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ETY TO FOSTER AND SAFEGUARD THE AMENITIES OF DULWICH

Newsletter 134 Autumn 2002

CONTENTS What's On ................................................................................................. 5-7 Planning News ........................................................................................ 9-10 Discussions with the Dulwich Estate ...................................................... 11-12 The Crystal Palace Site .............................................................................. 13 Update on the Dulwich Community Hospital Project.. ................................. 15 Possible Controlled Parking Zone for Herne Hill ................................... 16-17 A Local Traffic Snarl-up ............................................................................ 18 The Society's Golden Jubilee Party ............................................................ 19 Greening the P.ark ...................................................................................... 20 Round and About Dulwich .................................................................... 21-23 High Wood Barracks: The Need for Commemoration ............................ 24-25 Victorian Development in West & East Dulwich ........................................ 25 2002-2003 Dulwich Scottish Country Dancing ............................................ 26 Two New Books on Dulwich ................................................................ 27-29 The Hound in the Left-hand Corner ................... : ................................... 30-31 St Peter's Church: The Old Order Changeth or From .Mass to Mess ....... 33-35 Scheme of Management Charges ........................................................... 36-39

Cover illustration: The four principal helpers at the Society's Jubilee Party: from left to right - Judy Marshall, Stella Benwell, Angela Wilkes and Kate Nicholson-Lord

THE DULWICH SOCIETY NEWSLETTER The Dulwich Society Newsletter appears quarterly, in March, June, September and December. The deadline for each issue is the 1st of the previous month, so the deadline for the next issue is 1st November. Contributions of any sort are very welcome, for consideration by the Editor, either typewritten or on disc (Microsoft Word format). Articles with illustrations (or ideas for illustrations) are particularly welcome. Contributions should be sent to the Editor, Nicholas Reed, c/o 63 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BJ (Tel: 020 8659 5776). Would potential contributors please give their telephone number as well as their address.

Registered under the Charities Act 1960 - Reg. No. 234192 Registered with the Civic Trust

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M OFFICERS

Chairman Adrian Hill, 4 Stradella Road, SE24 9HA Tel: 020 7274 4838

Vice Chairman William Higman, 170 Burbage Road, SE21 7AG Tel: 020 7274 6921

Secretary Patrick Spencer, 7 Pond Cottages, College Rd, SE21 7LE Tel: 020 8693 2043

Treasurer Russell Lloyd, 138 Woodwarde Road, SE22 8UR Tel: 020 8693 2452

Membership Secretary Wilfrid Taylor, 30 Walkerscroft Mead, SE21 8LJ Tel: 020 8670 0890

MEMBERS

Chairman Planning & Architecture Ian Mcinnes, 56 Burbage Road, SE24 9HE Tel: 020 7274 1226

Chairman Traffic & Transport Alastair Hanton, 8 Gilkes Crescent, SE21 7BS Tel: 020 8693 2618

Chairman Trees Stella Benwell, 38 Dovercourt Road, SE22 8ST Tel: 020 8693 1447

· Chairman Wildlife Angela Wilkes, 40 Doverccourt Road, SE22 8ST Tel: 020 8693 5789

Representative Local History Patricia Reynolds, 15 Great Spilmans, SE22 8SZ

Chairman Garden Group John, Ward, 135 Burbage Road, SE21 7AF Tel: 020 7274 5172

Newsletter Editor Nicholas Reed, c/o 63 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BJ Tel: 020 8659 5776

Advertising and Distribution Manager Margaret McConnell, 9 Frank Dixon Way, SE21 7ET Tel/Fax: 020 8693 4423

Website: www.dulwichsociety.co.uk

- 3 -

Having worked in the Crystal Palace area as a minicab driver for some years, I became increasingly concerned with the general decline in standards of minicab companies in and around the area. I used to own and run a minicab company in the past. Numerous customers and drivers have urged me to start up business again and this I have done with the establishment of Queens Cars, based at The Quality Hotel in Church Road. Queens Cars is a 24 hours controlled minicab firm and, as in the past, priority is given to all journeys that have been pre-booked. Our aim is to provide clients with the best service available. I look forward to serving local residents and inyite you to contact me, Les Case, for a quality minicab service at:

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TELEPHONE: (020) 8771 9889 or (020) 8771 7300

K.A. Jeffries ompany Chartered Accountants

18 Melbourne Grove East Dulwich, SE22 SRA

Tel: (020) 8693 4145 Fax: (020) 8299 0326

Local Firm of Chartered Accountants. Operating in East Dulwich from 1966 ·

Deals with general financial matters of small and family businesses

General advice on Income Tax, Inheritance Tax Planning and VAT

Registered to carry out audit work and regulated for a range of investment activities by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

- 4 -

Sunday 1st Sept 2.30pm

Sunday 1st Sept 5.30pm

Sunday 8th Sept 5.30pm

Sept 11th to

Dec 1st

Sunday 15th Sept 5.30pm

Sept 18th to

Nov 3rd

Sunday 22nd Sept

Sunday 22nd Sept 1-Spm

SEPTEMBER 2002 General Tour West Norwood Cemetery. Meet at the main gate of the cemetery.

Cabaret Brilliance at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Simon Green ( of the Boyfriend) and Gay Soper ( of Godspell and Billy).

An Evening of Flanders and Swan & The Kurt Weill Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Stefan Bednarczyk (one man show), Liza Sadovy and Walter Van Dyck.

David Wilkie Exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Sir David Wilkie (1785-1841) was the most successful British narrative painter of the early nineteenth century, redefining popular painting of every day life. He was born in Scotland, lived in London and enjoyed a European reputation.

It's Sexy Sassy and Satirical Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Patrick Jamieson (of Joseph) and Dillie Keane ( of Fascinating Aida).

20 Million Mexicans Can't Be Wrong group exhibition at the South London Gallery, 65 Peckham Road, London SES SUH. Curated by Cuauhtemoc Medina, this exhibition brings together seven artists whose works in different ways explore the social, economic and political structures in Mexico City and the production of art within those structures.

