A list of the ten most threatened Victorian and Edwardian buildings has been published by the Victorian Society.
The publication of the Top Ten follows a national appeal to find the best and most at risk buildings in England and Wales.
The Victorian Society reports:
The final list includes the imposing buildings of Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire; an abandoned railway station near Peterborough; a striking terracotta YMCA building in south Wales and in Leeds a Grade I-listed flax mill, inspired by an ancient Egyptian temple.
‘We have been flooded with information about buildings at risk from neglect or damaging redevelopment and narrowing the list down to just ten has been extremely difficult’, said Dr Ian Dungavell, Director of the Victorian Society. ‘It’s clear there is still some way to go before many historic buildings receive the recognition and protection they deserve.’
The threat of imminent demolition hangs over three of the buildings on the list (Broadmoor Hospital, the South Eastern Railway offices in London and Ancoats Dispensary in Manchester) but most are simply suffering from neglect.
The condition of the ten varies enormously; Manningham Baths in Bradford has only just closed to swimmers and the Old Rectory in Cornwall is still, in theory, a family house. But other buildings, such as the Cricket Pavilion near Bletchley Park are ruinous to the point of collapse.
‘Times are hard and money is short but it remains vital that historic buildings are properly secured against the weather and vandals. We owe it to future generations to care for our heritage and beautiful, robust buildings must not be lost because of short-term economic concerns.’
Featuring in the Top Ten can have a positive effect on the outcome for a historic building; Normansfield Hospital, which was on last year’s list after 14 years of neglect is now secure and watertight and plans are due to be submitted to convert the building into flats. In Sheffield the interior of Hammerton School has been repaired and the building now has a new roof and an on site caretaker, and the while the threat of partial demolition still hangs over Beresford Pite’s wonderful 30 Euston Square in London, it has been beautifully restored by its owners.
The 2011 Top Ten (in no particular order):
· The Old Rectory, Columb Major, Cornwall (1851, William White, Grade II*)
· Temple Mills, Marshall Street, Leeds (1838-43, Joseph Bonomi, Grade I)
· Former YMCA building, Portmorlais West, Merthyr Tydfil (1911, Percy Thomas, Grade II)
· Bletchley Cricket Pavilion, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley (c1896-98, architect unknown, unlisted)
· Ancoats Dispensary, Old Mill Street, Manchester (1879-91, Lewis & Crawcroft, Grade II)
· South Eastern Railway Offices, Tooley Street, London (1897-1900, Charles Barry & Son, unlisted)
· Wansford Railway Station, Sibson-cum-Stibbington, Peterborough (c.1845, JW Livock, Grade II)
· Manningham Baths, Carlisle Road, Bradford (1904, Frederick Edwards, Grade II)
· Crumpsall and Cheetham District Library, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester (1909-11, Henry Price, Grade II)
· Broadmoor Hospital, Crowthorne, Berkshire (1858-63, Sir Joshua Jebb, Grade II)
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