Summer 2019From the (Acting) ChairmanWelcome to our Summer 2019 newsletter, my first forthe Society. As many of you will know, at the recentAGM our chairman Robert Gurd stood down from theposition that he had held for 21 years. I had alreadystepped into his shoes as acting chairman and it fell tome to chair that meeting. However, what concerns menow is that no-one has been nominated, self-nominatedor been persuaded to accept this important role so I amfor now continuing to act up (no clever commentsplease). A more detailed AGM report follows later inthis newsletter but I would like to mention that I amdelighted that the appointment of Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles as our president was ratified by the membership.We were also treated to an enlightening talk by architectHarbinder Birdi on John Soane’s influence oncontemporary architecture.Elsewhere in the newsletter, we have articles featuringthis year’s ECS John Delafons lecture, the opening ofthe restored Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, details ofour upcoming events and, as always, updates on keyplanning matters.I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and find itinformative. If there are things you would like us toinclude going forward, please let me know throughchair@ealingcivicsociety.org.

Ealing Town HallMastcraft’s application for planning approval for theirproposed development of Ealing Town Hall went tocommittee for determination, with a recommendationfor approval, in mid-May. In an entirely predictabledecision, planning permission was granted. Thecommittee debate was very disappointing, withquestions and contributions from committee memberslimited in both quality and quantity. The legal officerseemed out of her depth and we cannot endorse theplanning officer’s repeated assertion that any harm to

the listed building and conservation area caused by inparticular the demolition of part of the Victoria Hall isoutweighed by the ‘public benefit’ of the scheme. Thealleged benefits include such things as provision of(another) gym and access to the hotel’s bars andrestaurants. Theruling from theCharity Commissionon the status of theVictoria Hall Trustremains outstandingand they did notrespond to SaveEaling’s Centre’s urgent request to require a conditionon any planning permission that no demolition maytake place until their decision is issued. Without this,there is nothing to prevent demolition of the easternend of the publicly funded Victoria Hall going ahead.

Coming Events22 June Civic Day: Join us on a walk ‘In the Footsteps of Soane’. Details on page 424 October Civic Society Awards. Presented by Sir Sherard Cowper -Coles. Details to be confirmed.

Perceval HouseThe Society, along with other local amenity groups, hasbeen contacted by Galliford Try with an offer to meetwith them, their architects and communicationsconsultants as part of early stakeholder engagement.This is a welcome move and one we have been pushingfor some time. Unfortunately, the practicalities seemmore difficult and confirmed dates are still awaited.We understand that GT have changed their architectsand are proposing some unspecified changes to thescheme previously outlined. We look forward tohearing about these and will pass on details as soon asthey are available.

Ealing Town Hall with proposedhotel extension

The Hoover Building, PerivaleAs reported in the Spring newsletter, the Societyresponded to a local consultation on redevelopment ofthe rear of the Tesco car park currently occupied by apetrol station. The proposals for a residentialdevelopment of around 300 flats included the erectionof a part 10-storey and part 22-storey tower block(called The Wiltern). We responded to the consultationby suggesting that at a minimum the tower elementshould be omitted entirely so that the new buildingswould be in scale with the listed buildings and wouldnot dominate views of them. Sadly, it seems that ourconcerns fell on deaf ears and a planning applicationhas now been submitted which seems unaltered fromthe initial proposals ‘consulted’ on. The tower certainly

remains and as can be seen from these views from theapplication, would be highly visible from surroundingresidential streets although, it is claimed, notdominating the existing buildings when viewed fromthe A40. We are considering what to include in an ECSobjection to the application.

Crossrail and Ealing Broadway stationThere has been some limited progress here. Thepromised consultation on the revised canopy designand proposed public realm improvements in front ofthe station hasnot yet started,the latestdelays possiblyb e i n gattributed tothe Councilhaving goneinto ‘purdah’in the run-upto theu n e x p e c t e dEuropean elections. We hope that with these behind us,we will soon see this consultation. Slightly moreencouraging is that the new contractor to build theredesigned station entrance (and also the new ActonMainline and West Ealing stations) has been selected –Graham Construction. We are not aware of anytimetable for the works, and it seems unlikely that theywill be completed before trains start running through toEaling next year.

