Click on the newsletter image to open the pdf 

The Special 20-page Anniversary Newsletter has been published, celebrating 30 years of Hammersmith Society Awards. Printed copies are being distributed to subscribing members.

Members of the Committee visited this year’s nominations on Sunday 20th May and shortlisted them. They are all shown on the nominations page with just a selection here. If you would like to comment on them, or make suggestions for winners, please use the comment form on the nominations page. 

Award winners will be announced at the AGM in the Bush Theatre on 5th July. 
Members, guests, and friends will be warmly welcomed.

Planters, Lower Mall

Westfield extension / John Lewis

White City Place

2018 Nancye Goulden Award: St Paul’s Girls School Pavilion

2018 Environment Award: TV Centre redevelopment

Ark Conway Primary Academy

2018 Environment Award – Helios / TV centre

LAMDA Wooden Spoon in 2018 – opinions are divided ! It wins awards elsewhere

Guerilla Gardening – tree pits in Galloway Road

2018 Nancye Goulden Award: 2A Loftus Road

2018 Environment Award: TV Centre redevelopment

Riverside Studios – Crisp Road

BT InLinkUK “Phone box”

Capability Brown wears a tiara for the Royal Wedding

Hammersmith Bridge 2017, © Jane Bain

Members of the Hammersmith Society, Historic Buildings Group and HAMRA committees met the team in charge of the major works planned for Hammersmith Bridge.

Jane Bain of HAMRA delivered an  impressive visual presentation about the effect of surrounding developments on the Bridge silhouette and general loss of visibility over time, using archive photographs (small selection shown below) to support our contention that the paint treatment of the Bridge should be revisited so the Bridge is visible, distinctive and can be fully appreciated in longer views. The agreement of Historic England will be needed to any change in the colour treatment, which may be a challenge.

Hammersmith Bridge 1950 © Hammersmith Archives

Hammersmith Bridge 1964 © Hammersmith Archives

Hammersmith Bridge 1986 © Hammersmith Archives

Hammersmith Bridge 2003 © Jane Bain

Hammersmith Bridge, night – Mariusz Czajkowski

We have been pressing the Council – so far unsuccessfully – for us to be involved in decisions regarding the refurbishment of the bridge which is due to take place later this year.  As you will all be aware, the bridge is in need of strengthening so that it can support the weight of double decker buses and some lorries.

This a joint project between Transport for London and the Council who have responsibility for the maintenance of the bridge. Several short term closures have been necessary for temporary works and we understand further closures are necessary to allow detail survey work to be carried out. There still does not seem to be a formal programme for the main works. For obvious reasons we do not expect to be involved in the technical detail and our main interest is in the lighting and redecoration. Since the last lighting upgrade for which the Hammersmith Society gave its Environment Award in 2000 for the ‘blades of light’ created on each side of the bridge, lighting technology has moved on in leaps and bounds so that the individual incandescent bulbs will almost certainly be replaced by strips of modern LEDs.

For years the long held ambition for a continuous riverside walk from Chiswick to Putney Bridge has been thwarted by the presence of Queen’s Wharf and Riverside Studios involving a detour along Crisp Road. At last the final section in front of Queen’s Wharf and the new Studios has been completed and opened.

The statue was finally unveiled at a ceremony on a glorious afternoon on 24th May in front of an invited audience. Unfortunately the original Guest of Honour Sir Roy Strong was unable to attend due to ill health but the organisers were delighted that Gilly Drummond, Chairman of the Capability Brown Festival Celebrations 2016 was able to take his place, together with Cllr Michael Cartwright in his role as Mayor. Gilly is also Chairman of the English Heritage Historic Parks and Gardens Panel and President of the Association of Gardens Trusts.

The Leader of the Council Stephen Cowan, MP Andy Slaughter and the sculptor Laury Dizengremel were also in attendance. Celebrations continued in the Blue Boat Pub nearby.

Capability Brown Statue unveiling

Hammersmith Society Committee: Capability Brown Statue

Capability Brown Statue unveiling – Richard Jackson

Capability Brown Statue unveiling

Capability Brown Statue unveiling

The location of the statue is on the newly adopted riverside walk at Distillery Wharf, but unfortunately the statue has been removed temporarily to rectify a slight wobble, but will be returned in about two weeks.

Congratulations especially to our Committee Member Richard Jackson for making the project happen, raising the necessary funds and overcoming so many obstacles along the way.

Following the success of this statue, it seems that plans are now afoot for another statue to commemorate William Morris. Watch this space!