THE CITY OF WINCHESTER TRUST LIMITED
REPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31 MARCH 2003
Summer Walks 2003
The first walk of this beautiful summer was marked by glorious weather and by an inspirational leader. Merrick Denton-Thompson, Assistant County Director of Environment, led us on a memorable circuit of St Catherine's Hill, putting Winchester in its landscape setting and discussing current environmental issues with examples en route.
We started at Gamier Road car park, proceeded along the ltchen Navigation and the line of the old GWR railway, turned left up Plague Pits Valley and climbed past the derelict sewage works at the top.
After discussions about agricultural management, green farming techniques, waste disposal and the rural communications infrastructure, we walked across the new M3 pedestrian bridge and arrived at the mediaeval dongas, brutally severed by the motorway cutting. After this, we followed the line of the Roman road down to Bar End and to the site of the proposed Park and Ride extension. Opinions about these matters were various, but that is one of the joys of Trust Summer Walks!
Our second excursion was less controversial, and certainly less strenuous. Michael Carden, Vice Chairman of the Trust and recently honoured for his services to architectural conservation, led us around the ancient Hospital and Chapel of St Cross. As always, he was a great source of knowledge and architectural wisdom. After strolling around the hospital itself and viewing the Brothers‘ Hall and Kitchen, we spent some time inside the unique and beautiful late Romanesque Chapel. Phil Yates gave us another interesting and somewhat nostalgic tour of the High Street and Jewry Street of the Thirties. Many of those attending were amazed by Phil‘s depth of knowledge and lively memories, but they obviously had not heard him talk about such things before.
The weather had to break at some stage and it chose the day when Richard Baker, semi-retired Head of Architecture and Landscape at Eastleigh Borough Council, led us around the Cemeteries, Hospital and College on West Hill. Fortunately the rain only made itself apparent when we had finished the outdoor part of the walk in West Hill Cemetery. King Alfred's College and the Royal County Hospital provided shelter and discussion room and by the time we had arrived at the Roman Catholic cemetery on Romsey Road, the rain had stopped.
Graham Scobie, City of Winchester Archaeologist, led members on a tour of Winchester’s Waterways. Graham left no stone unturned and the walkers had a lively and energetic evening!
The sixth Walk of the season was led by Chris Webb, long-time member of the Trust. Chris is a great authority on many aspects of the Trust‘s former and present activities. This time he led walkers on a tour exploring the links between Winchester and our transatlantic cousins.
The next Walk was a short visit to Winchester College. As in previous years, we were guided by Patrick Maclure, Director of the Friends of Winchester College. We visited Meads, School, War Cloister and Winchester College Chapel. Our walk finished in Fromond‘s Chantry where Patrick entertained us with readings and quotations from Fromond and other Wykehamists. He leaves his post at the end of March next year and will be involved in other work at the College. He has been an enthusiastic and amusing Walk Leader for several years and has spoken with charm and great authority.
The following week rains threatened to disrupt proceedings but despite this those who assembled outside the Heritage Centre were treated to a fascinating insight into the Planning Authority's past dealings with the problem of signs. Retired Conservation Architect, Andrew Rutter led us only a few yards into St George's Street, Parchment Street and the High Street itself and we heard the background story behind many local signage applications. As usual we were invited to express our opinions about various projects and Andrew was able to show us his own hand-made templates that were used to demonstrate the importance of scale and urban appropriateness.
Keith Leaman led walkers through some of the more familiar parts of Winchester's city centre - a similar route to the one taken the previous week, but on this occasion we were invited to consider the quality of the urban spaces enclosed rather than the quality of the signage. Keith made it clear that signage and spaces and the materials employed were interrelated and we were invited to mark up a checklist of desirability at each space considered. The City Council's own streetscape provision came in for considerable criticism and at one point the High Streets atmosphere was described as being akin to that of a film set. The concrete paving slabs were particularly disliked. The Square and its relationship to the Cathedral Close were then considered and certain constructive suggestions relating to street surfaces were made.
Horizontal surfaces made way for vertical ones the following week when Robin Freeman, architectural historian and local studies librarian, took us past the early Victorian grandeur of Clifton Terrace and Clifton House to the vemacular chalk constructions of Clifton Hill, Clifton Road and West Hill Terrace. Many different brick bonds were on show including the local variety, Rat Trap Garden Wall Bond!
On a memorable evening we met at the top corner of Mead Road, St Cross and were led by Kim Wilkie, Wykehamist, Landscape Architect and designer of Hyde Abbey Garden, on a delightful walk up Whiteshute Lane. This is one of the truly ancient bridleways of South Winchester and leads uphill towards Badger Farm and Oliver‘s Battery, eventually reaching Slackstead. Robin Merton, past Chairman of the Trust, introduced Kim Wilkie and we proceeded up the lane to Bushfield Camp. This is a derelict Army Camp and as Kim Wilkie explained the whole area has enormous landscape importance. The arguments made echoed many of those discussed during our very first walk - the need to manage and develop the potential of many of our landscape sites. The views from the site were marvellous and in the glorious weather made the walk to the top a magical experience for sixty-four walkers and a host of dogs.
The twelfth summer walk was led by Gary Seymour, local architect and specialist in mediaeval and ancient buildings. Once again we were asked to consider various properties around Great Minster Street, The Square, Symonds Street and in particular No.10 The Close. The difficulties of marrying cost and modern practicality with necessary conservation provision were discussed by those present, many of whom were architects familiar with these problems of contemporary conservation. The highlight of this particular walk was a visit to the vaulted undercroft of No.10 The Close. The rear elevation of this building was also fascinating and Andrew Rutter expressed his hope that one day a Garden of Peace would be created in the space behind it.
A change of gear from Mediaeval to Modern Architecture was made when Rupert Cook of architecture plb gave us a detailed tour of the new Art School buildings in Park Avenue. The opportunities and additional funding possibilities available once university status had been granted were discussed and we were able to visit all parts of the school and see the various new buildings in current artistic use. The budgetary constraints had somehow elicited a more utilitarian and Bauhaus-like functionalism which many members applauded.
The final walk of the season has not taken place at the time of writing but, in the hope that the weather of September will continue to favour us, l had better email this report to our esteemed secretary.
Nick McPherson
Summer Walks Co-ordinator