Notes from the Archives: Repairing ‘The Comarques’, High Street, Deal
by Pernille Richards
Notes from the Archive
In the afternoon of Sunday 4 December 1943, the Germans shelled Deal. Among the properties damaged was 'The Comarques' in the High Street. W.P.D. Stebbing had noted this house as a good example of architecture from the first half of the 18th century back in 1937. An architect by training, Stebbing took a keen interest in the old buildings of Deal and one box in the KAS collection contains papers relating to this. In some cases, he is merely documenting architectural details, but in other cases, the papers reflect Stebbing's active involvement in local matters relating to historic properties. In 1943 Stebbing became involved in the process of repairing The Comarques as he considered it of architectural merit. Box 14 contains correspondence between Stebbing and the owner, Mrs Gladys Hulke, who was residing in Surrey at the time, as well as other parties involved in the process.
The road to repair was to prove a long one. Initially, the house was made secure and some debris was removed under the direction of the Borough Surveyor. In February 1944 Stebbing organized a visit to the building by people from the Ministry of Works in order to obtain their support for the preservation of the house. Once the agreement to save the house had been secured, the process of applying for a license for the repair works from the War Damage Commission began. This required the employment of the architect Fawcett Martindale, further surveys, and paperwork. It had all the complications of any large insurance claim and wartime conditions did not aid matters. Progress was slow; it was late April 1944 before the builders Denne & Son commenced clearing more debris.
The repair work was to be limited to the essentials to prevent further deterioration of the building. This proved to be a sticking point, as the owner's view of what constituted essential repairs differed from the view of the Ministry of Works. Stebbing also championed the view that the repairs should be made in brick, which although initially more expensive than wood, would prove more durable. Protracted negotiations took place to sort out the details. The combination of bureaucracy and wartime conditions makes for some surreal paperwork. In May 1944 Stebbing informed Mrs Hulke that she would have to carry some expenses for the survey of the building and for worm-damaged timbers exposed by the shell as: "The War Damage Commission in such cases say the decay was not caused by the enemy and so expect the owner to bear that pre-war trouble." Mrs. Hulke was initially aghast: "It is incredible to me that the War Damage Commission disclaim their responsibility for worm-eaten timbers, after all it is due to war damage they have been exposed, and their replacement made necessary..." However, she did accept responsibility for the timbers. Mrs. Hulke’s letters provide interesting information on how the house was arranged and past alterations made to it. Mr. and Mrs. Hulke had central heating installed in 1926 and later Mrs. Hulke split the house into three flats. Many details are given as to the location of kitchenettes, bathroom facilities, etc. The seven pages of repair specifications and plans made by Fawcett Martindale in June 1944 are also of interest, showing what was damaged in each area.
[fg]jpg|Fig 1. The Comarques - 1943|Image[/fg]
[fg]jpg|Fig 2. The Comarques - Present Day|Image[/fg]
Finally, in July 1944, things were ready for Denne & Son to price the job. The cost proved too high for the Ministry of Works to accept and a new phase of negotiations started. In December 1944 it briefly looked as if the house might be classed as too damaged to rebuild. Once agreement had been reached the labour shortage caused delay. The years 1945 and 1946 passed without repairs. Mrs. Hulke was seriously concerned about the property by this stage. Finally, in July and August 1947, reconstruction was underway and Mrs. Hulke was reassured that the new bricks would mellow in time and fit in with the old ones. There are no more letters after this point, but the serene facade of The Comarques was eventually restored and the house is today a visual asset of Deal’s Conservation Area. It has just been on the market after being in the same family, descendants of Mrs. Hulke, for over 250 years.