Autumn 2008
For your Diary
Our programme of talks (all on Tuesdays, 7.30 pm at the Priory Hall) continues as follows:
11th November Thomas Farnolls Pritchard and the Iron Bridge by Julia Ionides.
25th November Civic Society AGM
20th January 2009 Dr Katherine Swift of the Dower House garden at Morville
24th February Howard Horsley: Wenlock Archives – a Window on the World
24th March Dr Stephen Briggs, Welsh archaeologist/historian: Historic Welsh Gardens
21st April Edmund Simons Kinver Edge; Archaeology and Geology
For further future meeting dates see the Wenlock Herald.
Editorial
Vivien Bellamy
The Society’s recent talks have been warmly supported and the planned programme for the spring of 2009 offers a range of new subject-matter, with a seasonal emphasis on gardens and landscape.
As everyone in Wenlock is aware, many changes are taking place in the fabric of the town and it is even more important to support the work of the Civic Society The stronger we are, the more influential we can be when crucial planning decisions are being made.
The Annual General Meeting of the Society, due on the 25th November, is an important opportunity for members to influence the way that the Society operates. The Secretary will provide a report on the year and all committee posts will be filled. If you wish to nominate someone to join the committee then you can obtain nomination papers before the meeting from the treasurer, whose address is provided below.
Membership:
Single Membership £4.00
Family Membership £5.00
Senior Membership Single £2.50
Senior Membership Couple £3.50
Junior Membership £1.00
Corporate Membership £10.00
Payable to Hon. Treasurer: Mrs. D. Fenter, Whitecroft, Vineyard Road, Homer, Much Wenlock, TF13 6NG
The Society’s work of monitoring the progress of all planning applications is particularly important in the run-up to the establishment of the Unitary authority in May 2009. Unless these applications are watched vigilantly, irreversible developments may take place which that will affect the character of Much Wenlock for decades hence. Maintaining the character of the surrounding rural areas is also vital. We must take account of plans being made at regional level which almost inevitably focus on the needs of the conurbations. The Society’s voice is respected and local people can make their representations to the authorities more effectively with its support.
Inevitably Much Wenlock will grow larger but it is up to us all to ensure that any development maintains the high quality of the existing environment. The Society makes representations to the Town and/or the District Council (which are not always accepted) and maintains contact with our M.P. over relevant issues.
Issues that concern the Society at present are the large numbers of trees now scheduled to be felled and the absence of replacements, especially at the Falcon Court site, where promises of re-planting have not yet been fulfilled. Another is the sale of gardens for building plots and the misleading official designation of gardens and green spaces within the town as “brownfield sites”.
Links with other Organisations
The Civic Society is affiliated to other groups interested in the local environment. The Friends of Shropshire Archives are now running an introductory course on Medieval Latin, and on 20th November, Martin Woods is giving the Annual Lecture entitled “Have Bell, Will Yell!” Further events can be found at www.friendsofshropshirearchives.org.uk/ForthcomingEvents/. Members may also be interested in other local events related to the environment and local history and architecture. These are currently regularly publicised on the website- Virtual Shropshire
Reports of Meetings
Our autumn programme was opened with some gusto by George Evans who gave us his inimitable view of the Wrekin. George could be described as the elder statesman of this landmark, though he protested that he was by no means the oldest person still climbing to its summit. His talk ranged over many topics including history, geology and ownership amongst others. Using a map he distributed to all present, he examined in detail the Wrekin Forest from Little Hill to the series of hills at the Ercall end of the range. The entertainment reached its climax with George’s proposal of the Wrekin toast.
In October Simon Holloway spoke on the enticing topic of Corrugated Iron without Prejudice. His well-illustrated presentation traced the history of this unregarded material from its invention in the 1820s through its use in buildings all over the British Empire until its virtual eclipse late last century. Because many shanty towns and agricultural/industrial buildings have employed it, it has acquired a somewhat negative image, but Simon was able to elicit the nostalgia which many of his audience must have felt for this apparently most workaday of materials – his shots of some of its more architectural uses added to the sense that perhaps it has been held in too little regard. A lively question-and-answer session completed the evening.
Work of the Civic Society Committee
The committee has greatly missed the contribution of our Minuting Secretary, Alan Edwards, during his recent serious illness. We are pleased that he is now home and wish him a speedy recovery. We have been grateful for Colin Taylor’s hard work on the minutes in Alan’s absence.
Planning Applications
Approval has been granted for the development of ‘affordable dwellings’ at Sytche Lane. The Society opposed this on the grounds that the site is outside the zone of permitted development, a restriction only lifted in the case of ‘affordable housing’. We continue to question these properties’ ‘affordability’. Further, the Parish Plan showed a greater local need for property to let than for sale.
