“Irreplaceable” gargoyles stolen from Newbury building Options

[Biker1]

Let me contrast this situation with the loss of something important to me: the birch-hazel inosculation that was lost when the National Trust cut down the trees in the Chase and excluded the dog-walkers. Now that was irreplaceable,

Bit like all the other bits of The Chase and other countryside that was lost "irreplaceably" when the by-pass was built!
Is that what you mean?

[JeffG]

Bit like all the other bits of The Chase and other countryside that was lost "irreplaceably" when the by-pass was built!
Is that what you mean?

I think what Simon was getting at was that particular configuration of two different species of tree growing through each other. I would imagine that is extremely rare. The woodland lost to the bypass is regrettable, but probably not unique.

[Simon Kirby]

Bit like all the other bits of The Chase and other countryside that was lost "irreplaceably" when the by-pass was built!
Is that what you mean?

Not quite, no. The distinction I'm making here is that the Chase inosculation was unique and irreplaceable. Trees generally aren't unique, and while it might take a couple of centuries to regenerate a mature tree, they are in general replaceable, and even when whole woods are lost new woods are still being planted. Sometimes though a tree will be special and irreplaceable, Big Belly Oak in Savernake Forest, or the Birnam Oak say - with these trees it's the individual that's special and they're not just any tree.

The wyvern finials were great, but there was nothing intrinsically special about those individual items, it's not like Jack O'Newbury made those individual ones by hand or something, they were simply old and interesting, but equally old and interesting replacements are available.

[Simon Kirby]

I think what Simon was getting at was that particular configuration of two different species of tree growing through each other. I would imagine that is extremely rare. The woodland lost to the bypass is regrettable, but probably not unique.

Precisely so. True inosculations between unrelated species are really uncommon. There's a nationally significant oak-beech inosculation in the New Forst by the Knightwood Oak, but this one in the Chase was better still in my opinion.

[blackdog]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/newbury...grateful-owners

The stolen finials have been recovered.

PS NWN - they are still not gargoyles.

[dannyboy]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/newbury...grateful-owners

The stolen finials have been recovered.

PS NWN - they are still not gargoyles.

Shame the story wasn't broken on 31st Oct..........

[dannyboy]

still not replaced I notice.


maybe it was all a PR stunt.

[Cognosco]

still not replaced I notice.


maybe it was all a PR stunt.

A bit pointless replacing them they won't fit in with the new development vision. The developer may feel a bit guilty if he took those as well as not having to pay for anything else?

[dannyboy]

A bit pointless replacing them they won't fit in with the new development vision. The developer may feel a bit guilty if he took those as well as not having to pay for anything else?

what are you on about now?

[Exhausted]

what are you on about now?

I can't imagine, but unfortunately, the scaffolding that was around the building was removed before the finials were found. This means that although safely stored, they may have to wait for further roof work and associated access before they are returned. It has nothing to do with developers or developer perks as the building in question is in Bartholomew Street and not part of any development plans such as the Market Street area.

I'm not too sure how the theft of some roofing was a publicity stunt though. Does that make lead theft a publicity stunt or the opportunity for some entrepreneur to earn a bit of cash on the side