Work of the Alliance of Historic Cathedral Cities and Towns

Conservation areas, , ,
WHY WAS THE ALLIANCE CREATED?

The setting up of Alliance of Historic Cathedral Cities and Towns (ACT) reflected the fact that civic societies in a number of cathedral cities and historic towns had becoming increasingly concerned about the tension between the conservation of the historic city/town and varying degrees of population, housing and economic growth. At the same time a number of other groups were highlighting the need to protect and enhance historic cities and towns, which have enormous economic, as well as cultural and social value to the country. These bodies included the Kenwood House Group (which published “Cathedral Cities & Historic Towns“), the Historic Towns Forum and Historic England, which in 2014 commissioned Green Balance to produce a report entitled “The Sustainable Growth of Cathedral Cities and Historic Towns” (plus Appendix relating to Canterbury) which highlighted some of the problems.

The Alliance of Historic Cathedral Cities and Towns was established in 2015 by a group of civic societies in cathedral cities, under the umbrella of Civic Voice, the national body for civic societies across England. The Alliance was launched at the Civic Voice Annual Conference in Bristol in October 2015. Since then there has been a presentation of its work at the Civic Voice Conference in Chester in 2016 and a further presentation is scheduled for the Civic Voice Conference in Wakefield in 2017.

WHAT HAS THE ALLIANCE DONE?

When  ACT was set up it was known that many civic societies were concerned about the pressure on historic cities and towns. However, the nature and extent of their concerns were not known. This led to the carrying out of a survey which involved a questionnaire to be completed by the representatives of civic societies across England – thanks are due to all those who responded to the ACT survey and the staff at Civic Voice who collated the answers.

OUTCOME OF THE RESEARCH TO BE AVAILABLE LATE NOVEMBER

Over the past few months the results of the survey have been analysed and written up and a detailed report on the research will be presented at a special workshop at the Wakefield Conference on Saturday 21ST November. Copies of the report will be available for those attending the workshop. There will also be discussion about the plans for the work of ACT over the coming months, and we hope that delegates to the Conference will come along to give us their views and suggestions.

WHAT NEXT?

The research carried out by ACT has already been presented in draft to Historic England and this has led on to two suggestions for further work, both focused on the concerns of civic societies.

First, it was suggested that the results of the research had implications for the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). It was suggested that ACT could draw on the research, and on the experience of civic societies, to propose amendments to the NPPF. The DCLG are in the process of reviewing the NPPF. As a result the ACT Steering Group have recently written to the Planning Minister with a number of proposed amendments to the NPPF which, if adopted, would provide more positive planning guidance for historic cathedral cities and towns facing pressures for growth. These recommendations will be presented at the ACT workshop on 21st October.

Secondly, there is the possibility of further research. This would focus on the types of growth and change which can either sustain the character of historic cities and towns – or can damage these places. Historic England have indicated that there is a need for further research into these issues and the ACT Steering Group is currently working on a research proposal which we hope to submit to Historic England for consideration in the near future. This proposal, too, will be presented at the workshop in Wakefield, and comments on it will be welcome.

The ACT workshop takes place at the Civic Voice Conference on 21st October. If  interested in getting more involved with ACT and/or taking part in its work contact John Pahl (Chair Canterbury Society) at J.M.Pahl@kent.ac.uk

Acknowledgements: To John Pahl (Chair Canterbury Society) from the ACT Steering Group who provided this background information on the ACT

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

‘Cathedral Cities in Peril‘ This report published in March 2015 was the result of reflections and debates held by Foster + Partners, English Heritage and Terence O’Rourke MBE, which took place in the context set by the Kenwood House Group. It was prepared to help inform the debate about the expansion of our cathedral cities and historic towns, mainly prompted by the need to significantly increase housing stock.

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Chichester BID Open Meeting and the aim to increase visitors to Chi

Conservation areas, ,

The Chichester Business Improvement District ran an open meeting on 12 October where the future direction of BID was outlined as were the plans for the 2017 Christmas Campaign for Chichester.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Colin Hicks, the Chair of Chichester BID (shown speaking  above) explained the changes in the BID’s organisation and the new focus for the BID Team on driving footfall and leading efforts to improve the dwell-times of visitors to the City. The BID area is funded by the businesses themselves and several BID members have responded to calls to propose ideas to promote the City, three of which will be trialled in the Xmas period. Plans include several nights of mulled wine, mince pies and chestnuts at The Cross and various choristers and performances. The Christmas Lights Switch On (sponsored by Bray Associates) and Firework display (sponsored by Woodland Crafts Events Management) is on November 23  from 5pm.

