Messages are welcome on any subject relating to Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve; the surrounding area of St George and Crews Hole or any of Bristol's Parks and Green Spaces.
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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 11) |
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Susan
 Feb 3, 07 - 9:31 PM |
Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Below is the text of a draft letter for the Bristol Council Planning team in response to the application 06/03518/LC to demolish the Lamb Inn on Crews Hole Rd. The 1985 photo I refer to is here. What do you think of the draft? If you are a Friends of Troopers Hill member i.e. you receive our newsletter, are you happy for me to send it on your behalf? Dear Mr Haworth, Application No. 06/03518/LC Demolition of the Lamb Inn, Crews Hole, St George I am writing on behalf of Friends of Troopers Hill, a local volunteer conservation group with over 300 members, caring for a Local Nature Reserve close to the property being considered for demolition. We, the Friends of Troopers Hill, hope you will refuse the application to demolish this building. If you allow the demolition then Bristol Council will set a precedent for owners of properties to simply allow any building in their ownership to decay, knowing that permission will then be given to demolish them. In section 5 of the structural report commissioned by KPG, shown on your website, there is the comment "This building has been neglected for many years". As KPG have been the owner for many years they have had the opportunity to care for the property and keep it in proper repair. I have been fortunate enough to be given a copy of a photo taken in 1985 that clearly shows a structure in quite a good state of preservation at that time. I also enclose another photo, copied from the book "Crews Hole, St George and Speedwell" by Dave Stephenson, Andy Jones, Jill Wilmott and Dave Cheeseley. This photo was taken in the 1950s or earlier. In those 30 years or more there appears to have been no deterioration. I believe the building stopped being used as offices in 1993. Assuming the building was in good repair then, 13 years is a very short time for a building to reach this level of neglect. I attach a copy of a draft of a letter that was sent to Bristol Council in January 2005 expressing concern about the state of the property. I also attach a letter sent to Mr Howe in March 2006 expressing our concern about the property. May I point out that the structural report shown on your website with the application is incorrect when it states " The property is a substantial detached house believed to date from the 19th century." This particular building is thought to be 300 years old, and there is evidence the pub was in use on 26th June 1794 when an Inquest was held on the body of an unknown man, found drowned, at the house of Mr Crinks, the Lamb Inn, Crew’s Hole. I was also interested to note that the application has a box ticked saying that the building is not listed. I would encourage you to check this information as it has been regarded as listed by local people for years and thought to be the only reason the building has not been demolished before. I have also been told that there is a tree with a preservation order in the garden and would urge that every care is taken that this is not felled or damaged if the demolition is allowed. The Lamb Inn was the focal point for social activity for the village of Crews Hole. Little now remains of this village and this is a unique memorial to that social history. Friends of Troopers Hill would like to encourage employment and business in this area. KPG, the owners of the Lamb Inn, have made very good use of an excellently restored and converted chapel, on the opposite side of the road to the site. It could be a good way of signalling the Council's policy towards the care of historic buildings, particularly in a Conservation Area, if they find a means of ensuring the preservation of as much of the building as possible within any new structure. What must not be allowed to happen is the continued decay and dereliction of this building. Any preservation should be associated with a visible record, such as an interpretation board or plaque, to inform the public of the history of the building. You will note that in my letter to KPG I asked for any copies of documents that they might have to do with the building to cast more light on the history of the building. This would be of great interest to a large number of groups in the area, such as ourselves, the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society and Barton Hill History Group to name but three. Unfortunately KPG did not supply any documents. If you have powers to ensure that any copies of such documentation were made available in the Council Records Office this would be of benefit to the local community. We, the Friends of Troopers Hill, look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely, Susan Acton-Campbell Chair, Friends of Troopers Hill |
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Roger
Feb 3rd, 2007 - 10:29 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Nicely worded letter, I have to admit that without the convincing evidence that has been produced by so few people in such a short time, I may have said "demolish it". It's certainly worthy of repair, I think that BCC will refuse the application, I don't consider BCC to be as myopic as some other civic councils. Roger |
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Kite
Feb 4th, 2007 - 1:29 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Sorry, but I have to say, I am not very comfortable with this. I agree entirely with the sentiment as I would like to see the Lamb Inn preserved. However, I am not convinced this is directly a matter that we as Friends of Troopers Hill should be involving ourselves in. The Lamb Inn is not strictly speaking a part of the Local Nature Reserve. Although part of our mandate is to buils up a history of the area, I think we are in danger of interfering too much. Let's all write and express our concern by all means, but I don't think we have the authority (on this occasion) to do it on behalf of FoTH. 
