There is a petition out on
Plumstead Station:
“Network Rail South East: Save Our Station (History) -
Plumstead - Sign the Petition! http://chng.it/xy4X2py5 via @UKChange”
The background to this is explained on the Facebook Plumstead People
page https://www.facebook.com/groups/PlumsteadPeople/permalink/2842405889166134/
and this has been copied at the bottom of this posting. So - see below.
***
Meanwhile - What else has come in?
A number of people have pointed out to us information from the the pan European heritage organisation, EuropaNostra, with reference to their endangered sites programme and the possibility of referring our poor gas holder to it. It's probably much too late to save the gas holder now - although we are still hoping that some elements from can be kept. However, I am putting below are some details from Europe Nostra web site. newsletter@europanostra.org
"Call for Nominations - the 7 Most
Endangered 2020 - Deadline extended to 1st August 2019. Most Endangered
Programme: Apply Now
"If you know of an important
heritage site in Europe that is endangered – such as a historic monument or
archaeological site, a place of worship, an industrial complex, a historic
park, a museum or a movable heritage asset – why not nominate it for the 7 Most
Endangered programme 2020?
The Most
Endangered programme identifies threatened monuments and sites in Europe and
mobilises public and private partners - on a local, national and European level
- to find a viable future for those sites. It is not a funding programme. Its
aim is to serve as a catalyst for action.
Europa Nostra, the leading European heritage
network, runs this programme in partnership with the European Investment Bank
Institute and with the support of the Creative Europe programme of the European
Union. You can nominate a heritage site
with the support of an organisation in your country that is a member of Europa
Nostra or directly by joining our pan-European network of member and associate
organisations.
The 7 Most Endangered
heritage sites in Europe for 2020 will be announced in March 2020. It is only with your help that we can save our
shared heritage treasures! Submit your nomination by 1 August 2019 (deadline
extended).
EUROPA NOSTRA The Voice of Cultural Heritage
in Europe | La Voix du patrimoine culturel en Europe. Headquarters Lange Voorhout 35,
2514 EC The Hague, The Netherlands | +31 70 302 40 50 | info@europanostra.org . With the support of the Creative
Europe programme of the European Union"
And better get in fast before Boris
junks any chance we get of being part of the programme
***
London Railway Record. The July
2019 number has a colour feature on Woolwich Line signal boxes. These are pictures taken in the 1960s by Terry Tracy and covers boxes
from Woolwich Arsenal to Slade Green.
It begins with Woolcwich Station
signal box which dated from 1906 and continues with Abbey Wood, Belvedere Crabtree Crossing, Erith, North End and Slade Green. The photographs are interesting and with each one are details of the box, its purpose and its eventual fate.
***
Links is produced by the Newcomen Sciety and the cover of the June 2019 issue features a porcelain pot
with a picture of our East Greenwich gas holder reproduced on it. Inside an article describes how all techniques from the past have been used up by potters is
today and cites the work of Raewyn Harrisom who has produced these pots
showing the East Greenwich Gas holder.
Hopefully we can get in touch with Raewyn and find out more about her
work and why she picked the holder as a decorative item
***
Appleby Engineers
Appleby were a major engineering
firm based on the Greenwich Peninsula and elsewhere in the late 19th
century. We have had speakers at GIHS on Appleby ands a short article
about them in the Greenwich Society Newsletter last year led to a great deal of
interest from local people. Research on Appleby has been undertaken by John Steeds
and he ill has been in touch with us recently about some questions from the Museum at Goulburn in Australia where some Appleby engines are preserved, He
has sent us the following information which he has sent to hem
"One of the questions you asked me was where the
castings for the Goulburn beam pump were manufactured. Whilst I cannot be certain, I now think that there is a very good
chance that they came from the Haslam Foundry and Engineering Company in
Derby. This was also known as the Union Foundry. I have recently discovered that Charles James Appleby was a
director of A.S.Haslam and Co. in Derby.
I had thought that I had found details of all of the various
Appleby works, in both Leicester and London. Because of a couple of
references I had long suspected that there may also have been another works in
Derby, but despite a lot of hunting, and various other experts telling me that
I was mistaken, I had rather given up the hunt. However, I have
recently found an article telling me that Charles Appleby was made one of the
six directors of the newly re-formed Engineering and Ironfounding
business of “A.S.Haslam and Co” working at the Union Foundry in Derby.
On 13 Dec 1876 Alfred Searle Haslam resurrected his old company,
as a new company, and was joined by 5 new directors. In addition to A.S.
Haslam,and C.J.Appleby the other new directors were Edmund A Pontiflex, John
Barton and William Henry Ashwell – all clearly Engineers of some distinction,
as I have been able to find details of their various careers and Joseph Jessop
who had connection with Appleby Brothers. Initially Haslam’s
specialised in heavy and hydraulic machinery but then came ship
refrigeration. Appleby Brothers intention was to send as much of
their heavy work as possible to Derby - and I guess that this probably included
the castings for the Goulburn Beam Pump. Also, the 1882 date of the pump is
relatively soon after the date that the Applebys became involved in the Derby
Works.