Farmers' Market at Dulwich College (9.30am to 2pm)

Kingswood House open to the public as part of London Open House weekend. Conducted tours and tea. (NB: In the summer issue of the Newsletter we said the house was first mentioned in the 10th century. This should have read the 19th nQ,,t,,,~,

- 5 -

Sunday 22nd Sept 5.30pm

Friday 27th Sept 8.00pm

Sunday 29th Sept 5.30pm

Thursday 3rd Oct

8.00pm

Sunday 6st Oct 2.30pm

Sunday 6th Oct 5.30pm

12th& 13th Oct 10.00am-5.00pm

Sunday 13th Oct 5.30pm

Friday 18th Oct

Saturday 19th Oct 2.30pm

Glamour and Virtuosity Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Raemyn Blade and Brett Morris, Robert Meadmore, Maurice Clark and Rebecca Locke ( of Cats).

Little Vic and Young Prinny. Words and music from the Airs & Graces Ensemble at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Tickets £16 including a glass of wine. (Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery)

Outrageous and Uproarious Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Mark Pollard ( of Starlight Express), Chris Howard and Di Botcher ( of Beauty and Beast and Evita).

OCTOBER 2002 Notable Trees in Southwark. Talk by Mark Pearson, previously Tree Officer in Southwark, at the St Barnabas Centre, Calton Avenue, SE21.

General Tour West Norwood Cemetery. Meet at the main gate of the cemetery.

Dulwich Diva Night Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Michael Dore ( of Friday Night is Music Night) and Morag McLaren ( of Phantom of the Opera).

Dulwich Quilters 2002 Exhibition, including mini exhibition of Indian and Pakistani quilts, at The Old Library, Dulwich Common, SE2 l. Admission £2. 50 including catalogue, children free.

Great songs & Wacky Music Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Jane Tucker (of Rainbow) and Sue Sheridan, David Firth and Elizabeth Counsell ( of Evita and Chess).

Piano Recital at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Ravel, Elgar, Rachmaninov, Enescu. Rumanian Pianist Luminita Berariu. Tickets £ 15 including refreshments. (Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery)

Lecture - The City of London Cemetery by David McCarthy & AGM Friends of West Norwood Cemetery at Chatsworth Baptist Church, Chatsworth Way, SE27.

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Sunday 20th Oct 5.30pm

Sunday 27th Oct 5.30pm

Sunday 3rd Nov 2.30pm

Saturday 16th Nov 2.30pm

We're Brilliant, funny and versatile, Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Leigh Macdonald and Ian Mowat, Beverley Klein (of Sweeney Todd).

An Evening of Song With ... Cabaret at Dulwich Picture Gallery with Alison Ji ear ( of The Fabulous Singlettes) and Nathan Martin

NOVEMBER 2002 General Tour West Norwood Cemetery. Meet at the main gate of the cemetery.

Sir John Jacksbn: the world-wide adventures of a 19th century civil engineering contractor Lecture by Patricia Spencer-Silver. Friends of West Norwood Cemetery at Chatsworth Baptist Church, Chatsw011h Way, SE27.

Thursday21stNov Victorian Development in West and East Dulwich 8.00pm Lecture by Len Reilly of Southwark Local Studies

Library at the Old Library, Dulwich College.

Monday 25th Nov

From 12 noon

Sunday 1st Dec 2.30pm

Saturday 7th Dec 7.45pm

Monday 30th Dec

Dulwich Picture Gallery Christmas Fair. (Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery)

DECEMBER 2002 General Tour West Norwood Cemete1y. Meet at the main gate of the cemetery.

Dulwich Symphony Orchestra Concert at St Barnabas Church. Liszt tone poem Orpheus, Grieg piano concerto in A minor, Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherezade. Conductor Julian Williamson, Leader Paula Tysall.

Opera Workshop for young people aged 8-14. Hansel and Gretel. Workshop 3.00-4.30pm, Tea 4.30-5.30pm, Performance 6.00-7.00pm. £10 per child £2 to view performance.

*DDFAS, - Dulwich Decorative And Fine Arts Society, monthly lectures usually illustrated with slides are held on the second Thursday of each month at 8 p.m. at James Allen's Girls' School, (JAGS), East Dulwich Grove, S.E.21., unless otherwise stated Coffee and biscuUs 7.30 p.m., visitors £4. 00, students 5 Op.

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by Ian Mcinnes Dulwich Park Cafe A radical proposal to upgrade the cafe in the centre of the Park has been unveiled in the last month. The historic appearance to the main elevations is retained but the interior is remodelled to include new kitchens and play areas with new extensions built on the back. The sea of tarmac which currently surrounds the building is to be changed to paving set in a circular pattern together with additional permanent seating. The planning application has been made by the company running the cafe.

North Dulwkh Station The refurbishment work is nearly complete and work is now being carried out on the forecourt. Quality York Stone paving is being used following the Society's offer of a £3000 contribution to the work. There will be an official opening later in the year.

Ferrings/ToHgate Drive Residents of these two sixties estates are up in arms over the Dulwich Estate's pn;iposal to replace the existing paved pavements with red tarmac. The Society has written to the Estate reminding them that these two developments are some of the best of their type in Dulwich and their original character must be retained. Some of the existing paving stones are broken but these can be replaced. The Society has also reminded the Estate that their leases only allow them to charge for repairs and maintenance, not for changes, enhancements or improvements.

9 CoHege Road 9 College Road is a very private site which borders Dulwich Park. It has two existing houses, both designed by an architect called David the first built in the 1930s and the

- 9 -

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

second in the 1970s. The first house was featured recently in the Sunday Times property section and is one of the few thirties house in the area known to the Twentieth Century Society, the others being Six Pillars in Crescent Wood Road and a house in Herne Hill. The site has been sold to a developer and a planning application made to demolish the houses and build two new ones. The new houses are in roughly the same location as the existing ones and contemporary in design with extensive glazed areas. They should be a welcome addition to Dulwich's increasing numbers of good modern buildings.

