Old photograph of cottage wins over councillors
The owners of a 19th century cottage have been given the go ahead to change its windows after an old photograph was unearthed showing its original look.
East Lothian Council planners had recommended councillors refuse permission for the white timber frames of the windows at Engine Cottage, North Berwick, to be replaced with 'tarpaulin grey' modern aluclad alternative.
However a meeting of the council's planning committee heard that while the cottage was listed in the Eighties as a Category B building, its white frames were only installed in the 1960s and were not original.
Councillor Donna Collins shared a century old photograph she found online of the cottage which appeared to show it had much darker frames earning her the nickname 'Miss Marple' from the Provost.
Current windows at Engine Cottage, North Berwick, have white frames pic courtesy ELC planning portal
Councillor Collins told the committee: 'This type of building is called Tudor timber and I trawled the internet trying to find images of this style with only ten, out of hundreds I found, white. Most were a darker timber.'
The applicants wanted to put eight new windows in the home, replacing single glazed white timber ones with the new versions.
But a report by planners said the proposals should be refused even though the windows they were replacing were not all original to the building itself.
Planning officers said advise on listed buildings from Historic Environment Scotland said windows should only be replaced if repairs cannot be carried out and should be like for like.
The said of the proposed changes: 'The loss of the single glazed, timber framed windows and their replacement with grey coloured, non-traditional aluclad framed windows, some with unauthentic plant on type astragals would be harmful to the special architectural or historic interest of the listed
building and harmful to the character and appearance of the North Berwick Conservation Area.'
However the meeting heard the white windows which were in a poor state were not originals and other buildings on the Carlekemp plantation where the cottage is had darker window frames.
Councillor Collins produced an image she had found on a historic website showing the cottage with dark window frames.
Provost John McMillan thanked her for her efforts in tracing the original picture adding:' Councillor Collins may go by a new nickname Miss Marple.'
Councillor Cher Cassini, committee member, said: 'Since the current windows are not the original and are in poor condition I see no reason not to support the application.'
And Councillor Neil Gilbert added: 'I think the darker windows are going to be an improvement.'
Councillor Andrew Forrest, however, pointed out that while the white frames were not original, they were in place when the cottage was classified as a listed building and so should be protected.
The committee approved the new windows against officers' recommendation by nine votes to one with only Councillor Forrest backing the planners report.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
Like this:
Like
Related
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
Cambridge University appoints first Jewish professor of Hebrew
When Henry VIII established a royal professorship in Hebrew nearly 500 years ago, the idea that a Jew would fill the role at Cambridge studying the ancient language of the Israelites was impossible. 'It's not surprising, if you know that at the time of Henry VIII Jews were banned from England. So that was quite a technical obstacle,' said Prof Aaron Koller, who later this year will become the first Jewish occupant of the post since 1540. Henry's motives for founding the Regius professorship of Hebrew studies read like a chapter out of Wolf Hall, bound up with the aftermath of his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and England's break with the church of Rome. Koller suspects Henry wanted to boost England's intellectual firepower after the rupture with the papacy, with Hebrew a critical tool for retranslating sections of the Old Testament and offering competing interpretations to those used by the church in Rome. 'I need to learn about the Tudor background to this, but about 10 years earlier he and Catherine had been tangling over the interpretation of Leviticus [a book of the Bible and the Torah] and whether their marriage was legal or not,' said Koller. 'For the papacy, Jerome's Latin translation had taken pride of place as the Bible. But as part of the Protestant reformation – [Martin] Luther was very big on this, and in England it happened as well – the thinking was: we have to go back to the original, so we want to read about it in the Hebrew and the Greek.' Royal attention could also be dangerous. After Mary I acceded to the throne, the body of one of Koller's predecessors as professor of Hebrew was dug up, charged with heresy and burned, in a sign of her regime's displeasure. But Koller said Henry's decision also reflected the status of Hebrew alongside ancient Greek and Latin as a classical language of scholars. Studying Hebrew allowed intellectuals to tap into thousands of years of literature spread across the world. Koller, who teaches at Yeshiva University in New York, said part of his new role will be 'convincing the British public that Hebrew studies is of broad interest,' regardless of background or religion. Koller said: 'One of the challenges we've had, politically and educationally, is that the idea of Hebrew has been tied in with a particular nation state in the past 75 years. 'While that has some advantages – suddenly you have 10 million native speakers of the language – it also has educational disadvantages because people are thinking, Hebrew is quite a political thing. Whereas no one thinks that about Latin, it's easier to sell it as politics-free than Hebrew, which immediately makes people think: what am I doing with this country of Israel? Do I like it? Do I want to go there? 'But part of my role is to say: Hebrew has a massively and really fascinatingly long history, and has nothing to do with the nation state that happens to exist today in the 21st century. 'You can study medieval Hebrew and be enthralled by the poetry and the philosophy without coming across as taking a stand on a contested issue.' Cambridge's archives include the priceless Genizah Collection of nearly 200,000 books, letters and documents, written mainly in Hebrew, Arabic and Aramaic, retrieved from a Cairo synagogue's storeroom at the end of the 19th century. Koller's own research has included an ancient Hebrew text discovered in a cave in Dunhuang, western China, alongside 40,000 Buddhist manuscripts. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Even during the centuries when Jews were banned from Britain, Koller said there were scholars of Hebrew working on medieval manuscripts in college libraries, although Jews were barred from academic posts until 1871. Geoffrey Khan, Cambridge's current Regius professor, said that until the 1930s the holder had to be an ordained Anglican, and until Khan's own appointment in 2012 the holders had been primarily biblical scholars. Khan said it was 'important to see Hebrew in a wider perspective, including ancient, medieval and modern manifestations,' alongside related Semitic languages and cultures. 'Aaron Koller has a similar interest in taking a wider perspective in his work. I am very happy with his appointment,' said Khan. 'This wider contextualisation of Hebrew in the broader cultures of the Middle East is, I believe, a key change to the profile of the Cambridge professorship of Hebrew that is significant for the history of the post.' Koller said: 'One of the things that attracted me to the job is that Hebrew, as conceived in the position, is not religiously aligned. It's a world cultural language, it's alongside Farsi, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic. 'The same way that we have classics – where we teach Greek and Latin because there are sources and texts that need to be accessible and of interest to all people who are interested in humanistic inquiry – the same is true of Hebrew, and Farsi, and Chinese. And that's how I see my role.'
