Historic school buildings under threat of demolition in Neath Port Talbot!
By David A. Thomas, BSc (Hons); Secretary, Plas Danbert Preservation Trust

These buildings should be spot listed as soon as possible before plans to site a major residential development are railroaded through. The relevant Planning Committee is understood to meet on the 20th. of February, 2007 (Application No. P2006/1708).

So why save these historic school buildings?
There are two main blocks of buildings at risk, the old Grammar school (1913/14 and Inter-war) and the old Technical school (1934). In reference to the former, which consists of four large, oblong-shaped buildings, the architect responsible was William James Nash (1875-1968), a Fellow of the Royal Institute, London. Nash, a Scotsman and contemporary of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, worked in the LCC Architects' Department under William Edward Riley, the Chief Architect. In turn-of the-century London these architects fired by the theories of John Ruskin, William Morris, Norman Shaw, Philip Webb and Karl Marx brought a new art and magnificence into the artless, downtrodden lives of ordinary people. As a result, Arts and Crafts detailing would rarely rise to such a noble and popular standard again.

Nash exited the LCC in 1904 and from then on until 1932 he was one of two County School Architects in Glamorgan, becoming County Architect for the entire region in 1932. The historic school buildings Nash has bequeathed to South Wales remain a testimony to intelligent local authority administration.
In the historic sense both the Technical and Grammar schools received boys, and their tutors, from Chatham, Kent, during the Second World War. Not only were the Mayor and Mayoress of that town to pay a special visit but also Sir Archibald Sinclair, Churchill's right-hand man, and Sir Arthur Whitten Brown, one half of that famous duo who were the first to fly non-stop across the Atlantic in 1919.

It is felt that these vacant/redundant historic buildings may have been overlooked by Cadw inspectors when they resurveyed the Neath Port Talbot/Pontardawe area in 2003. So much new evidence has now been brought to light that a fresh site inspection should be made forthwith and a decision taken to include these buildings on the statutory lists.

The Threat
The only forewarning from Neath Port Talbot C. B. C. came on the 13th December, 2006, when an outline proposal was posted to 59 houses in the vicinity of the former Cwmtawe Comprehensive School. Those that found time to visit the Civic Centre in Neath, over the Christmas and New Year period, would have noticed, perhaps, in the " Present Use " section of the planning application form the following sentence:-
(c) Which buildings if any are to be demolished – ‘ALL’
Just three letters typed onto one of four pages of an application form typed in matching font so as to render them inconspicuous.
There were three questions in particular, from a questionnaire written by residents immediately afterwards, and circulated to 100 homes, which ought to scupper, one might imagine, any plans to level the school buildings and develop the site. Nearly 40% of those returning questionnaires responded positively to the following:-
* Should the historic school buildings be saved from demolition and put to a new use? YES
* Do you think that a feasibility study should be carried out on these buildings in order to fully explore the merits of alternative proposals? YES
* Should there be a public meeting held with Neath Port Talbot C. B. C. to discuss this outline proposal? YES

Amongst former pupils of the school(s) it is likely that Robert Jones, the former Lions star, Gareth Edwards MBE, Mary Hopkins, Sian Phillips, members of Carwyn Jones' family and others would like to comment on the council's plans to Geoff White, the Head of Planning, or Ken Sawyers, the Chief Executive. Certainly any school boasting Rhodri Morgan's father as a former pupil or, Goronwy Daniel, that early pioneer of the forerunner to S4C or, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, should merit some special consideration.

 

Bringing Architecture and its Conservation to the People at The Burges Exhibition.

The Burges Exhibition is deemed a huge success with 3,000 visitors in just three weeks. The exhibition was launched by Architect Jonathan Adams, and took place in the Old Library, the Hayes, Cardiff. It looked at the principal work of William Burges, including the three Cardiff sites of Castell Coch, Park House and Cardiff Castle, the influence that Burges had over the architecture of Victorian Cardiff, even down to the humble terraced house, thus helping to relate grand Burges architecture, with the homes of ordinary people. It also looked at caring for this architecture today. The exhibition included contributions by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, the Victorian Society, Cardiff Councils Strategic Planning, the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, the Glamorgan Record Office, Construction Skills - CITB, who organised children's visits to the exhibition and many other companies and organisations. The children's visits included a chance to do stone carving and go on an architectural tour of Cardiff. There was even a chance to buy books on Burges, Victorian architecture and conservation, at a branch of the Cardiff Castle gift shop. The main funder of the exhibition was the Heritage Lottery Fund and it was organised by John Edwards of Cardiff Council".

Llanrwst THI, Conwy - (BCSC) Town Centre Environment Awards 2005

 

The awards highlight urban renaissance and reward projects throughout the UK that promote vibrant and competitive environments.

Some 30 towns and cities across the UK entered projects for this year's awards. Only two awards were granted this year - Llanrwst receiving a commendation, beating competition from short-listed projects including Liverpool, St Helens, St Annes-on-Sea and Lisburn.

More pictures

Contact John Ellis BA(Hons)Arch., Dip.Arch., RIBA., IHBC
Cyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol CONWY County Borough Council
e-bost / e-mail:john.ellis@conwy.gov.uk

DON’T LET YOUR GUTTERS DRAIN YOUR RESOURCES

Roll up your sleeves, pull on a pair of rubber gloves and dig that ladder out of the shed - it’s time to celebrate National Gutters Day!

Although it might not be the most glamorous date in your diary, Friday November 25 is the day when spending just a little time to clear leaves and other debris from your gutters and drains could actually save you from having to spend hundreds of pounds at a later date to put right any damage caused by blockages.

National Gutters Day is the brainchild of The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Britain’s oldest heritage charity. This annual event marks the end of the Society’s National Maintenance Week – an awareness campaign designed to encourage everyone who owns or looks after a building to take a few simple steps at the beginning of winter to ensure that their property is ready for anything that the season can throw at them, especially in these increasingly wet, windy and unpredictable days.

It’s a message that’s relevant to every building, whether it’s hundreds of years old or brand new, whether it’s a moated manor house or a suburban semi.

Water damage is a particular concern. The annual clearing of gutters and drains can be much cheaper and less inconvenient than having to cope with a serious outbreak of dry rot in timber roof trusses following years of neglect, or dealing with a flooded basement or ground floor because of a blocked drain.

The ever-practical Romans actually had a goddess of the drains – Cloacina. These days, instead of seeking divine inspiration, simply visit SPAB’s dedicated website, www.maintainyourbuilding.org.uk ,which is packed with helpful information to help you give your house a maintenance ‘MOT’ this winter.