The Woodyard Wates are conducting a very high profile advertising campaign for the new Huf houses, There have been several advertisements in the Sunday Times, and potential purchasers have received copies of an elaborate brochure of the like not usually seen in Dulwich.

The Crown and Greyhound The owners of the Crown and Greyhound, Six Continents Retail, are planning to refurbish and update the interior of the pub to be carried out over three weeks during September.

The Society was very concerned when it first saw a flyer describing the new look as 'appealing to young, creative, laid back customers' with the pub ambience 'relaxed, open, and having a sense of loft style living, casual and informal where consumers (no longer customers or even 'regulars') will create their own space and atmosphere, they will make it their own, a home from home.'

The Society and Southwark Council wrote immediately over their concerns, and the chairman and vice chairman were invited to attend a meeting with surveyors from the owners who promised to explain their proposals in detail.

Following the meeting, and a similar one with Southwark's Conservation Officer, we are now satisfied that the scheme is acceptable and thaf the character of the 'Dog' will be retained. The alterations are generally cosmetic and there will also be changes to the way the restaurant and bars are run and the type of food on offer.

One unfortunate consequence is that the landlord, Barney McGuire will be leaving. We are very sorry to see him go as he has made a major contribution to Village life over the fourteen years he has been in charge. The new landlord will have a hard act to follow.

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Advisory Committee Meeting 18 Ju.ne 2002

Amongst the matters discussed at the request of the Dulwich Society at the latest meeting of the Advisory Committee set up under the Scheme of Management (see further the article in this issue on the Scheme of Management Charges on page 36) were the following:

The Dulwich Estate's commitment to maintaining the general amenities

of Dulwich We had expressed our dismay that the Estate had chosen to take no action in opposing an application for the erection of a mobile telephony mast in Gallery Road, right across from the Estate's offices. Fortunately the application was in any event rejected by Southwark Planning.

The Estate's response was that "it is the present policy of the Estate not to comment on matters which are outside its direct remit, either as land owners or as managers of the Scheme of Management." They however indicated that the policy may be reviewed at the next meeting of their Board.

We urged a change in policy, not least because the rights and powers conferred upon them as Managers of the Scheme are expressly "for the purpose of enabling them to preserve the amenities of the Estate for the common benefit."

We believe that this involves responsibilities on their part to endeavour to preserve the visual amenities of Dulwich, particularly in the Dulwich Village conservation area, by opposing the erection of unsightly structures.

- 11 -

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

1 Fountain Drive We were informed that it is envisaged that the existing Victorian villa, now unoccupied, would be restored as a single family dwelling and not redeveloped (pace the fears expressed by Pam Le Gassick in her article on the house in the Summer 2002 issue of this Newsletter). The Estate Trustees have approved the submission of a planning application for two new houses to the rear ( down the steep slope) of the existing building, though at the time of the meeting the application had not been submitted to Southwark Planning.

14 Red Post Hill This property, next to North Dulwich Station, is in a deplorable state of disrepair. In response to our first request that something should be done about this, we were incorrectly informed that the property was outside the Scheme of Management area. At this latest meeting , this mistake was acknowledged and we were informed that a notice in connection with a breach of the SOM had been served, and a formal application for work to the property had been received.

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THE CRYSTAL PALACE by John Ward

A meeting was held at the end of June to discuss 'The Way Forward' for the Crystal Palace site. The meeting was conducted by an independent 'facilitator', Nigel Westaway, and thanks to his efforts and to the helpful and co-operative attitude of Michael Tickner, the new leader of Bromley Council, the meeting lived up to its title and a new beginning was achieved.

Some sixty representatives of interested organisations were present including delegates from the Greater London Authority, Tessa Jowell's office, English Heritage and Sport England. The five Councils which border the area - Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark - were well represented as were the various campaigning groups - the Crystal Palace Campaign, Friends of the Earth, the Ridge Wildlife Group and others. Residents associations, representatives of local traders and local amenity societies, including the Dulwich Society, were also there.

The purpose of the meeting was to clarify the key issues, to ensure that all relevant interests were represented and to agree a way forward. This purpose was achieved. There appeared to be a new spirit of co-operation stemming from Michael Tickner's statement that he was ready to start with a blank sheet of paper. Philip Kolvin of the Crystal Palace Campaign said that he looked forward to the coming process with cautious optimism. A further meeting is to be arranged.

- 13 -

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by Rosemary Dawson

The Primary Care Trust has now taken over from King's Healthcare and it takes time for the various appointments to be made as people get established in their new posts.

Meanwhile the original three committees, Strategic, Service Provider and Community Involvement Planning Group, (on the last mentioned of which the undersigned represents the amenity societies), having completed their task of preparing the Strategic Outline Case (see last issue of the Society's Newsletter), now enlarge into a number of groups. These will include intermediate care and primary care involving local G.P.s and other professionals, and work has already started on a G,P. centre on site.

We need to enlarge our community group to include a wider representation of potential users, including the South-East Lambeth area which will be in the catchment.

As funds become available a Community Forum will be set up in order to feed in, at all stages of planning and development of the site, the support and views of the public which are crucial to the success of this exciting venture.

There is much work to be done in a slow process before we reach the Business Outline Case being submitted.

- 15 -

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

NTROLLE ZONE

RNE by Adrian HiH

In May of this year, Southwark Council started a consultation process as to whether controlled parking should be introduced in the Herne Hill area, and certain other areas. Questionnaires prepared by consultants were distributed to all households within the areas in question (and also to some of the adjoining streets) asking for responses by 31 May as to whether the residents were in favour of or opposed to controlled parking in their streets. Various assurances have been given by Southwark that no CPZs will be introduced against the expressed majority wishes of residents.

The questionnaire indicated that the controls would involve permits for on-street parking, for which there will be an annual fee of £76 for residents and of £255 for businesses. Visitors would also be charged a fee for parking during the controlled period. Among the stated reasons for the possible parking controls was the displacement of commuter parking into surrounding areas as a result of the introduction of Central London's congestion charging scheme in 2003. A CPZ for Poets' Corner in neighbouring Lambeth (for which the residents have already voted in favour and which will be installed as soon as Lambeth can find the funding) is likely to have the same effect.

