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Our inaugural meeting
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Members wait for the inaugural meeting to begin. If it looks a lavish affair, it should be explained that the venue was the marquee used for a wedding the previous day! Its use was allowed free of charge. |
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THE Nantwich Walled Garden Society was formed on Sunday, June 13, 2004, when about 50 people - officials of the former campaign to conserve the Elizabethan walled garden, and members of the public - were present. Viscount Ashbrook, patron of the Cheshire Gardens Trust, addressed the meeting, at Rose Farm, Burland, near Nantwich, which was attended by Sir Richard and Lady Ann Baker-Wilbraham of Rode Hall, Scholar Green. The following is a report of that meeting, taken from the official minutes. |
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VISCOUNT Ashbrook emphasised that, as patron of the Cheshire
Gardens Trust, his role was to help preserve parks and gardens.
He
was willing to launch the Nantwich Walled Garden Society but emphasised
that he had not spoken to Bellway (the developers of the adjacent land).
He realised that they would have their point of view and accepted there
were important financial aspects at stake.
Despite
this, he was certain that planning permission should not be granted as
the garden was an historic site and the walls were Grade 2 listed. He
felt the proposed flats within the garden would completely destroy the
integrity of the walls and garden.
Within
the past few years, the climate of opinion had changed and the public
realised the value of their heritage and that gardens were an important
part of that heritage. In this area, Cheshire County Council - with help
from the North West Development Board - were behind the promotion of
parks and gardens
At
this point, Viscount Ashbrook asked if there was a representative from
Bellway present and a member of the public indicated that he was. The
Viscount went on to state that as a landowner he was familiar with the
pros and cons of profit and loss but felt that profit could not be the
only consideration. He pointed out that whereas planning applicants had
the right to appeal against a planning decision, objectors could not
have that decision reversed.
As
the Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council planning committee met within a
few weeks of the meeting, the society should do all in its power to
persuade the planning committee not to grant planning permission - or at
least allow a breathing space to raise funds and allow viable plans to
be drawn up to preserve the garden.
There
was support from both English Heritage and the Garden History Society
for the preservation of the garden which, if it could be preserved for
posterity, would be a great amenity for Nantwich. Listening
to Viscount Ashbrook as he spoke were Sir Richard and Lady
Baker-Wilbraham, descendents of the Wilbraham family who once owned
Townsend House and the Elizabethan garden we are fighting to save.
James
Edwards (Acting Chairman) had welcomed Sir Richard and Lady Baker-Wilbraham
and Viscount Ashbrook. He thanked Roger Mills of Rose Farm for the
free use of the marquee in which the meeting was held, together with Malcolm
Smith and friends for providing the tea.
Pat
Fulford (Secretary) thanked Cliff Davies for taking the photo of the
doorway four years ago (see Background page) before it was tragically
destroyed. The remains of the lintel were still there.
She
said that she had never objected to Kingsley Fields housing but that the
walled garden was an historic site. King James I had visited there and
walked in that garden.
She
introduced David Mason, a Nantwich archivist, who had researched the
garden at Cheshire County Council Archive. There he had found the account books of
Sir Thomas Wilbraham, listing everything ordered for the garden. His
research gave a fascinating idea of the layout and contents of the
garden in the 16th Century. The Secretary said the aims of the society were:
1,
To prevent the development of housing on the site of
the Old Walled Garden off Welsh Row, Nantwich, which was once part of
the gardens of Townsend house. 2,
To ensure that the Elizabethan walls of the garden are
fully restored and reinstated: and 3,
To restore the garden in a way that reflects its
history, so that it can be maintained in perpetuity for the enjoyment of
residents and visitors to Nantwich.
She then invited those present to become members of the Nantwich
Walled Garden Society by paying a subscription to Peter Green, the
treasurer.
Sir
Richard Baker-Wilbraham remarked how David Mason’s research would have
delighted his father as he had bought the documents at a sale at Sotheby's
in 1950. He said that his side of
the family had left Nantwich in 1699 but he was sure that his cousin Sir
Hugh, descendant of the branch that had remained, would give the project
his support.
A committee
member, Keith Ward, favoured the retention of the garden but he
felt the need of a viable alternative. He suggested a bowling green and
wondered if an existing bowling club could be offered the choice of a
new green within the walled garden and the old green be offered as a
building site in exchange.
Barbara
Colbert emphasised the
importance of individual letters to the planning committee of Crewe and
Nantwich Borough Council and asked not only that all members wrote to
them but tried to attend the meeting as well.
She
described the Physic Garden in Petersfield, which was established in 1988 on
donated land, as an example we might emulate, providing an oasis in a
busy market town.
Viscount
Ashbrook pointed out that planning officers had to contact the Garden
History Society and suggested that Cath Gibson,
the conservation officer of the G.H.S., should be invited to
inspect the site to see it at first hand and be asked to write a
stronger letter to the planning authorities.
Asked
what legal grounds there were for the council to turn down the
application, Sir Richard said its listed status would be a reason.
The
Secretary said that Bellway were given permission to build on Kingsley
Fields on condition that the wall was restored.
It
was asked whether the builders could gain access to the garden without
further damaging the walls. Would potential damage to a listed building
be a reason to refuse planning permission? Malcolm Reid said that
development should not affect the setting of a listed building.
Keith
Ward proposed that the proposed constitution be accepted. This was
seconded by committee member Herbert Rowsell and unanimously accepted. Also present at the inaugural meeting were committee members Faith Cartlidge, Chris Murray and Noelle Williamson.
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