THE WINDSOR AND ETON SOCIETY

Incorporating Windsor Heritage

NEWSLETTER No.76 November 2016

NOTE FROM YOUR CHAIR

I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am both excited and privileged to have been appointed as your new Chair. I am particularly fortunate to have succeeded Anne Taylor who, as Chair for the last 4 years,has headed the Society superbly with her unique and eloquent style - she will be a difficult act to follow.

My philosophy as Chair will be to try to build further on all that's been achieved over the past few years and to work enthusiastically with everyone in doing this. I, along with the trustees, look forward to seeing you all at one of the future events.

AGM

The 70th AGM of the Society was held in Upper School, Eton College, on 24th October 2016. Our President, Sir James Perowne, conducted the evening, which was attended by about 70 members. Anne Taylor, the retiring Chair, gave a comprehensive account of the Society’s events and activities during the past year and also summarised the achievements of the Society during her 4 years in office, expressing her appreciation for the support of all members of the Executive Committee and the Heritage and Environment Committee. Membership has increased and the number of active members remains encouraging. Treasurer, Chris Simon, reported that the Society is in good financial health. David Eglise was elected as the new Chair, and the present committee was unanimously re-elected to continue for another year, with the exception of John Handcock who is retiring, and to whom thanks were expressed for his many years of service. A presentation was made to Anne Taylor by the Executive Committee to thank her for her work and leadership as Chair of the Society.

The meeting then welcomed Claire Milne and John Bastow, co-chairs of the Windsor Neighbourhood Plan, who gave an update on the content of the draft plan, and the steps that will follow the end of the current consultation period. The evening concluded with light refreshments.

ANNUAL DINNER 2017

THURSDAY 4th MAY at THE SAVILL COURT HOTEL, ENGLEFIELD GREEN

We are once again returning to The Savill Court Hotel for our 2017 Annual Dinner Further details, together with the application form, will accompany the February Newsletter but please reserve the date in your diary.

HERITAGE AND ENVIRONMENT

This report covers the items which were considered at the August, September and October meetings of the committee. It has been quite a busy period.

A Planning Applications

  1. 35-37 Peascod Street (PA 16/02134)

Members who attended the talk at the end of September will have seen a picture of the proposed scheme. It is fair to say that the general reaction of those present was one of dismay. We wrote to object to this planning application which we thought was entirely unsuitable for a Conservation Area; its modern design does not fit in with the neighbouring buildings and the proposed building is too tall and bulky.

  1. 51 Gallys Road – Corner of Gallys Road and Longmead (PA 16/02908)

This was a retrospective planning condition for which we requested refusal. The construction of an extension bore little resemblance to the original plans permitted under PA 14/03556. We asked for the planning department’s approach to enforcement to be reviewed in this case so that developers in general are not given the message that they can modify approved plans without significant consequences.

  1. Vale House, Vale Road – 14 dwellings (PA 16/02737)

We did not object to the planning application per se but to the misleading Design and Access Statement produced by the architects. It showed pictures of houses in Kings Road and inner Windsor but nothing of houses in the Vale Road area. We considered this to be improper practice and misrepresentations of this kind should not be allowed.

  1. The Crispin, 56 Grove Road – Conversion of public house to 2 dwellings (PA 16/02687)

We noted that the planning application provided no evidence sufficient to enable the Borough to judge whether the loss of this community asset was appropriate. The application has subsequently been withdrawn.

  1. Western Cottage, Madeira Walk – internal alterations (PA 16/02893)

We were very pleased to note the considered, sensitive approach being proposed and its potentially positive impact on the listed building and its setting.

B Planning Application Updates

The following were mentioned in the August Newsletter:

  1. 109 High Street, Eton (PA 16/01097)

This was discussed at the meeting of the Windsor Urban Development Panel (‘The Panel’) on 12th October and it was agreed to defer a decision pending a site visit by the councillors.This application has since been withdrawn.

  1. 16/01578 – 51 Alma Road (PA 16/01578)

This too was discussed at the meeting of the Windsor Urban Development Panel (‘The Panel’) on 12 October and it was agreed to defer a decision pending a site visit by the councillors.

  1. 16/01986 – 56-58 Thames Street – accommodation etc for Sir Christopher Wren Hotel (PA 16/01986)

This is still pending.

C Other Items of Interest:

  1. Borough Local Plan and Local List

The public consultation on the Windsor Neighbourhood Plan's "Pre-Submission Draft" ended on 8th November. The full draft and appendices including the Society’s draft Non-Designated Heritage Asset List is available on the Neighbourhood Plan website - where there is a link to a questionnaire. The Plan has much to say about both heritage and environment. The Borough Local Plan is due to be issued for consultation in next month.

