The Friday Five 25.11.22
It's the Friday Five: five great planning jobs, five fun place-based facts. You know this by now, right? Here we go.
1. PLANNER (SENIOR/PRINCIPAL), GREENCORE CONSTRUCTION
Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire
The job: "Are you an experienced planner looking for a new challenge? Do you share our vision that all new homes should be net zero carbon now? Do you want to make a positive difference through planning, helping to shape new developments that are truly sustainable and climate positive?
“Greencore is a multiple-award-winning housebuilder with a strong reputation for delivering climate positive homes to an exemplary, net-zero-carbon standard. Our projects positively contribute to place shaping. They are sensitive to their surrounding natural and built landscapes. They enhance the local setting.
“With a strong pipeline of new planning projects, we’re now looking to grow the team to help scale up the design, planning and delivery of all net-zero carbon, climate positive homes across Oxfordshire and beyond.
“We’re seeking applications from planners who have experience of working in – or are now looking to make that next step into – a senior/principal planning officer position. You’ll work closely with the planning manager and other members of the Greencore and consultant team to co-ordinate the day-to-day preparation of planning applications.”
Fun fact: A Bicester-born physician who emigrated to the United States as a teenager was among the doctors who attempted to save the life of Abraham Lincoln after he was shot by John Wilkes Booth.
Albert Freeman Africanus King just happened to be in the audience at the Washington theatre where the shooting took place in April 1865. He helped carry the dying president to a house across the street but his injuries were so severe that neither his own doctors nor King could save him.
King, then just 24, had been born in Ambrosden, a village near Bicester in 1841 to Edward King and Louisa Freeman. His father, a doctor interested in the colonisation of Africa, named his son Africanus because of his “admiration" for the continent. In 1854, the family emigrated to the United States.
As a doctor, King has the unusual distinction of serving for both sides in the American Civil War, first in the Confederate States Army and then as acting assistant surgeon for the United States Army, based at the Lincoln Hospital in Washington. Later in his career he became lecturer in toxicology, a professor of obstetrics and finally dean of the National Medical College at Columbian University. Among other things, he proposed (correctly) a link between mosquitoes and malaria and took steps to protect Washington from the disease. King died in 1914, aged 73 (not of malaria).
2. SENIOR PLANNER, BLACKPOOL COUNCIL
Location: Blackpool, Lancs
The job: “Blackpool Council offers an exciting opportunity to work in the UK’s most popular seaside resort, synonymous with seaside fun and entertainment, attracting more than 18 million visitors a year. Blackpool is also the main retail, public administration, cultural and service centre for the Fylde Coast, supporting a population of around 326,000.
“The planning strategy team is seeking a talented individual who is passionate and committed to addressing the challenging regeneration issues facing the resort. The right candidate will have significant post qualification experience in local plan policy development. Key responsibilities will include making a major contribution to the progression of the Blackpool local plan review particularly in relation to climate change and natural environment matters.
“The position also offers a great opportunity to be involved with a wide range of issues, including neighbourhood planning, minerals and waste planning and providing planning advice on major regeneration projects.”
Fun fact: Blackpool is, apparently, the only British beach resort to be home to three piers. All three of the North, South and Central piers are Victorian and were opened between 1863 and 1893.
North Pier opened first and remains the longest of the three. Designed by Eugenius Birch, a seaside architect and civil engineer noted for his leisure piers, it was intended to be ‘respectable’, boasting a theatre among its attractions and charging an entrance fee. It’s been listed by English Heritage.
Central Pier, opened five years later, placed the accent on fun, with dancing, amusements and fairground rides as its major attractions. It now also contains a 33 metre high Ferris wheel.
South Pier, also known as Victoria Pier, was considered to be the most upmarket of the three and initially provided little entertainment. Nowadays, it’s home to all manner of fairground rides, an amusement arcade and a theatre.
Remarkably, long after what is considered to be the height of the British seaside holiday, Blackpool continues to be the second most visited destination in the UK after London, with some 18 million visitors a year. The trio of piers, right at the heart of the south shore tourist zone, are among its major attractions.
3. PLANNING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK
Location: Dulverston, Somerset
The job: “Exmoor National Park Authority manages a unique and beautiful part of the country. Our vision is to ensure Exmoor National Park has a thriving living landscape and is a place where people can enjoy and benefit from Exmoor’s special qualities and sustainable communities.
“As a planning enforcement officer, you will support the delivery of our development management service that aims to conserve and enhance the natural and built environment of the National Park.
“Specifically, you’ll investigate complaints relating to breaches of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) Regulations 1992.
“Carrying out site inspections, you’ll gather evidence of breaches, monitor compliance with notices and determine if developments are being implemented in accordance with planning permission. You’ll also maintain accurate records of investigations and enforcement cases.”
Fun fact: Tarr Steps is an ancient clapper bridge providing a crossing over the River Barles just outside Dulverton. A clapper bridge? Indeed. Specific to just a handful of areas in the UK (West County moors and upland areas like Snowdonia), a clapper bridge is one made up of large flat slabs of stone laid across a river to provide a walkway. In some cases, the slabs may be supported on stone piers.
Though often thought to have a prehistoric origin most, in truth, were probably built during the Medieval period and – if you’ll join me in etymology corner for a moment – this would seem to be reinforced by the Anglo-Saxon origin of the name. ‘Clapper’ is said to have come from cleaca, meaning 'bridging the stepping stones'. It's also said to have a Medieval Latin origin – from claperius – meaning ‘a pile of stones’. It's kind of academic, though, as the two words share an etymology and refer to something to do with stones.
