“I write to congratulate the Seven Dials Monument Charity… this initiative… is a first for Camden and I believe for possibly for Greater London… It seems the financing of a Study by local interests can produce a degree of discussion on issues affecting the character and appearance of an area, and a commitment to proposals for enhancement, which the received wisdom of the Local Authority preparing proposals for consultation, will not match.”
The first study was published in 1991 and was widely acclaimed as the first of its kind in London if not the UK. This led to a short congratulatory debate in the House of Lords and Government funding for the second edition in 1997, designed to provide a national exemplar of how to care for inner city conservation areas.
“…this is the first time an holistic approach has been adopted to provide a detailed framework for the development of the total environment of an historic district of London… for this reason it could act as a model for other historic areas across the country…” — English Heritage
Both editions comprise sections on:
Analysing the area: its history, buildings and spaces between
Planning and conservation area issues
Streets: specifications for footways and carriageways; street furniture from bollards to street name plates
Analysis of façades, building by building, with recommendations
Buildings: from brickwork to shop fronts — an accurate guidance for maintenance and enhancements
Glossary, contractors and other sources of information
Download the Current Print edition of the Seven Dials Renaissance Study (published 1998)
Download the Supplementary Volume to the First edition (published 1990)
The Seven Dials Trust is currently working on amalgamating, extending and up-dating the current editions, and producing a web-based edition.