Edinburgh Live
30-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Future of East Lothian buildings including Brunton Theatre put to the public
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The future of East Lothian council buildings including The Brunton Theatre, has been put to the public as the local authority looks to save £3,6m in running costs. A new survey has been launched seeking residents views on the use of 29 buildings ranging from the RAAC-hit theatre to village halls, libraries and local offices. They are being asked to describe the value the buildings bring to their communities as well as for views on how they could be used in future. East Lothian Council said the month long survey which includes drop in sessions across the county is an 'engagement process' and a chance for people to have a say over how its properties are used. They said: "While there are no plans to stop or reduce these services, new approaches to the operation of buildings could help ensure the council has good quality, well used assets within local communities offering modern and flexible facilities to meet the needs of local residents. "This could be achieved by using buildings differently, for example in some communities co-locating services which might currently be delivered from different buildings under one roof. "There could also be opportunities for communities to take over the running of some buildings – such as by leasing them, community asset transfer or looking at opportunities with community planning partners and others.2 Among the buildings being discussed in the survey is The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, which is closed and expected to be demolished after the discovery of crumbling concrete known as RAAC in its ceiling. People are asked whether they used the theatre before it shut its doors, what they believe it brings to the community and if the council "need to replace the Brunton Hall & Theatre". Also in the survey are the council's Haddington headquarters John Muir House alongside the attached former courthouse, which is owned by the local authority. People are asked about the head office "are there any ways of making savings or increasing / generating income at this building that could be explored?" Participants in the survey are told the could has approved savings including £3.6m from reducing current operational property running costs, alongside £23.4m capital receipts from land and property sales. The council said: "In order to support these challenges, it is hoped this placed based asset review will ensure the council operates good quality and well utilised buildings with modern facilities in a sustainable and efficient way." Drop in sessions are being held next month at various sites. Details of all the buildings included in the survey and public sessions can be found here
North Wales Chronicle
30-05-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Kent landscape that inspired Dickens declared nature reserve
Natural England, which advises the Government on the environment, announced the creation of the North Kent Woods and Downs national nature reserve on Friday. This means the 800-acre landscape has been marked out as an area of focus for conservation and nature restoration efforts. The mosaic of different habitats is home to key species including Man and Lady orchids, the Maidstone mining bee, Hazel dormouse and skylarks, around 1,700 ancient and veteran trees, and the Silverhand Estate – one of the UK's largest organic vineyards. Dickens, who lived in different areas of north Kent during his life in the 19th Century, drew inspiration from the landscape in his writings. The nature reserve designation also aims to boost the local economy, tourism and access to nature for around 400,000 people who live within five miles of the reserve and an estimated eight million who live within an hour's drive away. The ancient woodlands have maintained tree cover since the Tudor era, when Henry VIII was said to have given Kent the nickname 'Garden of England'. Natural England's partners, which include the National Trust, Woodland Trust and Kent County Council, will be working to support conservation efforts beyond the boundary of the reserve to create a joined-up approach to nature recovery for a further 1,100 hectares in the surrounding area. Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England said: 'Creating bigger, better and more joined-up natural areas is one of the most vital and fundamental steps we must take in meeting our national targets for Nature's recovery. 'This new reserve, with its hundreds of ancient trees set amid extensive chalk grasslands, lays the foundations for multiple partners to work together to improve Nature across a significant area of countryside.' The reserve comes as the eighth in the King's Series – a programme to establish 25 large-scale national nature reserves across England by 2027 in celebration of Charles' coronation. Nature minister Mary Creagh said: 'This new National Nature reserve will give people the opportunity to explore Kent's magical landscapes from wildflower meadows to ancient woodlands. 'Reserves like this one, and others in the King's Coronation Series, will deliver on our promise to improve access to nature and protect nature-rich habitats, as well as boosting the local economy in line with our Plan for Change.' Nick Johannsen, national landscape director at Kent Downs National Landscape, said: 'The North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve is especially exciting because of the sheer scale, nearly 20 square kilometres of land managed for nature, people, its beauty and history and for scientific research and so close to the urban centres of Gravesend and the Medway Towns. 'Many partners from the public, private, community and charity sectors are working together here, on some of the very best sites for wildlife in England.' With support from Natural England and Kent Downs National Landscape, the reserve will be managed by a number of partners including the National Trust, Woodland Trust, Kent County Council, Plantlife, Silverhand Estate (Vineyard Farms Ltd) and the West Kent Downs Countryside Trust. Meanwhile, affiliated partners include Gravesham Borough Council, Birling Estate, Shorne Parish Council, Tarmac and Forestry England.