  1. Charles Knight Grave Area

The RBWM landscape architect has now sketched plans for developing this corner of the burial ground off Madeira Walk. A small group of the committee met with him at the area and discussed his proposals which include lighting, as we requested, and decorative railings which should help to dignify the area.Members of the Heritage and Environment Committee also planted bulbs in the wider area of the burial ground this Autumn so there should be a good show next Spring.

  1. Chariotts Place

We are delighted that there are plans to improve Chariotts Place. This is another neglected area in the town. Refurbishment is complicated as the area has multiple ownership, however the Windsor Town Partnership has now drawn up plans which have been sent to the H & E Committee for comment, and we are encouraged by what we have seen.

OUTINGS

Monday 17th October 2016 – London – Spencer House and Chiswick House

We arrived at Spencer House for the first part of our day in London and were split into two parties for our house tours, each with a Blue Badge guide. The House was begun in 1756 by John, First Earl Spencer, the great-grandson of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. He had earlier married Georgiana Poyntz, his childhood sweetheart and they immediately embarked on this splendid house overlooking Green Park. The House was intended to be the setting for the Earl’s art collection which was partly inherited and partly purchases he made during his Grand Tour. Every room is beautifully furnished with his collection of paintings by Benjamin West, George Romney and Sir Joshua Reynolds, to name but a few. As we went from room to room each one seemed to be more opulent that the previous one, and the views of Green Park were lovely. We left Spencer House and went straight to Chiswick House where we had lunch. Members were then free to look in the House and gardens as they wished. The House, designed in 1720s by the third Earl of Burlington, is one of the finest Palladian villas in England and is elegant with beautiful rooms and paintings. The gardens were designed by William Kent and are spectacular, especially the Exedra with modern copies of sculptures, the originals of which are now in the House. We arrived back in Windsor in excellent time and the 39 members who took part in this visit all agreed that it had been a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Future Outings

Thursday 27th April 2017 – Charleston House and Chichester

Charleston, the country home of the Bloomsbury Group, is a unique example of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant’s decorative style within a domestic context and represents the fruition of over sixty years of artistic creativity.In 1916 the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant moved to Sussex with their unconventional household. The rooms on show form a complete example of the decorative art of the Bloomsbury artists and the collection includes work by Renoir, Picasso, Derain, Matthew Smith, Sickert, Tomlin and Delacroix.

Thursday 15th June 2017– Restoration House, Rochester

Restoration House is the amalgamation of two medieval buildings which were combined in the late 16th or early 17th century to create a mansion house just outside the south east corner of the city wall, and is a unique survival of a city mansion. Situated in the heart of this historic town, the house takes its name from the stay of King Charles II on the eve of the Restoration. Restoration House has an unusually large walled garden of some ¾ of an acre - this is an unexpected gem just 100 yards off the old High Street. In addition, Rochester Cathedral is also worth visiting.

TALKS

Our first meeting of the new season was a talk on The Woodwork in the Quire of St George’s Chapel given by Charlotte Manley, the Chapter Clerk to the Dean and Canons of Windsor. Charlotte, who is one of the few people allowed to take photographs inside St George's Chapel, illustrated her talk with a wonderful selection of pictures. Among these were the amazing wood carvings on and around the stalls, with their varied and fascinating stories - especially the Misericords, with their tales of morality, which we never see beneath our seats.

Our second talk was given by Anne Taylor, on The History of The Windsor and Eton Society over its 70 Years. During her four years as Chair of the Society Anne has done a lot of valuable research throughthe Society’s archives that are held in Reading. She was able to find photographs to illustrate her talk as well as reminding us of the values of the Society and what has been achieved over those years.

In November, Will Calvert, Directorof Windsor & Eton Brewery, gave an interesting talk on The History of Brewing in Windsor, which was accompanied by illustrations for both the sight and the tastebuds ! Members learned about the large number of small breweries that had existed in Windsor prior to the 20th century and the high esteem in which Windsor brewed beers were held in London.

Future Meetings

  • Thursday 8th December – 3.00pm – Gardeners Hall

"The Queen's Horses - an afternoon with Terry Pendry"who is the Stud Groom and Manager to Her Majesty the Queen at the Royal Mews, Windsor Castle.

