Latest news with #VictorianSociety
ITV News
23-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Why actor and comedian Griff Rhys Jones wants to preserve a Norfolk Kwik Fit garage
"Once it's gone, it's gone forever": Russell Hookey met with the great-granddaughter of the architect behind the building The actor and comedian Griff Rhys Jones is warning that one of the oldest reinforced concrete buildings in Britain is under threat unless it is better protected. The building, 33-39 St James Street in King's Lynn, is currently a Kwik Fit garage and has been added to this year's Top Ten Endangered Buildings List, which highlights buildings under threat. According to the Victorian Society, the building is an "extraordinary example of modernist design and concrete construction". The society's president Griff Rhys Jones said, "It's extraordinary, it's a very early modernist building, and as such it might be of European significance." The Grade II-listed building, built in 1908, was designed by Norfolk-based architect A.F. Scott. It was listed in 2019 on the advice of Historic England and because of its clean lines and lack of decoration, it is considered a precursor to the post-First World War European Functionalism movement. Scott had already designed the now-demolished Chamberlin's factory in Norwich in 1903, which was the first reinforced concrete building in East Anglia. His great-granddaughter, Judith Merrill said that Scott was "very much one of his kind." "He was an individualist" she said. "He rode a bicycle - it's said he had the first pneumatic tyres in Norwich and cycled miles around Norfolk in them. "He was well ahead of his time, and it needs preserving, because once it's gone, it's gone forever." The St James Street building is now leased by Kwik Fit, although according to the Victorian Society a large part of the building is in long-term disuse and deterioration. The society is now urging the investment company which owns the building to take action to protect it. 'This bold and brilliant building is an unheralded but pioneering example of early modernism" said the society's director, James Hughes. "It deserves urgent attention, not just to preserve its fabric, but to celebrate its place in European architectural history," he added. A spokesperson for Kwik Fit said the building is "structurally sound" based on inspections which are carried out at least once a month. "Naturally we would prefer the property to be fully utilised, but our operations don't require the entire building," they added. "We have attempted to let out the space we do not use.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Torquay Pavilion one of the country's 'most endangered buildings'
A former theatre and ice rink that was often visited by author Agatha Christie has been named as one of the 10 most endangered buildings in the country. The Victorian Society lists the Pavilion at Torquay and said it was "at real risk of being lost if action is not taken".Other buildings across England and Wales that feature in the top 10 include a former hotel, a cemetery chapel and a water Council's deputy leader Chris Lewis recently outlined the council's plans for the Pavilion - as a possible home for an Agatha Christie heritage attraction. "We are determined to solve the problem of the Pavilion," said Mr Lewis. "It has been empty and derelict for too long." 'Jewel in the crown' The Pavilion has been falling into disrepair since it closed as a shopping centre more than a decade ago, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) Council recently took back the lease on the building from long-term tenants MDL and it has begun a project to repair and restore the crumbling Lewis said there was nothing about the Victorian Society's statement he disagreed with."They want to get the Pavilion done, we want to get the Pavilion done," he said."We need more plans to do it. The more people that can help us to do that - that's great."Mr Lewis added it would take about a year for the full reports to be prepared on what needs to be done."The Pavilion is the jewel in the crown of Torquay - we need to get it back to its former glory," he added. Morgan Ellis Leah, southern conservation adviser for the Victorian Society, said the structure was nominated locally. "It's not something we pick," she said."People come in and say we have this amazing building and we don't think it's being cared for, would you mind taking a look at it."Ms Ellis Leah said buildings were ranked on architectural and social merit and the Pavilion scored "pretty high for both".She added: "I think we take for granted that we have these beautiful buildings and we assume that they will always be there. "That's just not the case. They need help. There are too many greedy people who would much rather knock them down for flats."News of the listing has been hailed as a "national breakthrough" by members of the Save Torquay Pavilion said: "Today is the day our campaign goes national."The focus now is on getting the building restored as soon as possible and the initial works to enable this are under way. "We are absolutely determined to keep the Pavilion in the spotlight."
