Origins of the Trust

It's difficult to imagine the derelict state of many of Bradford on Avon's buildings in the 1950s and 60s. But the decay started well before then.

After World War Two, the atrocious condition of the working class housing in Bradford on Avon achieved national notoriety. One Government enquiry described Bradford's slums as being 'as bad as the worst inner city slums in the north of England'. The worst areas included St Margaret's, Tory and Middle Rank, and Wine Street.

How did this state of affairs come about? Briefly, the Rent Restriction Act limited absentee landlords' income and thus their interest in maintaining decaying buildings, which often had no water, sanitation or damp course.

So, as part of a Government rehousing programme, the Urban District Council determined to pull down these insanitary dwellings and build anew - hence the developments in the New Road and Winsley Road areas to re-house displaced tenants.

Not everyone took this response lying down; some older residents lamented the loss of community, newcomers lamented the loss of swathes of period properties. And it was mostly the latter, who opposed the UDC's policy.

So a Preservation Society was formed in 1959, with Lord Methuen as President. The Society's campaigning, nationally as well as locally, forced the UDC to begin to rethink its policy and much of Tory and Middle Rank, then under threat, were later restored in the form we know them today. But while buildings on Tory and Middle Rank were saved, many others did go.

In the Preservation Society, two different views emerged of how the Society should develop:

One view saw its role as informing and lobbying - the approach which had saved Middle Rank and Tory, and
One whose members wanted to buy and restore decaying buildings in the town.

1972 Priory Cottage

Those that favoured a more 'hands-on' approach were led by Elizabeth Stephenson and Katherine MacKean, often referred to as 'The Hens' after the name of their antique shop in Silver Street, 'The China Hen'

Elizabeth Stephenson was particularly known for her forthright and determined manner and it was she who acquired the Priory Barn, built at the end of the 15th century, as a ruin.

Together, she and Katherine MacKean set about raising funds for restoration of this building, and the Preservation Trust was set up in 1964 to manage this adventure.

The eastern part of the Barn was converted into an attractive meeting room, still in use today and available for hire. Lord Methuen, then Trust President, opened it in 1969 - the year the Society was amalgamated into the Trust.

During 1972-3 the remainder of the Barn (the west end) was converted into a cottage, into which was put an exceptional 17th century moulded plaster ceiling rescued from a house being demolished in Frome.

1970-74 Lynchetts

1977-79 Silver Street House

Lynchetts, in Woolley Street wasn't a big project, but it was an important one. Following informal discussions with ‘The Hens’, Mrs Olga Walker gave the Trust Lynchetts, which was at the time divided into flats.

Following re-conversion, Lynchetts was sold as a house on a long lease and the proceeds used to fund the purchase and restoration of nearby Silver Street House, a large early 18th century house which had at one time been a hotel but had become derelict. It was bought by the Trust in 1974 and converted into flats which were sold on long leases.

Left to right, pre-war, 1970’s and 2000’s

The Trust retains a ground floor room for its own use, and as its registered office.

1980-82 Pippet Buildings

The Trust moved on to purchase a terrace of four early 19th century shops in Market Street, known as Pippet Buildings. Through most of the 20th century they were derelict and likely to be demolished. Another appeal was launched.

Vernon Gibbs was the architect for what was a major exercise in restoration and conversion for contemporary needs.

All four shops and the flats above were sold on a long lease. The restored building was opened by the architectural historian Alex Clifton-Taylor in 1982.

The scheme Won a Civic Trust award in 1984.

1990-91 Market Street

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to acquire buildings in the 1980s, the Trust bought this neglected property in 1990.

Another building, another appeal...

9-11 Market Street were mid-18th century tenements. They were restored and converted into two residential units over shops below. The flats were sold on long leases in 1991-2, the shops on three year tenancies in 1994.

Other projects

Restorations need not only concern buildings.

In 1999-2000 the Trust restored the Newtown Spout, an historic stone trough and iron spout, previously a problem because water tended to come out through holes in the wall rather than the spout. The architect was Martin Valatin.

In 2005-6 the Trust joined with the Museum Society in the restoration of painted plasterwork from the bath house of Bradford's Roman villa. We were grateful for assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund with this project.

In 1996 the town's Historic Buildings Joint Committee, which the Trust helped administer, made a grant of £5000 to the cost of stone repairs at the Old Baptist Church in St Margaret's St.

The Trust also fixes plaques to selected buildings of historic interest, in a continuing project. They celebrate buildings and structures rather than inhabitants and users.

Landscaping and gardens

The Trust undertakes landscaping projects across the town. These started as far back as 1985, when the boundary of the old hospital site was planted with 300 deciduous and evergreen trees.

Since then, projects have been many and various - for example, a beech hanger was planted in Poulton, a pool cleared and improved at Fitzmaurice Primary School - and the Trust has been involved for many years looking after the station gardens.

Landscaping Projects (please click on the map to enlarge)

Other projects