Record of the High Street - Trust Annual Report 1971
About four years ago three young architects, Chris Hughes, Keith Walker and Bob Lee who all appreciated the Winchester they worked in, had the idea of preparing accurate drawings of both sides of the High Street. These were to be partly as a record, partly for the pleasure of doing them and also, it was hoped, to produce some 'before and after' schemes to show how they thought this important street might be improved.
Two drawings were planned, elevations of both the south side and north side to a scale of 8 feet to one inch, each to be about 20 feet long. Every building was photographed and then each side of the street was divided into three parts with the intention of drawing up one part each. Unfortunately Bob Lee emigrated leaving the work to the other two who have now completed 5/6ths of the total in draft form, leaving the Guildhall section which remains to be tackled this winter. The drawings are being amended as required to give a correct record for 1971.
panoramic view Click to enlarge
Each building facade is roughly sketched in outline and then measured as far as practicable, brick courses are sized, counted up and heights worked out, estimates being made where this is not possible or access cannot be gained to check upper floor windows etc. Accurate draft drawings are then prepared from the survey sketches, with details from the photographs, ready for final tracing. An example of this is reproduced here, being part of the south side below Little Minster Street.