IT’S really a shame the little block of linked properties in the Worcester suburb of St John’s – nos 43-49 – hasn’t got a name, because its relative anonymity hides one of the most remarkable small restoration projects in the city in the second half of the 20th century.

The buildings, which date back to 1500 or possibly even earlier, were at the centre of a major planning row in the

mid-1970s, by which time they had deteriorated to such an extent developers felt the only way forward was the pull them down and put new ones up in their place.

The city development committee agreed and gave approval for their demolition, but the county planning committee, then the top tier planning authority, vetoed the scheme. The wrangle went to a public inquiry and the Ministerial verdict was the block must stay.

However, there was little local interest in restoration until Alfred Taylor, owner of the A44 Garage in Bromyard Road, Worcester, entered the fray. He decided in 1976 to buy and completely renovate the crumbling buildings with a view to letting them.

In the process Mr Taylor helped the city and its ratepayers out of a very tight spot. Because otherwise the council would have been forced by Whitehall to buy and renovate the medieval properties itself.

Sadly Alfred Taylor developed a serious illness soon after embarking on the restoration project and died in 1979. However, his widow Violet and two sons Edwin and David honoured his wish and saw the job through, even though the work took the best part of a decade.

Midland Musical Theatre Group

The entire property was originally built as a hall house, with one high room reaching from floor to raftered roof with a central open fireplace, and contained impressive beams, the timber probably coming from Malvern Chase, the woodlands of the famous hills.

During renovation an upstairs wall was stripped of eight layers of whitewash to reveal a beautiful 15th-century wall painting of a crane surrounded by foliage with large red and yellow speckled fruit.

There was also part of a painted animal with long black ears and black whiskers.

A total of 107 clay pipes were also found,, but more macabre was a smoke blackened wooden doll discovered tucked behind one of the building’s fireplaces. It was believed to be 20th century, but whether it was a witch doll, effigy of a dead child or a symbol of luck was never known for sure.