Talk:Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust

The formation and early days of the Trust

The Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust was formed in 1967 and evolved from an initiative by Wiltshire County Council which would involve the then Borough, Rural and Urban District Councils and preservation societies in the county.

In 1967 attitudes to conservation were significantly different to those of today. At the end of the Second World War central and local government priorities were to rehouse those made homeless and to rebuild damaged city and town centres. Conservation was not a consideration and many historic buildings were demolished as part of the exercise to rebuild the infrastructure of the country. In the early and mid-20th century planning controls in favour of preserving historic buildings were weak and it was often seen that the only way to save a building was to buy it.

In many towns and cities the rebuilding coincided with the need to replace slum dwellings and provide enhanced standards of health and sanitation with the result that many houses were condemned and replaced with comprehensive housing projects. Shortages in building materials and skilled labour led to the development of industrialised building and prefabrication with experimental building techniques introduced. The resultant quality of life for those in the new housing schemes and the visual effects on town and city centres were far below expectation and during the 1960s there was increasing unease about the direction that architecture and planning were taking.

Although it might be imagined that Wiltshire was less affected than other places there was clear evidence in the 1960s of a threat to the county's historic towns and villages and a wish to see vernacular buildings retained. The growth in conservation interest arose from a desire to protect communities and the 'familiar and cherished scene', together with a greater appreciation of the contribution made by historic buildings to the character and economic life of an area. This period saw a growth in conservation pressure groups such as the Civic Trust, Victorian Society and others, and especially smaller locally based societies which were formed to seek protection for their own communities.

The planning controls protecting historic buildings changed significantly in the late 1960s. This came about following the establishment of a Preservation Policy Group within the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and encouraged by popular campaigns in favour of conservation. Various government circulars and advice notes at the time stressed the need for conservation to be the starting point for determining the scale and pace of change with listed buildings identified as key elements.

The process of listing historic buildings can be traced back to the late 19th century and the direct efforts of Sir John Lubbock MP to introduce a measure of state control. Over several years he sought to introduce legislation into the House of Commons and was finally sucessful with the passing of the first Ancient Monuments Act of 1882. The legislation initially applied only to selected monuments and it is worth recording that Sir John (later Lord Avebury), in recognising the inadequacy of the controls, went on to purchase Avebury, Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow and Hackpen Hill to 'save them from harm.' Indeed it was not until the 1947 Town and Country Planning Act that the Minister was given a duty, as opposed only to powers, to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest with a view to guiding local planning authorities in the preservation of such buildings.

The criteria for listing established in the late 1940s were that "all buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition should be listed. Most buildings between 1700 to 1840 should be listed although selection is necessary and between 1840 and 1914 only buildings of definite quality and character should be included."

The listing process proceeded slowly and it took almost 20 years for the first surveys to be completed. By then it was realised that the early lists were inadequate and that the exercise needed to be up-dated but progress was again slow and by the 1970s only the major towns in England had been reviewed. Rather than wait another 20 years the government of the day initiated an accelerated resurvey to cover all the areas that had not been reappraised and this was carried out in the mid- 1980s. The listing criteria have been revised from time to time and later buildings can be included. The current listing of historic buildings, now carried out by English Heritage, is based on expanded criteria published in 2006 following a major reappraisal.

The early records of the Trust indicate that at the time many of the historic buildings in Wiltshire were in poor condition. In 1967 there were probably less than 5,000 listed buildings, a figure which grew to over 15,000 following the comprehensive resurveys in the towns in the early 1970s and in the rural areas in the mid-1980s.

Buildings are not usually demolished simply because they are in such poor condition that they cannot be saved.They are usually lost because the cost of repair exceeds the value on completion or because the site is more valuable without the building.This was recognised in the 1950 Report of the Committee on Houses of Outstanding Historic or Architectural Interest commissioned by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer which led directly to the setting up of the Historic Buildings Council for England and the emergence of government grants for historic buildings. Initially grants were restricted to "outstanding" buildings but the 1962 Local Authorities Historic Buildings Act allowed local councils to support the conservation of historic buildings from public funds.

The first mention of a possible trust came from a report to the Town and Country Planning Committee of the County Council in February 1965. The report identified the potential for the County Council to give grants under the terms of the Local Authorities Historic Buildings Act 1962 and suggested that it was a course of action that should be followed. It was intended that these grants would normally be shared with the relevant Borough or District Council with the owner of the building making a substantial contribution. The report further indicated that there would be cases where an owner was unwilling or unable to carry out the necessary restoration and that it may be necessary for the authorities to consider the use of a Building Preservation Order which, if confirmed, could lead to a purchase notice being served.

In the 1960s most planning authorities were not able to place themselves in the position of being faced with a purchase notice and having accept the liability of a derelict historic building which then needed repair. It was however recognised that the situation would be different if a trust was in existence to take on the problem. The 1965 report outlined the formation of a trust and a possible structure and recommended action. Membership would include those representing the County, Borough and District Councils, together with local preservation societies. The success of a trust and its ability to deal with a number of buildings would depend on its financial resources. To give the Wiltshire Trust a start the County Council promised a grant of £3,500 in the first year in the hope that local preservation societies would contribute £500, other charities might contribute up to £5,000 with say £1,000 from the Borough and District Councils, giving a total of £10,000. The initial subscribers and supporters saw the formation of the Trust as a positive way of protecting the architectural heritage of the county. Since its inception the Trust has operated a revolving fund utilising the proceeds of one project to finance the next but has also been involved in other projects and initiatives.

