Visit to The Speakers House - April 2019
One of the delights of being a member of the Thorney Island Society is that we visit places that are not normally open to the public. On this memorable visit we we were shown around the hallowed crimson-tinted state rooms of the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The walls are festooned with magnificent portraits of previous Speakers ranging from Lord Addington (the only one to be both Speaker and Prime Minister) to the present incumbent John Bercow who has broken with tradition by having an action/working portrait of himself in the Chair rather than a formal one in state robes.
Among the highlights were an impressive dining room and a magnificent bed which heirs to the throne have the right to sleep in before their Coronation if they so wish but which hasn’t been used since George lll, quite possibly because, as our guide discreetly pointed out, it is not ensuite. However, in the same room, a large standing mirror is used by the Queen when she dresses for the State Opening of Parliament.
These are formal state rooms in which the spirit of Pugin, who designed the interior, is apparent everywhere, though he never lived to see it for himself. The rooms can only be visited with the permission of the Speaker and his family actually live in separate accommodation upstairs. Our sincere thanks to the Speaker and his Trainbearer, our excellent guide Jim Davey.
Visit to The Speakers House - April 2019
Ann Carlton our Co-founder
With great sadness we report the death on the 9th March of Ann Carlton, who co-founded The Thorney Island Society with June Stubbs in 1985. Her funeral was held in Bury Port, Carmarthenshire on 30th March. Please contact the Society if you would like to send condolences to her family.
Thorney Tales (17) Westminster Coke and Gas Company
Spring-Summer 2019 Newsletter
Illuminated River
We have been consulted about this interesting new project, the Illuminated River. The idea is to enliven all 15 bridges between Albert Bridge and Tower Bridge at night with a lighting scheme that celebrates each particular bridge’s characteristics. Because LED lights will be used the total energy consumption will be less than the current lighting schemes and will also be less intrusive to the wildlife in the river, which depends on natural darkness.
If you want to read more about the project, and watch an animated visualisation go to: https://illuminatedriver.london/project#about-project
Dolphin Square Redevelopment
Residents of Pimlico are very concerned by the threat to Dolphin Square from a development that plans to make significant alterations to the buildings and threatens the garden. They would welcome support in fighting this proposal - initially by signing their petition at Change.org:
The issue is of Westminster-wide concern because the increased density proposed, in what is already a high density development, is setting a dangerous precedent.
For further information please go to : dolphinsquare.co.uk
Townsend House, Greycoat Place
UPDATE !
February 2019 Whilst we are still sorry to see the demise of the present Edwardian building, we think the new version, without the metallic upper floor, is a big improvement on the first submission last February 2018. Read our full response on the Planning page.
January 2019 This application has been backwards and forwards to WCC with various changes over the past year. The current proposals for the latest planning application were unveiled at a public exhibition on site on Thursday, 17th January.
6th February 2018 We are sad that this attractive brick-built building is to be demolished; it is surprising and unfortunate that none of the surrounding conservation areas cover this small area, which includes the nearby Grade 2 listed Greycoat Hospital School.
Read our full response here and go to the Planning page for a link to WCC to view the planning application :
We are of course unhappy that some dwellings in Emmanuel House and the probably residential first floor of the Greencoat Boy will suffer from reduced natural light.
We note the changes to the façade made since the public consultation, but we are disappointed that the corner facing Artillery Row has not changed significantly. It seems to us that this corner, identifying the entrance, will be a weak element in the façade, rather than the strongest.
The gradual increase in massing of the top floor roof element has diminished the quality of the façade. This element does not work well with the two contrasting glazing rhythms below.
The windows on the to residential floors are presumably openable – it would be good to have images of their appearance when open.
Car parking spaces: Estimate of one arrival and departure per day does not equate to a single car. It is not obvious to us that there is surplus residents’ parking provision. We would like to see a change in policy over allowing residents’ parking permits for new developments that are well-served by public transport.
Autumn-Winter 2018 Newsletter
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AGM 2018
The Society's AGM was held on 13th November 2018 at the Grange Rochester Hotel. The meeting was pleased to welcome Ptolemy Dean, architect of the new Weston Tower leading to the Queen's Jubilee Galleries and 19th Surveryor of the Fabric of Westminster Abbey, who gave an excellent talk with slides on the background, design and construction of the tower and explained some of the future plans and challenges facing the Abbey in order to improve the overall visitor experience, ticket hall, security check and storage areas.
Please click below to view:
Centenary of Armistice Cenotaph Service and Exhibition in St James's Park
Remembrance Day, 11th November, started at 11am with two minutes silence marked by the firing of guns from the King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade followed by a service at the Cenotaph. TTIS Vice President, The Right Revd Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London led the service of remembrance which was attended by the President of Germany for the first time.
