C O N T E X T 1 5 0 : J U L Y 2 0 1 7 5 ‘LISTED at Grade A, Egyptian Halls is a work of imaginative genius by one of the greatest minds in Scottish architecture, and of great importance to the architectural and social history of Glasgow. But it is owned by a developer constrained by circumstances, while both Historic Scotland and Glasgow City Council seem incapable of positive collaborative action to save the building – although the latter is happy to give public money towards the restoration of both Mackintosh’s School of Art and his WillowTearooms. ‘The current scandalous state of Egyptian Halls is a standing reproach in its designer’s bicentenary year. Glasgow prides itself on once having been European Capital of Culture. The continuing neglect of the legacy of Alexander “Greek”Thomson suggests that its culture does not go very deep. Glasgow must not forget its greatest architect.’ Gavin Stamp writing in Apollo ‘IT SEEMS fair to say that Unesco’s voice has never been properly heard in the city, except perhaps in negative ways. Had Unesco come to speak to people in the intervening years then we might not have ended up with the debate being framed in an either/or binary position between economic development or heritage, civic growth or becoming a museum, progress or being held hostage to the past.’ Gerry Proctor, chair of Engage Liverpool ‘COLSTON in his own lifetime was regarded as a near saint. He’s probably one of the city’s greatest benefactors.We have streets named after him, almshouses named after him, a concert hall named after him, so the whole city bears the imprint of Colston.There are a number of schools that bear his name and a number of charitable bequests that the city has benefited from. ‘It is quite clearly a Colston window. Some of the symbols in there belong to Colston’s life and business interests. Removing the biggest window in the cathedral would be hugely difficult for me. If I can find a way of doing that, I would be perfectly prepared to have that conversation. There are some difficulties I think in us passing judgment about their values.While we still can be clear that slavery is completely wrong, so the business of eradicating Colston’s memory from the city is tricky. ‘[Colston] was involved in a trade that wasn’t considered evil at the time but we now know to be wicked. I think that’s a complicated conversation to have. If we are all going to be judged by the future, we are all going to be found guilty one way or another.’ David Hoyle, dean of Bristol Cathedral, speaking to the Guardian about the campaign to remove the cathedral’s largest biggest stained-glass window because of its close association with the slave trader Edward Colston ‘It’s not as good as the yellow car, but it’s lovely to drive. Hopefully I won’t have any trouble with it, although I never intended to cause a problem with the yellow one.’ Retired dentist Peter Maddox quoted in the Daily Telegraph after he had been accused of ruining the picture-postcard setting of Arlington Row in Bibury, Gloucestershire, which is featured inside UK passports, by parking his yellow car outside his house. ‘THE REQUEST of £30,000 towards the restoration of these bells is considered justified by officers who have cited the positive PR sponsorship may generate and the traditional role of the bells in national occasions.’ Nick Bodger, the City of London Corporation’s head of cultural and visitor development, explaining to the Evening Standard the decision to fund repairs needed to stop the bells of St Paul’s Cathedral falling silent ‘WHILE small bat populations can occupy parts of a church without disturbance, in other cases bats can pose severe financial and social problems for congregations. ‘At a time when churches are increasingly becoming community hubs with a diversity of events and uses, bat droppings can restrict activities, damage historic artefacts, cause hygiene issues and put strain on the volunteers who look after these beautiful buildings. In rare cases large bat roosts have even caused churches to close.’ Ros Kerslake, chief executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, announcing funding for the five-year Bats in Churches project ‘WE’VE LOST some modern furniture and furnishings, but so far we’ve kept on top of it with historic textiles by utter scrupulous diligence. Our curators are constantly on the lookout, and we have weekly, monthly and major annual conservation cleaning programmes – six-monthly in some properties… ‘One possible source is chimneys. Most of us have open fireplaces, but we don’t light as many fires, so we don’t get them cleaned as regularly. Moths love dead birds – the larvae eat the feathers, the skin and even the flesh. It’s very important to identify the source of an outbreak and then deal with it.’ Amber Xavier-Rowe, head of collections conservation at English Heritage, on the threat from moths ‘BATH ABBEY is one of the best examples of Victorian church restoration by perhaps the era’s most prominent architect – Sir George Gilbert Scott. There is no doubt that removing these pews would harm this Grade I-listed church’s significance, and there is no need for such drastic changes in a thriving church when other options are available. ‘The last decade or so has seen Victorian church schemes ripped out all over the country and once they’re gone they’re gone for good.’ Christopher Costelloe, director of the Victorian Society on proposals to remove pews as part of Bath Abbey ‘Footprint’ plan ‘THE KIND of events we need – big concerts and banquets – are just not possible with fixed pews. Some of them may require no seating at all. ‘Unless we get this increased income we will go bankrupt and have to shut the doors – then no one can enjoy the Victorian or medieval heritage. ‘We are not just stripping out all the pews and throwing them away. All the beautifully carved pew ends will come back as moveable ones and be cherished.’ Canon Neal Barnes, vicar of Hull’s Grade I listed Holy Trinity Church, tells the Daily Mail why the historic pews in England’s largest parish church are being removed.
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