Minutes of the Totnes Heritage Group Meeting

28th February 2011 at the Bay Horse Inn

Present: Ed Vidler, Kristin Saunders, Diane Reeves, Judy Westacott, James Bellchambers, Charles Fox, Jennifer Humphries, Kathy Alexander.

1. Apologies
Pruw Harper-Boswell, Julia Fox, Amanda Richards, John Ducker.

2. Minutes of last meeting
All agreed and approved as a true record.

3. Matters arising
Town weir: James is appealing against the decision to put in the Archimedes screw (due to the potential loss of any archaeology).

4. Risk to town’s buildings brief
Pruw has compiled the list of listed buildings and Ed confirmed there would be funding available to apply for.

4.1  Refinement of the brief
Kathy and Jenny have made up the brief which was read through by the members present and it was generally agreed it was a good start. Kathy raised the question of who is going to approach potential clients and build on the brief? It was suggested that Linda Watson at Plymouth University or Nils White, South Hams Conservation Officer, could possibly lend advice. Kathy said she bumped into Linda Watson in October and told her about project – Linda sounded supportive and said everything we need is on websites. Kathy suggested we could send an updated brief to Linda and also suggested offering the project to a postgraduate student at Plymouth University. Charles added there should also be a supervisor for the project (Kathy will put this under implementation on brief). It was mentioned that matters such as cost elements (eg. expenses and fees that would incur from enlisting a postgraduate student) would have to be investigated and Kristin added that the students’ insurance would be covered by the University as long as we were not employing them directly. Judy suggested we should refine the brief only after a suitable postgraduate student had been found and that the project should be presented to the owners and occupiers of Totnes historic buildings when we have the project underway (rather than presenting a proposal) in order to stimulate greater interest.

4.2  Potential pilot study buildings
Kristin suggested that the owners/occupiers may relate better to reports on more modest buildings rather than grander buildings or those with a complex historical past (such as the Guildhall). Therefore the following buildings were suggested as possible targets:

i.  John Drysdale house (as it is relatively manageable)

ii. Jane above Backtrax (who has already stated an interest)

iii. Dave and Giselle’ Cutts house (smaller and more modest)

iv. La Forchette (some history already known and access reasonably easy as it is a restaurant, and        therefore already open to the public).

v.  Seasalt (they own the whole building as far as we know [Kathy])

vi. Harlequin bookshop (owner, Paul Wesley, is Chair of Chamber of Commerce)

Kathy suggested that the project should be kept relatively simple but should provide useful information and said that the English Heritage website has some basic starting points, but not necessarily accurate in every course, if example of pub is anything to go buy (listed as 19C but clearly older). Charles said this only picks up on the key features and a more detailed record is available through the county’s conservation officer on a case by case basis (obviously only if a particular building as had work done on it). Ed added that the project should be held in the Totnes Museums Study Centre for reference as we do not have the authority to hold the information privately

4.3. Possible advertising opportunities
Kristin mentioned we need more things in the public eye and suggested using the upcoming filming about ‘funky’ Totnes as a possible opportunity to advertise about the heritage project, perhaps by asking Rob Hopkins or Alan Langmaid to say something about it although doubts as to the usefulness of this was touched on.

4.4  Action to be taken

i.  Di said she would write down all the listed buildings that are logged at Totnes Museum.

ii. Kathy will write a covering letter to go along with the project draft in order to seek advice, this would go out to Linda Watson (Plymouth University), Nils White and Richard Gage (South Hams Council) as it was agreed it would be good to get their approval and support. The postgraduate student project proposal would be mentioned, adding that the Heritage group will supply them with the information we already have and provide a list of available resources and that the first stage will have some funding attached but the next stage will have greater funding (for printing, photographs etc).

In the next meeting we will see what response we’ve had.

5. Book storage
As the book storage is no longer available in Birdwood House, Ed has arranged for Lydia Stocks to hold the Plaster Ceiling ones and, Di has the Reeves books at her house. Thanks to Di and Ed!

6. Any Other Business

6.1 Heritage Open Days
We have until the 6th May to register events. Totnes Museum and the Image Bank won’t be taking part.

6.2 Totnest Development Trust
It was all agreed that our page on this website should be updated (to get rid of inaccurate entries including changing the ‘publishing’ listing to ‘occasional’ publishing and removing the the focus on Heritage days as they are no longer a focus of the group.

6.3 CVS Website
The CVS emailed Kathy to ask if we’re happy to continue our listing on their website. The main page states who the chair person is and the group mission. All agreed to taking out the steam railway activity and churches entry as they have stopped attending. All agreed to leaving on the request for volunteers for the Image Bank but remove request for Reeves project volunteers. Thena wrote a general bit to advertise for volunteers for the Heritage group – as some of the best volunteers have come from CVS it was all agreed this should stay.

Kathy said she will change the wording and send the revisions back to CVS.

6.4 James said he spoke to Ann Ward who told him that one of two ceiling paintings have been taken down in the Civic Hall. This has already been featured in the local press after it was discovered that the artwork had been left leaning in the window, in direct sunlight. Judy said she would send Pruw, as Heritage Officer for the Town Council, an email to register our interest and concern in the subject.

Next meeting: May 10th at 6.30pm at the Bay Horse Inn.

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