The Society has raised several objections to the proposal for two affordable houses opposite the Roman Catholic church site. During recent flooding large volumes of water escaped across this point. The site may have archaeological interest and was part of the former gas works, with possible toxic residues. Finally, the design is considered too poor for a significant entry-point to the town.
Concerns remain about the building adjacent to the old Barclays Bank. As it does not conform to the terms of the Planning permission granted and Bennett Homes’ retrospective application has been rejected, BDC have decreed that it be taken down. However, another appeal procedure may ensure more delay. The Society hopes that this unsatisfactory state of affairs will be prevented in future by more vigilant monitoring of works as they proceed.
We are pleased to note that work has resumed at Brook House Farm, with roof re-tiling.
Members of the Committee attended a presentation of plans for the new School. These were generally well-received although there still seems to be uncertainty about detail. Work is to start in January, creating a separate entrance onto Farley Road for construction vehicles. Concerns remain about increased water levels on the site.
Inquiries
The Society was represented at a Planning inquiry in late July into Lioncourt’s proposed development of the Lady Forester grounds. The Society opposed the development on the grounds of the number of homes proposed and presented evidence of increased flood risk on Farley Road. Partly as a result of inadequate evidence presented by Bridgnorth District Council officials, some of which seemed to be deliberately suppressed, the Inspector decided in favour of Lioncourt. A second inquiry, into the “Barclays Bank” development, was cancelled when Bennett Homes withdrew their application for approval of amended plans.
Trees
The trees felled at Falcon Court have still not been replaced. The Lioncourt development in the Lady Forester grounds means the further loss of no less than 66 mature trees, making a huge visual difference to Farley Road.
The historic trees on the Linden Walk are now under a permanent Tree Preservation Order. We hope that developers will in future pay greater attention to the important environmental role of trees, not just in enhancing the townscape but also in reducing risks of flooding.
Conservation Area Appraisal
Bridgnorth District Council ceases to exist next May and transfer arrangements still remain uncertain. It is hoped that the MW Appraisal will, in fact, be completed and approved before control passes to the newly-constituted Unitary Authority.
History Corner: Schooling in the Parish of Much Wenlock in 1908.
It is interesting to compare the main concerns about schooling now and 100 years ago. We are lucky in having the historic Log Books of many of the local schools in the Much Wenlock Archives. They tell us quite a lot about what it was like to be in school in 1908. One hundred years ago only a primary education was available to the ordinary people of Much Wenlock. The school rooms were basic with hard furniture and little in the way of books or other resources. They were heated by coal fires in winter and lit by gas supplied from the town gasworks in Barrow Street. Much Wenlock’s schools, in the present Priory Hall, were ‘National Schools’, set up by the Church of England. As at Homer, there were Infant and a Junior divisions. Attendance was often poor.
In the first week of 1908 30 out of 115 children were absent from the Infants School. The Headmaster attributes these absences to “poor weather” and “many children being away sick.” At Homer the Headmaster records that on the 4th May “Willie Clee and Willie Bridgewater played truant this afternoon to go Bird nesting.” In July he records “Olive Edwards, Edith Edwards, George Edwards, Tommy Emery and Bethan Jones all way – gone to Harley Fair.” In September the Attendance Officer “found several children away picking blackberries”. Some were also kept home looking after younger children.
The health of the children was often a real concern. They suffered from many diseases, since brought under control by vaccination or modern medicines. In February ‘a case of Scarlet Fever’ resulted in a visit from the Sanitary Inspector and in July the Medical Officer of Health appeared after ‘a case of diphtheria.’ Children were at times sent home from school, one with a “face covered in sores” another with “a ringworm on his neck” for these were contagious. Whooping Cough proved a major problem in the autumn and one boy was said to be “continually having a swollen face” and needing dental treatment. Many people were poor and some children are recorded as attending school without shoes or socks!
There were accidents, one when “a cupboard fell on a boy after being moved by the painters.” The weather caused problems with “burst water pipes after the frost” in February, and in October “singing instead of playtime” because of heavy rain. On November the 2nd the Headmaster had “to light the gas at 2 O’clock” as it was so dark and later in the same month the Doctor postponed his eyesight tests “the light being too poor”.
The Vicar regularly visited the schools and the local gentry also took a close interest. On the 15th April “Mrs Heywood of Tickwood Hall” presented the prizes at the Junior School while on July the 10th the Infants School closed as “Lady Gaskell is giving the children a treat at the Abbey.” There were also special holidays. In May one holiday was for “the annual steeplechases”, probably a reference to the Olympian Games, and a later one for the “Annual Pleasure Fair.”
His Majesty’s Inspectorate visited to check on standards, rather like OFSTED today. At the Much Wenlock Infants, the inspectors reported that “the children are still backward – but the school is conducted in a bright and suitable manner.” In Homer, in September, the Headmaster records that “No brush work or chalk drawing was given as the children were found so backward in arithmetic …after the holidays.” Some things, apparently, never change! |
