St Peter’s, Oundle. The south porch (left, and interior, above), is facing highly damaging proposals to enhance access. This, and other planned works, would, the SPAB believes, harm the historic interest of the grade I building
The proposed method of fixing was, in our view, both visually unacceptable and might introduce unsuitable force into the slender stonework of the arch. However, the aspect of the proposals
which most concerned the Society was that designed to provide equal access through the south porch. The principle of everyone using the same, usually the main entrance, is one we support. However, on occasions, this may not be achievable because of the level of impact and scale of damage that would be done to the historic building and alternatives have to be adopted. We believe that this is one of those occasions. The south porch is very handsome
Perpendicular work, built c1485 by Robert Wyatt and his wife, Joan. The proposals would require a new screen to be built in the centre of the porch and would cut in half its elaborately decorated interior, including the central roof boss and the stone benches, in order to accommodate sliding doors. Due to the difference of level inside the church, the porch floor would need to be relaid lower. This would require the ledger stone set into the porch floor to be disturbed. The DAC Archaeological Advisor considers that this stone may be in its
original location with, possibly, a tomb below. On purely practical grounds we do not consider that the proposal represents a feasible solution. Leaving, as is planned, both the porch doors and new glazed doors permanently open during the day would mean that there was no physical barrier between the outside and inside – a recipe for cold and draughts in the winter and a waste of heating and energy. Yet there is a simple alternative to this very
damaging proposal – the use of the door in the north aisle, where external levels are only about a step above church floor level and where there is already a temporary ramp.We urge the parish to improve and make permanent the temporary arrangement which is close to a well-used public footpath and church car parking. We also encourage the parish to adopt a more holistic approach for disabled access and facilities since the existing lavatories are not accessible for those using wheelchairs. Previous generations have undertaken
repairs to the stone steps of the tower spiral staircase in oak, one of which is dated 1674 – repairs which are, in our view, of very good craftsmanship, simple and effective. We therefore advised that the timbers steps should be repaired on a like-for-like basis.
Casework 22 Cornerstone, Vol 32, No 2 2011 The parish wishes to install underfloor
central heating in the Lady Chapel, and to enclose the Chapel by providing a new partition or screen to the west arch, giving on to the chancel.We advised that it should be possible to heat the enclosed space using the existing large, cast iron radiators connected to a new separate heating circuit – thereby avoiding the wholesale disruption of the floor which includes a number of ledger stones and the surviving archaeology beneath it.We urged the parish to consider a design for the proposed new screen which responds to the architecture of this grade I building while retaining the visual connection to the chancel through the medieval screen. Taken together, the proposals considered at
the site meeting with the DAC are, in our view, likely to be highly damaging to the interior of this church, and, principally, to the south porch. We have no doubt that the parish can achieve what it believes is necessary for its continuing ministry and the broad range of activities held in the church by adopting different (and, probably, cheaper) alternatives and by designing in response to the architecture of the building.
CC
Church of St Ciwg Llangiwg South Wales
Travelling along some of the industrial valleys of SouthWales can be an overwhelmingly urban experience, but, often, a sharp turn left or right will soon bring you into a landscape of deep lanes, grazing fields, woods and forests and then high pasture and open moorland. It is at these
SIMON BARBER
SIMON BARBER
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