Lord Desborough was a great benefactor of Maidenhead. He gifted the land now known as Grenfell Park, during the Second World War he opened his home Taplow Court as a rest centre for nurses, and he donated money for the building of a cottage hospital.
He leased out land to the Golf Club, and in 1953 (seven years after his death), this land was sold to the Council as an ‘Action to preserve Open Space’.
Lord Desborough’s Generosity
Whilst on our quest to find the ‘lost covenant’ protecting the golf course from development, we found a local newspaper article from 1920 with the headline ‘Lord Desborough’s Generosity’, explaining his intentions around the sale of the football ground to the council, and his ‘generous consideration in the matter of price’:
‘The Mayor (Mr. T. W. Stuchbery) has, with Mr. Arthur Aldridge, taken a leading hand in these important negotiations. Important they assuredly are, for the result has been the acquisition in perpetuity of a fine large recreation “lung” for the town which can never be used for building purposes on the one hand, nor for the private exploitation of the other. The whole affair is more like the acquiring by the town of a much-needed permanent centre for sport and recreation which can never be touched by whatever schemes and changes may come along; and in view of the narrowing down of such spaces the “coup” is of the utmost value and importance.’
Lord Desborough was no longer alive when the golf course land was sold to the council. But we believe his attitude towards the sale of the football ground gives a strong indication as to his intentions for the sale of the golf course land – that is for it to be kept as a space for recreation and not for development.
It seems our council and Lord Desborough both acutely understood the value of greenspace in our community.
So why is it that 70 years on, when towns and cities across the world are placing an ever higher value on their remaining greenspace to help mitigate the effects of climate change, our council has approved a Borough Local Plan that gives permission to build on hundreds of acres of Maidenhead’s green belt?
Ways to support our campaign
- Come to our footpath protest on Earth Day Friday 22 April at 6.30pm https://maidenheadgreatpark.co.uk/join-our-footpath-protest-on-earth-day
- Sign our petition asking our council to improve air pollution measurements https://rbwm.moderngov.co.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=2163&RPID=8125846&HPID=8125846
- Contribute towards our campaign here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/maidenhead-great-park
RBWM’s behaviour regarding Maidenhead Golf Course reminds me of Doris Mellor’s campaign in 1972 to save Bachelors Acre in Windsor. Reader, she won. The then council wanted to use the open space for a multi-storey car park but Doris was able to prove that it had always been a green space enjoyed by the public and must remain so.
It’s well worth fighting for our green spaces which lift is in mind and body.
GOOD LUCK TO THE MGP CAMPAIGN!
Oh, and if you fancy some legal background about Doris Mellor’s efforts, check out this link;
https://vlex.co.uk/vid/new-windsor-corporation-v-793173201
This is fantastic news and makes for a happy ending “hopefully”, and if there is not an out of court agreement, it may cost the council evenmore money!
Lets hope that there is some honour and respect for the such a kind gesture,10 left in the council !
Lord Desborough sold Maidenhead United football ground in 1920 on the condition that it was used in perpetuity for sporting purposes. Thomas William Stuchbery ( Mayor of Maidenhead from 1919 to 1923) was appointed one of the trustees to administer the wishes of Lord Desborough.
Lord Desborough resisted selling the golf course in 1944 (one year before his death) to cover death duties since he had gifted it to the people of Maidenhead in the form of a long term lease. Had he been alive in 1953 when the golf course was sold it is almost certain that he would have made it a condition that it was used in perpetuity for sporting purposes.
When the golf course was sold in 1953 to Maidenhead Borough Council it was first purchased by the Mayor, Thomas Alan Stuchbery, councillor and the son of Thomas William Stuchbery) with two associates to prevent the land falling into the hands of those less concerned about its future than local people. He then offered it to the Council who unanimously agreed to buy the golf course stating that the land was scheduled as an open space and that public ownership was the best way of ensuring that it remained that way.
Thomas William Stuchbery, his son Thomas Alan Stuchbery together with the all the councillors of Maidenhead were true representatives of the residents, what would they and indeed Lord Desborough think of the actions of the current council.
The comment you make is the overwhelmingly important one here – that the land’s amenity value and benefit to the local community, not to mention the broader environment, should take precedent over any form of development or other exploitative use.
Of course all the practical reasons (roads, infrastructure etc) against its non-development are absolutely correct. However the dereliction of duty shown by the developers, and their official backers, toward the best interests of the townsfolk and the original intention of the gifting is not just a blow for environmentalists and their causes, but a blow for democracy itself – such examples as this demonstrate the complete meaninglessness and disregard for popular will that politicians keep telling us we deserve and should all have more of. It’s window-dressing, like just about every other act of superficial local inclusion that the authorities tell us they’d like our opinions on. Our legacy to future generations will not be just less space and amenity, but reduced civil rights, civil recognition, and plain-old civility.