Barry Newland working in UK New Towns
Brandon Estate Southwark, LCC Library Garden c 1961 by Barry Newland
…in a series of fascinating email exchanges over the four months since April 2024, and a delivery of professional photos of Barry’s work with LCC and in New Towns, his letter from Sylvia Crowe and a copy of her book Garden Design (donated to The MERL), this is a compilation of what Barry has told us:
After leaving school in 1953 and living locally, my first job was with Stevenage Development Corporation in the Chief Engineer’s Department. After a very short time, I transferred to the Chief Architect’s department working in an architectural group before joining Gordon’s Landscape Section.
William (Bill) Seward was the first Landscape Architect at Stevenage but had moved on prior to Gordon’s appointment. At the time I started, the group consisted of Gordon, Mary Mitchell (and Corgi dog in a basket under her desk!) and me. Mary was a lovely person who I only met once subsequently, at her home in Birmingham in the late 70’s. Fred Dayson was the landscape clerk of works. I recall Frank Clark’s visits as consultant too. At the time, the ILA list of members was small, and the impression was that all were known to each other. How times have changed!
An anecdote of possible interest relates to vintage cars. There was a specialist local dealer, and several members of staff owned interesting models including Gordon who had an early open top Bentley. I recall the occasional site visits in the vehicle, also, after work being driven to Knebworth Station to attend an Institute of Landscape Architects meeting in London with him. There is no doubt that working with Gordon and the others mentioned stimulated my interest in landscape architecture. The last time I saw Gordon was after leaving the Royal Navy [RN] in 1959.
While at Stevenage I applied for a post at Basildon and was surprised to receive a letter from Sylvia Crowe asking whether I would be interested in working for her and Brenda Colvin in London. So in 1956, I worked briefly for Sylvia Crowe and Brenda Colvin (SC+BC) as a junior assistant with Anthony du Gard Pasley (ADGP) and Michael Laurie, before National Service in the RN (1957-1959).
I was only 18/19 years old when working for SC&BC, but recall ADGP as dandyish and a toff. Immaculately dressed, turning up at the office in city attire complete with bowler hat. I think he was in lodgings in Tunbridge Wells and travelled daily to London. He was very helpful to me and seemed to be the plantsman. Together, we undertook a survey for alterations to the SC garden at Whalebones, Barnet for the owner Miss Cowing owner of the Barnet Press. I did the drawings. One anecdote, ADGP’s indignation in receiving a letter addressed to ADG Parsley!
Above: Plan of Garden at Whalebones, designed by Sylvia Crowe (undated); from Sylvia Crowe Collection at The MERL
Michael Laurie (ML) was a very, very likeable person. He joined the office a few months after I started and was engaged by SC to work on landscaping USAF bases. Although having done National Service in the Army (a commissioned officer) he wasn’t the best timekeeper. One morning, Wanda Zaluska secretary to BC+SC, was so concerned she phoned the police to enquire whether there had been a report of someone being run over by a bus - he arrived shortly after the phone call! I was paid by cheque alternate weeks by SC&BC. Michael was in the employ of SC and presumably also paid by cheque. ML took great pleasure banking at Coutts and being greeted by liveried flunkies!
Landscape architect, Graham Lang was used by BC and I assisted him on a survey for a proposed garden alterations for Field Marshall Lord Alexander of Tunis at Windsor. Graham Lang’s Garden Court in St. John’s Wood is included in Lady Allen of Hurtwood and Susan Jellicoe’s The new small garden (1956), pp 72-5. SC+BC’s courtyard garden is of course also illustrated.
There wasn’t a vacancy at 182 when I was discharged from National Service. I think John Brookes took my place when I left. My mother was working as a Nanny, looking after local dentist, Stirling Gill’s children. It transpired that Lady Allen of Hurtwood was his aunt and she pointed me in the direction of LCC Parks.
I joined LCC Parks [London County Council] (1959-1962) - Bill Seward was with LCC Parks in 1959 but died not long after I started work there. On joining I was introduced to L A Huddart [Chief Officer of Parks] in his palatial office. John Medhurst wasn’t offered the same, so I think now I must have been of ‘curiosity interest’ having worked for SC/BC. I remember an imposing gentleman and during our conversation being asked the botanical name of the pomegranate, Punica granatum, a plant name engrained in my memory but have never planted one! I was a landscape assistant working with A Hedley Richmond. My main projects were the Brandon Estate, Southwark and Northumberland House, Stoke Newington.
