Long Street Methodist, Middleton, Manchester
Barry Noble the Quality Assurance Assessor for ‘Visit England’, made his unannounced inspection visit this afternoon. Maureen, a guide for the afternoon, at the Arts and Crafts Church impressed Barry with her knowledge and friendliness. He was complimentary about the visitor experience and made a few helpful suggestions as to how we could improve.
We can continue to display our ‘Visit England’ accreditation symbol.
Trafford Borough Council planning service is proposing to remove the Conservation Area status given in 1986 to ‘Halecroft – the former house, then council Offices and now commercial office that stands in Halecroft Park, Hale Road, Hale. The public are invited to comment on the proposal, which is part of a broader planning review of Trafford’s Local Plan.
Designed in 1890, ‘Halecroft’ is Edgar Wood’s first masterpiece, a flamboyant Arts and Crafts beauty. It is listed grade II* and is described in the listing as “an excellent example of Wood’s earlier work largely expressing the ideals of the Arts and Crafts Movement and the vernacular revival.” The house is sited at the northern end of its large grounds, which includes mature trees an early Arts & Crafts garden designed by Wood. It is a popular place for local people.
While the listing would remain in place, the conservation area status is being removed as part of sweeping changes proposed for South Hale Conservation Area. The reasons are given in an appraisal of the conservation area and appear to be poorly stated. The Edgar Wood Society has joined the Friends of Halecroft Park in objecting to the change. The conservation area protects the broad character and appearance of Halecroft, the park and the wonderfully wooded street scene. The assemblage would be significantly less protected against intrusive housing or other development as a consequence of the proposed change.
If you wish to comment on the proposal, simply email strategic planning at Trafford with your views strategic.planning@trafford.gov.uk
To download a pdf of the draft appraisal click on South Hale Conservation Area Appraisal. Trafford Council’s strategic planning service web page is here
The very first visitors to ‘A Grand Day Out’ were Shirley and Roaf who arrived 5 minutes early, at 12.55pm… but there wasn’t a queue! Later on we had visitors from Didsbury, Worsley, Macclesfield, Stockport and a couple from Plymouth who discovered the event from their camp site info. Our youngest visitor was Jennifer, who came with her grandparents. Their daughter is of one of our new volunteer guides!
If you would like to visit, CLICK HERE for details.
The first day of the Golden Cluster openings is only 24 hours away and the final touches are being made. We hope to see many visitors new and old throughout the month and also on the Heritage Open Days.
Nick Baker, the curator has done a great job putting together the exhibition titled: ‘Middleton’s Arts and Crafts Trinity’
Here is a miscellany of heritage news over August…
Plan to demolish old Coronation Street set submitted to council
Plans revealed for dozens more flats to be built in Ancoats as part of £1bn housing masterplan
Converted Bolton church aiming for national recognition at ‘property Oscars’
Victoria Station revamp: Network Rail reveals £44m transformation will be completed this month
Work to start on town hall roof ahead of £6.5 million revamp of Albert Halls
Ducie Bridge pub to close this weekend as NOMA redevelopment continues
Young historians travel to Durham to find out about the origins of their Horwich school
The changing face of Manchester: Fascinating comparisons show how city has moved on since 2000
BBC programme about the Manchester Ship Canal is screened
Greater Manchester’s best loved buildings – tell us your favourite
Manchester’s most hated landmarks, as suggested by you
Picture palaces fall prey to developers
The innbetweeners: whimsical pubs of interwar years win Grade II listing
Birmingham Hall of Memory is now a Grade 1 Listed building
Love is Enough: William Morris and Andy Warhol meet in Birmingham thanks to Jeremy Deller
Decisions on which buildings to preserve have never been so erratic
A forgotten figure in the Garden City movement
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu – obituary
Hi-tech plan to combat IS destruction of ancient sites
The Beautiful Old Signs of Paris Are As Elegant As the City Itself
Robert McGregor, who put Napier on the world’s art deco map, dies
A walk down the Oval: an exhibition celebrates Mumbai’s iconic Art Deco architecture
An Art Deco Paradise in Moscow’s New Museum
An excellent evening was had by all who visited the Georgian Moravian Settlement and this was followed by a walk around an extension to the settlement designed by Edgar Wood and Henr
y Sellers, in the 2nd decade of the 20th century.