  • Thursday 5th January – 3.00pm – Gardeners Hall

Sandra Smith will give a talk on the artist David Hockney OM CH RA

  • Thursday 9th February – 3.00pm – Gardeners Hall

David Bullock of the Thames Valley Policewill talk about Windsor Street Angels, the project that he helped co-found.

WEBSITE

The overall usage of the Society’s website for the period between 1st June and 4th September 2016 was 190 on-line sessions, carried out by 189 users who in turn viewed over 253 pages with a 3 minute average duration. Of these users 98% were new visitors to the website, which is encouraging. The Committee is considering what additional functionality may be required to increase its appeal to both members and visitors. Have YOU visited our website recently?

MEET YOUR COMMITTEE

Following the AGM details of the President, Trustees and Councillor Representatives of the Windsor and Eton Society for 2016-2017 are as follows:

PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY

Admiral Sir James Perowne KBE

TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY

ChairMr David Eglise

Vice ChairMr Chris Aitken

SecretaryMrs Elizabeth Bye-Jorgensen

TreasurerMr Chris Simon FCA

Mrs Joan Biggs

Mr James Clark

Mrs Janet Dawson

Mrs Philippa Johnson

Mr Andrew Melville

Mrs Anne Taylor

Miss Sue Wells

Miss Rosemarie Wood

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Eileen Quick

Councillor Colin Rayner

MEMBERSHIP

The Society’s membership now stands at 384. The committee would like to welcome the following new members who joined the Society since the last newsletter.

Mrs T DeetmanMr D Simpson

Subscriptions were due on the 1st October and if you have not paid there is a reminder in with your newsletter.

LOCAL NEWS

Windsor Town Forum

Next meeting - Monday 13thFebruary 2017 at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, Windsor. Minutes of previous meetings and the agenda for this meeting (available from 6thFebruary) can be accessed through the RBWM website

WEA

Spring & Summer Courses 2017

  • The Origins of Science - From Ancient Babylon to Medieval Europe - Mike Gilbert – 7 weeks from 9th January
  • New Testament Studies - The Gospel of Luke - Jeremy Hurst – 5 weeks from 31st January
  • Baroque Art - Sandra Smith – 10 weeks from 11th January
  • Literature - Society, Family and the Individual - John Still – 10 weeks from 12th January
  • The Exiled Royal Families of Europe – Colin Parrish – 7 weeks from 24th April
  • Literature – Fiction and Poetry – John Still – 7 weeks from 4th May

All courses will all be held at Windsor Youth and Community Centre, Alma Road

WEA Windsor Special Events– Study Days

Sacred and Profane: The Art of Stanley Spencer

Tutor Ann Danks - Archivist at the Stanley Spencer Gallery at Cookham

Saturday 25th February 2017 9.45am - 3.45pm

Upton House School, 115 St Leonard’s Road Windsor SL4 3DF

This study day will explore the world of Stanley Spencer, famous for portrayals of biblical events which he set in his native village of Cookham. He was also an official war artist and a fine painter of landscapes and portraits.

Enrolment - Malcolm Lock, tel. 01753 863753 e-mail

Full Details of all Courses are in the WEA Brochure andalso on for Windsor Branch

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Windsor & Eton Society Talks

During recent years we have been fortunate to enjoy talks on a wide range of topics by a variety of well informed and interesting speakers and, almost without exception, they are accompanied by projected illustrations of a very high standard which add interest to the subject. Ever-developing technology has not only made this possible, but also made it easier for us to own and store such equipment and to set it up quickly for meetings. Even a decade ago there was still a significant amount of wiring trailing around the floor at the front of our meetings, carefully covered by mats in key places to avoid accidents, but this was nothing compared to the challenges faced by the Talks Organiser 66 years ago.

Here is a quote from a letter in the Society’s archive, dated December 1950,which was from a potential speaker at one of the Society’s meetings:

“My kind of lecture, however, is not so simple as I would merely read a paper. I have to come with a good number of specially selected records and I need a very good electric gramophone to get a good reproduction of the high frequencies of bird-song. According to the size of the lecture hall, the output of the reproduction machine should be more powerful than with an ordinary commercial radiogram. A playtable worked by hand only, not automatically, and a separate loudspeaker would do. I’m sure you can hire such an apparatus, but by no means one that is used for public addresses.”

Whilst I imagine that our Society’s current and recent Talks Organisers can think of occasions when there has been a hitch with the equipment, I don’t think that they have ever found themselves needing to meet such specific equipment requirements or to work a playtable “by hand” to enable the talk to go ahead !

Published by The Windsor and Eton Society

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