For Herne Hill, consideration is being given to introducing controls in a large area, between roughly the Fox on the Hill to the north, Denmark Hill/ Herne Hill/Stradella Road to the west, the railway viaduct, Village Way/East Dulwich Grove to the south and Green Dales/ Champion Hill to the east.

- 16 -

At the time of writing ( early August), the responses to the questionnaire are still being analysed by the consultants, but on the basis of preliminary conclusions passed on to Southwark it would appear t.hat in the case of the Herne Hill area a majority favoured some form of controlled parking in the streets near Herne Hill station but that support declined sharply the further one went from the station.

It is understood that the consultants have now been requested to design a range of options for parking controls for the parts of the area that were in favour. These options will relate to the hours and days, and possibly streets, where parking will be controlled. It is to be hoped that the options will include a scheme under which the controls will operate for only one hour a day, Mondays to Friday, as many of the responses to the questionnaire stated specifically that they were in favour of controls only on this basis.

The next stage will be the holding of exhibitions at local venues, probably in September, describing the various options, and it should be possible then to discuss these with representatives of the Council or their consultants. According to the Council the purpose of these exhibitions will be to assist them in selecting a design which will meet the wishes of a majority of residents. Further changes to the design could be made following the exhibitions and it is understood that different controls could be introduced in separate parts of any CPZ that is introduced. Linked to these exhibitions there will be a further opportunity for residents to express their preferences as to the design of the controls.

Once the design has been finalised, taking into account these preferences, there will be a process of statutory consultation, involving notices published in the local press and a period being allowed for the making of objections. Following this, the final decision on implementation will be made by elected Members of the Council.

oole M:ordant Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers

Small enough to ca.re, big enough to dlelive.r Martyn Poole (Dulwich) 020 8693 7335

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- 17 -

by Alastair Hanton Chair of the Society's Traffic and Transport Committee

Many of our members have expressed frustration about the junction of College Road and the South Circular. If you are driving southwards on College Road and then want to turn westwards along the South Circular, you will be held up at the pedestrian crossing just west of the junction. This will happen whether or not there are pedestrians wanting to cross. The same happens if you are driving northwards and turning westwards.

The consequence of this can be a minor gridlock at the junction. We have seen ambulances from the south held up by the tailback of turning traffic.

The junction is controlled by Transport for London, to whom we have suggested that the red lights for the pedestrians should only show when pedestrians wish to cross.

Transport for London tell us, however, that it is not so simple. Our solution would not pass a safety audit. A driver on the South Circular could be faced with both a red light in the foreground and a red light in the background. In such situations drivers can be confused and sometimes overrun the junction against the lights.

So Transport for London's consultants are looking at other options.

- 18 -

Our view is that the pedestrian crossing is important for safety, especially that of Dulwich College pupils. However, the snarl-up has been there for a long time, and needs a solution. We continue to press on our members' behalf.

A queue at the red light in Dulwich Common blocking up the exit from College Road

by Patrick Spencer

Unlike the Coronation Day weather, the sun shone on the evening of Saturday 27th July when some 230 members who had responded to the invitation gathered in the grounds of Dulwich College.

The marquee was only needed to help keep cool the sparkling wine, refreshments, and the jazz band.

It was a great opportunity not only to celebrate Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee but for members to meet one another.

Our thanks to the Almighty for the weather, Graham Able, Master of Dulwich College, for the venue, and the members of the Society who organised the occasion.

- 19 -

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

ENI by Robert Johnson

Dulwich Park Friends

More good news for the rejuvenation of Dulwich Park. On 23rd July planning permission was granted to make Dulwich Park free of traffic by converting the maintenance yard into a car park. The new arrangement will make the park safer and more enjoyable whilst still providing easy parking for visitors. It has overwhelming public support (97% of over 3,000 people surveyed).

Dulwich Park Friends and the Dulwich Society initiated the proposal. Southwark Council have adopted it and are now preparing tenders for the work. The first step is to refurbish

'the burnt out WC block to include an office for the Recumbent cyclists. This will be followed by the conversion of the yard to provide parking for about 170 cars. The park will then be closed to all traffic except for disabled and service vehicles.

But it does not stop there. The Council has applied for a Heritage Lottery Grant for a comprehensive £4.5M restoration of the Park. This will involve totally restoring the horticulture and the lake, and refurbishing all the paths and buildings, and upgrading the facilities especially to provide for the young and old. Details are on display in the Park

All indications are that the application is going well. The HLF inspectors will visit the Park in late August and we expect their decision in October. The only_ weakness is the lack of tangible proof of how much the public value the Park.

So the Friends are spearheading a fund raising campaign for the new car park. Money generated will both ensure we have a traffic free park and it will demonstrate to the HLF, in a practical way, how much support there is to restore the Park to its former glory.

We are asking for Pledges (see enclosed flyer) of from £10 to £250 to add to the £10,000 already raised by the Dulwich Park Friends. If you want more information or to help in any way please call me on 8693 2034

- 20 -

I I

Donkey Parade at

Herne Hill Stadium cl 910

Picture from 'Southwark

Remembered' by John D Beasley

published by Temp us

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

Listed sctdpture Did you know that Dulwich has one of only ten post-war listed sculptures in England? Called Sungazer, by William Turnbull, it dates from 1959 and is located in the central courtyard of Kingsdale School. Presumably the alteration works ongoing at the school will not affect it.

Junction Turney Road & Dulwkh Village Work on improvements to the junction has been under way for some time but the end is in sight. The Society has been keeping a close eye and has persuaded the council to use York Stone rather than concrete for the disabled paving. Though the original red concrete paving stones will be laid to start with, we have been assured that the real stone will be fitted within two months.

