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The ongoing saga of the School Keeper's House, 122 Canonbury Road
The Canonbury Society has again protested against the demolition of this good example of Arts & Crafts architecture.
The ongoing saga of the School Keeper's House, 122 Canonbury
Letters to the Tribune
9 March 2012
Dear Sir,
In the matter of deciding whether or not to demolish the Canonbury Schoolkeeper's house in Canonbury Road, it seems that Islington Council have got themselves into a pickle. The planning department says it is not a planning matter so they are unable to prevent its demolition and in any event the house is the responsibility of Homes for Islington, an agency directly employed (but in the process of being disinstructed) by the Council. But of course it is the Council that owns the house and it is the Council, through its Executive Committee and its Executive Member for Housing which bears responsibility for the house and can ultimately determine its fate.
The Schoolkeeper's house is a good example of Arts & Crafts architecture and contributes positively to the streetscape. It is also a poignant reminder of the scale of domestic architecture a century ago.
The disappointment in this case is not just that we are set to lose a dwelling house of some architectural note but it is the evident lack of transparency and responsibility shown by Islington Council and Homes for Islington in their decision-making and communication to the wider public.
Philip Walker
Chair, The Canonbury Society
Letter written 25 January 2012
With so much political pressure to build key worker accommodation it seems incredulous that Islington Council/Homes for Islington should slap a demolition order on one of its own houses.
The School keeper’s House, 122 Canonbury Road, was part of Canonbury Primary School and up to 2006 was occupied by the school keeper. When he departed, the Council/Homes for Islington did nothing to maintain this attractive building, which incidentally is a good example of Arts and Crafts architecture. As a result the fabric has suffered from neglect and is now to be demolished on the 11th February, possibly on the dubious grounds that it’s a dangerous structure. We don’t know what will be built in its place.
It is shameful that it has got to this stage. Is the building not capable of being inexpensively repaired and brought back into residential use? The house relates well to the nearby Colebeck Mews and Canonbury School, contributes positively to the street scene and is a poignant reminder of the scale of domestic architecture built in this locality 100 years or so ago. We think the proposed demolition is unnecessary and a strange action by Islington Council/Homes for Islington. What is going on?
Philip Walker
Chair, The Canonbury Society
Save the School Keeper's House: Demolition Should be Last Resort
The Canonbury Society has strongly objected to the proposed demolition of the historic and attractive building at 122 Canonbury Road on the following grounds:
1. This 'Arts and Crafts' style cottage contemporary with Canonbury Primary School is an important surviving reminder of the appearance of the Canonbury Road streetscape in the early 1900s when two-story houses lined the opposite side of the road. Setting aside the reasons for the apparent policy of the Council and Homes for Islington to allow this dwelling, occupied as recently as 2006, to deteriorate to an alleged 'dangerous structure' in only 5 years, we believe that demolition should be the last resort after all other options have been exhausted and the following questions addressed:
2. What are the grounds for declaring the structure 'dangerous'? A structural engineer's or surveyor's inspection and report? What was found? Is the report available? Was the Building Control Officer involved?
3. Who would be at risk from any faults that may have been found and how? The users of the adjacent school site? The general public passing by on the pavement? Or only intruders who might manage to penetrate the secure boarding-up?
4. What options have been prepared, costed and considered for repairs needed to make the building safe, and to return the building to beneficial use? Why have they been rejected in favour of demolition? Are the considerations available to the public?
5. What would the Council/Homes for Islington do with the cleared site?
We sincerely hope that the proposed demolition can be cancelled, or at least postponed to allow the above queries to be answered, and options for saving this building given serious consideration.
J A Lambert for the Society
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