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Visit our showroom and
workshops where we have one
of the largest collections of
antique clocks and barometers
for sale in the world.
At The Clock Work Shop, Dorset,
we off er:
• A large selection of antique clocks
for sale
• Antique clock repair, Restoration
& servicing
• Professionally qualifi ed antiquarian
horologists
• Antique furniture restoration
specialists
01305 873852
www.dorsetantiqueclocks.co.uk
The Clock Work Shop, West Yard Barn, West Street, Abbotsbury, Dorset DT3 4JT
Come and enjoy a day out on the
stunning Jurassic Coast in the
beautiful village of Abbotsbury,
where you can enjoy the attractions
of the Swannery, Sub-tropical
gardens, Children’ s Farm and The
Clock Work Shop.
POUNDBURY’S
pioneers
As a personal appointment from The Prince of Wales, Poundbury's Development Director
Andrew Hamilton has been one of the leading figures in Poundbury since its conception
I
t all started when Andrew was asked to travel to Dorchester in
1991 and report back on its viability for development.
Andrew had a strong commercial background and was
already highly respected for his Richmond Riverside
Development in London.
Since then Andrew and The Duchy's team at Poundbury have
pushed planning boundaries to make Poundbury what it is today.
He says: “It was a poisoned chalice to start with, the country was
in a recession and Poundbury at that point consisted of Duchy
farm land on the edge of Dorchester with the farmhouse and a few
agricultural buildings.
“There was a big expectation from The Prince of Wales because he
was absolutely determined to do things differently.”
Andrew expected the concept that social and private housing could
be integrated as the biggest hurdle as this was at complete odds with
all development policy at the time.
Together with masterplanner Leon Krier, The Duchy's then
Secretary Sir David Landale, Andrew set about putting The Prince’s
plans in action.
The first phase of Poundbury, showcasing Pummery Square, was
built initially with more of a village feel and then road after road
Poundbury continually grew, as it still does today.
Since then, over the next 25 years Andrew has visited every month
and says this has been crucial.
“I love seeing it develop, the challenges have been enormous over
the years," he says.
Early on, Andrew said he was immensely pleased to see small
businesses such as Sue McCarthy Moore’s Stitchinghouse Design
develop and grow in Poundbury.
“Sue was exactly the sort of person we wanted to attract, a classic
cottage industry that could expand into small retail units.
“I was very sceptical that we would be able to attract bigger
industries but that slowly came too.”
“We didn’t know if it would work, it surprised me when elements of
it did and now we have more than 185 remarkable businesses here.
That for me is an extraordinary factor and one of the major features
of Poundbury.”
Andrew adds: “The Prince has been intensely involved in
Poundbury. I show him the plans, he takes out his red pens and
makes notes, often writing all over my minutes - he has an incredible
attention to detail.”
The journey has clearly been anything but a smooth ride. Andrew
says the press described the project as ‘a pipe dream’ from the start,
but despite the detractors the team marched on.
Not surprisingly in a build this big, Andrew remembers the trees
going into Phase One as saplings and now the greenery is matured.
“Of course we didn’t get it all right,” he admits.
“We put forest trees in an urban setting, we used architects that
didn’t work as well together but time marches on and I like to think
we’ve ironed this out.”
Talking of the relationship with two of Poundbury’s top architects
Ben Pentreath and George Saumarez-Smith he says: “In the latest
phases such as the Buttermarket and the North East Quadran