The Twentieth Century Society

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Turned Down

Ashmount Cockerel, Ashmount School, Hornsey Lane, Islington, London; David Willats, 1956

EH found our feathered friend just shy of national significance. Built cheaply on-site, with excess building materials from the construction of Cadbury-Brown’s adjacent Ashmount School, we found the cockerel to be an exciting piece of post-war sculpture. The PMSA supported us but unfortunately, EH found otherwise. As a lively piece of streetscape, let’s hope he remains protected by the conservation area in which he stands.

Robin Hood Gardens, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, London; Alison & Peter Smithson, 1972

The Twentieth Century Society has recently embarked on what may turn out to be the pivotal battle for the preservation of post-war architecture. On the fate of a few cases, including Birmingham Central Library and the US Embassy Building, but most importantly this seminal housing estate by Alison and Peter Smithson— the benchmark for what is and indeed what is not important from the period is being set.
English Heritage cited a number of key reasons why the buildings should not be listed—the Society has refuted all of them and challenged the subjective judgements on the architecture, made by EH. As we go to press we have just completed our first submissions to the DCMS, asking for a review of the decision, and calling on housing expert Dickon Robinson to refute the arguments made by EH about ‘fitness for purpose’; Alan Powers to counter the points made about the architectural significance of the building; and indeed the Smithsons themselves. We also have contributions from Ken Baker, Lord Rogers, Simon Smithson, Zaha Hadid, Neil Jackson and Stefan Muthesius. C20 has put together an excellent case—one which we hope will change the decision.

Carlisle Civic Centre, Rickergate, Carlisle; Charles Pearson, Son & Partners, 1960-4

Now under significant threat from the development of the Rickergate area of the city, EH has found these interesting and highly decorative buildings wanting in almost every aspect.
EH found the building incomplete with regard to the original scheme and too altered subsequently. To our surprise they also found the rich interiors did not compare favourably with those of other civic buildings in the country. This is a disappointing result for us and for the tireless local campaigners trying to save historic Rickergate.

Black Hill, Esher; Oliver Hill, 1930

We asked English Heritage to assess this house urgently as demolition was imminent. They argued against listing on the grounds that, although it was in a ‘competent Neo-Georgian style’, it was neither one of Hill’s major works nor stylistically innovative. It had also been considerably altered in the later C20.

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