Mr Alfred Haslam became very successful in the production of
refrigeration for ships for the movement of meat from the other side of the
world. This he patented in the early 1880’s and he monopolised the industry
until the mid 1890’s. In addition to refrigeration of ships he supplied
refrigeration to docks, hospitals and hotels. He was so successful that he was
knighted by Queen Victoria and became Mayor of Derby.
I am still trying to find more information about the Derby
production. As a part of your researches, have you found any reference to
the Haslam Union Foundry?
and John has asked us: "I would really
like to find out how long Charles James Appleby and Joseph Jessop remained
Directors of A.S.Haslam and Co. Do you know of any directories etc.
where this information may be found?"
***
Here is the detail for the Plumstead station
petition
Save Our Station History! Network Rail are mandated to
provide accessibility to all train stations; this is a good thing! Destroying
local history and ignoring the local community is not! I am petitioning
Network Rail to reconsider their plans, re-visit the very attractive
alternative proposals suggested last year (from Positive Plumstead Project - https://www.facebook.com/pppse18/
and respect Plumstead.
Step Free
Access for all London Stations, especially Plumstead (SE18) is welcome however
not at any cost. Network Rail proposes installing an “off the peg” footbridge
and lift shafts, directly from the station building. which will
mean demolishing the historic bridge and replacing it with a massive
modern box structure. It should be noted, that the station was built in 1859,
not just to cater for the area’s rapidly expanding population and Royal Arsenal
workforce, but so that materials could be transported to and from the Arsenal
via the famous “Hole in the Wall”. Evidence of this use still remains at the
station. Its importance to the history of the Arsenal should not be
underestimated. Furthermore, the Greenwich Line was the first in London. The
only original stations surviving are Greenwich, Westcombe Park and Plumstead
– presenting three different styles.
During the Area Planning Meeting Network
Rail refused to consider the following points; 1) The current layout presents
pinch-points, which are problematic at busy times. Network Rail’s plans will
exacerbate the problem rather than solve it.
(Alternative plans suggested by
Community Action Group Positive Plumstead Project would create two ways to
enter/exit the platforms. Indeed, this will be of particular benefit to people living in Glyndon, for
instance.)
Network Rail’s plan will mean the demolition of the 1892 iron
lattice footbridge, the removal and replacement of the attractive brick steps,
also dating from 1892, damage to the attractive 1892 section of the building,
removal of part of an 1892 canopy and removal of a crenellated section of the
original 1859 station. The crenellations (repeated over the Sam’s Coffee sign)
are mirrored on nearby buildings, creating (in heritage lingo) group value and
a sense of place.
(Alternative
plans suggested by Community Action Group Positive Plumstead Project would mean
that all of the original features, of this charming Victorian Station, will be
retained.)
Network Rail intends to install an unsightly, “off the peg”
footbridge close to Plumstead Bridge, at a height that will blight an area
earmarked for a “makeover”. Indeed, the Area Planning Committee gave this very
reason for its previous refusal. Network Rail has notably failed to address
this issue by sticking to its original designs.
(Alternative
plans suggested by Community Action Group Positive Plumstead Project proposal
would move the bridge further along the track, westwards, so that the station
can continue to tie together the Victorian elements of local architecture,
rather than the eye being drawn to the current proposal.)
Concerns have been raised around fear of crime and
anti-social behaviour in relation to enclosed bridges and covered stairs,
citing experiences of the new footbridge at Church Manor Way as an example.
(Alternative
plans suggested by Community Action Group Positive Plumstead Project suggest
ideally the bridge be made of glass, which is less obtrusive and less likely to
attract crime and anti-social behaviour than one that is mostly opaque.)
The station will have to be closed, for some considerable
period, for the works proposed by Network Rail, to be carried out.
(Alternative
plans suggested by Community Action Group Positive Plumstead Project mean
extended closure will be unnecessary.)
The Network Rail plans, by their admission, are the more
expensive.
(So £££
cannot be sued as an excuse to dismiss this.)
Network Rail proposal received absolutely zero
formal submissions of support. 83 people, however objected.
(So local
support cannot be cited as a reason to go ahead.)
Network Rail coerced the Area Planning Committee into
accepting its lazy, one size fits all proposal, by using emotional blackmail,
ignoring requests and reneging on an arrangement for a site visit to explore
alternative ideas. Previously, Network Rail endeavoured to protect attractive
stations, by locating such additions separately, albeit that these tended to be
in more affluent areas. Under the Access for All programme, however, they are
applying a one size fits all approach.
Network Rail is relying on a very old law (dating back, even,
to before the creation of the station itself) which means that it can build and
demolish whatever it likes within and close to its property. Which means
ignoring local community voices.
Recently in Charlton SE7 Network Rail, due to local public
pressure, were made to change their minds in shutting an important access
crossing, please sign and hare this to get them to
change their minds and Save Our Station (History!)*