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Penarth: Derelict Victorian hotel on most-endangered list
A Grade II listed hotel has been placed on a list of the 10 most endangered buildings in the Hotel in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, dated back to about 1865 as part of the Mercantile Marine Offices and played a central role in the town's industrial, maritime, and social the surrounding area's transformation into a thriving marina and past proposals for redevelopment, the hotel remains derelict. Now on sale for £2.25m, the Victorian Society, which compiled the list, said it may be the "final opportunity to restore a vital piece of Penarth's maritime and architectural heritage". Griff Rhys Jones, president of the Victorian Society, also expressed disbelief that the "handsome hotel" in a "posh and sought-after" area still awaits restoration. He said the "elegant" building was a valuable heritage asset in need of care. According to Mr Jones, Penarth's rise as a prosperous Victorian town began with the construction of its docks in 1865, which also helped it thrive as a seaside resort. Built at the same time, Marine Hotel served dock workers, tourists, and likely Allied forces during World War since the early 1980s, the once-grand Grade II listed building has remained derelict for over 40 years as previous redevelopment plans, including a £6m boutique hotel scheme, have failed to materialise. James Hughes, Director of the Victorian Society, said Marine Hotel is an "irreplaceable link to Penarth's proud dockside past". "After four decades of decay, this sale is a last chance to bring the building back from the brink and give it the future it deserves," he said.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Decaying' cemetery chapel added to endangered list
A Victorian cemetery chapel built during a mortality crisis has been classed as "at risk" by a preservation charity. The building at Edgerton Cemetery in Huddersfield appears in the Victorian Society's list of the top 10 most endangered buildings in the country. Dating back to 1855, the Grade II-listed chapel's condition has deteriorated in recent years. Tom Ollivier of the Victorian Society, said: "Without preservation we risk losing part of our history." The town's public cemetery was laid out during a period when burials in urban areas were increasing. It was designed by James Pritchett, the architect behind Huddersfield Station. He included two chapels, one Anglican and one Non-conformist, which adjoined each other. The chapel has suffered repeated arson attacks. "The roof has caved in, it really is in a sorry state," Mr Ollivier continued. "If we can see that this building is either restored or preserved then it is a phenomenal feature of the landscape." The Victorian Society advocates for the protection of Victorian and Edwardian heritage, and hopes the addition of the chapel to the list will raise awareness of its plight. Geoff Hughes, a member of the West Yorkshire branch of the society, said the chapel "tells the story" of Huddersfield. "It is our history and how people have grown and how things have changed to become what they are today. "It has basically gone to rack and ruin over the last 20 years." Mr Hughes added that his vision for the Kirklees Council-owned site would be for it to become a park. "These were designed as cemeteries that, when full, would be turned into parks," he said. Chris Marsden, an architectural historian who lives in Huddersfield, said he would like to see more done to save the "magnificent building". "I think it would be a heritage crime to let it fall down or get demolished." He added that heritage sites like Edgerton Chapel gave people an insight into the past and act as a "history of the town in one acre". Both chapels narrowly escaped demolition in 1985 and were derelict and fenced-off by 2008, when ideas for new uses were explored. The Victorian Society's list of endangered sites is based on public nominations from across England and Wales. The buildings selected represent industrial, religious, domestic, and civic architecture from across the nation with unique historical and community significance and value. Mr Ollivier added that without the list, the country was at risk of "losing part of our history, part of our identity, we are losing something that makes that specific part of the world special". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. New promotion push for city's former textile hub Restored Victorian bear pit officially reopens Plans to revamp 140-year-old uni building approved Victorian Society
BBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Huddersfield chapel added to endangered buildings list
A Victorian cemetery chapel built during a mortality crisis has been classed as "at risk" by a preservation building at Edgerton Cemetery in Huddersfield appears in the Victorian Society's list of the top 10 most endangered buildings in the back to 1855, the Grade II-listed chapel's condition has deteriorated in recent Ollivier of the Victorian Society, said: "Without preservation we risk losing part of our history." The town's public cemetery was laid out during a period when burials in urban areas were was designed by James Pritchett, the architect behind Huddersfield included two chapels, one Anglican and one Non-conformist, which adjoined each other. The chapel has suffered repeated arson attacks."The roof has caved in, it really is in a sorry state," Mr Ollivier continued."If we can see that this building is either restored or preserved then it is a phenomenal feature of the landscape."The Victorian Society advocates for the protection of Victorian and Edwardian heritage, and hopes the addition of the chapel to the list will raise awareness of its plight. Geoff Hughes, a member of the West Yorkshire branch of the society, said the chapel "tells the story" of Huddersfield."It is our history and how people have grown and how things have changed to become what they are today."It has basically gone to rack and ruin over the last 20 years."Mr Hughes added that his vision for the Kirklees Council-owned site would be for it to become a park."These were designed as cemeteries that, when full, would be turned into parks," he Marsden, an architectural historian who lives in Huddersfield, said he would like to see more done to save the "magnificent building"."I think it would be a heritage crime to let it fall down or get demolished."He added that heritage sites like Edgerton Chapel gave people an insight into the past and act as a "history of the town in one acre".Both chapels narrowly escaped demolition in 1985 and were derelict and fenced-off by 2008, when ideas for new uses were explored. The Victorian Society's list of endangered sites is based on public nominations from across England and buildings selected represent industrial, religious, domestic, and civic architecture from across the nation with unique historical and community significance and Ollivier added that without the list, the country was at risk of "losing part of our history, part of our identity, we are losing something that makes that specific part of the world special". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
