Former Crimea Tavern, Castleford
Former Crimea Tavern pub in Castleford to be demolished for flats:
Once more, the loss of a derelict pub is justified by a supposed lack of architectural merit. Conservation officers at Wakefield would not have any grounding to justify an intervention in this case. Even if they wanted to.
This is sad. We need to recognise that it is not just the architectural treatment of the elevation, or the quality of the architectural vocabulary that make a building important.
It is the massing, its relationship with the street, and the proportionality of the elevation that are of historic value – characteristics which are not acknowledged in any replacement. This is clearly stated in every policy going; national, district, local.
Thus another pocket of Yorkshire loses its final piece of a once populated high street.
Norwood Green Mill, Halifax
Mill building to be demolished in small Calderdale hill village:
Very important piece of heritage for this small village on top of the moors to the East of Halifax.
From an urban design perspective, the building is vital to the village centre, providing a strong building line on the edge of the village green feature.
From a conservation point of view, village mills like this are fascinating, because they are often the sole example of heavy industry in the settlement, providing an economic base for the rest of the village to thrive.
The buildings are all robust and are in use, and could achieve a fantastic market value. Sadly, for some unknown reason, the market is signalling for more semi detached dull stock fit for new families in the countryside.
There is an irony in despoiling the beauty and history of villages, on which elevated market desirability for these semis is predicated.
Woodman Inn, Hebden Bridge
Application to demolish the long abandoned Woodman Inn pub at Charlestown just outside Hebden Bridge:
This pub has now been in a state of dereliction for at least 10 years. Standing on the road to the Moors, when the culture of drinking and driving (rightly) met its demise this location would have proven to be logistically awkward.
Still, with the cultural draw of Hebden Bridge but a mile away, I’m sure a skilled publican could have reanimated The Woodman Inn. Other pubs of this disposition have thrived.
Star and Garter in Sheffield
The Star and Garter in Sheffield is to be replaced with student accommodation:
It is a charming corner pub just across from the university. Are students not drinking anymore? Suppose there isn’t much beer money left after tuition fees. Someone ironically across the road from the planning department I may add….
Former Methodist School, Farnley
Demolition of former snooker club, Farnley
Quite a nice building that provides some nice high street active frontage. Not historical in the sense of The Royal Cresent or Saltaire, this building was erected in 1905 as a Methodist School and plays a part in the history of Leeds, which is a relatively modern city.
Maybe not the greatest loss, but my worry is that it will be replaced with a design that does not contribute to an active streetscape. Old building are very good at this.
Old Westgate Redoubt building, Snapethorpe
Plans by the council to demolish an outbuilding of Snapethorpe Primary School:
Forgive the terrible photo from Google Earth’s Streetview archives circa 2012.
Some local objection to this proposal that coherently cites the councils own policy:
http://savelupsetgreenfields.homeip.net/node/544
Death, Taxes, and local authorities not adhering to their own policies are the only certainties in life.
A handsome building that will be a loss to the visual fabric of the area. Not worthy of listing, never the less it is the kind of building I dream of inheriting from a long lost uncle and spending the rest of my life as custodian.
Incidentally, the argument that a building has to be demolished because it has been “regularly targeted by vandals and trespasser’s” is an old and hackneyed cliche in the planning consultant’s armory. Misdemeanors do not necessitate flattening the site and starting over.
Cellars Clough Mill, Marsden
Application to demolish, and develop 55 houses on a site in rural Huddersfield:
This mill found its way into the local press last year through a fantastic redevelopment that would have seen the building incorporated into an innovative mixed use scheme albeit with the sad loss of the chimney. Sadly this developer withdrew:
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/developer-who-said-marsden-residents-6776181
The new scheme includes plans for 55 dwellings and 143 spaces for vehicles, all of which will have to journey into Huddersfield or Manchester each day to keep the intended residents in employment.
The location is not sustainable by the councils own reckoning and my own predilection for saving heritage assets notwithstanding, there is surely a huge risk of flooding on what is effectively an island on a waterway at the foot of the Pennines (and it really does rain up on those hills).
The planning consultant argues the development will bring much needed ‘diversity’ to the area. What a sacred cow that word is. Diversity is actually the exact opposite of throngs of white flighters looking for rural detached housing.
It is another anachronistic building in an awkward location. But it is also our heritage, and believe me Kirklees, if you hang on, something amazing will happen with this building.
Christ Church Primary Academy
Demolition of a school building in Shipley:
Demolition does not require full planning permission, but rather a demolition notice, so this has been progressed with alacrity.
A nice looking building that looks to be in good condition, but as the officers report suggests, way off English Heritage’s radar.
The centralized position on the site would make any redevelopment difficult should someone want to capitalise on the full footprint, and as such there was no chance conservation would have been contemplated.
The rest of the school will presumably stay open.
At this point, as the people tell me I am an overly zealous heritage obsessive, I remind them that this type of building can NEVER be built again.
Couple of pubs in Brownfield Bradford
Two more pubs are to be demolished in the industrial fringes of Bradford.
Royal Oak, Sticker Lane:
New Inn, Manchester Road:
It always amazes me that pubs in the middle of nowhere, in the middle class hinterlands and along the traditional MAMEL routes are thriving at the moment. Their fate did not look so rosy a few years ago, but something cultural changed, and people suddenly were intrigued by pubs (and the fare they offer) in the middle of nowhere. They provide pilgrimage for weekends.
Wouldn’t it be great if these superannuated urban pubs could find such a resurgence, perhaps from intrepid urban explorers, or those seeking something different. Over to you Camra.
Crown Hotel, Chickenly
Pub to be demolished just outside of Dewsbury in Chickenley:
There is literally nothing else in Chickenley aside from housing estates. This is all they had to give Chickenley a sense of place, but no one went and now more houses will be built once it has been leveled. Another pub outmoded by suburban life.
Amidst such streets as Short Street and Mill Lane that hint at an erstwhile quaint industrial settlement, another name on the map has slowly become completely meaningless.
The Demolition Register 