The BID Team now also enjoy an improving relationship with both public and private partners and is consulted about wider issues of importance to members, such as the Chichester Vision, and tourism and transport policies that are relevant to the City Centre.

Analysis of footfall is undertaken using mobile data. Chichester BID has dedicated footfall cameras along with fourteen sensors that count mobile phones passing in the area within the City centre. These allow us to monitor what brings people into Chichester and where these people go. The sensors have been designed from the ground-up specifically to prevent personal data from being collected. The data is collected by Springboard UK & Noggin.

Cllr Roger Barrow, cabinet member for Chichester District Council, presented a trial ‘Against Litter’ Campaign that he is leading, which will begin in a month’s time. The leaflet to be used can be viewed here.

Janet Tuckett was introduced, who had previously worked for Chichester BID and returns as the members’ part-time Ambassador. This is a new role which involves working with BID area businesses to keep them informed about what is happening in the City and help promote their special events or promotional offers. Janet will also be very much the BID area’s eyes and ears, on hand to assist with any issues businesses may have, as they arise and ensuring these are taken up quickly and dealt with. This will include leading the BID Team in the pursuit of these concerns with the local Councils or other relevant agencies.

Further information about Chichester BID can be found at their website.

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Damage continues due to large lorries in Conservation Area

Trucks,

This is the result of damage caused by a brewery lorry backing down from North Pallant at the end of September.

Severe damage to brickwork

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When queried via our Twitter account about the lack of a protective bollard West Sussex Highways replied ‘The bollards that are currently in place are historical and unlikely to be replaced if damaged. Bollard replacements are subject to prioritisation (Based on safety needs) and budgetary constraints. West Pallant junction does not provide enough footway space to install a bollard and allow pedestrian access ie: pushchair, wheelchair users‘.

Some existing bollards are shown below:

Two protective bollards in North Pallant  where one might do?
Bollard at top of Theatre Lane at exit end of one way street

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The bollard at the top of Theatre Lane is at the exit end of a one way street, so lorries can’t back down and it is very unlikely that an exiting vehicle could damage the adjoining building.

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Chichester Road Space Audit – the Society’s Response and now your chance

Roads, ,

(RSA image and main text on this page sourced from linked websites and here)

West Sussex County Council has reviewed how it develops parking schemes across the County and working in partnership with Chichester District Council, a pilot study has recently been undertaken in Chichester. This more progressive approach towards parking management, known as a Road Space Audit (RSA) has tried to determine if there are other ways for the County Council and its partners to consider existing and future parking demands.

See copies of the final report and the executive summary.
The Society was among a limited group of consultees given early access to the Report and submitted a response in November last year which is available here.

The RSA is designed to be an enabling study that complements existing statutory plans and emerging studies in respect of transport infrastructure, parking policy and spatial planning, such as ‘A Vision for Chichester’.

County Councillors and officers at West Sussex County Council are now keen to ascertain whether members of the public are in support of the broad themes raised within the RSA and if these fit in with their aspirations on what they would like Chichester, the place, to be in the future. Please note that as yet, nothing has been decided and further discussions will take place pending the outcome of this consultation exercise.

The online survey form can be accessed here. The closing date for responses is 31 October 2017.
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Halsteds the Ironmongers – Chi’s long-forgotten industrial history

Local history

The business was founded in the 1840s  by Charles Townsend Halsted, one of 3 sons of Charles Halsted, and the principal driving force behind developing the business. It traded through a shop in East Street (Nos 80 and later 81/82)and subsequently established first a brass foundry at 20 North Pallant and later a larger main iron works in the garden of 1 North Pallant as shown in the map below. (Click to enlarge).

Charles Townsend Halsted died in 1891. The following is an extract from the records of the Probate Service: ‘HALSTED Charles Townsend of Chichester esquire died 25 December 1891. Probate London 14 March (1892) to Maria Halsted widow Sir Robert George Raper knight James Lainson Gauntlett gentleman and Charles Edward Halsted esquire. Effects £60758 13s. 1d. resworn January 1893 £61425 13s. 7d.’

In 2016 , his estate would be worth  £6,010,000.00 using the retail price index (Source – Measuring Worth) – clearly he was a successful businessman of the time.

