Welcome to the award winning Ilkley Chat!
2019 winners with Mayor Steve Butler
Ilkley Civic Society 2019 Design & Conservation Awards
Ilkley Civic Society presented its Annual Awards to local businesses, organisations & individuals on 28 March at The Ilkley Manor House. This year the society presented 6 commendation certificates and one Award to a wide variety of projects all of which had succeeded in making a valuable contribution to improving the townscape of Ilkley or its surrounding landscape. Projects, one very small and to help us keep track of time and others bringing the town into the 21st century. Chair of Ilkley Civic Society Helen Kidman commented on ‘We looked at 30 entries this year, higher than for a number of years, giving the judges plenty to consider ’
Certificates were presented to the following projects by Cllr Steve Butler, Ilkley Town Council Mayor:-
A Design Award, the highest level of recognition was presented to Halliday Clark, local architects, for the contemporary design of a new office block on Mayfield Rd which is now their design studio and has also provided space for other local companies wishing to base themselves in the town. This building stands out not just because of its prominent location on Mayfield Rd but for its striking design with two large ‘bay’ windows with views into the town. The attention paid to architectural detailing outside and inside also impressed the Society. This new building was constructed by local builders Dobsons.
Design Commendation (for new build projects) for a contemporary single storey extension to a Victorian terraced property in the town centre was presented to Halliday Clark architects. Ilkley has many fine Victorian terraces and in this case the rear extension is constructed in steel and glass in a way that conserves the building and retains the historic front elevation of the building. It also provides the owner with much improved and usable well lit floorspace.
Conservation Commendation (for work on historic buildings or structures) Westwood Lodge has been a winner before for earlier phases of the conservation of this historic Grade 2 Listed West Ilkley Villa. The work receiving a commendation is for the final phase of external work to the property and includes much work to the roof of the former coach house now split in to holiday cottages for letting to visitors. High quality re-slating of the roof (using original slates), pitched dormer window repairs and additions involving traditional leadwork, rebuilding the stone chimney to illustrate its history and repairs to the bargeboard fretwork.
All done to a high conservation standard by staff trained in heritage skills working for local firm N J Philips
Environmental Improvement Commendations (projects that enhance the townscape or surroundings of Ilkley) Four projects received commendations in this category
1. Within the Memorial Gardens a new Armistice Plaque has been installed following the efforts of two local residents who raised the necessary funds and arranged the choice of a rock from near White Wells which was transported to the gardens and set in a bed of slate. The plaque attached to the rock, from Ilkley Moor, remembers all those who returned from WW1 to the town and who came to the town to rebuild the community following the Armistice of 11th Nov 1918. Support from Ilkley Town council, Bradford countryside service and local contractors enabled this work to be completed and unveiled on 11th Nov 2018.
2. Our second commendation goes to the Ilkley Dress Agency who have recently moved into retail premises on The Grove and taken over a fine late Victorian shopfront and repainted it in appropriate colours which lifts the streetscene in this area further as it is adjacent one of our commendation winners last year.
3. Definitely the smallest project of this year but after many years of not working the clock on the front elevation of The Dalesway Hotel has been restored and is now working.
4. The last commendation was presented to The Listers Arms for its regular and thorough attention to its shopfront , not really a shopfront as it is a public house, but daily cleaning of litter, occasional pressure washing of the pavement, tubs and hanging baskets of flowers add to the streetscene and are inviting to customers and sets an example for others to follow. First impressions do count.
Cllr Steve Butler closed the evening with ‘thanks to the Civic Society for all its work in the town, not just for the awards project but also involvement in the Neighbourhood Plan, organising walks, Blue plaques and planning comments all aimed at helping the town maintain and improve its character’. He commented on the immense value of historic buildings from hundreds and even thousands of years ago and their value to current communities and the importance of conserving them for the future.