Anyway, Tarr Steps: it’s 55m long and has 17 spans, with slabs up to two tons in weight supported on stone piers. The largest slab is 2.4m long and 1.5m wide. The bridge is generally dated to somewhere around 1400 AD (or CE if you prefer), though some claim it has a Bronze Age origin (2,000-700BC/BCE). It’s a grade I listed building and a scheduled monument, heritage fans, and it’s a marvellous thing.
4. LECTURER IN URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
Location: Westminster, London
The job: “This post is situated within the School of Architecture + Cities, a dynamic interdisciplinary environment located in the vibrant Central London Marylebone area. The postholder would join the teaching and leadership team for the undergraduate course BA Designing Cities (BADC) and have the opportunity to take on a wider leading role across the School’s Planning courses. The BADC is part of a suite of complementary studio-based undergraduate design courses, and holds an accreditation from the Royal Town Planning Institute.
“The course is deeply invested in climate urbanism, is international in scope, and engages with practice and industry. The postholder will play a vital role beyond the delivery of teaching, including outreach, marketing activities, and representing the course at external-facing events. They will also coordinate with other colleagues in the School regarding shared content, as well as with partners in the field to ensure currency and knowledge exchange. This is an exciting moment for the course as it evolves to address key challenges and emerging agendas, all towards the planning of sustainable, resilient and healthy cities.”
Fun fact: You are, of course, familiar with the tragic London Beer Flood of 1814? You're not? For real? Oh man.
So, in 1814, on the corner of Great Russell Street and Tottenham Court Road, stood the Horse Shoe Brewery. This was a fairly major operation, as you’ll see.
The Horse Shoe was owned by the Meux Brewery, one of the two largest breweries in London. Sir Henry Meux's father, Sir Richard Meux, had previously co-owned the Griffin Brewery in Liquor-Pond Street (now Clerkenwell Road), in which he had constructed the largest vat in London, capable of holding 20,000 imperial barrels.
Young Henry, an ambitous man it would seem, built vats to a similar capacity at the Horse Shoe - 6.7 metres tall and capable of holding 18,000 imperial barrels of porter. The vat was held together by 81 tons of iron hoops. The porter was left in the vat for months at a time to mature. What could possibly go wrong?
At 4.30am on 17 October 1814, the brewery’s storehouse clerk, George Crick, noticed that one of the hoops had slipped. The vat at the time was full to within four inches of its brim with ten month old porter. Apparently, bands slipped a few times a year, so Crick was unconcerned and simply made out a note to a senior to have the hoop fixed.
An hour later, without warning, the vat burst. The force was so great that it caused the neighbouring vat to burst, too. So now there were two lots of 18,000 imperial barrels of porter cascading from the brewery. Reputedly, a 4 metre high wave blew out a rear wall and burst into New Street, where it destroyed two houses and swept people into the street. One of the houses was holding a wake at the time and was fairly well occupied.
With no proper street drainage, the beer flowed into cellars, too. Cellars, at this time, were inhabited. In all, nine people were killed, taken by the destructive power of waves of porter. Allegedly, locals in the poor district of St Giles, salvaged as much of the beer as they could and there were reports of numerous deaths by alcohol poisoning in the following days.
And that, friends, is the story of the great London Beer Flood of 1814. Let it be a warning to you.
5. DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT OFFICERS, HARROGATE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Location: Harrogate, North Yorks
"The jobs:
• Place shaping and economic growth
• Development management and building control
• Development management officers
“The council’s place-shaping and economic growth service is continuing to invest in the development management service. We are looking for development management officers to help us deliver sustainable, high quality homes and jobs across our diverse and characterful district.
"On 1 April 2023 Harrogate Borough Council will become part of the new North Yorkshire Council covering the county of North Yorkshire. If you are successfully appointed you will transfer into the new council then.
“The development management officer role operates on a career grade, meaning we are looking for people who might have different qualifications and levels of experience. You may have A-levels and have not made a decision whether to go to University, or you may be a graduate in a field outside of planning who has an interest in developing a career in the subject, a newly qualified planner looking for your first role or a planner currently in work seeking opportunities to further develop your career. We offer full training and support, and also support further qualification through the RTPI Apprenticeship Scheme.
“In this role, you will handle applications for planning permission and other consents. You will also provide advice and guidance in the pursuit of sustainable development and change. The post also includes working with senior officers on exciting major developments and developing a wide range of experience and learning.”
Fun fact: The Dales village of Pately Bridge in the district of Harrogate is home to what is - officially - the oldest continuously trading sweet shop in the world. It really is an olde sweet shoppe and it has the paperwork from the Guinness World Records people to prove it.
Opened in 1827, the Oldest Sweet Shop in the World (that's its name) specialises, as you might expect, in traditional sweets, many of which it makes itself to the original 19th century recipes (boiled in copper pans, "the ways sweets should be made").
Among their specialities are Yorkshire mixture (of course), pear drops ("guaranteed to taste like a genuine per drop"), Pontefract cakes, sherbet lemons and liquorice sticks. I would go on, but I'm now salivating too much.
The sweets are - of course! - sold from jars. From jars, people! Or, in a nod to the modern world, you can also buy them online ("bagged to perfection").
There's really little more to say. It's a sweet shop. It's 195 years old. The Daily Mail calls it " national treasure"; The Guardian settles for a more prosaic "satisfy your sweet tooth". It sells sweets from jars. How do I get there again?
Image credits: Everett Collection, Shutterstock; iStock; iStock; Ruslan Semichev, Shutterstock; Andrew E Gardner, Shutterstock
