FDB1/18/785b

A typewritten document titled "Mossman Collection of Historic Coaches and Horse-drawn Vehicles", listing key topics to consider for the proposed design of an exhibition space in Stockwood Park.

Date unknown

From: 1965 To: 1965

The letter reads: "1. The Management Group have given further consideration to the siting, layout and types of building necessary to house the collection for exhibition purposes. Whilst an elaborate building is not required, it is necessary to provide dry, weather tight covering in such a form that the exhibits can be properly viewed and easily withdrawn from time to time. 2. Siting: A possible site at Stockwood Park is shown on the attached plan. 3. Layout: This is flexible, but a U-shape is suggested as this would provide a quadrangle suitable for open exhibition on occasions and would facilitate the securing of the premises by a fence on the fourth side. Trees and shrubs would need to be planted to screen the buildings. 4. Buildings: The most economic construction that the technical officers feel able to recommend is of concrete portal frames produced by Atcost (Midlands) Ltd. on a 4 inch concrete base laid on hard core. (A photograph of such a construction is attached). The roof would be of insulated asbestos with glazes sections and the walls would have external asbestos cladding on a 15 inch dwarf brick wall base, with as much natural lighting as possible. Heating would not be required but drainage, water and electricity would have to be connected. 5. On the basis that the average size of the vehicles is 8ft. by 15ft, 80 bays could be provided, leaving a 5ft central corridor. An office and refreshment facilities could also be provided. The overall area would be approximately 15,000 sq.ft. Although there are 100 vehicles in the collection, it is not anticipated that more than 80 spaces would be required at any one time, the remaining vehicles being away either for reconditioning/repairs or on hire. 6. The Borough Architect estimates that the cost of this construction would be £58,000 plus £4,000 capital salaries. The Borough Engineer considers that improvements to roads and footpaths, the provision of car parking space for 150 cars and the provision of mains services would cost a further £23,000, of which £14,000 would be for the benefit of the park generally, having regard to the future development of amenities, and should not therefore be ascribed to the cost of housing the collection. The car parking would be between the trees adjacent to the road. 7. On the premise of 100,000 visitors per year, the Borough Treasurer conisders that if visitors were charged 3/- per head entrance fee, the exhibition would be self supporting (excluding loan charges). 8. The Management Group are conscious of the fact that the estimates are rather high, but every attempt has been made to reduce the cost as far as possible. The Borough Architect comments "It must be emphasised that the building in mind is of the plainest, cheapest type that it is possible to construct. It is not the kind of building one would build for preference in a park such as Stockwood. The appearance to say the least of it will be austere and until the Director of Parks has been able to screen it suitably with trees and shrubs there is likely to be severe criticism of such a stark and ugly building". 9. If the committee agree in principle to the proposals it is suggested that Atcost (Midlands) Ltd. should be asked to quote a price for providing a building on the lines described.

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Franklin, B. B.,
Atcost (Midlands) Limited

LUTON, Luton Stockwood Park Estate, building plans, architecture, museums, exhibitions