Latest news with #HistoricEngland
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Birmingham school with vaulted hall granted rare listed status
A building described as one of Birmingham's "best kept secrets" has been granted a rare Grade II* listing. King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls has been given the legal protection awarded to buildings of particular national rare listing puts the school in the same category as some of the city's most significant historic buildings, including The Old Crown pub in Digbeth, Moseley Road Baths and the Council House in Victoria Square. The red brick building, built in a neoclassical style, contains some iconic columns and ornate plasterwork, including the coat of arms of King Edward VI, said Historic England. The school, home to 450 pupils, opened in 1911 and was formed by the merger of three schools - Aston, Summer Hill and Bath building originally cost £50,000 and was designed by Birmingham architect Philip Chatwin. During World War Two, the pupils and staff were evacuated to a grammar school in Worcester. It reopened to pupils in 1940 after air raid shelters had been built nearby, with many of the rooms on the ground floor and in the basement fitted with reinforced ceilings to make them bombproof. "From the outside King Edward VI is a very impressive building but inside it contains what might just be Birmingham's best kept secret with a breathtaking central hall," said Louise Brennan, regional director of Historic England. "The quality and craftsmanship on display in the hall and throughout the building are testament to the value that our ancestors placed on education, and the pride they had in civic buildings," she added.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Arrest made after fire destroyed historic World War One hangar days after developers were granted permission to build new homes... on the condition they restore it
An arrest has been made after a devastating fire destroyed a Grade II listed aircraft hangar just days after permission was given to build hundreds of homes on the site. The historic building that was built by First World War German prisoners of war was on the verge of being restored following years of neglect. A government planning inspector controversially approved plans for more than 300 homes to be built at the Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury but only on condition Hangar 3 be conserved. However, there is now nothing left of the aircraft hangar that was on Historic England's At Risk Register after a blaze ripped through the site on April 17. Police and fire investigators launched a probe into the fire with fears it was started deliberately. Although the derelict building had been fenced off, photos taken last week show gaps in it for anyone to access the site. Wiltshire Police has since confirmed to MailOnline that a person has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been released on bail while their investigations continue, The airfield is operated by Old Sarum Airfield Ltd, which gained planning permission to build 315 homes and commercial and leisure facilities on the site at the beginning April after a drawn-out planning inquiry, which began in February. However, following the blaze, last week Wiltshire Council launched a legal challenge against the Planning Inspectorate's decision to allow an appeal and grant planning permission for residential development at Old Sarum Airfield. The state of the hangar formed a key part of the debate at the inquiry, along with the proposed development's impact on heritage assets. When the government's Planning Inspectorate published its decision to grant planning consent on April 9, it said a condition of the approval was that only 160 of the dwellings could be occupied until repairs were made to Hangar 3. The outline application was originally refused by the Wiltshire Council Strategic Planning Committee in August 2024 but following an appeal an independent Planning granted planning permission. Councillor Adrian Foster, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management and Housing, said: 'The basis on which the decision was made to allow the appeal has altered following the devastating fire to the listed aircraft hangar at Old Sarum Airfield. 'Following legal advice, in light of the unusual circumstances surrounding this case, we have taken the decision to launch a legal challenge against the Planning Inspector's decision. 'We have applied to the court to challenge the decision and we now wait to hear whether it will proceed to hearing.' A spokesperson for the Save Old Sarum action group, which had been campaigning to stop the plans for housing and for the restoration of Hangar 3, said: 'Great news that Wiltshire Council has launched a legal challenge to the Planning Inspector's ruling over 300+ houses applied to be built on the airfield site. 