FilmworksVisible progress is now being made on the site with thefirst residential block rising up adjacent to Barnes Pikleand a sales office open for those looking to invest. Wehave been pursuing detailed design issues, in particularfor the Walpole Picture Theatre arch currently on thewall of 2 Mattock Lane (to be retained and incorporatedinto the development), and the retained former Empire(ex-Forum) Cinema façade. We have asked severaldetailed questions of developers St George and awaittheir response. Of particular interest to us is that thecinema operator Picturehouse have, after muchprompting, shown some interest in retaining some ofthe salvaged items from the old cinema, including somelight fittings, to incorporate into their new complex, butthere are no detailed interior designs as yet.Ann Chapman

Ealing Civic Society 2 Summer 2019

Annual General MeetingThis year’s AGM took place in the Liz Cantell Room ofthe Town Hall on 2nd April. It was opened by AnnChapman, Vice- Chairmain, standing in for RobertGurd, our Chairman who was unwell and unable toattend. She reminded us that last year Robert stated hisintention of standing down as Chairman, and this yearillness had forced the issue. Ann is acting as Chairmanin a temporary capacity but the search for a new Chairis earnest and candidates are eagerly awaited. In asimilar vein new young blood is needed in themembership and on the Executive Committee. Our President Charles Mynors has also resignedbecause of pressure of other commitments and Annthanked him warmly on behalf of the Society. An Ealingresident, Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, has agreed tobecome President and he was duly voted in by AGMattendees. He took the floor and said that he waslooking forward to the role and is deeply concernedabout the issues championed by the ECS and with usregrets the inevitable failures in saving the builtenvironment. The other members of the ExecutiveCommittee agreed to continue and were duly re-elected. We were delighted that Harbinder Birdi, one of our 2018Awards judges, agreed to speak after theAGM.  Harbinder Singh Birdi RIBA   is an Ealingresident and Senior Partner at Hawkins/BrownArchitects. He is the principal architect leading thedesign for the Crossrail stations at Tottenham CourtRoad, Liverpool Street and Bond Street, where he hascollaborated with artists such as Daniel Buren, RichardWright and Douglas Gordon. He is a trustee ofPitzhanger Manor House and Gallery, which hasrecently reopened after refurbishment, and the LondonSchool of Architecture.   His theme was how Sir JohnSoane’s design for Pitzhanger Manor has influencedcontemporary architecture.

Ealing Broadway Station the latest

Ealing Civic Society 3 Summer 2019

John Delafons Lecture: Ada Lovelace9th May Liz Cantell RoomThe annual John Delafons lecture this year was both acelebration of the life and work of Ada Lovelace,daughter of Lord Byron and Annabella Milbanke, andthe occasion for unveiling a plaque to Ada that will beplaced near her former home in Ealing at a later date.Our speaker, Professor Ursula Martin from OxfordUniversity, is co-author of a book Ada Lovelace: The

making of a computer scientist written with ChristopherHollings and Adrian Rice. She outlined the early life ofAda, her education and her contribution to the science ofwhat we would now call computing. Professor Martinshared some of the discoveries she made going thoughthe papers of Ada Lovelace now housed in the BodleianLibrary in Oxford. Ada was born in 1815 shortly before the breakup of herparent’s marriage after only one year. Lady Byronmoved to Ealing in 1822 when Ada was seven years old.Lady Byron was known for her passion for education –setting up an industrial school for the poor in Ealing,commemorated by a plaque on the University of WestLondon. She tutored Ada herself in maths and scienceand ensured that she had other foremost tutors. Ada wasmarried in 1835 at Fordhook House to William King, butshe continued her mathematical education – evidencedby the correspondence Professor Martin showed us inher presentation. She even followed a correspondencecourse in 1840-41 with Augustus De Morgan, the firstmathematics professor at what is now UniversityCollege London. However, it was her collaboration withCharles Babbage, the inventor of the “analytical engine”,for which she is perhaps most famous. In 1843, shepublished a translation of an article by Luigi Menabreaentitled Notions sur la Machine Analytique de M. Charles

Babbage. It was the notes, appendices and calculationsthat she added which made this such an important and

p e r c e p t i v epublication. Shedied in 1852 at theyoung age of 36.At the end of thelecture, the newMayor of Ealing,Dr AbdullahGulaid introducedthe Earl of Lyttonwho unveiled theSociety’s newplaque to his great

great grandmother and made some observations on hisancestor’s legacy. The plaque will be erected on thepremises of Grimshaw and Co on the corner ofFordhook Avenue and the Uxbridge Road.Margaret Gold

