Friday, June 29, 2012 (Evening Post) RESIDENTS have been left disappointed after a historic Henleaze cottage, thought to date from the 17th century, was demolished. This was the last vestige of Henleaze’s industrial heritage!
 | Demolition work under way at the quarry on the junction of Eastfield Road and Henleaze Road Picture: Michael Lloyd |
The Henleaze Society had tried to get the cottage and two lime kilns, which lie on the old quarry site at the junction of Henleaze Road and Eastfield Road, listed by English Heritage. But their application was turned down as the cottage and kilns were deemed to “lack sufficient national interest”. Now the cottage has been demolished after its owners were granted permission to clear the quarry site by the city council. Residents’ only hope now is that the lime kilns will be retained in any new development on the site. Veronica Bowerman, a historian who compiled local history book The Henleaze Book, told the Post: “The demolition gang have moved in and demolished the old historical cottage on the corner of Eastfield Road. They have exposed the lime kilns which are the only two remaining in the area and in a good state of repair. Interestingly they were not included in the list of buildings to be demolished by the applicants so I would like to think that the developers intend to preserve them. Whatever the developers propose for the site I hope that it will be a fitting memorial to John Clark, who cherished this historical part of Henleaze. He lived and worked on his site for nearly 80 years but sadly died in 2001.”
The Henleaze Society, whose members believe the lime kilns and cottage are the oldest surviving relics of the area’s industrial past, had only recently received a letter from English Heritage saying they could not be listed. The letter stated: “The kilns and cottage are of clear local interest, although lack sufficient interest in the national context to be recommended for listing. Shirley Phillips, secretary of the society, told the Post: “The Henleaze Society is disappointed with English Heritage’s decision, but the society would like the lime kilns to be preserved, possibly as part of a new development on the site.” The owners of the site, the executors of the will of Mrs D H Clark, were recently granted a demolition order by Bristol City Council, on a group of dilapidated buildings on the site. But the order did not mention the historic cottages or the lime kilns, which are though to date back to the 1700s or even the late 1600s. Alder King Planning Consultants, which is acting on behalf of the owner, said its client did not want to comment.
In an attempt to eliminate any future “cloak and dagger” demolitions in Henleaze the following suggestions have now swung into action:
- · A Heritage Trail leaflet is being devised to highlight the few remaining historical places and items to visitors and residents.
- · A Kick Start effort for Local Listings in Bristol
We understood local listing was in place, but we haven’t got one and it appears that we need legislation to get one in place. it would cover cases like this, although that does not automatically mean protection. However, something to pursue for the. How long will it take to put legislation in place and will it really protect buildings etc.?”