Colchester: Architect puts weight behind historic garage (From Essex County Standard)

Colchester: Architect puts weight behind historic garage

9:00am Friday 6th November 2009

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A humble domestic garage under threat has won over one of the country’s top architects.

John Burton, senior partner at Purcell Miller Tritton, is Surveyor of the Fabric at Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, a National Trust Council member and a member of English Heritage’s Places of Worship Committee.

But, back home in Colchester, he has responded to a planning application that would have necessitated the removal of a garage in Creffield Road, Lexden.

Initially, he thought the simple timber-framed, corrugated iron-clad building was put up in the 1930s or 40s.

But prompted by a friend, he investigated further, only to discover it was designed in the summer of 1910 by Henry Everett & Son, the company behind Jumbo, Colchester’s Grade II*-listed water tower.

Detailing his findings to Colchester Council, he commented: “This motor house is a very interesting historic building. It is not an outstanding piece of architecture. Nonetheless, it is important in the history of architecture. Cars were a rarity at that date, and motor houses were very rare.”

Committee members subsequently turned down the plan, saying the proposed size, design, layout and materials would not enhance or preserve the conservation area.

Garage owner Sarah Heath-Brook said: “We have said that we would happily donate the garage structure to any interested party for them to dismantle and remove by mutual arrangement rather than demolishing it.

“This offer still stands.”

She added: “The building is of no particular architectural interest and has no empathy with the main house.

“The exterior of our building is now clad in a very unattractive corrugated steel material which was not part of the original ‘shed’ design.

“Additionally, the internal arrangements have been poorly modified so the building bears little relation to the original construction in 1910 or thereabouts.”

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