WalesOnline reports on how Conwy Council is stepping in to protect a Grade I listed stately home that is one of the largest in Wales, Kinmel Hall, which has fallen into disrepair in recent years and campaigners are concerned about its future.
… an injunction in place that prohibits work…
… largest surviving country house in Wales…
WalesOnline writes:
Known as the ‘Welsh Versailles’, Kinmel Hall was built by the Hughes family in 1876 after making their fortune in copper mining in Anglesey.
Kinmel Hall remained the family’s home until 1929 and went on to be a boy’s school, a health spa, a military hospital, and a Christian conference centre.
British Virgin Islands registered Acer Properties Ltd, the current owners of house, have not made their intentions for the site known since buying it for £1.45m in 2011.
Since then… it has been allowed to deteriorate and was placed on the UK’s 10 most endangered buildings by the Victorian Society.
Heritage campaigners have said for years that the building was at risk after carved wooden panels presented by Queen Victoria were stolen…
Now, Conwy Council has revealed an injunction has been placed on the site to prevent ‘unauthorised’ work taking place.
The local authority is also exploring further enforcement action but will not be looking to use compulsory purchase powers, as Denbighshire Council did recently with North Wales Hospital.
A spokesman for Conwy Council said: “As a result of previous unauthorised work, there’s an injunction in place that prohibits work that’s not been explicitly authorised by the planning authority.
“Due to the lack of any recent progress, we’re exploring other enforcement options to seek further repairs…”
“We aren’t currently considering powers that might result in compulsory purchase.
“The building remains a high priority…”
The property is the largest surviving country house in Wales. It had 50 bedrooms and 60 quarters for the live-in servants.
The Victorian Society has previously included Kinmel Hall as one of its most endangered buildings in England and Wales.
“In fact, Kinmel Hall is said to have been inspired by Wren’s Hampton Court and the 17th century Chateau de Balleroy….”
For more background see the Victorian Society