Herne Hill Cycle Track The saga continues! The Dulwich Estate have agreed to extend the lease temporarily until October 2003 to allow the Council, the British Cycling Federation and other interested parties to come up with a plan for the track's future. Southwark are unable or unwilling to continue to subsidise the site and are looking for other uses or commercial partners that will improve its viability.

- 21 -

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Massage + physiotherapy also available

Keep fit at Alleyn's Sports Club ~ Your know it's good for you!

Alleyn's Sports Club.Townley Road, Dulwich

- 22 -

Sports Development Consultants, McAlpine Thorp and Warrier, have been appointed to investigate and report on options (there have been several such reports in the recent past which came to nothing). The talk is of a Lottery application around the end of the year.

The Society is keen to see the site remain viable with cycling retained as its primary use, but is also aware of the concerns of the large number of surrounding residents over the noise and other risks that may arise from a more intensive use. All parties, users and residents must be consulted and all views reflected in the report's conclusions.

Horniman Museum, JOO London Road, Forest Hill, SE23

Horniman Museum The Horniman Museum has now reopened with its new extension· receiving very favourable reviews in this month's Architectural Review, the leading monthly architectural magazine.

Dulwich Picture Gallery Lottery Windfall The Picture Gallery has won a £48,600 grant to help develop its education work to break down social exclusion around the built environment. The money will enable it to organise workshops and projects for both schools and families including life long learning programmes to raise the level of understanding of architecture.

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High Wood Barracks.

A rather fine art deco building,

it seems, but that fact alone is not enough

to get such buildings

listed! Ed.

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

by Ian Mcinnes

High Wood Barracks, the TA Centre in Lordship Lane is being sold for housing development. Southwark have already granted outline consent subject to a legal agreement and we understand that a new, smaller, TA centre will be built on part of the site. Officers and cadets who have used the centre are concerned that the name, which commemorates a famous battle during the First World War, will be lost. At the very least the name should be retained for the new buildings.

In his 1982 book, Around Dulwich, Brian Green has described how the 21st County of London Regiment (The First Surreys), Dulwich's own volunteer regiment was raised very quickly after the start of the First World War in October 1914. They fought at Flanders, at Vimy Ridge, the Somme, Messines and finally at High Wood.

- 24 -

On the afternoon of the 15th September 1916 the Regiment's five hundred and fifty men, led by nineteen officers, were ordered to make a direct attack on a line of German fortifications some three hundred yards wide, which was separating two wings of a British force. All went well until the leading platoons reached the ridge immediately to the cast of High Wood where they came into full view of the enemy guns and received a tornado of shells of all calibres. Whole platoons were wiped out but the survivors kept going until they were able to make a final assault on the German trenches. The attack was partially successful and the surviving members of the battalion were able to link up with one of the wings of the British force.

The engagement had lasted for one hour during which time the Regiment had managed to advance one mile. The shells continued to fall throughout the night. When the Regiment withdrew at 7.30am the following morning, only sixty men and two officers returned.

Military historians have cited the battle as a classic example of a recipe for disaster; a daylight attack against a strongly entrenched enemy conducted with inadequate artillery support - little comfort to the men who died.

VICTORIAN DEVELOPMENT IN WEST & EAST DULWICH

The above is a fascinating subject affecting most of us, including those living in modern houses, the majority of which are built on the site of nineteenth century development. Dulwich was transformed with the coming of the railways, giving easy access to central London and, accordingly, an opportunity for a housing boom.

The Local History Group of the Society has arranged for Len Reilly of Southwark's Local Studies Library to give a talk on this subject on Thursday 21st November at 8pm at The Old Library, Dulwich College (first building as you enter from Dulwich Common). Len's lecture and slides graphically recall the transformation of the area from farms and nursery gardens to the road pattern we are now familiar with.

We will also be introducing the Society's latest publication: Who Was Who in Dulwich - 100 potted biographies of past distinguished residents, many of whom were attracted to Dulwich during its Victorian development. Further details are given on page 27. The book - an ideal Christmas present - will be offered at a discount to members at the meeting.

- 25 -

Dulwich Scottish Country Dancing Tuesday evenings at St Barnabas Parish Hall

The 2002/3 Season begins on Tuesday 24 September. Meetings will be held every fortnight through to 17 December and then from 7 January to 24 June.

In order to help new dancers, the first two meetings will concentrate on the programme for a private fund-raising ball being run by the Gilliard family on , Saturday 12 October. (Details from 020 8693 1342: j ere my.gilliard@btintemet.com)

MeeJings (8-10.30pm) begin with 30 minutes pra~tice in which the 'core' dances (those often found on Ball programmes) will be taught as well as formations and steps.

New members, or those with some previous experience, are invited to join at the beginning of the season and gradually build up their knowledge of Scottish dancing. It is helpful to come with a partner - though not essential - and singles (both men and women) are welcome.

There will be a number of Party Nights with live music during the season. Charge - £4 for each session: £5 on Party nights.

Further information: Michael Merifield (020 8693 6245 or e-mail michaelmerifield@onetel.net. uk)

WEDNESDAY FRIENDS BARNABAS CENTRE

St. Barnabas Church - Calton Avenue We meet from 2.00 - 3.30 pm on the second Wednesday of each month

with a talk or demonstration followed by tea and cakes. We offer an opportunity for older members of the community

to meet their friends and make some new ones.

Do you know anyone who would like to come along?

Ring 020· 7274 1996 for further information.

- 26 -

Rather like the number 37 bus route, when you wait for ages and no bus appears, and then two come along together, so is the publication this autumn of two new Dulwich histories. Fortunately they are quite different.

WHO WAS WHO IN DULWICH 100 Famous People The December 2000 issue of the Newsletter announced that the Local History subcommittee was working on a Who Was Who in Dulwich. The research has now been completed and the book should be available for sale before Christmas.

