THE CITY OF WINCHESTER TRUST LIMITED
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 MARCH 2002
Summer 2002 Evening Walks
We started on 6th June with Phil Yates guided journey back in time to the days of his youth, "Memories of the High Street in the Thirties". This proved to be a popular, if somewhat nostalgic topic and Phil was able to fill us in on all the city social life of that time. Some of us began to feel that we had missed out on something!
Robin Freeman was able to give us another well-researched exposition of the work of Owen Brown-Carter and in a way this was also nostalgic. Whilst we were viewing Brown-Carter’s terraced villas in Southgate Street, we met Chris Webb, past chairman of the Heritage Centre, who owns Chernocke Place, one of Carter’s masterpieces, and who will be giving us a guided tour later in the Walks season.
The third Walk was led by Andrew Rutter who explained how attitudes to planning and urban design had changed since 1946 when Sir Patrick Abercrombie, the eminent international planning guru, had proposed various ways in which the Cathedral Close and City could be "opened up" and made more "visually accessible".
On 27th June we were treated to another in-depth tour of St Cross Hospital and Chapel led by Trust Deputy Chairman Michael Carden. Although Michael has now retired as Architect to the Fabric of St Cross, his long association and wealth of experience were always much in evidence as we were led initially around the perimeter of the ancient building complex and then into the unique and splendid Chapel, where we were shown the architectural glories of the late Norman transitional design and detailing. After this we were shown the Brothers' Hall and the original Master's residence including the extraordinary Hospital kitchen and dining areas. For this evening we enjoyed one of the warmest and most idyllic evenings of the summer in the heart of the ltchen Watermeadows.
The following Walk was absolutely different. Richard Baker, Head of Architecture and Planning at Eastleigh Borough Council, took us to the various public authority buildings of the city. Starting at the Wctorian Guildhall, Richard spoke of its grandeur and similarity with other Town Halls designed by the same architects. We then progressed up the High Street, pausing outside the original Guildhall, now Lloyds Bank and on to the various County Council buildings and the West Gate itself. Here we encountered the Winchester Crown Court, a rather ugly Fifties' building often seen as a backdrop to reports on high-profile trials.
The sixth Walk was led by architect and Trust council member, Huw Thomas. As usual with Huw's walks there was no shortage of material to view or to think and talk about. Various controversial housing proposals were viewed and discussed, starting at the top of the town at the remodelled Wessex Court on Upper High Street (lipstick on the face of the gorilla). We viewed the Charles House housing proposals before walking across to Peninsula Barracks. Huw was particularly sympathetic about the new block (Queens Court) inside the main entrance gates, an example of what happens when the architect loses contractual control of the developer/contractor.
Barbara Hall, Hyde resident, City Guide and lecturer and chairman of the Hyde Abbey Garden Steering Group, led us on the next Walk on 18th July. This took us on the route of Alfred the Great's last journey in 1110, when his bones were ceremoniously transferred from their first burial place at the Anglo-Saxon New Minster to their new home beneath the newly constructed Hyde Abbey. This was a distance of about a mile and would have been through open marshland country in those distant days. However, Barbara was able to give us great detail of the various complex religious and political groupings evident at that time. She also explained the exciting proposals for a new garden at the end of King Alfred Place. We were all encouraged to join the Friends of Hyde Abbey Garden.
On 25th July the Cathedral's Canon Librarian, the Revd. A. K. Walker, led us on a fascinating tour of the Cathedral. It is obvious that Canon Walker thoroughly enjoys guiding, explaining and debating matters of religious and artistic relevance and we were treated to an erudite exposition of the architecture and art of the Cathedral. We viewed the Jacobean Mosley Library and the unique Winchester Bible in the Williams Library, then descended to the vaults to encounter the brooding sculpture by Anthony Gonnley - continuing through to the very end of the vault below the Lady Chapel.
As I write this piece, there are still some 5 Walks to go, and l think that if the quality and variety continues, then the 2002 season will have been very successful indeed.
Nick McPherson
Summer Walks Co-ordinator