January
Meeting 2016
November
Meeting 2015
October
Meeting 2015
September
Meeting 2015
July
Meeting 2015
June
Meeting 2015
May
Meeting 2015
April
Meeting 2015
March
Meeting 2015
February
Meeting 2015
January
Meeting 2015
November
Meeting 2014
October
Meeting 2014
September
Meeting 2014
News
Sheets
..
The
Malvern Civic Society produces a Quarterly Members' Newsletter called
"Bandstand"
that is sent out by e-mail or available as a paper copy according to
preference.
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