The following concept map provides an overview of the history of Halsted & Sons’ ironmongery and foundry business in Chichester  (click it for clearer view).

More detailed information concerning the sons and the business itself can be found by using the numbered links below the map.  Below are some additional images.

(1) Charles Townsend Halsted   Source – The Halsted Trust
(2) Henry Halsted    Source – The Halsted Trust
(3) John Halsted  Source – The Halsted Trust
(4a) Halsted’s the Ironmongers  (An overview) Source – Pat Saunders , The Novium
(4b) Halsted and Sons of Chichester (Detailed article) Source – Alan H J Green, Sussex Industrial History no 35, 2005
(5) The Great Exhibition Source – Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History

The 1851 Great Exhibition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halsted small kitchen range Amberley Working Museum ex Grace’s guide

 

 

Nos 1 & 1A North Pallant both once owned by the Halsteds
Blue plaque at 1A North Pallant next to passageway to Halsted’s works

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halsted shop 81-82 East Street (Copyright of the Novium ( a service provided by Chichester District Council). All rights reserved)

 

 

81-82 East Street with the Halsted Key Emblem above the first floor (picture taken July 2016)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Halsted key emblem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Draft Southern Gateway Masterplan is flawed in not addressing the level crossing misery

Planning,

The Chichester Society has submitted its response via the questionnaire to the District Council’s draft Southern Gateway Masterplan. It can be viewed here.

While supporting the general thrust of the proposals the Society feels that the Master Plan is fundamentally flawed by not providing a solution for the level crossings misery. The provision of a bus gate and the existing crossing on Stockbridge Road and a                               shallow underpass for cars on or parallel to Basin Road is a workable solution.

As regards the Strategic Environmental Assessment the Society stated that the feasibility of the Master Plan aspirations and timetable require forward planning and investment now to enable the essential infrastructure items such as drainage, moving the bus depot, moving the Royal Mail Sorting Office, and land purchase for the underpass / level crossing solution.

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Freeflow – an alternative vision for the Southern Gateway

Highways, , ,

Consultation on the Southern Gateway ends on 10 August. A meeting to discuss Freeflow takes place at 6:30 Thursday 3 August Assembly Rooms. If you wish to support this proposal you can sign a petition here

Many are seeking changes to the Southern Gateway plan as it is deemed as flawed because it does not address the  need to avoid the current congestion at the 2 railway crossing to the South.

Freeflow offers the City a gateway worthy of the name by providing a dedicated new road and bridge solution, removing congestion, pollution and mounting frustration of those trying to access Chichester.  It proposes the closure of both crossings saving over 20,000 working days wasted every year waiting at the crossings.

The route creates minimal visual impact allowing the closure of both crossings, and with minimal impact on the road network during construction of the bridge

Freeflow offers significant public realm benefits around the train station, removing the through traffic making it pedestrian and cycle friendly

Freeflow proposes a high quality Exhibition / Conference / Performance venue, Hotel, Commercial and Retail space and additional homes to enhance the local economy and create a vibrant southern quarter to Chichester

Freeflow will help alleviate traffic congestion on the A27 by not requiring people to divert to other access routes into the city as they currently do

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Inns, Pubs and Hotels – the latest Heritage Trail announced

Buildings

Trail 5 – Inns, Pubs and Hotels

Chichester’s earliest inns can be traced back to mediaeval times when they catered for pilgrims visiting the shrine of St Richard in the cathedral. Over time they came to serve all types of travellers, who needed rest and food after travelling along the notoriously bad Sussex roads. By the middle of the  seventeenth century there were seven inns in Chichester, as well as 50 alehouses, taverns, and other premises that sold drink. Given the population was only 2,000 people at the time, of whom over half were women and children, it can be seen that Chichester was a boozy city. The naturalist, W.H.Hudson, was horrified to find ‘drink-degraded wretches’ sprawling on the street corners in sight of the cathedral spire – a sight that appalled him.

Sadly, the city has seen many of its hostelries close in recent years and this trail includes some of these. The Swan, The Royal Arms, and The Fleece, are three prominent inns that have closed in East Street alone. Fortunately, many others still survive, including, The Fountain, The Hole-in-the Wall, and The Old Cross. Today there are only a dozen public houses in the city centre and no inns. Many of the city’s old inns have been converted into restaurants or private accommodation. This trail includes both former as well as current pubs and inns. Download it here.

For details of other trails and where to obtain the leaflets see here.

Hole in the Wall (stop 6 on the Trail)
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