H04028 KINGSTON MAURWARD PLANS PROTEST 4/6/04 HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE
From: ? rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: Re:Kingston Maurward Plans
Date: April 6, 2004 11:00:51 AM PDT
Greetings all--
At Helen Gibson's request I've created a page and posted plans and photos
of the Kingston Maurward property where plans are now being made to build a
large school block adjacent to the ancient manorial dwelling where Hardy,
as a young boy, used to visit Lady Martin and take lessons from her. She
was not only deeply fond of the young Hardy but also one of the first to
recognize his exceptional talents: he never forgot her encouragement and
kindness (or the thrilling "frou-frou" of her swishing skirts).
You can find the details of her estate at:
http://www.yale.edu/hardysoc/updates.htm
Please be patient-- the images are huge and slow to download (but they are
worth waiting for!).
Helen will be posting more information on this project very shortly.
With every good wish,
Rosemarie
From: rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu
Subject: Re: Kingston Maurward
Date: April 6, 2004 2:36:28 PM PDT
Many thanks to Joanna Mink for the following (rather more accessible than
the page I constructed!()
Cheers,
Rosemarie
______________
Following is the URL for the article which appeared in Dorset Life magazine
about the Old Manor at Kingston Maurward.
http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/articles/ArticlesDetail.asp?ID=232
From: helengibson@clara.co.uk
Subject: RE: Kingston Maurward
Date: April 7, 2004 6:27:40 AM PDT
I am sorry to have adopted the role of planning watch-dog, but it does
seem that this is another misguided planning proposal which would be
detrimental to the conservation area of Stinsford and in particular to a
place which was of considerable interest to Hardy throughout his life.
I must apologise to Rosemarie for sending photos and plan in such large
files, due to my lack of expertise. I can send anyone interested these
as attachments, which might be more manageable. Thank you to JoAnna
for the Dorset Life link.
Further to the earlier message about the Kingston Maurward planning
application, we have now seen the plans, photos of the site and drawing
of proposed buildings. 60 letters against the plan have been received
already by West Dorset District Council, and a petition of about 400,
but Kingston Maurward College is very keen to go ahead with the plan.
There are alternative places on the large estate where these blocks
could be built, and it is our contention that these should be
considered, rather than spoiling the beauty of the landscaped parkland
surrounding the two houses. I have pasted below part of a letter to
the planning officer:
b.burden@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
Development Services Manager
West Dorset District Council
58/60 High West Street
Dorchester
Dorset DT1 1UZ
www.westdorset-dc.gov.uk
The deadline was April 2nd, but there is a further period of 10 days
during which letters can be sent.
....
Kingston Maurward Old Manor and Kingston Maurward House (now College)
are Grade 1 listed buildings set in beautiful landscaped parkland and
gardens. The houses are situated on high ground above the river and
the land falls away from the Old Manor to the flood plane and
winterbourne and the lake. The land on which it is proposed to build
is subject to flooding and this plan would destroy the beauty of the
area between these two find buildings. The area beyond this site is
already blighted by the existing accommodation blocks and other
buildings.
In my opinion the proposed site is unsuitable for this development: it
would seriously detract from the aesthetic value of the area, and the
proposed style of building is totally at odds with setting and
unsympathetic to the Grade 1 listed buildings and their surroundings.
There is considerable scope for new buildings in other areas of the
college land, for instance beyond the visitors' centre, on high ground
where they would not be offensively placed between the College and Old
Manor. This site would be healthier for students who would not be
living and working in close proximity to the damp area near the lake.
The Old Manor House is described by Pevsner as a 'Late Elizabethan
E-plan manor house refined to a point of perfection.' He goes on to say
that the 'two houses are linked by an avenue that lays proper emphasis
on their relationship'. This sensitivity to the position of the houses
would be entirely destroyed if the proposal were to be allowed.
One further important feature of the Kingston Maurward area is that it
forms an important part of Dorset's literary heritage. It was part of
Thomas Hardy's landscape, both in his life and writing. It features in
novels and poetry, and people come from all over the world to see it.
..........
with good wishes to everyone for a happy Spring holiday.
Helen Gibson
From: joanna.mink@mnsu.edu
Subject: Kingston Maurward proposal
Date: April 7, 2004 7:01:29 AM PDT
Rosemarie Morgan suggested I post this to the entire Forum.
There is an e-mail address for the West Dorset District Council (I found
it on their website). This will give us not in the UK an easy way to
contact them regarding the proposal from Kingston Maurward College to
build in front of the Old Manor House.
communication@westdorset-dc.gov.uk
Regards, JoAnna
JoAnna S. Mink
Professor of English
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato, MN 56001
joanna.mink@mnsu.edu
"The best fiction is truer than history." -- Thomas Hardy