NO-ONE said it was going to be easy. Seven years ago (2002) when a group of Nantwich people set out to restore a little bit of Nantwich's history to a neglected area just outside the town centre, they would not have realised just what they were letting themselves in for.

   Their mission was to save for posterity, and restore to a semblance of its former use, what was little more than an overgrown site.

   But this was a piece of land with a royal connection. This was the former garden of Townsend House - long since demolished - to which King James the First paid a visit on August 27, 1617. He was a guest of the Wilbraham family, who lived in the house for 200 years and who had built the house in 1580 when Queen Elizabeth the First was reigning. He had come to see the town's salt workings.

   Battling to save the land are members of Nantwich Walled Garden Society (NWGS) who are aware a number of property developers owning the site over the years.

   But while they found the townspeople were behind them, Nantwich Town Council, whose job it is to represent the town and its interests, are apparently not behind the project and have not supported the views of the townsfolk. (Well, some of the members have, but in local democracy the majority decision prevails).

   Indeed, one member of the council has called the project to turn the former garden into a tourist attraction "pie in the sky". Cllr Bill McGinnis said: "There is no

other viable option for this site, which is in a terrible state, other than this application (to build six apartments)."  Quoted in The Nantwich Chronicle (February 18), he added: "It is like a jungle in there." Developing his "pie in the sky" theme, he said: "Not only would it cost £1million to buy the land, there are huge extra costs like maintenance. It would never happen."

  The developers in  2009, the Dowhill Group,  submitted new plans to Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council (which was to disappear from the local government scene on March 31 when the new Cheshire East Council absorbed it into a new local authority).

   The latest plan includes more car parking - in a half acre area - which would have seen the new homes all but wipe out the former garden.

   In the wall of the garden, which is listed as Grade 2 by English Heritage, are three recesses described as bee boles, where wicker bee hives would have been installed.

   Cllr McGinnis, referring to the revised plan, says the bee boles would be repaired - "which is a big improvement on previous plans," he said.  

   The NWGS Secretary in 2009, Nicola Booth, told The Chronicle: "Extra parking spaces means more of the garden will be eaten up." She added: "We still hope to open this as a tourist site and it would be great for school children to visit."

      Dowhill's agent, Robert Holmes, is quoted as saying: "This will lead to a slight absorption of car parking

spaces but we do want to keep as much of the precious garden as possible.

  "However, we cannot ignore Cheshire County Council's requirement for adequate spaces and Nantwich Town Council's desire to keep cars from spilling on to the Kingsley Village estate."

   There would be no parking space on the walled garden site according to the NWGS Garden Plan (see this external website).

   But many sites which attract visitors, not just in Nantwich, do not have on-site parking, relying instead on the town's public car parks. Visitors to the walled garden will park on various town centre car parks.       

   Back in the late 1970s, when I was Chairman of the amdram society, Nantwich Players, members voted to support financially the conversion of a derelict building. If they had been as negative as Nantwich Town Council is currently being there would be no Nantwich Players' Theatre.

   I told the Players' members to have faith, take a leap into the future and back the conversion.

  They did, and it paid off. Nantwich Town Council should do the same.   

   FOOTNOTE: Nantwich Walled Garden Society was formed in 2002 as The Campaign to Save the Walled Garden. It changed its name and held an inaugural meeting in 2004. 

"NWGS can be proud that, though their efforts, a much better development application has resulted"

Cllr Bill McGinnis sent me this statement:

"THE NWGS members have their agenda and I am certain the majority of the townsfolk would say "Hurrah" if some means of funding restoration, maintenance and security could be found.

  "Unfortunately, despite attempts over a number of years, there is nothing in the pot.

   "It is entirely understandable that members have high aspirations but at the Town Council we do need to consider practical issues.

   "The Town Council has not opposed the aims of the NWGS. However, it has consistently called for a viable plan before any financial backing could be given.

   "The document produced by the society had several glaring flaws which gave rise to questions which have gone unanswered.

   "Leaving aside all the doubts surrounding the purchase and restoration, there remains the major problems of the ongoing costs - the gardeners, the maintenance of the structures and the security of the site.

   "In addition, if the garden were to prove a tourist attraction, the planning authority would be most interested in parking provision.

   "It is sad that restoration is so unlikely - barring a Lottery winner or other benefactor - but sometimes we have to take it on the chin.

   "I said at the last council meeting that NWGS can be proud that, though their efforts, a much better development application has resulted.   

   "The site is a mess and will get worse. One fear we have is that it will eventually attract the attention of undesirables and that will give rise to a host of

problems.

   "All in all, I believe that the council's view is sensible and pragmatic. In all the circumstances, the

current application offers a solution that will preserve the walls and the bee boles."

NOTE: The "major problems" mentioned by Cllr McGinnis are dealt with in the NWGS plan for the garden (see link above). 

The picture of Cllr McGinnis was taken from the Nantwich Town Council website (Nantwich Chronicle picture). Cllr McGinnis is no longer a member of Nantwich Town Council.

l  Nantwich Walled Garden Society has a plan for restoring and running the walled garden. It is not now believed that the purchase price of the land would be £1million (as stated in the main article). 

See below for a reply - from me - to another councillor's comment