See also: Our petition | 24/03632/LBC | 24/03631/FUL | History of the huts | Planning Application FAQ
NEW: On 8th August, the application to renovate the old Grammar School/Community Centre at 5 Palace Street East, demolish two Grade II*-listed historic ancillary buildings, and build two large, out-of-keeping buildings by the Ramparts, was approved by the planning department. This is despite the county councillor asking the application decision to be called in and made by the local area committee.
A beautiful part of Berwick is about to be ruined by crass, commercial overdevelopment.
On the south side of Berwick-upon-Tweed at the bottom of King's Mount, close to the Ness Gate and en route to the famous pier, there is a tranquil patch of the town walls that visitors love. Every day you can see visitors delighting in the cannon pointing out to sea, and then as they walk north towards King's Mount, they invariably stop and admire the view you can see at the top of this page, across the wall towards the town hall. With the trees, paths, old stone and brick, red tiles, and spectacular views, this is a beloved area of our historic town. You can find it with what3words at ///stump.danger.soon.
The Great War Army Hut with Town Walls beyond
What most people don't realise is that behind the tall stone wall looking west, there is a World War I military hut. It lies in the grounds of the old Grammar School, most recently a community centre - you can see the ivy-clad back of the old 18th century building (5 Palace Street East). The army hut was purchased in 1920 by the Berwick Education Committee for use as a classroom, but dates from the early years of the Great War.
This army hut has the original windows and the characteristic louvres for ventilation at either end. The timber exterior is also likely to be original. Some Armstrong huts were built with corrugated iron walls, until a nationwide shortage caused by the German monopoly on production of the zinc used to rustproof the iron led to wood being used instead. Photographs of the camp at Alnwick and huts outside the Berwick Barracks show this type.
Constructed to house the large number of recruits following Kitchener’s famous “Your Country Needs You” campaign, these huts were in use in camps at Berwick, Alnwick and Blyth. Some Armstrong huts from Parade were used to make a fever hospital by Lord's Mount, and the Grammar School example was taken from a military camp near Blyth. The hut therefore has significance to local military history in addition to being part of the history of the Grammar School. If every missing cornice and stolen fire surround in the main building is lamented, how much more tragic is the wilful demolition of entire, historic buildings?
And yet this listed building, along with its 1908 corrugated iron sister hut made by Speirs & Co., will soon be bulldozed, and this oasis of calm and beauty will soon be ruined by overdevelopment of the old Grammar School and former Community Centre on Palace Street East. The view above will largely be blotted out by modern buildings. The central aim of the owner to restore a crumbling historic building is uncontested. But the plans for the back yard - in the middle of this haven - grew to the point where monstrously large buildings are set to be built, 6.4m high and blotting out much of the view towards town, while overshadowing surrounding gardens and houses and introducing poor, jarring architecture. The present (2024) plans use the same designs for the new buildings, but with the garage block turned into a house.
We have the prospect of this highly sensitive conservation area being spoiled by massive, out-of-place buildings. Historic structures will be destroyed, and a charming part of the town walls spoilt forever.
The view from the walls by the Ness Gate
A visualisation of the site with new builds. See more
We are asking that any new buildings should be on a scale that recognises the importance of the views from the walls, and in a style that is sympathetic to their surroundings. Ideally, the rare and historic huts should be renovated and reused as part of the redevelopment, preserving this important part of the town's heritage.
24/03631/FUL (main application)
24/03632/LBC (listed building consent application)
Frequently Asked Questions about the latest planning application
Pictures of the area under threat
Our Berwick Heritage Instagram account
Our Berwick Heritage YouTube account
Fancy some model-making? Download and make Berwick's WWI Army hut and 1908 Speirs hut in 1:120 scale.