These historic allotment buildings have just been labelled 'at risk'

Pictures, maps, memories and stories

These historic allotment buildings have just been labelled 'at risk'

Postby dutchman » Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:41 pm

They are set in an area of allotments which is a Grade II* listed park and garden

Image

Allotment huts in Coventry have been identified as being among the architectural treasures in Britain deemed to be officially at risk.

The huts or summer houses are located in Stoney Road Gardens.

They are set in an area of allotments which is a Grade II* listed park and garden.

In all there are eight small summer houses, each of which is individually listed.

Stoney Road Gardens was built to give green space and recreation to city dwellers.

It is all that remains of several areas of detached town gardens laid out in what was once Cheylesmore Park.

Many of the plots are separated by hedges and gravel paths wind through the allotments.

The huts are in declining condition although they have been maintained by the site’s allotment association.

However, there is now a need for more substantial restoration work, according to the organisation SAVE Britain’s Heritage.

The organisation has included the Stoney Road Gardens huts in its latest Buildings at Risk Catalogue, Revive and Survive , which is due to be published on June 27.

It features 100 empty and neglected buildings gathered from all round the country which need a fresh start to give them renewed life and to ensure their survival.

Stoney Road Gardens, also known as Park Gardens, formed part of a group of small pleasure gardens laid out for owners of town houses in Coventry that did not have gardens.

They were created soon after 1853 and by 1887 the northern half of the site had been laid out as small gardens enclosed by hedges and divided by tracks and walks.

Of the eight remaining summerhouses, there are a variety of designs. All of them are built of brick with pitched roofs but they have differing decorative details.

One has pretty bargeboards and stone details, two others are gothic in design, another retains a tiled floor and a cast-iron fireplace.

Liz Fuller, SAVE Britain’s Heritage’s building at risk officer said: “All over the country there are countless numbers of disused historic buildings which could be revived with new uses to ensure their survival.

“In preparing this year’s buildings at risk catalogue “Revive and Survive” we have unearthed a treasure trove of beautiful buildings which tell the story of this country but need action to be taken if they are to survive.”

Speaking about the Stoney Road Gardens allotment huts Ms Fuller said: “The little houses are in declining condition although they have been maintained over the years by the allotment association which is responsible for them.

“However, there is now a need to do some more substantial work.

“These wonderful and charming survivors now need help to be preserved for generations to come.”

Image

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50296
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: These historic Cov allotment have just been labelled 'at risk'

Postby dutchman » Wed Jun 20, 2018 4:42 pm

I thought "summer houses" were specifically prohibited on allotments, as opposed to "tool sheds" which just look a lot like summer houses?
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50296
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: These historic Cov allotment have just been labelled 'at risk'

Postby Melisandre » Wed Jun 20, 2018 5:08 pm

As far as I know as long as its wood it not a permanent structure but seems some of these are brick too but then some do date back to the 1800s or there abouts before silly rules applied.

There a lot of homes that need upgrading which people have to live in and dont get done .
User avatar
Melisandre
 
Posts: 14096
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2015 8:52 am

Re: These historic allotment buildings have just been labelled 'at risk'

Postby dutchman » Tue Aug 08, 2023 1:59 am

Historic England grants £63,000 to Coventry allotment buildings

Image

Nationally important allotment buildings are to be restored after a preservation trust grant was approved.

Historic England has awarded the funds to Coventry City Council for three original summer houses at Stoney Road Allotments.

The allotments are one of only five such spaces on the National Heritage List for England.

The listed buildings were a "hidden gem" in the city, said the council.

The site is set to benefit from £63,000 to enable the repair of the Grade II listed buildings that had been at "increasing and immediate" risk of loss, said the regional director of English Heritage.

The site was "an important community resource which has been the backdrop to many people's gardening lives for nearly 90 years," Louise Brennan said.

It had "retained its wonderful hedged structure which shows how it originally developed as detached gardens with mature fences, rather than allotments with little or no boundaries," she added.

The small buildings form part of the plots laid out for use as town gardens, and acquired by the city council in 1935.

The features reflect how the site was developed not only to provide a garden away from home for people living in crowded urban areas, but also as a place in which people could take pride, said English Heritage.

The buildings featured a variety of styles and materials but were all constructed in a traditional way with either a masonry or timber frame, with some decorative components, the organisation explained.

The announcement of the funding has been made to coincide with national allotments week.

"The summer houses really are a hidden gem in our city, said David Welsh, council cabinet member for housing and communities.

"While they have been maintained over the years by the allotment association, this funding will help preserve them for years to come."

:bbc_news:
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50296
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End


Return to Local History

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests

  • Ads