For reasons of space, it was decided to keep the entries brief and limit the number to about 100. Of these, the largest group of sixteen were involved in the creative arts as writers, artists or musicians. A more surprising group is that of the twelve engineers or scientists. They were attracted to Dulwich for different reasons: Bessemer made a considerable fortune from his steel patents and was able to lease a large estate; Baird used one of the Crystal Palace towers for his experiments in television transmission. There are also twelve from the world of education, reflecting the important schools in the area. Nine remarkable women are represented including the social reformer, Annie Besant, the actress, Mrs. Patricia Campbell and Phyllis Pearsall, who walked 3000 miles along the streets of London to compile the first A-Z street guide.

Edited by Brian Nurse, Who Was Who in Dulwich contains information on the famous as well as one or two infamous. William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw) hanged as a traitor finds himself in the more elevated company of poet Lord Byron.

- 27 -

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

The Local History Group hope that this book will lead to other members of the Dulwich Society suggesting further names for research or even submitting biographies themselves.

Who Was Who in Dulwich will be published on November 21st and will be available to members at the discounted price of £4.95 (instead of £6.95) on production of the slip below at The Art Stationers, 31 Dulwich Village, SE21 (Telephone 0208 693 5938).

Who Was Who in Dulwich, 64 pages, 40 illustrations, paperback edition, will be launched at the Local history Group's November lecture by Len Reilly of Southwark Local Studies Library. This offer will be repeated in the next edition of the newsletter.

E DUL WICH SOCIETY VOUCHER

This voucher allows the holder to

- 28 -

This book by Brian Green will be published in October and meets the need for a detailed chronological history covering a period of almost two thousand years.

It is divided into two parts. Part one explores Dulwich's development, from the time it existed precariously on the frontier of warring factions, to centuries later when it entered the long tenure of Bermondsey Abbey which was to last four hundred years.

For the last four hundred years it has supported the educational initiatives of the great Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn. Out of this has grown a unique part of London with probably the greatest concentration of educational facilities of any part of the United Kingdom.

Part two details six itineraries based on Brian's popular local history walks. Each itinerary is accompanied by a pictorial map, architectural drawings and a wealth of historical facts.

Dulwich: A History will be published in October, 152 pages, 120 illustrations (half in colour) at £ 11.95 paperback, £25 hardback from The Art Stationers, 31 Dulwich Village, SE21 (Telephone 0208 693 5938) or other local bookshops.

'Brock:µ}e{{ JZlrt Services Established 1979

QUALITY PICTURE FRAMING

Contact James Davidson 232-234 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 OJT

Telephone/Fax: 020 7274 7046

- 29 -

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

THE IN

CORNER By Giles Waterfield

Hodder Headline, £14.99 Book Review by Nicholas Reed

In case anyone wonders why a novel about dogs is being reviewed in this Newsletter, one should explain that it is not about dogs, and that it is written by the former Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery.

Mr Waterfield' s first novel was about an expatriate English family on the French Riviera. The plot of this, his second, novel is set in a large museum, but the plot is anything but dry and dusty. Rather, the author has spent years in the museum and gallery world, and the picture he gives seems wholly believable, and a fascinating glimpse into a normally closed world.

The principal players in the fictitious Museum of British History - which has some resemblance to the British Museum and the Tate Gallery - are well characterised, from the Chairman of the Trustees, a wealthy property developer, through the ambitious Director of the Museum, down to the warders on the floors.

The novel then turns into a very good thriller, centering round the authenticity of a painting by Gainsborough. The novel also deals percipiently with the perennial moral dilemma of what an employer should do when presented with evidence that the head of their organisation may be corrupt. The journalists working for Maxwell, for example, just carried on regardless.

- 30 -

In this novel, the staff split over whether to "whistleblow". One hopes this might happen, through one suspects anyone whistleblowing in the museum world would never be allowed back in, whether or not they were proved right.

The author clearly enjoys describing the miniature world of each of his characters: their surroundings, style of dress, homes and thoughts: indeed, their own ways of looking at things which might surprise their colleagues. This adds to the wry humour the author displays throughout.

The book is very well written and thoroughly enjoyable. Perhaps the author's comparatively new status .as a freelance will give him the time to produce further novels. If so, we can greatly look forward to them.

The hound in the left-hand corner detail from John Plampin by Thomas Gainsborough

- 31 -

w

The Newsletter is delivered to all members every quarter and a few more deliverers are urgently

needed in various areas.

ZONE DISTRIBUTOR - ZONE E Area is College Road beyond Toll Gate up to Fountain Drive including small roads each side. Some roads already have deliverers but some to do yourself. You would be required to collect from Margaret McConnell and distribute to road deliverers and do deliveries where necessary.

ROAD DELIVERER~ - ZONE D including Chancellor Grove, Chesnut, Dalmore, Eastmearn, Hexham, ldmiston Roads, part Lancaster A venue ( one round).

ROAD DISTRIBUTOR - Zone F (three needed) (a) Alleyn Park plus Loggets & Morkyn's Walk (all Alleyn's Head end of road) (b) Dulwich Wood Avenue and roads off (c) Farquhar Road.

Road distributors receive their round from the Zone Distributors.

We also have a small list of reserves which could be added to for future use.

Please contact Margaret McConnell

Tel 0208 693 4423

- 32 -

The Old Order changeth or from Mass to Mess ©H

by Quetta Ka ye A dominant local landmark, occupying a prominent position on a leafy corner of the south circular where the busy Lordship Lane turns into Dulwich Common, beside the tree-lined avenue of Cox's Walk, opposite the Harvester Public House, part of the Dulwich Wood Conservation Area and in an area of Metropolitan Open Land, the Victorian church of St Peter's and its adjoining parish hall are imposing Grade II listed buildings - their architect being Charles Barry, whose main claim to fame a few years earlier had been to design the Houses of Parliament. You might think this was sufficient status to protect them? Well, actually no!