When I joined (in 1959) there were two groups, with Gordon Withers (GW) and A. Hedley Richmond (AHR), both landscape architects, in charge. GW’s group included Jim Middleton, William Bill Seward, H Clements, Derek Honour, and Violet T Hodge plantswoman. AHR group included John Gates, Phil Hayward and Gillian Bauer who left not long after I joined the office.
The section expanded greatly while I was there, there was a large design staff, some old school, others more recent graduates. Amongst those I recall;- John Medhurst (JM), Pirkko and Neil Higson, Michael Laurie, ? Thirkettle (David T’s wife), Chris Boddy, John Little, Michael Ellison, Gillian Cresswell (later worked for Telford), WTM Bill Williams, Stef Day, John Hankinson?, Patrick Dawson, Angela Hopkins, Ian McKenzie (New Zealander who left for Central Electricity Generating Board), Leonard Batten.
Left; The new small garden by Lady Allen of Hurtwood and Susan Jellicoe (1956), pp 46-48. SC+BC’s courtyard garden.
SC&BC seemed to work independently of each other with BC being based there alternate weeks. So what interchange of ideas there was between them I don’t know. Tomorrow’s Landscape was published while I was there and reflecting on my time now, I would describe Sylvia as a woman on a mission - a very worthy one. I was in contact with Trish Gibson and pleased that her research corroborated my memories of Brenda Colvin in her wonderful book. For quite some time I have thought a joint blue plaque for Sylvia Crowe and Brenda Colvin at 182 Gloucester Place would be quite a nice idea.
Below: Barry Newland outside 182 Gloucester Place where he worked 1956-57, photo taken April 2024
Photos of the Brandon Estate Southwark c1961 Harold King photographer
John Medhurst - also in communication with FOLAR - offers another angle on his early days at the LCC:
For me the most influential companion at the LCC was Barry Newland. He had been a draughtsman in the office of Sylvia Crowe and Brenda Colvin before coming on to the LCC and sensing I was, initially at least, out of my depth, took me under his wing. He took me to Austin Reed and insisted I bought a decent suit, changed my taste in shirts and ties and even persuaded me to buy an umbrella. He himself was a tall man and carried his clothes well, usually wearing a bow tie, and it was with some delight that we achieved an unexpected accolade as one day passing through the arches of Whitehall, swinging our brollies with abandon, one of the guardsmen on duty mistook us for officers and came smartly to attention as we passed. I had not reached higher than senior aircraftman and Barry had, during his national service, been an able seaman on fishery protection vessels, so that to be saluted in such an extravagant manner made our week.
Barry Newland and John Medhurst April 2024
Back to Barry Newland:
After LCC Parks, I worked as a landscape assistant for the Commission for the New Towns Hemel Hempstead Executive (1962-1964). Raymond Balls had apparently been my predecessor. During my tenure, Norman Clarke who had been the Corporation’s Landscape Architect and was then county landscape architect for Hertfordshire was engaged by Hemel Hempstead as consultant. As such he was one of my mentors. I worked on infill projects and the early stages of Grove Hill, the last neighbourhood.
Above: Swan Court, Commission for the New Towns, Hemel Hempstead Executive offices, 1963, (now demolished), on Waterhouse Street; the front overlooked Jellicoe’s Water Gardens. BN did the hard and soft landscape work to frontage, also interior planting in the foyer. BN’s office was at the back of the building overlooking a car park!
Above: Hemel Hempstead Water Garden - Susan Jellicoe’s original planting in 1963. Photographs by Barry Newland. The Hemel Hempstead Exec Offices in Swan Court were located next to Bank Court on Waterhouse Street, opposite the flower garden part of the Water Gardens.
Then Livingston New Town (1964/5) working with Marion Paynter and also John Medhurst who worked with me for a short time. The main project I worked on was housing at Craigshill. Peter Daniel was Chief Architect, also a landscape architect of course. Due to friction between the General Manager (a difficult man by all accounts), Peter Daniel resigned and unsettled by this, some staff decided to move on, including myself.