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Jen & Ben
Feb 4th, 2007 - 2:31 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Nicely composed letter, Susan, we had no idea the building was of such local historical interest. We also think it important that buildings of this nature be preserved. With regards to whether or not it is our place to have an opinion, however, we feel we should but perhaps only as an 'ally' of Barton Hill Historical Society. We should lend our weight as a local conservation group but maybe this one is not ours to fight alone. Having said this, though, we are happy for this letter to be sent by Susan on our behalf as we feel the preservation of local history is becoming more and more important in our 'disposable' society. 
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Susan
Feb 4th, 2007 - 10:14 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Many thanks for the feedback. I can see where Kit is coming from but we had already, as a group, asked Carole (our then Research Co-ordinator on the FOTH committee) to write to Bristol Council in 2005 expressing our concerns about the safety issues surrounding the site. I was asked to do this again last year and to find out the future plans for the building. We do have an interest in the history of the area. Quarry workers and miners on or in Troopers Hill would almost certainly have been slaking their thirst at the Lamb Inn after work. Yes, our main focus is the care and promotion of Troopers Hill but we are also interested in the Hill's history and have gained a lot of attention from our history walks (which include going past the Lamb Inn) and exhibitions. I am certainly not suggesting we divert masses of energy into this - just make the point of our interest and encourage others, both within and outside Friends of Troopers Hill to also write to the Planning Office to have their say. By the way the address is Mr P Haworth, Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development, Brunel House, St George's Rd., Bristol, BS1 5UY. and once again the reference is Application No. 06/03518/LC or you can email seat_planning@bristol-city.gov.uk and head it for the attention of Mr P Haworth, giving the same reference. Re. the Barton Hill History Group - they may well have something to say on the matter, we have let them know what is going on and it would be great if they took up the cudgels. The 1985 photo came from Dave Cheesley of the Barton Hill History group. I hope they do - they also may be having a thought about how wide their remit is - this area being outside Barton Hill. However Friends of Troopers Hill are going to provide one of their series of talks this year. Rob has also told members of the Bristol Industrial Archaelogical Society (BIAS) what is going on. So they may leap into the fray. All the best, Susan
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Liz
Feb 4th, 2007 - 10:52 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Great letter Susan, but I think Kit does have a point. It doesn't really fall within our remit at all. I think perhaps if KPG goes on to ask for planning permission some of us who use Crews Hole Road regularly might venture the comment that the road would benefit from widening at that point |
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Val
Feb 5th, 2007 - 2:29 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Have just caught up with the previous correspondence re demolition of the Lamb Inn (better late than never!). Again, I agree Susan's letter is first class but i also agree with Kit that our first priority should be Troopers Hill and, in my opinion, I don't think we should get very involved in other matters outside of that. I think that as individuals we are at liberty to put our point of view to BCC but as a group I think we have enough to concern ourselves with. If The Lamb can be preserved well and good, but in it's present state it is an eyesore and is obviously not wanted or needed by its present owner. I would imagine they had already gone down the road of trying to sell it for conversion to a dwelling house, but other than that it's outlook is a bit bleak. |
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Roger
Feb 5th, 2007 - 10:28 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
"I would imagine they had already gone down the road of trying to sell it for conversion to a dwelling house" I don't recall seeing it for sale, I really was actively looking for property in the area for some time. |
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Rob
Feb 7th, 2007 - 7:21 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
Please see the reply from KPG on the other thread about the Lamb Inn on this forum. |
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Susan
Feb 13th, 2007 - 9:45 PM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
In view of the feedback about the demolition falling outside the remit of Friends of Troopers Hill I shall be sending my letter as a private person rather than as Chair of Friends of Troopers Hill. I strongly urge anyone else who cares about the site to send their point of view to the planning department as well. Best wishes, Susan |
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Dick Best
Mar 31st, 2007 - 5:47 AM |
Re: Draft letter about the demolition of the Lamb Inn
What a cheek ! ! I used to spend an hour or so in The Lamb on Sunday evenings accompanied by my then girlfriend. That was in 1944/5 and I might want to come back some day. Of course it has closed so that would be a problem but it will be impossible if demolished ! Maybe you had best not send this to the BCC as I don't feel it will carry much weight. Best wishes Dick Best |
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