The conservation of historic buildings was given additional emphasis in 1967 when the Civic Amenities Act brought into being the concept of conservation areas, an initiative that now encompasses most of the towns and villages in Wiltshire. Also in the late 1960s the Historic Buildings Council introduced the concept of Town Schemes whereby grants could be given for important groups of buildings. These were partnership arrangements between central and local government to cover defined historic areas. One of the earliest such schemes in the country was established in Bradford on Avon, with later town schemes covering most of the county's historic towns. The work undertaken made a significant impact on the condition of historic buildings in the various towns with the Trust represented on each of the joint committees that had been set up to promote these initiatives.

In the wider context the Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust was one of the early revolving fund trusts utilising the idea that has since been much copied. In 1967 there were only 21 building preservation trusts across the UK, a figure which has now grown to some 300.

Helping Others

When the Trust was established in 1967 the subscribers decided that it should be run as a revolving fund and that the Trust would not therefore be offering grants to others. The Trust is precluded by its charitable status from offering grants to private owners but has from time to time made contributions to special projects in Wiltshire. These include a small contribution to the Salisbury Cathedral Appeal and in 1999 a grant to the Warminster Buildings Preservation Trust to assist with a town centre project.

The Merchant's House Trust Marlborough

The Merchant's House in Marlborough is an important town house on the north side of the High Street which was acquired by Marlborough Town Council and subsequently leased to the Merchant's House Trust. In addition to rescuing the building the Merchant's House Trust purchased property to the rear to re-establish the historic burgage plot, a project which the Wiltshire Trust has supported by way of a loan.

Warminster Preservation Trust

In 1998 the Warminster Buildings Preservation Trust purchased a property at the junction of George Street and High Street known as Carter's Corner, named after the butcher who occupied the corner building. This is a key building in the townscape but by the end of the 1990s was in a poor state of repair and was bought by Warminster BPT as a revolving fund project. This was a difficult project involving a building that was potentially unstable and made more complex by its cramped corner site location. A scheme for a lock-up shop and five flats was completed in 2000 and this has provided much needed low-cost accommodation in the town centre. The Warminster BPT was able to secure substantial funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and West Wiltshire District Council and WHBT provided additional grant to help with the shortfall.

The Friends of Lydiard Park

Lydiard Park and Mansion was purchased by Swindon Borough Council in 1943 at the instigation of the then Town Clerk David Murray John. His vision was to provide an attractive historic building and associated open space for the people of Swindon to enjoy. For a number of years he lobbied the government to list the Mansion and provide help towards the cost of restoration and in 1953 was rewarded by the then newly formed Historic Buildings Council for England giving one of its first grants to assist with the building repair. On completion the house was officially re- opened in May 1955 by Lord Lansdowne.

The Ice House dates from the 18th century and was constructed following the remodelling of Lydiard House in 1743. Also the formal gardens were removed to be replaced by an English garden landscape with the lake and other features softened to fit the new style. The walled garden and Ice House date from this time. Ice houses were built to store snow and ice enabling cooks in the big house to chill food and produce luxury deserts for the family and their guests. The Lydiard Ice House is a circular brick structure roughly 7 metres wide and 8/9 metres in height mostly below ground. The conical roof is earth covered and the structure has a shaft access. The utilitarian brickwork has been replaced to a design based on historic analysis with lighting installed to allow visitors to see the structure.

The restoration of the Ice House, aided by a grant from the Trust, is a small part of the Lydiard Park project which started in 2003 to restore the historic landscape, including the lake, and improve visitor facilities in the 260 acre park. An impressive programme of work has been carried out with considerable help from local businesses, individuals and the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Mansion is now listed grade I with other features in the park listed grade II.

WILTSHIRE HISTORIC BUILDINGS TRUST 1967–2007
FOREWORD

"The visionaries who, forty years ago, established this Trust deserve recognition. It was only in the late 1960s that the nation's most vulnerable heritage buildings were thrown a lifeline of protection with the implementation of listed building consent. Up until then the demolition ball and bulldozer reigned supreme. Listed buildings were, and still are, a controversial subject. A civilised society evolves, respecting its past, whilst embracing the future. With the introduction of listed building and conservation areas consents the exemplars of our built heritage were, for the first time, protected against the ravages of the demolition contractors. However, without grant aid many remained empty and derelict. Some financial formula had to be found which could act as a catalyst to attract funding to bridge the financial shortfall. This was the challenge facing the founding fathers of the Trust forty years ago. Their solution was to establish, through a one-off County Council grant, a revolving capital sum, since when this "financial generator" has stimulated countless heritage improvement projects throughout the county. The Trust's policy is to pump prime schemes, always ensuring there is a clear exit strategy, so its limited capital can be unlocked at the end of each project to assist the next candidate.The Trust's success has been primarily due to its standing within the conservation movement. Mr. George McDonic, MBE, its Chairman, and Mr. Colin Johns, the Trust's Architect, are both acknowledged leaders in their respective professions. I would also wish to place on record our thanks to Angela Wakeley for her contribution to the work of the Trust since its inception in 1967, and of course to all our dedicated committee members and officers whose advice and support have been invaluable. This short publication not only illustrates the diverse nature of the Trust's work but is also dedicated to those who have been involved in these projects over the past four decades.

The Marquis of Lansdowne, LVO DL

Further reading

More on the early history of the trust is at

• Financing the Preservation of Old Buildings: A Civic Trust Report to the Department of the Environment (Civic Trust, 1971), p. 39