Charm - Trust Annual Report 1965
In the Council debate on the traffic plan, one member is reported to have put forward the view that if the plan entailed the destruction of some houses possessing charm, then it would be necessary to see that the houses built to replace them also had charm. The Corporation Housing at Wharf Hill was given as an example. The Preservation Trust regards this view with some caution. There have been many well-intentioned attempts in the past to add charm to Winchester, and these cannot all be regarded as successful, as a walk down the High Street will show.
The new terrace houses at Wharf Hill certainly provide very much better accommodation than the houses they replace and are a credit to the Council, but a multiplication of this kind of building merely produces another housing estate. It has to be realised that most of their charm derives from the site. An excellent exhibition of modern housing was shown at the City Library during August, and it is to be hoped that the imaginative examples shown, will be an inspiration for future developments.
One would like to see Winchester becoming known not only as a historic city of great importance, but one possessing outstanding examples of modern development and housing.
An excellent start has been made in several places. If the whole of the area between the Casson block in St. George's Street and the new School of Art is developed to the same high standard we shall have visitors coming to see the new Winchester just as much as the old.
From this it must not be deduced that destruction can be indiscriminate. The charm of a Georgian or any other good period house, is derived from the culture and ideals of the period in which it was produced. This is worth keeping as long as possible. Skilful restoration and adaptation can preserve this elusive quality, but once destroyed it is gone for ever.