The
Biggleswade Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses has made another planning application
to demolish Kingdom Hall, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, (which is within a
conservation area), and build a new Christian Meeting Room.
The previous Planning Application CB/11/01495 & CB/11/01496 made in April 2011, was withdrawn.
Comments made at the time by the Central Bedfordshire Conservation Officer - The points made by the Biggleswade History Society are helpful in filling in some of the previously unknown background of this 1924 hall. This certainly adds something to its historical interest - but the building is unexceptional in architectural terms and thus not it is considered, eligible for proposed listing & is not identified as of local interest in the 2005 Conservation Area appraisal. On this basis, despite the WW1 memorial value, difficult to resist redevelopment - so long as the replacement building is of clear high quality in design.
The Consultation period started on 14th September and closes on 27th October 2012, if you have any comments to make. This time, apart from the Public Notices on Friday 5th October 2012, I cannot recall seeing anything about this in The Biggleswade Chronicle.
The application will be discussed at the Biggleswade Town Council Meeting tonight (9th October 2012).
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Previously from Mike Strange on behalf of The Biggleswade History Society :
The
building was the Church Memorial Hall. It was first mooted at a public meeting
held in the Masonic Rooms on 21st January 1919 to discuss building a hall in
memory of the soldiers who had fallen during the 1914-18 war. The site chosen
was on land in front of the Church School. The land was conveyed to the
Parochial Church Council represented by the vicar and churchwardens.
The
building finally came to fruition when it opened on 9th October 1924 at 3pm
followed by tea and entertainment, repeated at 7.30pm. Funds were raised by
various donations including church bodies and by public subscription; the total
cost was about £1,485. There was still an outstanding debt of £105 in July 1925
cleared by a fete in the vicarage gardens.
The
Chapter House replaced the Memorial Hall and the hall was put up for sale. When
the area behind was redeveloped the building was sold to The Jehovah Witnesses
and was dedicated as the Kingdom Hall in March 1978. Since then the original
building has been altered and enlarged on this important corner site together
with a car park accessed from Ivel gardens.
Above is an artist's impression of the building in 1923.
If
this is allowed to be demolished it will be another snook cocked at preserving
our heritage and an insult to the men in whose honour it was originally
constructed.
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