The Victorian society is calling on people across the country to nominate endangered Victorian or Edwardian buildings in their local area.
An annual hunt for the ten most endangered Victorian or Edwardian buildings in England and Wales begins last week.
The campaign aims to highlight the problems facing many of our historic buildings. Nominations in previous years have included Victorian schools, mills, former workhouses, pubs, stately homes and chapels.
‘We want to make sure the best Victorian and Edwardian architecture survives for future generations to enjoy. To do this we need to know what is most at risk, from demolition, development, or simply neglect,’ said Dr Ian Dungavell, Director of the Victorian Society.
‘At the moment wide-ranging council cuts mean certain building types are under threat as never before; we’ve been told about some of the libraries, town halls or swimming pools now facing an uncertain future but there will be many more and we would like to hear about them.’
‘In many cases the money for restoration simply isn’t there but these buildings mustn’t be left to rot. The cost of weather-proofing a building and protecting if from vandals need not be huge, but it can make a massive difference. Without this sort of help some buildings may be beyond repair by the time the economy picks up again.’
Buildings don’t have to be listed to be nominated. Many good Victorian buildings aren’t listed and could be at risk, perhaps of demolition, from insensitive development or simply neglect. They need to have been built between 1837 and 1914.
‘All over the country there are wonderful examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture. If you live near a building at risk that you think is worth saving, then The Victorian Society want to hear about it.’
The deadline for nominations is 17th July 2012. All the buildings will then be considered by the Society’s experts on architecture and conservation, and a Top Ten will be published in the autumn.
Buildings can be nominated in the following ways:
- Via their website at www.victoriansociety.org.uk
- By emailing mike@victoriansociety.org.uk
- By post: The Victorian Society, 1 Priory Gardens, London W4 1TT
The Top Ten Endangered Buildings of 2011 were:
The Old Rectory, Colmb Major, Cornwall (1851, William White, Grade II*-listed)
Temple Mill, Leeds (1838-43, Joseph Bonomi, Grade I-listed)
Bletchley Cricket Pavilion, Buckinghamshire (1896-98, unlisted)
South Eastern Railway Offices, London Bridge (1897-1900, Charles Barry & Son, unlisted)
Former YMCA building, Merthyr Tydfil (1911, Percy Thomas, Grade II-listed) Broadmoor Hospital, Berkshire (1858-63, Sir Joshua Jebb, Grade II-listed) Wansford Railway Station, nr Peterborough (c1845, JW Livock, Grade II-listed)
Manningham Baths, Bradford (1904, Frederick Edwards, Grade II-listed) Crumpsall and Cheetham District Library, Manchester (1909-11, Henry Price, Grade II-listed)
Ancoats Dispensary, Manchester(1879-91, Lewis & Crawford, Grade II-listed).
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