The Arnold Bennett Plaque proved to be the starting point for the new Commemorative Plaque Scheme. In August 2004 representatives of the Civic Society made a fact finding visit to Leander Architectural at Doveholes near Chapel in le Frith to research the production and costs of 16 inch, vitreous enamel coated aluminium plaques suitable for [...]
Archive for October, 2008
Activities 2008
Posted in Events, tagged Georgian, heritage, Museum on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
We had a full house at the North Staffs Conference Centre on July 21st for Andrew Dobraszczyc’s talk, entitled ‘Who built Georgian Newcastle-under-Lyme?’ It proved an enjoyable evening and was a chance to publicise our Society. A town walk, ‘Exploring Georgian Newcastle-under-Lyme’, led by Andrew Dobraszczyc, took place on Sunday, 21st September at 2.30pm [...]
Local Lists
Posted in Conservation, Getting involved, Planning, tagged Conservation on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Recently, National Government tasked local authorities with reviewing their conservation areas and listed buildings. To this end the NBC has drawn up a Town Conservation Area Plan. This Plan identifies buildings and structures in the town centre which are protected in the face of development plans which might call for their demolition and/or alteration. Additionally, [...]
What can you do ?
Posted in Getting involved, tagged Membership on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
As you are reading this Blog it is probably fair to assume that you are interested in the Borough of Newcastle – its town centre, suburbs and rural communities. You may have fond memories of how it was. You may have strong views about how it is and hopes for its future. It can seem [...]
The Fall and Rise of the Guildhall
Posted in Conservation, Planning, tagged Development, Guildhall on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Guildhall is once again shrouded in scaffolding, as the reincarnation of Newcastle’s iconic building is well under way. Several Councils ago a decision was taken to place this building into the commercial letting sector. This would relieve the local taxpayers of the cost of maintaining it and, hopefully, provide a useful yearly income. Regent [...]
The Georgia Pacific Site
Posted in Planning, tagged Developments, Georgia Pacific, Planning on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
You might have noted several cleared sites around the town centre awaiting development. The former Georgia Pacific site is one. An application was made recently to create a supermarket with a five storey hotel above it. However this appeared to be only part of the application. A Hilton Hotel was also planned for the site. [...]
National Blue Plaque Scheme
Posted in Plaques, tagged English Heritage on October 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The national history of the commemorative plaque scheme began in the early 1860s. Following a series of letters in “The Builder” and the “Journal of the Society of Arts”, a scheme was proposed and in 1867 the Royal Society of Arts erested the first plaque, in London, to Lord Byron. The purpose of a plaque [...]
Historic Building Plaques
Posted in Plaques on October 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In the 1970s, Civic Society members wanted to identify and celebrate some of the buildings of historic or architectural merit remaining in the Borough and mark them with small plaques. These plaques were designed and made by Phillip Gibson a 1973 student at Newcastle School of Art. The plaques were cast and fired in a [...]
Arnold Bennett Plaque
Posted in Plaques, tagged Arnold Bennett, Wedgwood on October 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
In 2004 the Society, in collaboration with the Arnold Bennett Society, sought to recognise the life and work of Arnold Bennett by erecting a plaque in the school where he was educated. One of our members, Philip Hancock, worked tirelessly to co-ordinate and drive the project through to its conclusion. Wedgwood kindly made the plaque [...]
Conservation Matters
Posted in Conservation, tagged Borough Council on October 13, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Newcastle-under-Lyme Civic Society takes special interest in all planning applications and particularly those which affect conservation areas. The Conservation Advisory Working Party was set up by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council some years ago to peruse and advise when planning permission was sought in conservation areas within the Borough. It is made up of elected ward members [...]
