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THE BLACKHEATH PRESERVATION TRUST
celebrating 70 years of local historic building preservation projects
If you own a historic building and have ever submitted planning applications to the local
authority, you will perhaps find it hard to imagine that, as recently as the 1930s, you
could buy a historic building and simply demolish it without breaking the law. Planning
legislation, including a listing system for historic buildings, was not introduced until
1948; the first conservation areas were created in the 1960s; and the substantial part of
today’s planning legislation dates back only to 1974.
Nevertheless the Blackheath area is exceptionally well endowed with historic buildings,
many in groups forming most attractive streetscapes, numerous others created together in
the beautiful and extensive Cator Estate area. Without the initiative in the 1930s of two
gentlemen from Blackheath, some of these buildings would almost certainly not exist
today.
In 1937 Alan Martin (Treasury solicitor) & William Davidge (architect & town planner)
were members of the newly formed Blackheath Society. As the Society lacked the funds
to acquire and protect historic properties, they decided, together with other local people
willing to become shareholders, to create the Blackheath Preservation Trust Ltd in 1938.
Today there is a network of preservation trusts throughout the country but, unlike most of
them, the BPT (one of the first) was not set up as a charity and cannot attract grant
funding. Interestingly the Shareholders have never sought to receive any financial gain
from their involvement. They were (and continue to be) benignly committed to possibly
the first community-based property development company in the country.
Alan Martin and William Davidge showed remarkable vision with their choice of
properties too. Surprisingly not all were over 100 years old or in Blackheath itself, and
both commercial and residential buildings were acquired. This strategy has been
maintained. Sometimes completed projects were sold, and the funds re-invested in a new
scheme; or properties were let on long leases, ensuring the Trust retained an element of
protection over the building.
The only Grade I building renovated by the BPT is Vanbrugh Castle, in Maze Hill
SE10. Built in the style of a castle by Sir John Vanbrugh (18th century architect and
playwright) for his own use, it is one of the four extant buildings he designed.
Converted from a school into four fine apartments, its future is assured.
Vanbrugh Castle
In 1999 the Trust acquired the Lease on Boone’s Chapel, a sadly neglected Grade I
building on Lee High Road SE12. A separate company, The Blackheath Historic
Buildings Trust, was created by BPT as a charity to take ownership of the Lease, as it
was not viable as a development project. Restoration, largely due to a grant from the
Heritage Lottery Fund, is nearing completion, managed by the BHBT under their
Chairman, Sir Ian Mills, a former Director of the BPT.
At the other end of the scale, Poplar Cottage (80 Charlton Road SE3), one of the last of
the local ancient houses (parts are 15th century), was restored in 1996-98, gaining a Civic
Trust Award.
Restoration of The Blackheath Halls is the largest project undertaken by BPT, the
brainchild of Neil Rhind and Bobby Furber, the Trust’s Secretary and Chairman
respectively at the time. The Halls are part of a remarkable cultural complex (beside the
Conservatoire and School of Art) created in the 19th century by Blackheath people for the
locality. It was taken over by the Government in 1940 and the BPT purchased the
property in 1977, when under threat of demolition for development. The BPT has
retained the freehold, and Trinity College of Music recently became the majority
shareholder in the company owning the Lease. TCM have carried out substantial
restoration of the beautiful front façade and interior, and have enterprising plans for
further improvements.
The Trust bought The Blackheath Art Club in Bennett Park because it was a building of
distinction (arts & crafts), important in the history of the area, yet unlisted and
vulnerable. It was founded as a residential art club, with studios and a gallery, in 1885.
The famous documentary Night Mail was made there in 1936. The main building and
annexe are now divided into eleven flats, on a shared freehold basis.
Blackheath Railway Station was built as part of the original North Kent Line and is one
of the oldest stations in the country still unaltered and in use. The BPT acquired the lease
of the first floor on the south side, originally the Stationmaster’s House, and converted it
into offices, renamed Chapman House after the first stationmaster (for 48 years!).
The BPT, Blackheath Society and Cator Estate are all based there, the other offices being
let to local small businesses.
Chapman House
The Trust also renovated the old Village fire station, now called Brigade House, just off
Royal Parade, creating three floors of characterful offices.
In addition to bricks & mortar, about 3.5 acres of urban woodland between Maze Hill &
Vanbrugh Hill in Greenwich (the Westcombe Woodlands) was purchased from the Area
Health Authority in 1982 to protect it from development. A subsidiary, The BPT
Woodlands Company Ltd (BPTWCL), was created to take ownership of the site. A
condition in the planning permission for the adjacent development in Restell Close
requires the developer to provide £57,800 over six years for the benefit of the woods.
This has provided much needed funding and enabled some positive work to be done to
the site.
A full list of the properties acquired and restored by the BPT is available on the
Blackheath Society website (www.blackheath.org then follow the link to BPT).
The current BPT Board: Julia Maynard (former solicitor), Frank Smith (accountant and
Chairman of the Blackheath Society) and Carolyn Watkins (architect) is chaired by Ted
Watts, a surveyor and property developer – an ideal combination for its role. Recently the
BPT Board decided that, with strict planning laws now in place, the original purpose of
the company has run its course. This decision was endorsed by its Shareholders. A
number of freeholds previously retained have recently been sold, to the Lessees in most
cases, and the office is no longer staffed as the activities have been wound down.
However the on-going stewardship of the company’s remaining assets, and a love of the
area, continue to be important to the Board, as they consider a future role for this unique
local company.