Current planning hiatus Over the last few years, observant passers-by would (or should) have noticed changes made to the church frontage. (I have not been inside). Large signs have been attached to the front of both the church and the parish hall - without the prior acquisition of listed building consent. Alterations have been made to the levels of the churchyard by raising them up inside the original boundary walls and iron railings (which have been damaged in the process) and the laying of hardcore for a car park - in breach of Policy C.5.7 of Southwark's Unitary Development Plan (the provision of car parking is not listed as a use which would enhance the open nature and character of Metropolitan Open Land [M.O.L.1]) and Policy E.4.3 (it would not preserve the character and appearance of the Dulwich Wood Conservation Area and that of the M.O.L.) In the process one mature tree has been lost and others are endangered by the weight of the compacted material - in breach of Policy E.6.2 (to protect trees in a conservation

- 33 -

Desolation beside the War Memorial in the grounds of St Peter's Church

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

area). Widening the entrance to the churchyard to allow for tightly packed car parking (which does not meet the Council's standards being contrary .to. the requirements of Policy T.I.3) has caused further damage to th~ ongi~al boundary walls and railings. The striking stone capped entrance piers which framed the gateway (also protected by the Grade II listing) have been allowed to be demolished piecemeal. I have watched as these latter have almost completely disappeared, stones lying where they fall, unbecoming unsightly piles of rubble to accompany the rubbish bins ~nd assort~d debris. and waste which are heaped beside them. The construct10n of the mner bnck wall to support the raised parking area has also created a gully which has become a rubbish trap, never cleared away. It was in this gully I discovered an early lamp post (possibly one of the original?), presumably lying where i~, too, fell. To.o evoQative of the origin of the church to warrant aban,donment m a gutter, this should, I feel, be retrieved, repaired and reinstated.

As can b~ seen from the above, all of the recent work has been undertaken without listed building consent. Southwark Council has refused to grant retrospective permission for the work. The Church appealed (ref.9901931) in 1999, this was refused in October 2000. An Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate visited the site on 9 May 2001 and, in an Order dated 3 0 May 2001, upheld Southwark's refusal to grant permission for the work and rejected the appeal on the grounds of the adverse impact on the setting of listed buildings and the effect on the conservation area.

All credit to Southwark that an order to remove all unauthorised work and reinstate the site to its previous condition has been invoked. But, since October 2000 planning officers have come and gone in Southwark. However, by regularly checking on developments ( or lack of them), I discovered that the matter was passed to the Council's solicitors for enforcement in November of last year. Sadly, enforcement of the order to reinstate the site to its previous state has been stymied by an apparent lack of awareness of "the

previous state" by the current owners.

- 34 -

A photo taken in the 1970s showing St Peter's church as many of us remember it.

The site consists of a roughly triangular shaped piece of land to the north of the church, enclosed by the church itself, the parish hall and the boundary wall and decorative iron railings along Lordship Lane - all of which are protected by the Grade II listing and which contribute to the character of the site and The sad remains of the gateway to St Peter's

reflect the nature of the religious buildings. The main entrance to the church is directly from the pavement immediately adjacent to a gateway into the yard, formerly surmounted on each side by stone capped piers. At the northern apex of the triangle is the flag pole and war memorial to the Dulwich Volunteer Battalion from the 1914-18 war. The cornerstone for the church was laid in 1873 and an inscription on the side of the tower states the cost of the construction of the tower and spire was borne by J. Horniman of Surrey Mount in 1886, as was the construction of the parish hall.

It is nearly twenty years since the Anglican diocese sold the church (upkeep too much plus diminishing congregation), first of all to be taken over by Benedictine monks who made their monastery in a large house next door in Lordship Lane. Unable to sustain the church, however, the Benedicti.nes sold it and it was then sold on to the Nigerian Deeper Life Bible Church. The last service of the Anglican community was held in 1996.

As the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and Regions noted in making his decision in May 2001, "it is undoubtedly of great benefit that the listed church, previously redundant, had been brought back into its original use". On the other hand, one can ask the question, what is the point of listing buildings to protect them and creating conservation areas to provide the traditional and entirely appropriate setting for a listed church, if the planning laws can apparently be flouted with impunity?

- 35 -

THE DULWICH SOCIETY

We have been monitoring charges made by the Dulwich Estate for managing the Scheme, over the past five years since these charges became annual in 1997. These are additional to the quarterly maintenance charges paid by the residents of "post-war" private estates.

The annual Scheme of Management charge is in two parts:

i) a "basic charge" for administering the regulatory part of the Scheme (all of this is paid by the owners of "enfranchised freeholds");

ii) an "amenity charge" for maintaining common areas of the Dulwich Estate including Dulwich Woods (a proportion of this, currently 69.2 per cent, is payable by owners of enfranchised freeholds based on the Council Tax value of all their properties, related to the value of freeholds retained by the Dulwich Estate including a notional valuation of the Estate's commercial properties which are not subject to Council Tax).

Management of the Scheme and the assessment of charges have been operating generally satisfactorily. This Society remains ready to take up any specific matters which individual residents wish us to raise, at meetings of the Scheme Advisory Committee which are held three times annually ( or more frequently if required). The most recent of these meetings was held on Tuesday 18 June and the next one will be on Tuesday 12 November. We are also prepared to take up with the Estate Office any matters which may arise between meetings. The Dulwich Estate is legally obliged under the Scheme of Management to have regard to any issues which we raise. In addition, under a protocol agreed between the Estate and the amenity societies, reasoned responses are to be given to us by the Estate. It would be useful to know if any residents feel that they have not been given adequate responses to their direct approach to the Estate Office.

- 36 -

We continue to be concerned about the adequacy of residents' representation on the Scheme Advisory Committee. The Dulwich Residents Association has been dissolved and the Dulwich Village Preservation Society may not continue to be actively involved. This leaves the Dulwich Society as the only active body representing residents. We are quite willing to continue with this role, but would also like any other bodies who are able to represent the interests of Dulwich residents as a whole to be included in the Advisory Committee.

There follows a review of changes in Scheme of Management charges over the past five years. The Dulwich Estate gives us an annual budget, and then forecasts before the end of each financial year how expenditure is likely to relate to this budget. The outcome each year has _generally been within budget, but charges have increased over the past five years. At the end of each financial year the Advisory Committee has the opportunity to comment on the figures before they are finally approved by the Estate Trustees.