So, to Shropshire and Dawley New Town as it then was in 1965, working as landscape assistant with Ray K Miller (Architect/LA). [Dawley was renamed Telford in 1968]. Ray Miller left, and David Wassell was appointed. Others who joined the landscape section in the early days included Roy Preece, David Holmes, John Beswick (who emigrated to Australia), Geoff Cory, Martin Pakes, Paul Cooper, and Judith Bassett. The main projects I worked on here were associated with Sutton Hill and Woodside neighbourhoods. Before Ray Miller left, he approached the ILA hoping to get me admitted as a member. Whether it was properly considered I know not, but Ray described the then Institute being run like a private club!
I then spent five years at Peterborough Development Corporation (1970-1975). I worked initially with Tony Male and then Ken Knowles. As group, then as one of the two principal landscape architects, the other was Graham Blagden. Some of my work colleagues included Moira Hankinson, Veronica Watson and a Turkish landscape architect, all Durham graduates I think, and Alan Procktor. The main projects here were Bretton neighbourhood housing and Bretton Park. Peter Youngman was retained as landscape consultant during my last year.
Top left: Craigshill, Livingstone DC c1965 Top right: Bretton Housing Peterborough DC 1973
Bottom left Sutton Hill, Telford DC c1968 Bottom right: Woodside adventure playground, Telford DC c 1970
Then I returned to Telford Development Corporation (1975-1980) as group landscape architect and then principal with David Wassell. My group, which included Jean Ramsden, Liz Simson and Norman Hickson, was responsible for the Severn Gorge working closely with the Ironbridge Gorge Museum (IGM) Trust as they developed their museum sites
Above left: Coalport China works and the newly restored canal basin, view from the basin at the bottom of the Hay inclined plane, 1976 (the inclined plane was used to raise and lower boats carrying goods between the high-level canal and lower Coalport canal)
Above middle: Group photo: a gathering around the plaque to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s silver jubilee of her coronation in 1977. 2nd from left David Wassell, behind him Neil Cosson (later knighted) then Director of the IGM Trust, BN bearded at the back, behind the stone Don Pearce TDC Landscape Maintenance Officer and far right Keith Hadley TDC Technical Director. Photograph by Gordon Riley
Above right: Jockey Bank (Madeley Wood). Liz Simson, job landscape architect, and BN looking out from the newly constructed viewing platform, c. 1978. (The Ironbridge Power Station cooling towers were demolished in 2019)
Projects at Telford DC included restoration of the canal and landscaping associated with the Coalport China Museum and Jockey Bank, Ironbridge which was featured in the December 1983 issue of the LI Journal. There were four groups, led by Allan Howard, Paul Cooper succeeded by Alan Simson, Dennis Ashmead and myself. There were three landscape architects and or assistants in each group, and staff probably totalled close to 25 including support staff.
As principal, I oversaw planning and design and deputised for David Wassell when needed.
As the 80’s neared, Thatcher started swinging her handbag which affected the direction of travel for the New Towns, namely increased use of the private sector which amongst other things impacted on staffing levels. In 1980 I took voluntary redundancy and left landscape behind!.
Prior to leaving landscape I had started work on a book Landscaping the New Towns, but the project was abandoned, and my research discarded. In retrospect, a mistake!
Above: Letter from Dame Sylvia Crowe to Barry Newland, dated 12 October 1979 about his proposed book on New Towns Landscapes; this letter and the other images shown in this blog have been gifted by Barry to The MERL
I never became a member of the Institute. My only formal landscape education was attending Peter Youngman’s UCL Certificate of Landscape Architecture course for the brief period while working with SC&BC
Serendipity played a large part in my career. That, combined with a shortage of qualified people when the profession was expanding must have been a factor. I worked with and came into contact with some wonderful people. Over the years I have kept in touch with some colleagues including Norman Hickson, Liz and Alan Simson and David Wassell Telford CLA who sadly died in April this year. Sadly, I have lost contact with others.
I destroyed my drawings in 1975 before moving back to Shropshire. That said, there were none extending back to Stevenage or SC+BC. Reflecting on the past, I do regret not recording colleagues and occasions, other than the work on the ground. We were too focussed on the job in hand with not a thought given to posterity.
Barry offers apologies for any errors and or omissions in this account. FOLAR are very grateful for the treasures and memories he has shared with us.
Please do get in touch if you can add any further records, experiences, photos or other information about any of the places or people mentioned in Barry Newland’s piece - and especially if you are one of the named people – FOLAR would be delighted to hear from you!