'This unique Conservation Area & heritage site will be irreversibly damaged if the houses go ahead' Old Sarum's rich history Old Sarum Airfield was commissioned in 1917 and is one of three surviving First World War grass strip airfields of its type in Britain. The Belfast Truss hangar was built in 1917 by German Prisoners of War and Chinese labourers. Hangar 3 was a double span hangar and was about 180ft wide and 120ft long. Old Sarum airfield seen from above at the end of the First World War Old Sarum Airfield was a Training Depot Station in the First World War and from 1920 it was the School of Army Co-Operation. It also played a crucial role in the Second World War, serving as a training base for soldiers to learn to fly following the large losses of RAF pilots in the Battle of Britain. Westland Lysanders, Tomahawk's and Taylorcraft Austers were based at the airfield in the Second World War where the Air Observation Post squadrons were formed in May 1940. The historic aerodrome was granted conservation status by English Heritage in 2007 because of its complete set of First World War buildings and hangars. Following the blaze, the director of the airfield said he was 'devastated' by the fire and hopes he hasn't 'lost' the building. Grenville Hodge, the director of Old Sarum airfield, said: 'We're absolutely devastated. We just won the planning appeal and the first thing we were going to do was repair the hangar. It's just unbelievable. Hopefully, we haven't lost it.' Old Sarum is one of the oldest operational airfields in the country and has three Grade II listed hangars which were built in 1917. During the Second World War it was a training base for army soldiers to learn to fly following large RAF losses in the Battle of Britain. Aviation historian Andy Saunders said: 'The airfield is an important part of Britain's aviation heritage and its use dates back to the First World War with a unique group of original buildings of the period. 'Unfortunately, at least one of the wooden trussed hangars was allowed to fall into disrepair in recent years.' The Belfast Truss Hangar 3 was put on Historic England's At Risk Register in 2020, but in January 2024 Storm Isha caused a partial collapse. At the time campaigners described it as 'demolition through dereliction of duty'. But in granting the housing scheme permission, planning inspector Nick Fagen said he did not accept there had been deliberate neglect of the hangar by the owners. He added that no advantage had been gained by them in neglecting Hangar 3 as much more rebuilding work is now required than before it fell into a state of disrepair. The fire service said Hangar 3 had partially collapsed and the flames had engulfed the adjacent restaurant and café. Paul McAuliffe, 54, and wife Svonne, 52, were sat outside the site at around 6.30pm when the fire started. Mrs McAuliffe said: 'One of us looked over and noticed grey smoke coming out of the hangar. 'He (Paul) ran into the kitchen and told them the hangar was on fire. We've all had to stand and watch the hangar. 'The roof collapsed, and then the doors came down, and brought the brick walls down with it. It's absolutely gutting.' Eloise Moore and her sister were alerted to the fire after their parents spotted the smoke. 'I'm so devastated about the recent blaze that happened at the hangar earlier today', she said. 'This was my first time experiencing a fire on this scale, and as a teenager, it will definitely stay with me for a long time. 'We were absolutely flabbergasted and was eager to keep up to date with every news story and followed the live found on your page. 'I hope the fire can be resolved and I have tons of gratitude towards the police and fire departments.' Wiltshire Police has since confirmed to MailOnline that a person has been arrested on suspicion of arson and has been released on bail while their investigations continue In a statement released after the blaze, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service warned local residents: 'Due to the potential for unknown chemicals, please stay inside and keep your windows closed to avoid the smoke.' A spokesman for Wiltshire Police at the time said: 'We are appealing for witnesses following a large fire at Old Sarum airfield. 'The fire broke out just after 6pm in partially derelict wartime hangars. The two hangars, as well as the Hangar 3 cafe were destroyed, and the building used by another business was badly damaged. 'An investigation is now underway into the cause of the fire and we would like to speak to anyone who was in the area shortly before the fire started. 'If you can help with our inquiries, please contact us on 101 quoting log number 262 of yesterday's date (17/04). You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 'We would also ask that members of the public keep their distance from the affected area while police and fire continue with the investigation.'
