If you wish to comment on these buildings or know of others which are at risk, please email Kidderminster Civic Society at mail@kidcivicsoc.org.uk

Weavers’ Cottages Horsefair - Restoration Or Not

Eight years after the listing of the 18th century weavers cottages in the Horsefair it is clear that the present owner, Wyre Forest Community Housing (WFCH), has no appetite for carrying through their commitment to restoration of the cottages made in 2003. Meanwhile exposure to the weather is gradually destroying the properties.

This is deeply disappointing. These cottages are the last relic of the proud history of the Horsefair as the centre of the town’s late 18th cloth industry, which was then more important than the carpet industry.

The commitment to restore the cottages was made five years ago as part of an arrangement which allowed WFCH to develop 27 residential units around them. WFCH undertook an obligation to complete restoration prior to any new building taking place. In January 2007 a postponement was agreed allowing the new building to go ahead and restoration to proceed prior to occupation of these new dwellings.

We now learn that a second postponement seems to have been agreed, with occupation being allowed prior to restoration, by means of an agreement under s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This is a contractual agreement between the planning authority and the owners, and it means in this case that Wyre Forest District Council could ultimately enter the premises to carry out the restoration if WFCH did not fulfil its obligation.

To justify their delay WFCH are questioning, rather late in the day, the decision to list the buildings in the first place. They have suggested that the cottages were wrongly listed because the Secretary of State’s guidance was not properly understood by English Heritage and his own department. They failed to realise that the cottages were simply ‘associated’ with the cloth industry.

In fact, English Heritage’s report of 2000 makes clear that the importance of the cottages lay in their physical state not just their associations. They were well preserved with attic workshops. They combined ‘domestic and workshop’ functions. No 22 in particular appeared ‘to have been specifically designed for industrial use’. The interiors retained ‘much of their distinctive plan form’. They were ‘rare survivals’.

We must hope that, despite being allowed to be exposed to the weather for some years, the cottages may still be described in this way.

This delay is a pity. For one thing, the Historic Kidderminster Project has the money for a plaque to be erected on the cottages. This must be spent in the next few months, but we are unable to arrange for its manufacture amidst the present uncertainty.

If WFCH was a private owner, then undoubtedly the council would not hesitate to use its powers to ensure the maintenance of listed buildings. We appreciate WFCH is an independent organisation and note that some councillors serve on its Board. We know those involved are not permitted to allow any conflict of interest and trust therefore that the Council will use its full enforcement powers should this become necessary.

Puxton Mill, Puxton Lane

Puxton Mill

This late eighteenth century mill was built by Jellyman's, initially for tarpaulin manufacture but was later used for carpet manufacture. Its quality was recognised in March 2005, when it was listed. Its future use remains uncertain.

Herons Nursing Home, Heronswood Road,Spennells

The Herons is shown on an 1841 tithe map. It was part of a range of buildings associated with a corn mill. It was part of a large estate including the fine mansion, Spennells House. By 1928 sales particulars described the Herons as a farmhouse. The precise history of this community is uncertain. Spennells House was the 18th century home of the second John Broom, an important Kidderminster carpet manufacturer. The Brooms built a large carpet mill at Spennells. Both the house and the factory have gone. The Herons is in fact the only remaining building from this community, which might be more ancient than we know.

An application for national listing by the Civic Society failed because the building is of only local interest. Planning permission has been given for demolition.

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Tomkinsons Site, Churchfields.

Several years ago the Civic Society applied for the listing of the Tomkinsons site. We were advised to do that even though we wished to save only particular buildings on the site. Ironically, the application was rejected because the original factory was not intact.

Some buildings are on the council’s local list as worthy of preservation. These are the 1902 warehouse whose south end faces Churchfield, and the fine row of office buildings facing the car park of Duke House. Other buildings within the site might also contribute to a quality redevelopment, such as the 1887 Jubilee building.

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Freemasons Arms, or the Barrel, Bromsgove Street.

This has been empty and unused for several years. It is a pub which was used by carpet weavers union in 1828 and by the Kidderminster Chartists. Does anybody know what is planned for this building? See an image of this building in a new window.