Burrell Foley Fischer (BFF) are working with the Chamberlain Highbury Trust (CHT) on plans to restore Highbury a Grade II* listed building, which was commissioned as his Birmingham residence by Joseph Chamberlain in 1878, two years after he became member of parliament for Birmingham. It took its name from the Highbury area of London, where Chamberlain had lived as a child. The south facing grounds of 30 acres associated with Highbury were mainly landscaped by Edward Milner in 1879.
Activities in the grounds, courtesy of Chamberlain Highbury Trust
The Trust’s Vision is:
“Inspired and informed by the story of the Chamberlain Family and the history and heritage of the house and grounds, the restored Highbury estate will be a vibrant, well used place. Young people will come to develop leadership and governance skills, local people will be able to participate in an inclusive and diverse programme of activities, and visitors to the City will be welcome to enjoy a unique heritage attraction. Its green space will be open year-round, will be free to visit and will provide a relaxed learning space with nature and conservation at its heart. Highbury will contribute to the economic vitality of the local area by providing space and facilities for local people to build businesses and nurture community organisations.”
The restored Mansion will include:
· Visitor heritage attraction
· Cafe
· Wedding and events hire
· Leadership training
· Education activities for groups and schools
· Small Business and enterprise spaces
· Rooms for hire for the community
· Café kiosk outdoors and courtyard seating
BFF Managing Director and Specialist Conservation Architect, Faye Davies, uses drone technology to assist with the condition survey of the Mansion
The grounds have real heritage value and are Grade 2 listed on Historic England’s Register of Park and Gardens as of national importance but ‘at risk’ of loss. The grounds have been neglected over time and are in a poor state requiring specialist planning and designs in multiple parts of the grounds. The plans will balance the needs to restore some of the elements within the grounds such as the Dutch and Italian Gardens, whilst maintaining the nature value of the grounds as part of the wider park. The grounds plans include additional interventions to support biodiversity. The plans present a net-gain in nature conservation value with for example, the additions of natural drainage and ‘wet-meadow’ areas near to the current reedbed area.
Historic photographs of the Mansion and grounds, courtesy of Chamberlain’s Highbury Trust
Chamberlain Highbury Trust are running a number of consultation sessions and open days across evenings and weekends throughout the project and have published on their website the plans so far as part of the consultation process and their continued dialogue through the project.
In September 2021 the Trust was awarded £368,000 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards costs of £619,000 to develop the plans to restore Highbury as a community Heritage asset. This award is known as ‘Round 1 Funding’. The Trust intends to submit its application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for Round 2 Funding later this summer.