Bath Tec School

Hello Rich,

Thanks for the info..didn`t realise it was on or I would have put the DTR on to catch it. Not an avid lele watcher I`m afraid, so I tend to miss a lot of interesting stuff. Also didn`t know Peter Coards wife was still alive. She wrote a number of books with Peter (I think).

Catch you later.

Hi Guys.

I missed the program as well I'm afraid.

Same as Bill I don't watch much TV these days, too much else to do.

Sounds as though it was a superb production though. Good old BBC2 did their research well again!

What an incredible coincidence that the program was screened at the same time as we were all lamenting the destruction of the city and its heritage, and recognising the contribution that Mr and Mrs Coarde made to the preservation of what we have.

I like to feel that maybe all of us that are involved in the conservation / preservation movement have a small part to play in the protection of heritge, whether it be architecture, machinery or rare breeds of animals. Preservation is a broad church, but if we are to have any hope of having anything of any value to pass on to future generations then the people involved now should be given much more support, and young people need to be educated to respect and value the things to which they are being entrusted.

The Coards were a shining example of this phylosophy.

In retrospect it makes one realise what a terrific education we all had at BTS even if we didn't realise it at the time!

When compared with the educational system that seems to have evolved today one wonders what the future holds.

Going to shut up now before the soap box has to be dragged out again!

Taking the pills and going to bed.

                                                  Bi for now.

 

                                                         John.

I've just watched the program on i-player, very interesting, liked the observation that the picture had been preserved but the frame destroyed. It also brought up the point, as in the case of the old Stothert and Pitt factory, that there are instances where long winded prevarication has left a listed site derelict and decaying. I'm not a great fan of English Heritage, personally I find too many of their sites completely lifeless, there's conservation and then there's mothballing. Preserve/conserve by all means, but put to use as intended as much as possible.

I'll go now before I get carried away and have to have a little lie down.

 

Stu

Hi all,

I'm glad you enjoyed the programme and for those who missed it it's still on i player and, in my opinion, well worth watching.

 

Rich

Hi all, I thought I would just paste the link Rich---http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mfhyh/Saving_Britains_Past_The_City/

Thanks to everyone for bringing this programme to our attention.  I have just watched it and found it fascinating.

 

I live in the North East close to Durham City which is designated a World Heritage Site.  Practically every building within the City is listed.  The planners and developers have to be extremely careful in what they do.  Yet, sometimes needs must.  In the late sixties and early seventies the pits were being closed causing a great deal of unemeployment.  The socialist government of the day had to be seen to be doing something to mitigate the job losses.  The result was the construction of a modern monstrosity to house the National Savings Bank.  These days it is much too large because of the introduction of technology, so now we have the Passport Office sited there as well; the building is still a monstrosity when compared with the historical Cathedral and Castle that dominates the skyline.

 

It seems to me that Dyson was taking a much more sympathetic approach in his designs for the developmentt of the Stothert and Pitt site.  What a pity he had to pull out, and the site that could have employed a large number of well paid people still lies derelict.

 

There are tough decisions too be made, but I guess Wood had to make those too, as did Ralph Allen and all their contempories.

 

I think I need a lie down now!!

 

David

Hi Guys.

Thanks for the link Anth.

Just watched the program also, very interesting.

I agree it's a shame that Dyson had to pull out, for no apparent reason, let's face it, here we have a derelict building which is of architectural value and of itself has an industrial heritage, however it can not remain derelict for ever and will only deteriorate until such time as it will not be viable to save it. Then it will be replaced totally by a modern development. I feel that what Dyson was offering, although a compromise, was a far better option that promised numerous benefits.

Still, water under the bridge now!  

                Bi for now.

                     John.