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside ‘appalling' £14m space-age tower once home to UK's highest motorway restaurant that's rotted away for 35 years
Nostalgic Brits discussed their previous visits to the tower FROZEN IN TIME Inside 'appalling' £14m space-age tower once home to UK's highest motorway restaurant that's rotted away for 35 years AN ABANDONED tower which was once home to the UK's highest motorway restaurant continues to rot away decades after its closure. The Forton Services, close to Lancaster, waved in motorists using the 3.5-mile stretch of the M6 for the first time in 1965. Advertisement 3 Forton Services, located on the M6 motorway, was the location of The Pennine Tower restaurant Credit: Alamy 3 The hexagonal tower under construction in December 1964 Credit: Getty The eye-catching hexagonal Pennine Tower formed part of the complex, and quickly became the site of a posh restaurant for famished drivers. Diners regularly tucked into grilled rainbow trout, fillet steaks, lobster, and local favourites like Lancashire Hot Pot and potted shrimps. It boasted dramatic views of the nearby Morecambe Bay and was likened to a UFO by some visitors. The Forton Services also came complete with self-service cafeterias, baby changing facilities, and showers for lorry drivers. Advertisement Noreen Blackburn, a former waitress at the Pennine Tower, shared her experiences working at the now-dormant eatery. She said: "As I was eager to learn, my next job was serving tea and coffee tea was made in a huge teapot and poured as necessary coaches made the place very busy. "The phrase used was the 'tea and pee brigade'. "However, my greatest wish was to be a waitress in the 'tower' and I really pushed the catering manager to consider me. Advertisement "The uniform was so chic in a shade of mid-green with a pencil slim skirt which had to be just above knee level, a white blouse, a waistcoat with shiny chrome buttons and a Top Rank emblem embroidered on it." The shine quickly wore off, with the restaurant slammed as "an insult to one's taste buds" by prominent food critic Egon Ronay. Abandoned iconic UK stadium left to rot 110 years after hosting FA Cup final getting new lease of life The Forton Services became better known as a rendez-vous point for truckers and pulled the plug in 1989. Recognising its significance, they awarded the tower Grade II listed status in 2012. Advertisement Detailing its pedigree, the Historic England website says: "Forton demonstrated a new popularist architecture ideally suited to the democratic new aesthetic of the motorway. "The Pennine Tower Restaurant acting both as a beacon to attract the passing motorists and as a glamorous vantage point from which they were able to enjoy spectacular prospects of the motorway below and more extensively over the miles of surrounding countryside through which they [are] passing." Historic England also selected the Pennine Tower amongst eight pieces of architectural prowess inspired by the 1960s space race, culminating in 1969's lunar landing. It cited Forton services as an example of 'Space-age architecture', cheekily describing it as a "Star Wars ship next to a motorway". Advertisement Online user Rob590 fondly recalled his visits to the unique building. "[In the '90s] Forton was one of the first buildings I grew to love," he said. "From our end it was the first landmark that you were going somewhere - Preston, Blackpool, Manchester or maybe even further. "It seemed impossibly huge, and to my eyes reinforced that we'd left our rural county for something bigger, modern and better." Advertisement
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Kings Theatre's £5m revamp plans submitted to Portsmouth council
Plans to regenerate Portsmouth's Kings Theatre have been submitted, featuring a new cafe and bar, along with a new rehearsal Kings Theatre Trust submitted proposals to Portsmouth City Council, which include restoring the venue's Albert Road-facing faç project, known as Elevation 1907, aims to revitalise 24–28 Albert Road into a fully accessible entrance foyer, bar and rehearsal space "seamlessly connected to the Grade II* listed theatre".The council said the "positive" scheme would retain and adapt a "very important heritage asset in the city". The proposals aim to resolve existing operational challenges at the 1,400-seat theatre, including poor accessibility for people with disabilities, a lack of a public-facing social space, limited educational and learning areas, and insufficient toilet new facilities would include a fully accessible entrance and foyer from Albert Road for the first time in the theatre's history. A customer lift would provide access to all levels from the ground plans follow extensive consultation with the public and Historic England, who are "wholly supportive" of the proposals. Ryan Stock of Pritchard Architecture said the project would transform a long-derelict terrace into a "vibrant civic asset", describing Elevation 1907 as "more than bricks and mortar".Once approved, the £5m work is expected to start later this year and take about 15 months. It would have a minimal impact on performances and would be funded through ticket levies, council support and future fundraising. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Decision on Swanmore's cottage demolition plan delayed
The decision on a plan to demolish a cottage that hundreds of people have opposed will not be taken until at least owner of the building has applied to knock it down and replace it with two new two-storey homes with parking in Swanmore, opposed to the project told Winchester City Council that it dates back to the 16th Century but Historic England experts said it was first built in the mid-19th online petition has been signed by about 900 people and another 200 people have submitted objections to the local authority. A document submitted by a council case officer shows the application will not be decided until at least 18 grandson of the house's previous owners set up the online petition because he said they sold it believing that it would be lived in by the new owners. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