1. Summary

Years ended 31 March: (actual) 1997 2001 2002 2003 (budget) Total management charge (a)+(b) 131,160 204,354 222,470 241,811 "Basic" expenditure 94,427 156,942 174,172 191,390 Less: income (fees & licenses) (32,035) (53,878) (59,613) (61,500) (a) Net "basic charge" 58,460 103;064 114,559 129,890 "Amenity" expenditure 127,288 146,373 155,941 161,736 Less: Dulwich Estate's share (54,588) (45,083) (48,030) (49,815) (b) Net "amenity charge" 72,700 101,290 107,911 111,921

2. Details "Basic" expenditure:

Dulwich Estate staff 40,193 66,396 80,204 79,500 Premises & office costs 24,850 26,511 26,755 27,575 Professional fees:

solicitors (1,264) 7,183 3,929 6,000 arbitration 10,000 architects 16,365 35,936 40,703 41,500 tree consultants 10,350 14,720 16,692 19,000 auditors 675 271 600

Charge apportionment 3,933 5,520 5,616 7,215 "Amenity" expenditure:

Dulwich Woods 10,730 10,029 14,788 14,800

- 37 -

Other areas: Gardening contract 42,334 46,323 44,581 46,000 Tree works 1,269 11,399 7,424 7,500 Road & path repairs 20,452 3,140 22,138 12,000 Sweeping & cleaning 2,180 2,070 2,500 Garden refuse removal 6,514 8,186 7,500 General repairs 8,217 27,286 13,876 24,000 Other 11,150 1,129 2,192 3,600 Total works: 94,152 107,997 115,255 117,900

15% management charge 12,000 13,787 14,713 15,051 Public liability insurance 2,809 2,815 3,000 Tree consultants' fees 10,632 13,440 15,313 16,500 Auditors fees 2,481 500 200 300 Charge apportionment 8,023 7,840 7,645 8,985 Total amenity management: 33,136 38,376 40,686 43,836

Comments We feel that professional fees and management expenses continue to need watching more closely than the sums spent on actual maintenance. The value of amenity work carried out is currently around £115,000 a year, which has increased by about 20% over the past five years. £15,000 - £20,000 a year more is now being spent on "general repairs" than when the basis of the Scheme changed. The management costs attributable to amenity expenditure, however, have increased by over 30%.

One great unresolved question is the liability of College Road and Hunts Slip Road residents to maintain these roads, against their claim that this cost should be met from toll-gate revenues. The Dulwich Estate may still take the line that if "riparian owners" do not pay for the upkeep of these roads then the burden will fall on the Scheme of Management. At present the costs of repairing College Road and Hunts Slip Road are being carried by the Dulwich Estate itself and certain frontagers. Its committee on this subject has been sitting, or standing, for several years now and its legs must be getting very stiff. We make polite enquiries from time to time as to whether there is any risk of deep­vein thrombosis.

The other feature which gives us most concern is the continued increase in "basic charge" expenditure on the regulatory aspect of the Scheme. The cost of this has doubled over five years, and is budgeted to increase by another 13 per

- 38 -

cent year. were the Dulwich Estate intended to recover more of its office costs than it felt able to under the earlier Scheme but we think that this should not now continue to increase by more than th; rate of inflation.

Part of the explanation for this given by the Dulwich Estate is the increased number of licence applications, for work to be carried out by residents on freehold properties. Fee income from this is credited to the "basic charge" account, but while this income has increased by about £28,000 over five years, gross "basic charge" expenditure has increased by £84,000. Half of the increase is due to the Dulwich Estate's management and staff costs, but the other half is due to an increase in "professional fees", which proportionately have risen more. No charge to residents is made for tree consultants' fees, which we believe is in principle correct amenity policy. If the budget for 2003 remains fairly accurate, fees will have trebled in six years. Architects' fees are the largest component, but solicitors' fees and arbitration costs are considerable.

Arbitration costs are legally chargeable to residents under the Scheme, but in the past five years only £15,000 has been charged to residents ( in the year 2000). When the Dulwich Estate has lost an arbitration appeal it has not in practice charged its costs to residents. There is a provision for £10,000 in this year's budget. The Estate needs to consider carefully which cases it is in principle necessary to defend. Since we are collectively liable for these costs it is important to remember that the object of the Scheme is to protect the amenity of the estate for our common benefit, not just to resist challenges to the Estate's authority. Whilst arbitration is a right under the terms of the Scheme of Management, the Estate assures us that it makes efforts resolve disputes through discussion to avoid the expense of arbitration.

"Apportionment costs" of calculating individual charges under the Scheme from Council Tax records have also been considerable, amounting in total to nearly £60,000 over five years. These have been spread rather scrupulously in the accounts between the "basic charge" and the "amenity charge". The Estate did warn us that the cost of appotiionment by Council Tax bands in the cause of fairness would be more expensive than a flat rate payable equally by each freehold property. Now that the system has been settled and shown to work smoothly we would expect apportionment costs to be reduced rather than continue to rise.

Bill

- 39 -

"Think 'll go for the fish!"

Wine and dine in the restaurant or enjoy them at home. At Olley's, they are conscientious and have a desire to

achieve excellence. Even a humble dish of Fish & Chips calls for the finest ingredients, fried together at the right

temperature and always served with a smile. Remind yourself what award winning Fish & Chips

really taste like.

THE FAMOUS ®

FISH EXPERIENCE

67 -69 Norwood Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 9AA. Tel: 020 8671 8259 Fax: 020 8671 5665

www.olleysfishexperience.com

- 40 -

E AGENTS

(ndependent Dulwich Estate Agents since 1922. We continue to provide friendly expertise in

Residential Sales and Lettings.

Talk to Caroline, Sue or Charles about our free, no obligation valuations, complete with marketing packs.

Visit our Internet site at: www.spencerkennedy.co. uk

l c Calton Avenue, Dulwich Village, London SE21 ?DE Telephone: 020 8693 7835 Facsimile: 020 8299 0642

ema i I: spencerkennedy@spencerkennedy.co. uk