Noel Turner Award

	for all who love Hadleigh
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It is very easy for an organisation such as ours to be seen to be making objections and complaints but it is important to make comments on things that have been done well. It is also important to encourage others undertaking similar restoration or improvement work to reach for the highest standards.

At the 1987 AGM it was resolved that the Hadleigh Society should in future make awards as and when it might be appropriate, for any outstanding contributions to improving or conserving the environment in Hadleigh. A sub-committee was formed under Jan Byrne and Noel Turner (who was then the Chairman of the Society) to draw up suitable Rules and to look into how best such a scheme should be executed. The result was the Hadleigh Society Award, advertised to the membership in the September 1988 Newsletter as follows:

This award will be made in recognition of outstanding improvements to, or conservation of, Hadleigh’s buildings or environment.

It will be an individual framed commendation.

Nominations for the award should

be sympathetic with their surroundings

integrate with their surroundings

display a high quality of workmanship

be an example of good practice

The award will not necessarily be made each year, but there may be more than one award in a year.

Nominations are invited from members with a closing deadline of 1st January, the nominations will be considered by the Executive Committee, if necessary with the benefit of appropriate expert advice, and any awards will be made at the Society’s AGM.

Nominations for the award should include written comments and reasons for the nomination together with supporting evidence and should be sent to the Chairman, Hadleigh Society to arrive before the above closing date.

In response to that first notice several nominations were received, relating to three Hadleigh properties.

1989

At the 1989 AGM the first Hadleigh Society Award was presented.

'Edwards of Hadleigh'

to Mr. Keith Young on behalf of 'Edwards of Hadleigh' in recognition of the skill and care shown in the renovation of their High Street premises.

At the 1990 AGM it was proposed by John Bloomfield and seconded by Ben Allen that the Society’s award in recognition for ‘Outstanding improvements to, or conservation of, Hadleigh’s buildings or environment’, considered annually, shall in future be known as ‘The Hadleigh Society Noel Turner Award’. Noel Turner, FRICS died on the 23 Aug 1990, aged 72. The logo now used for the award represents the gavel which Noel presented to the society for use by the chairman at meetings.

1991

the first Noel Turner Awards were announced, three in all.

Alterations and refurbishment of 11 High Street, Hadleigh	to Gordon Sutcliffe Antiques for This former mediaeval building had already been altered to form two large areas fronting the street, with single storey extensions to the rear before being refurbished to serve as a gallery for the sale of antiques. The single storey rear extension has been opened into the front spaces by the simple device of wide arched openings. The whole effect is to create a large open gallery with three partially defined areas. This award is made to recognise the high quality of the work done and of the pioneering spirit in establishing a standard for future refurbishment of the South end of the High Street.

Odds & Ends House	to Ann Stephenson at 131 High Street, Hadleigh for conversion of adjoining stables and outbuildings. A range of single storey stables and outbuildings has been converted to provide two disabled bedrooms with en-suite bathroom provision and a third central bedroom with shower, to provide for an accompanying companion/ nurse. The whole is arranged to allow flexibility in particular letting arrangements for disabled visitors to this small hotel. Ramped access is provided; and wide openings formed, suitable for wheel— chair use. The sanitary provision is fully equipped with grab rails and other aids conforming with recommendations for disabled use. This award is made to this unassuming remodelling in recognition of the provision made for the disabled.

Office extensions at the rear of 28 High Street, Hadleigh in Old Fire Station Yard	to Richard Jackson Partnership A two storey extension has been added to the rear of the existing building providing recessed parking space on the South side and two storey offices around and above. The extension is carefully grafted onto the existing building so as to avoid alteration to the existing gable and old tiling but still maintaining the form and pitch in the new extension. The extension has been rendered and the scale is entirely appropriate to the adjoining buildings. On the other side of the building modest, but careful landscaping has provided additional parking nd turning space with pedestrian access to the rear of the offices. This North facade is linked to the existing building by a glazed semi circular roofed link lighthearted in spirit and entirely appropriate to the forward looking nature of the Consulting Engineers whose office this is.