The first part of the tour was led by Jean Bailo, a Manchester tour guide and the walk around Broadway by our very own Nick Baker. Nick explained that Wood and Sellers were at the fore front of the Garden City movement and early town planners.
The Wood and Sellers extension blended beautifully with the original settlement and is well worth a trip. If you missed our trip then your next opportunity is on the Heritage Open Days in September.
Edgar Wood Society has acquired a small archive of original material on Barcroft, 193 Bolton Road, Marland. This is an Edgar Wood designed Arts and Crafts house of 1894. Today, it is listed grade II, and although altered, is in good condition. It can be seen from the main road between Heywood and Rochdale.
It was built for an artist friend, Benjamin C. Brierley who, like Wood, was a member of the Rochdale Art Society. He is remembered for a series of paintings of local old halls and for being an important member of the Co-operative Movement. After Barcroft, Brierley helped to fund Marland Church, one of Wood’s radical church designs, now sadly demolished. Then, in 1911, he and his family emigrated to Western Australia and became a pioneer farmer.
The house is interesting for its vernacular inspiration and having an open plan layout, something quite advanced in 1894. It has a large central chimney and, originally, big stone roofing flags (now replaced). Inside, the vernacular informs the planning with just two multi-purpose rooms accounting for all the non-service ground-floor functions. A ‘hall’ combines the functions of entrance hall, staircase and sitting room, while a large living space containing an inglenook and a square corner bay window serves as dining room, study and drawing room. The authentic-looking inglenook closely resembles that at Tonge Hall, Middleton, with a fire-window and a heavy bressummer supporting two large farmhouse-style beams.
Anthony Cosgrove showed the archive to society members after a successful committee meeting.
Middleton Heritage, minus a few on holiday, had an enjoyable meeting Thursday tea-time. We picked up where we left off at the July meeting, chatting about recent and upcoming events/activities such as the Wilson Potter beer soiree, September Arts & Crafts exhibition, ‘Art Nouveau to Art Deco’ Edgar Wood buildings guide, Word War I memorial web pages and the Awards for All grant application. August and September are such busy months but we nevertheless started thinking about what we should be doing next year and how to present the Middleton area more as an Arts & Crafts place.
Around 90 people braved the inclement weather on Saturday and made their way to the Edgar Wood Centre for the monthly Wilson Potter Brewery ‘Saturday Soirée’.
As well as their usual range of award winning craft ales, a new heritage themed beer was available to try.
‘Crafty Mr Wood’ has been specially brewed for Middleton Heritage to commemorate Edgar Wood, architect of The Arts & Crafts Church and the school buildings that are now The Edgar Wood Centre. The beer is a 3.8% amber session ale and it certainly seemed to go down very well with those who tried it. Bottles of the beer will be available from the brewery soon.
Wilson Potter’s next event at the Edgar Wood Centre will be Saturday 12th September when the Arts & Crafts Church and the Edgar Wood Centre will be open for Heritage Open Weekend. If you would like to receive an invitation and book a place at the brewery bar please contact Kathryn or Amanda on 0161 654 6446 or email: enquiries@wilsonpotterbrewery.co.uk
Here is a miscellany of Greater Manchester heritage and Arts & Crafts news over July.…
Archaeologists uncover 270 bodies as part of Cross Street Metrolink works
Whitworth Art Gallery nominated for top architecture prize
Manchester Town Hall extension and Central library bag two national construction awards
School and homes plan given green-light on former MMU Didsbury Campus
Have your say on plans to re-develop Rochdale Town Hall
Historic bridge beneath Rochdale is revealed for the first time since Victorian days
Hope for London Road fire station as ‘several bids’ made to purchase it
Two bidders for London Road Fire Station revealed
Bolton Council hopes to finally sign off town hall plans
Bolton Council will “protect” historic buildings following protests over town centre plans
Woodland Trust buys majority of Smithills estate
Project to restore paupers graves in Horwich secures funding
Protected status for London’s British Library, opened in 1997
‘Character and heritage’ of post boxes to be preserved
Charles Rennie Mackintosh design is first confirmed exhibit for V&A Dundee
