Four notable building projects – in Edingley, Keyworth, Southwell and Upton – have won for their owners the prestigious biennial Harry Johnson Award 2016. A ceremony on Friday, 25th November at 6.30pm in the Media Room, The Minster Chambers, Church Street, Southwell, will celebrate their achievements with the presentation of certificates by NBPT Chairman Cllr Mrs M Stockwood.
The Awards, for the best restoration and the best new building in an historic Nottinghamshire setting, are sponsored jointly by the Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust and the Campaign to Protect Rural England in recognition of the part played by the late Harry Johnson in his work for both organisations.
The judges, from both organisations, have chosen Turncroft Farm, Carver Hollow, Edingley owned by Andrew Hill and Laura Wardell as the winner in the Conservation section and commended The Hop Barn, Hopyard Farm, Southwell owned by Stuart and Mary Poole. The two entries in the New Build section were both of high quality but Wrights Place Development, 22-30a, Selby Lane, Keyworth, submitted by the Keyworth Conservation Area Advisory Group, has provided substantial visual benefits to the village. The Babworth Trust almshouses on the edge of Upton village were commended for their design qualities.
The Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust, which administers the Award, will hold its AGM following the presentation and will continue, with the help of its volunteers, to protect and enhance the historic built environment of Nottinghamshire.
From his Architects practice at Wadworth Hall, Harry advised both Charities on conservation matters and on his death in 1988 the two organisations decided to provided an Award in his name which would continue his passion for village conservation and the preservation of traditional building methods. The integration of new buildings into existing settlements was important to him and his ideals have encouraged the expansion of the Awards to include isolated buildings in rural settings.
For the first time the Conservation Award has been given to such a building. Turncroft Farm, Carver Hollow, Edingley owned by Andrew Hill and Laura Wardell who acquired the 19th century farm three years ago and who, with Newark Architect Bernard Martin and builder Chris Healy have conserved and restored the farm house, which had been empty for 15 years, to a comfortable home, re constructing the Yorkshire sliding sash windows and repairing brickwork and the pantile roofs. The house and hot water are heated by a ground source heat pump. There is more work to be done on the adjoining farm buildings which will be tackled when work with organic beef herd permits. (see image A)
A Commendation in this class is given to The Hop Barn, Hopyard Farm, Southwell owned by Stuart and Mary Poole. The barn, now redundant in an age of extended farming methods, was decaying in the Poole’s back yard and the courageous idea to convert it into a Centre for music and creative performance with adjoined sleeping accommodation has now been realised with advice from the Newark and Sherwood Conservation Officer and builder Colin Jewitt. Conservation has included rebuilding bulging walls , retaining the bulge and restoring the exposed roof timbers.
The Award for the best New Build property is won by Wrights Place Development, 22-30a Selby Lane, Keyworth. In a derelict garage site, next to the Keyworth Conservation Area, the volunteer Area Advisory Group were supportive of this particular choice of redevelopment of the site by William Davis Homes with the help of architects, Stephen George and Partners. The design acknowledges the existing older cottages and newer house designs on Selby Lane in a restricted palette of brick and rendered walls and slate roofs, dormers and porches and provides a variety of property types for private buyers. A tremendous improvement to the area.
The new semi-detached bungalows at Upton for the Babthorpe Trust received a Commendation in this category. The Trust, which already provides two bungalows in another part of the village for elderly individuals and couples with connections in the Parish, was entered by Upton Parish Council. The site was made available on the edge of the village for these and three future dwellings. The careful choice of traditional forms and materials, by designer Martin Hubbard Associates Ltd, brick, natural slate, timber bays and porches, provide an attractive setting for residents.