Robert Gurd, Chairman of Ealing CivicSociety 1998 – 2019A huge thank you is due to Robert for his dedicatedchairmanship over thepast 21 years. He hasworked tirelessly toimprove publicunderstanding of ourbuilt heritage and theimportance of itsconservation, andembodies the Society’sstrapline ‘Working topreserve and improveour borough’. In histime as chairman hehas overseen manyinitiatives, including our green plaques schemecelebrating notable Ealing residents now in its 15thyear, the setting up of our website and thedevelopment of our presence on social media. Ourannual architectural awards scheme, now celebratingits thirtieth year, has flourished under his direction. Hehas also played a major role in the Society’s response toplanning applications, contributed to the Council’slocal plan development and appeared at publicplanning inquiries. He is a champion of the Borough’sconservation areas and was instrumental in providingevidence to the Council supporting the extension of anumber of these and the creation of three new areas.These are only some of his contributions of expertiseand time.Ann Chapman

Ed. If you have apassport issued after2016 turn to page 30-31and you will see theface of Ada Lovelaceand her hair lodgedbetween CharlesBabbage and hisanalytical engine,computer screens and a watermark of WilliamShakespeare. She keeps good company.

Gift AidGift Aid is a tax relief scheme which allows us to reclaiman extra 25% in tax on every eligible subscription fee anddonation made by members who are UK taxpayers. Weare pleased to report that two thirds of our members havesigned up. However, if you are a UK taxpayer and havenot yet signed up, please download the Gift Aid formfrom our website and either send the completed form toour treasurer or give it to us when you come to an event.

Ealing Civic Society Annual Award• An award scheme for new

buildings, refurbishmentsor renovations, and open space.

• The project must have been completed within the last two years and havebeen in use by the beginning of April 2019

• Information can be found on our website or contactinfo@ealingcivicsociety.org

Thirty years of Annual AwardsThis year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the first awardgiven by the Civic Society to the designers andcommissioners of prizeworthy new buildings, landscapeprojects and restorations in the private and public domainsin Ealing. In 1989 the first winners (there seem to be two)were the Clock Gallery, St Marys Road, W5 and St Mark’sCourt, Boston Manor Road, W7. Since 1989 the Society has given awards to recognise andencourage building and environmental projects that makea noteworthy contribution to the community in theBorough of Ealing. Winners receive a certificate and theaward winner may display a specially designed Societyplaque.In establishing the award the Society aimed to (a) stimulateinterest amongst people who live, work and study in Ealingin development and conservation projects; (b) recogniseand reward designs, new buildings or landscaping andopen space, refurbishments or restorations which make apositive contribution to the amenity of Ealing andcontribute to the townscape; (c) encourage a high standardof design, sustainability, fitness for purpose and value tothe community in buildings and other projects throughoutthe Borough.

2019/20 Executive CommitteeAnn Chapman (Acting Chairman)

chair@ealingcivicsociety.org (8567 7955)Corinne Templer (Hon. Vice President) (8567 5353)Josephine Barry-Hicks (Minutes Secretary)Josette Bishop (Treasurer)Philippa Dolphin (Web Manager)Paul Fitzmaurice (8567 3024)Jenny Gadsby (Membership) (8567 3074)Margaret Gold (8567 6158)Robert Gurd (8998 4417)William Hardman (07730 592956)Tony Miller (8997 6042)Jo Winters (Secretary) (8579 1885)

Tony Williams (Newsletter Editor) Contributors: Ann Chapman, Maggie Gold, Josette Bishop, Vivienne Cane-Honeysett, Robert Gurd, Tony Williams.Photos: Ada Lovelace Ursula Martin, et al; Pitzhanger advert TW. Pitzhanger Manor: VCH. Printed by Pollyprint

Planning mattersThere is no article on planning in this edition of thenewsletter but in a few days we will be placing the storiesabout planning applications and our responses on our webpage: www.ealingcivicsociety.org

Deadline for entries• Monday, 16th Septemberwith judging taking placeon Sunday 6th October

Opening of Pitzhanger Manor and GalleryThe newly renovated Pitzhanger Manor & Galleryreopened to great acclaim on 16th March and has beenextremely busy from the moment the doors opened.Both the house and the amazing Anish Kapoorexhibition have been extremely well received and youwill certainly have seen the very positive press coveragein every serious national newspaper. Judging by thehuge smiles on the faces of the many visitors the manorand gallery had over its free entry weekend, people areloving the venue. Some people I spoke to during the opening events, hadnever been to Ealing before and pronounced themselvescharmed by the Manor and its immediate surroundings. Vivienne Cane-Honeysett (report borrowed from theWalpole Now newsletter, April 2019)

In case you didn’t make it tothe re-opening, this – andmany other examples ofindelible pavement art likeit – will be around for sometime to remind you of whatyou missed.