Restoration plans for Mackintosh building trigger art school rift over studio space
Cottage dream up for sale: A Mackintosh masterpiece
The Arts and Crafts House at Compton Verney
Book review: Arts & Crafts Stained Glass
Property of the Week: Woodlands on Birkby Hall Road in Birkby
Inside the Cambridge ‘time capsule’ house
Brierley’s own Arts and Crafts house is an architectural gem
Great Dixter in Sussex – A Quintessential English Style Garden
Colour project on the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow
Hoffmann brooches shine in Vienna auction
1900-1926 Lost streets of Old Paris
Italian Liberty – Art Nouveau photographic project
For sale: Art Deco Highgate flat by Arsenal stadium architect
Art Deco-ded: Explore south Mumbai’s timeless architecture
Demolition Begins on Former Art Deco Salerno Cookie Factory
Almost Demo-ed Art Deco Gem on Alton Coming Back to Life
Your Big Chance to Get Inside L.A.’s Amazing Art Deco Castle
Members of Middleton Heritage met on Thursday evening to plan the September Golden Cluster Month and Heritage Open Days. It was a very positive meeting with lots of ideas coming from different groups. Among initiatives discussed were new and improved visitor guides and trails, including new versions of the Sam Bamford trail and Edgar Wood guide (see opposite) to be published by September. Another was a Heritage Open Days Beer Soirée by Wilson Potter Brewery.
We are also planning some initiatives for this web site, including an archive, by the Family History Group, on the Middleton soldiers who fought in the First World War and a series of 50 posts, by the Friends of Middleton Parish Church, on the art and craft objects found in Middleton parish church.
The Edgar Wood Society has acquired a plan chest from the Earby Lead Mining Museum, near Skipton, which is sadly closing down (however, its artifacts are being transferred to other museums).
The mining museum has been housed for a very long time in Earby Grammar School, a Grade II* listed school not unlike Middleton’s Old Grammar School. With the mining museum leaving, there is an opportunity to revisit the building as an historic structure in its own right.
The main problem was how to get the plan chest to the office at the Edgar Wood Centre without racking up van hire charges. The solution… a 1980s VW camper van!
Many thanks to Richard Matthews for his help on the day.
David
On Monday 20th July, Edgar Wood Society was delighted to welcome Vicky House, owner of Briarcourt, and Arts and Crafts furniture experts, Sean and Joanna McManus, for a private tour of the Arts & Crafts Church. Everyone got on so well taling about the feautures of the buildings and the furniture, that the visit lasted 5 hours!
The Edgar Wood Society visit to ‘Briarcourt’, Lindley Huddersfield (18th July) was a great success.This Arts & Crafts house was designed by Edgar Wood in 1894 and built in 1895. It was considered a cutting edge design in its day and even now, after decades of various local authority uses, it is extremely impressive, as the photos taken on the visit show.
We began with lunch and a talk on ‘Briarcourt’ at the nearby Heritage Cafe in Wellington Mill. We then drove down and parked in the grounds and were shown around by the new owners, Vicky and Duncan, who are researching and beginning to restore this amazing building. We are very grateful for their hospitality and you can follow their blog on the building here.
Afterwards, some of us walked up the lane to see Edgar Wood’s Lindley Clock Tower and Norman Terrace. See the Edgar Wood Heritage Group, Yorkshire web site for interesting information on these and all his buildings in the area.
Twenty members of the Saddleworth Civic Trust spent Saturday doing the full tour, lead by Geoff Wellens at the Parish Church and by Christine Grime at the Arts and Crafts Church. This was followed by a conducted tour of the Edgar Wood trail. Christine led – the rest followed! In the fore ground are Christine and Charles Baumann (Sec.of the SCT)
Milton Street Independent Labour Club is featured in Historic England’s newly published 2015 Designation Yearbook. It is, perhaps, one of the most interesting buildings highlighted, despite its modesty. Click here to download the ILP entry.
Arts and Crafts buildings generally feature strongly with two areas receiving special research for listing – West Cambridge and Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire. Click here to download the West Cambridge entry and here for the Minchinhampton entry.
Nb. Historic England was called English Heritage until recently. The whole report is here.
