Latest news with #DuchyofCornwall
Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Times
Downtown Abbey creator's anger at homes near Thomas Hardy's house
The creator of Downton Abbey has accused Dorset Council of having 'no appreciation for history' after it granted the Duchy of Cornwall permission to build 100 houses next to Thomas Hardy's historic home in Dorset. Lord Fellowes of West Stafford, who is president of the Thomas Hardy Society, questioned whether the developers had a 'conscience' over the plans. He said developing the countryside so close to where the Victorian novelist wrote many of his great works, such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and The Mayor of Casterbridge, would make it more difficult for fans to understand Hardy's inspiration. The Thomas Hardy Society said it would be challenging the decision by Dorset council and urged the duchy to spare the 'sacred' land at Stinsford, on
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes says Prince William's Duchy of Cornwall has 'no conscience' after go-ahead to build 100 houses next to Thomas Hardy's home
The creator of Downton Abbey has said Prince William 's Duchy of Cornwall has 'no conscience' after they were given the go-ahead to build 100 houses. Lord Julian Fellowes is urging the royal estate to spare the 'sacred land' which is next to the Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy's historic home. He said developing the countryside so close to where the iconic author wrote many of his great works would make it harder for fans to understand Hardy's methods. The Thomas Hardy Society, of which Lord Fellowes is president, confirmed it would be challenging the decision. They also accused the Duchy of trying to take over Dorchester, citing King Charles ' sprawling designer village of Poundbury to the west of the market town. Hardy, an architect before he became a celebrated novelist, had Grade I Max Gate built in Stinsford on the outskirts of Dorchester in 1885. It was there he wrote some of his best work including Tess of the d'Urbervilles, The Mayor of Casterbridge and Jude the Obscure. He was often inspired by the landscape that surrounded him. He renamed Wessex towns and villages in his books and graphically detailed the countryside he explored in them. In 2022 C.G Fry, the Duchy of Cornwall's developers for Poundbury, submitted plans for 107 houses to be built on four paddocks of land to the north of Max Gate. Dorset Council has now approved the plans despite a number of objections. Lord Fellowes, who lives in the nearby village of West Stafford, said: 'The people who have approved this clearly have no appreciation for the history of the county and the importance of Thomas Hardy to the area. 'I don't really see how the developers and the council, grown men and women, can do that with a conscience. 'I understand that they have to do something about the shortage of housing but there are so many other places that they could be built that would not interfere with such historic sites. 'It will be much more difficult for future generations to truly understand Hardy's life and works.' Mark Chutter, chairman of the Thomas Hardy Society, said: 'This land is quite sacred in terms of the life of Thomas Hardy. 'I know building houses is important but they need to be located appropriately. It should not be adjacent to historic buildings such as Max Gate. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) British poet, novelist and dramatist with his second wife, Florence 'I think the Duchy of Cornwall should think again and should consider the importance of Hardy to the surrounding land. 'The development needs to be stopped so the land can be protected. 'We have already got Poundbury which is Duchy of Cornwall land. That is a huge development which they are still building and now they want to do this so close to Max Gate. 'Why do they have to be there of all locations? 'The Thomas Hardy Society will be challenging this and raising the importance of the location.' The Duchy of Cornwall was established in 1337 to provide an income for the heir to the throne. It is a major landowner with 130,000 acres of land and brings in £24m a year in profit. After King Charles ascended the throne in 2023 Prince William took over ownership of the Duchy. Mr Chutter said: 'It worries me that the Duchy of Cornwall seems to be taking over west Dorset. 'Poundbury has been going on for years and this seems to be next. We are going to be inundated with buildings. 'We are going to get crowded with buildings and the character of Dorchester will become unrecognisable.' Neil Mathews, chairman of the board of trustees of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Dorset, said: 'We recognise the need to build more houses but it has to be done respectfully and in the right manner. 'Developers seem to be building large houses that certainly are not affordable for young people and first-time buyers looking to get onto the property ladder. 'We hope that the developers will be sympathetic towards Max Gate and the ancient henge in the area and not disrespect the historic land. 'I would hope that the Prince of Wales would take an interest in the development and I hope that he would be sympathetic towards the history and heritage and make sure of the affordable nature of the new homes. 'There are also issues with infrastructure. I know the nearest doctors surgery is full to capacity and the schools are at their limit. 'The roads are already rammed. 'There is always the danger that this could be a slippery slope and more and more greenfield land becomes built on.' In its planning application the Duchy acknowledged the proximity of the development to Max Gate, which is run by the National Trust, but said it would not harm the visitor experience. It said: 'This change would not materially affect the experience of the house from the surrounding area, nor the experience within its grounds. 'On this basis it is concluded that the proposed development would not result in any harm to the significance of the house.' They said the scheme will provide 'high-quality homes, including affordable housing, whilst complementing the unique historic identity of the area'. Paul Hoffmann, of CG Fry, added: 'I do not think that the proposed development would result in Max Gate suffering a loss of significance.' Hardy lived at Max Gate from 1885, firstly with wife Emma, and then with his second wife Florence. He dictated his final poem while lying on his deathbed at the property.
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Dorchester homes approved by Dorset Council on Duchy-owned land
Plans for more than 100 homes on Duchy of Cornwall-owned land in Dorchester have been given the green light. Dorset Council has approved plans to build on four fields near St Georges Road and either side of the Dorchester bypass and railway development has been discussed for almost five years and out of the 107 properties proposed, 35% will be affordable project will be undertaken by C G Fry, one of the principle builders for the Duchy's Poundbury development and will provide jobs for at least two years. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, one of the four paddock plots is next to Thomas Hardy's Max Gate home and runs downhill parallel with Syward Road to the rail line. The homes will be a combination of coach house apartments, located above garages, and two, three and four bedroom terraced or detached road junctions in St Georges Road and Syward Road will be created to access the area, with another access point from Friars Close - which some residents in Louds Piece had objected application also acknowledged the development would impact the setting of Max Gate, which is operated by the National Trust. It said: "This change would not materially affect the experience of the house from the surrounding area, nor the experience within its grounds. "On this basis it is concluded that the proposed development would not result in any harm to the significance of the house."Dorset councillors heard on Tuesday that most of the existing trees and hedgerows would be kept with additional landscaping used within the four Council's area planning committee previously agreed the development in July 2024 and the agreements have now officially been signed off. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fishing nets from the Isles of Scilly to be recycled
A new initiative on the Isles of Scilly will give a second life to abandoned fishing gear while helping to protect marine Duchy of Cornwall has placed large wheelie bins around the islands for unwanted fishing nets which social enterprise Waterhaul will recycle into products including sunglasses and mammals, fish and crustaceans can become entangled in 'ghost gear' abandoned at sea which is made up from nets, lines and Duchy said the first collection of gear was expected to be shipped from the islands later in the month. St Mary's harbour master Dale Clark, said: "Abandoned fishing gear is a major threat to wildlife in and around the Isles of Scilly – it's often referred to as 'ghost gear' because even though it has been abandoned, it continues to trap and endanger marine animals including seals, fish and seabirds."Waterhaul, based in Cornwall, said it had already collected and recycled more than 4,252 stone (27,000kg) of fishing gear from the fisherman Shamus Pender Frazer said: "We believe we have a responsibility as fisherman to look after and maintain the marine environment and to minimise, to the best of our ability, any negative impact we may inadvertently have on the ocean."
