I popped into Hill House while passing north of Glasgow. It’s somewhat strange seeing it from the scaffold like a big doll’s house. This is a wonderful NT Scotland conservation project. It’s full of hope after the GSA double disaster.
I just love the roof covered with small local slates which impart a lovely visual weight and texture.
Have you been into W. H. Smiths recently? Popping into my local Blackburn branch, it was nice to see a new Ordnance Survey display, especially because it contained the regional road maps which were discontinued over seven years ago. There was also the classic route planner map for Great Britain, and specialist interest maps like Roman and Ancient Britain – all with new attractive covers and styling.
The scheme to convert the old Lomax Arms pub in Great Harwood to apartments is now quite advanced. The historical render was removed many decades ago, so we are having it put back. The render helps to keep the walls weather tight as well as setting off the Regency style architectural features.
Two enjoyable projects currently on the go involve large Victorian houses, Elmfield Hall, Church and Churchfield House, Great Harwood.
Though quite unrelated as buildings and projects, successive meetings today reminded me of their close similarities. Both are the former houses of locally important Victorians, which subsequently passed into the hands of the pre-1974 local authorities, then to Hyndburn Council and now to social enterprises which provide community related services. Both draw upon a common set of funding sources and both have a cafe! Continue reading “Elmfield Hall & Churchfield House – old houses, new roles”
The capitol complex of Le Corbusier’s city of Chandigarh in northern India… truly great architecture from a great man. Have a look at these photos in the Guardian.
(The cute dogs are just like mine!)
We have just counted 440 messages of support in the campaign to save Edgar Wood’s Long Street School buildings. The messages will form part of Viridor and Heritage Lottery Fund THI grant submissions.
Click here to view some of the comments received.
Every town and city has its story, but few have a history that is essential to understanding how the modern world was made. Manchester was the first industrial city and arguably the first modern city.
I have been enjoying this new book (edited by Alan Kidd and Terry Wyke), having got a complementary copy for contributing a photograph. It is a critical history of Manchester and how it developed into an international city. It covers the social, political and industrial history rather than the architecture but has lots of background information for significance and conservation reports, including a very useful historical timeline.
Details are HERE.
