C O N T E X T 1 1 1 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 9 3 ‘IT IS ASTOUNDING that the newspaper highlights unsubstantiated and uncorroborated allegations from a health trust clearly identified as dysfunctional, without referring to the wide-ranging systemic failings in the trust highlighted by its regulator. The press report ignored the regulator’s conclusions that “the system that the trust had in place to [ensure that services were safe and people were protected] was seriously flawed”. Clearly the newspaper’s report is no less seriously flawed. ‘It is unacceptable that an 82-page critique of a key health body – raising issues that everyone cares about – should be sidelined in favour of a marginal allegation largely dismissed by the inspecting body itself. For a health report to appear to blame eight suicides on a historic building, without reporting the failings of those in charge of care, is misleading at best, and potentially irresponsible. ‘Any competent organisation responsible for listed buildings should know that it can get free and informed advice from their local authority or national heritage agencies such as English Heritage, while the IHBC provides a web-based list of specialists who can give detailed advice on conservation issues. As the NHS is producing guidance on the health benefits of features in traditional buildings and places, it seems particularly perverse that a health report in the press should try to use rumours about old buildings to cover up the very management failings it should be highlighting.’ IHBC director Seán O’Reilly responding to allegations in the Independent newspaper that the listing of Broadmoor Prison hampered patient care. ‘IF THERE had been cases where patients hanged themselves from the bars we would treat it very seriously. Just because a building is listed does not mean it can not be changed.We would ask what is the justification and, if it were to reduce suicides, then that would be a robust justification.’ Nigel Barker of English Heritage commenting on the same report from ancient archaeological sites to the latest architectural projects. Its main web-based archive, Canmore, is now interactive. Members of the public can add detail to any of Canmore’s 280,000 places of interest and upload copies of their own site photos to share with other users. The project has received Heritage Lottery funding. http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/ Bute connections The Bute Houses Partnership is a new, collaborative venture between four of historic buildings: the classical Dumfries House in Ayrshire, the gothic revival Cardiff Castle and Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute, and the House of Falkland in Fife. The buildings are linked by being or having been in the ownership of the Bute family. The Bute Houses Partnership aims to extend the buildings’ historic links and help a wider public enjoy them. Plans for Piece Hall Plans are being drawn up for a £16 million redevelopment of the 18th century Grade I listed Piece Hall in Halifax. The proposals include upgrading the courtyard into a town square, creating a demountable stage for largescale events, and developing shops, restaurants and creative businesses. The designs have been drawn up architects Evans Vettori, working with conservation architect Jessica Sutcliffe. The Grade I listed building’s Georgian architecture has been described by architectural historian James Stevens Curl as ‘one of the grandest classical sights in England’. Conceived in 1774 to provide facilities for the woollen cloth trade, it remains the only building of its kind in Britain. It is thought that the Piece Hall came close to demolition in 1972. At a meeting to decide its fate, only the chairman’s casting vote is said to have saved it from being destroyed to make way for a shopping centre. Wasted assets Around 200,000 developable listed and historic buildings are lying empty and decaying in the UK because owners and developers fear or do not understand relevant building regulations. That is the assessment of Janice Gooch, historic and listed buildings conservation advisor with construction consultancy McBains Cooper. Many of those buildings, in their prime, would be more efficient and better value than new-build property, Gooch says. ‘Owners and developers are wary of historic building regulations, and expect aggravation and red tape. But conservation officers actually much prefer a responsible and proper owner to develop and put a building to use rather than leave it idle and crumbling.’ Welsh survivor Clare Moody writes: The traditional ‘tyddundod’, or long house, is part of Wales’ cultural landscape but few survive in anything like their original 18th century condition. In the hills surrounding the market town of Machynlleth, Powys, however, there is a rare example of a tyddundod which has remained unchanged for generations. A retired couple has taken on the task of restoring the building. Originally intended as a building where farm workers would live under the same roof as their animals, separated by an adjoining wall, most tyddundods were extensively modernised as the rural population became more affluent. In the original construction, the tyddundod would have a sloping floor in the cattle’s quarters to allow the manure to slide out through slots in the wall. The first stage of renovation to allow people to occupy that part of the building was usually a level wooden floor. It is at this stage of development that Mr and Mrs Humphries found the Machynlleth cottage. Architect Geraint Roberts is behind the plans to convert the building into a holiday home. The team has worked closely with Cadw to ensure that as much of the fabric of the building as possible is preserved. One of the most complex areas of restoration is the roof. Slated with small, randomly sized slates from local quarries that ceased to operate long ago, it is of an unusual construction that would always have allowed water into the house, long before it fell in to disrepair. Under restoration, as many of the original slates as possible will be re-used, with the remainder being custom-made to match the original byWelsh Slate using traditional Welsh slate from the company’s Cwt-y-Bugail quarry.
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