Achievements
During its over 60 years of existence, the Trust has saved streets from demolition, protected and restored individual buildings and architectural details, helped to safeguard Winchester’s setting and landscape, intervened in the planning of major developments, acted on roads and traffic and raised awareness of many other issues affecting the City. Today Winchester is facing more major developments than at any time for decades and the Trust is needed as much as ever.
Since the Wards of Winchester are unparished, there is no Parish Council taking a local view on planning applications. This void is very largely filled by the Trust's Planning Appraisal Group. The Trust's opinions are frequently sought by councillors, officers, developers and architects.
STREETS AND NEIGHBOURHOODS
St john’s street
Canon Street - the Trust helped prevent the demolition of the whole street apart from a few houses at the top.
St John's Street - the destruction of most of the east side of the street was averted by the Trust and the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust buying the houses for restoration and resale. At the same time we were able to influence the layout and design of the new houses on the west side of the street.
Upper Brook Street - while we failed to prevent the demolition of several historic buildings on what is now the site of the Brooks Centre, we saved the Echo Building on the other side of the street.
The Barracks - work by the Trust brought about intense general support for the successful conservation project which replaced previous schemes for demolition and redevelopment.
INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS AND SITES
St Peter’s Chesil Church
St Peter's Chesil Church - when this redundant church was scheduled for demolition, the Trust provided a loan to convert the church into the present theatre. The church appears in our logo, combined with a tree to indicate our interest in buildings and landscape.
The Heritage Centre - this late Georgian pair of houses was semi-derelict and due to be demolished. The Trust successfully petitioned to have the building listed, and then successfully persuaded Winchester City Council to let it to us on a 99 year lease as our headquarters.
Bar End Playing Fields - the Trust took an active part in a Public Enquiry to oppose the siting of a Tesco store on the Bar End playing fields. The scheme was refused and the store was eventually built in the Winnall Industrial Estate.
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS
Chernocke Place, Southgate Street - the Trust obtained grants and reinstated the lost porches which are such an important feature of this terrace.
Eastgate Street Railings
Eastgate Street - grants were obtained to repair the roof and replace a lost balustrade on the only privately owned house in the rounded terrace. Some years later the Trust reinstated the railings in front of the whole terrace, using a grant from the Council as well as its own funds.
Great Minster Street Gas Lamp - originally designed to burn sewer gas, the Trust restored this as a gas-lit lamp.
The Frink Horse, Upper High Street - the Trust helped with fundraising in order to secure this sculpture for the City.
Abbey House - the Trust refurbished a Victorian street light.
LANDSCAPE
West hill cemetery
The Westgate - the Trust designed the layout of the paving under the arch using wheelstones saved from the Guildhall Gate to emphasise the fact that this had been a thoroughfare.
The River Walk at Hyde Abbey - the Trust renovated the walk, making it an attractive and established route.
West Hill Cemetery - Following a long campaign the Trust persuaded the City to stop taking out the headstones (to assist with mowing) and turn the cemetery into an attractive natural park with its history preserved in the stones.
ROADS AND TRAFFIC
Three-quarter Inner Ring Road - almost single-handedly to start with, the Trust campaigned for 20 years to kill this official project, which involved a dual carriageway entering the city via the old railway cutting behind Chesil Street, cutting diagonally across St John's Street and the river into Eastgate Street, up North Walls and into Sussex Street. A further element would have turned Christchurch and Edgar Roads into a large roundabout before entering St Cross Road.
North Walls Dual Carriageway - after the Inner Ring Road was abandoned, planning continued to double the width of North Walls. The Trust successfully opposed this.
Easton Lane - the Trust successfully opposed at a public inquiry plans to straighten and turn Easton Lane into a dual carriageway entrance to the City.
St James' Lane - Trust negotiations with the County Council resulted in major reductions in the visual impact of traffic-calming measures.