1992

At the AGM the Rev. Canon John Griffin presented the Award on behalf of the Society:

work in connection with the relief weir adjoining Toppesfield Mill House

to Mr Barritt, the local Engineer for the National Rivers Authority Anglian Region. Mr Ripton, the District Engineer, gave a presentation on the background to its introduction and working.

1999

Two awards were presented at the AGM.

‘The Old Lodging House’, Benton Street

Mr and Mrs Peter Jarvis acquired a potentially difficult site for construction within a conservation area in the town of Hadleigh. It was particularly important for the dwelling to be built to harmonise with the variety of local styles adjacent to the proposed building without copying them and produce a design which would sit comfortably amongst these as it mellowed. Moreover the problem of creating a building which would not appear to be out of character whilst providing amenities appropriate to the twenty-first century provided a considerable challenge.

The result has been a building meriting recognition, with much attention to detail, well executed by a local builder, Mr Alan Keeble. The house enhances that part of Benton Street and sets a standard for any further development in the area.

‘The Old Lodging House’ is of much credit to the present owners, whilst the choice of name perpetuates a part of Hadleigh’s history which might easily have been forgotten.

The White Lion Hotel

The White Lion Hotel stands in a very prominent position, which forms part of the vista that creates Hadleigh Market Place. Though frequently changing ownership, it had been derelict for some years, and the Hotel itself and its extensive outbuildings had been the target for vandalism.

Mr Ian Newman of East Anglian Renovations saw the sites potential for meeting the needs of the community, in a singularly imaginative way. By the creation of private accommodation within the historic structure, whilst retaining many of its original features and moreover by designing mews housing to the rear, the site was retained as a single development greatly in character with this part of the town, at the same time as providing a structural link within the Town’s core.

This particular site overall required sensitivity of design as well as of execution. The new buildings are particularly appealing, whilst the total retention of the character of the original structure even as far as retaining the signing is an illustration of vision, ethos and practicality.


2000

No 100 High Street Hadleigh, Suffolk, has long been an eyesore in the conservation area of the town. It was last used as a shoe shop and was still packed with items from this period. The building, which contributes considerably to the street’s appearance, had been allowed to deteriorate to the point of near collapse. Part of the original shop extended into the building to the North and a complicated pattern of subdivision of the two adjacent properties had evolved.


Mrs. King and Mr. Hipkin resolved the boundary issues and commenced repair of the building, whilst retaining the features of its development from its original construction.

								What was discovered under the many layers of evolution was a 15th century medieval hall to which a large hearth had been added in the 17th century. In the 18th Century the building had been refronted, possibly at the time it was made into a shop. The recent restoration has created a compact dwelling of considerable charm having all modem facilities and which does much to enhance the appearance of the Northern part of the High Street. By their low key but effective approach to the project, which in other hands could have easily suffered from over restoration or loss of character, Mrs. King and Mr. Hipkin are to be roundly congratulated.



2003

ANDREW'S the butcher's shop in the High Street has been nominated for its recent refurbishment. The work done is modest but important in the context of the ‘feel’ of the High Street.

The plate glass picture window has been replaced by purpose-made panes of glass. The whole frontage has been redecorated and the blind carefully retained.

Station Yard, off Station Road, has been nominated for a build of high class housing on redundant railway sidings.

The derelict maltings on the site have been sympath�etically converted and the character of the Station has been carefully retained.

2005 There were two awards made at the AGM, presented by Jan Byrne.

Clare Vint, Conservation and Design Officer at Babergh District Council, received the award for progressing a practical pavement scheme on the northwest side of the High Street, which emphasised the group value of listed buildings within the Hadleigh Conservation Area.

The Ipswich and Norwich Co-Operative Society was nominated for the sensitive design of its supermarket extension and pedestrian link, whilst retaining the character of the High Street frontage.