Hayes Lodge, Hopwas, Staffordshire

Issue
Hayes Lodge, an early eighteenth century prospect tower and summerhouse, was built for Zacchary Babington on a rocky wooded outcrop overlooking the River Trent. Around 1760 it was extended to form a dwelling, in which use it continued until the mid 1990s, by which time it had become a distinguished, if isolated, residence, its outward appearance essentially unchanged from that recorded on a watercolour of 1786 in the William Salt Library in Stafford. Remarkably, the building had never been assessed for listing, possibly because of its isolation. Left empty and neglected by its owners, Tarmac, it feel victim to vandalism and this summer Lichfield District Council began moves to have it demolished.

Our view
Local campaigners, aided by the Group and others, tried to save it and secured a speedy assessment from English Heritage’s listing team.

Result
Sadly, vandalism had taken its toll to the point where the building was not deemed to be of listable quality; its fate was therefore sealed. The Landmark Trust and kindred bodies have proved that buildings like this  can be successfully adapted for other uses and it is depressing that losses such as this occur even today. Historic garden and park structures on the former estates of demolished country houses remain a threatened and under-protected category of buildings, as do the designed landscapes in which they sit. If readers know of other threatened examples we would be keen to hear from them.    

Reeves Hill Windfarm, Herefordshire

Issue
The economics of windfarms have suffered in the recession and although there remains strong political impetus behind offshore installations, those onshore face a less certain future. Economics are not the only impediment; often these farms are proposed for landscapes that are unspoilt but formally unprotected, and thus highly vulnerable. The Group recently joined a campaign to defeat a windfarm proposal in a part of Herefordshire that directly inspired Richard Payne Knight and Uvedale Price, joint progenitors of the Picturesque Movement.

Our view
Knight lived at Downton and met Repton at Stanage Park, from both of which the turbine blades will be visible. Repton considered the setting at Stanage to be of the highest quality, commenting in his Red Book for the Estate that he ‘never saw a place which required more caution not to injure its Character than this Park’. Up to now that setting has survived intact, entirely free of large-scale intrusions.

Result
Following significant pressure from a vocal coalition of local and national protestors (see our picture), the Government issued a direction taking the decision out of the hands of the County Council until it had had a chance to review the arguments. Ultimately the Government returned the matter to the council for determination and the scheme was given the go-ahead.

All Saints Church, Worcester

Issue
A landmark when entering Worcester from the west and over the Severn. Largely a rebuild of circa 1740, the church internally (and externally at its east end) is a significant Baroque essay and its continued ecclesiastical use is highly desirable. But as so often the quid quo pro, according to the church at any rate, is expansion and alteration. Loos are wanted in the south corner between the tower and nave.

Our view
Additional facilities might be acceptable if accommodated sensitively, but we had serious concerns over the planned extension, designed in stainless steel, aluminium and stone veneer with a roof form at odds with the existing nave roof. Given the prominence of its intended site, far greater effort was needed to fit in. A coherent approach was also needed to internal remodelling, still at an early conceptual stage, so that the architectural qualities of the church were fully respected.

Result
Pending.