News

Iconic landmark set to benefit from extensive weeding

blackmorevaleApril 20, 20210 Comment0

One of Dorset’s most iconic landmarks, the 180 metre-long wall along Gold Hill, the steep, ancient cobbled Shaftesbury street, will be weeded in May by a team of specialist contractors.

Known internationally for its setting for the ‘boy on bike’ in the Hovis Bread advert made in 1973, Gold Hill has appeared in many films including John Schlesinger’s adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Far From The Madding Crowd in 1967 and is considered as ‘one of the most romantic sights in England’.

However, the former Mayor of Shaftesbury Roger Booth who served the town between 1980 and 1981, says through the ‘neglect and inertia’ of Shaftesbury Town Council and Dorset Council, the Grade 1 Listed hill and wall are in a poor state.

In a letter to both councils, Roger said: “Sadly, through neglect and inertia by both the Shaftesbury Town Council and the Dorset Council, the authority who has responsibility for the road, the listed hill and wall are in a poor state – both suffering from overgrown vegetation on both the wall and the highway curtilage. This overgrown state fronting the cottages is contrary to listed building planning laws and should not have been allowed to flourish. It gives a disreputable impression to both locals and visitors alike and must not be permitted to continue. Indeed, if left unchecked, damage will occur to the cobbles by tree/shrub rootage.”

In 1982, a Gold Hill Preservation Committee was set up by Shastonians Leo Williams and Brian Harding, supported by Roger and the following Mayor of Shaftesbury, Colin Howes, along with town and district councillors, in light of the concerns of locals that the cobbled street and wall needed vital repairs. The Preservation Committee worked long and hard and more than £40,000 including the generous donation of £10,000 from Hovis. Remedial works were finally carried out and completed in 1984.

Roger said: “Myself, and all who care about Shaftesbury owe it to them to not let this shameful neglect go on a moment longer than necessary and demand that that both the town council and Dorset Council take immediate action to rectify this and come up with a plan of action to restore our national treasure.”

The Mayor of Shaftesbury, Andy Hollingshead, said: “Gold Hill is of huge importance not just to Dorset but nationally and it is imperative that it is looked after to the highest standards. I can confirm specialist contractors will be attending to the weeding of the wall this May. We need to employ specialists due to the height of the wall, as well as the sensitivity of the stonework.

“Dorset Council Highways Department treat the cobbles twice yearly and that is in their scheduled works programme. While I note Mr Booth’s concerns about  the frontage of the houses on Gold Hill it is not something I am able to comment as these are privately owned. I do like his idea of a body  to ‘look after’ the interests of Gold Hill and will be looking into that further.”

The ancient cobbled street runs beside buttressed walls which are the grounds surrounding ancient Shaftesbury Abbey, built by King Alfred the Great. The walls are believed to have been built in the 1360s, when royal permission was given to build town defences. The east side of the highway is lined with cottages many dating from the 17th century.