Photo Credit: Stephen Hartland for The Victorian Society.

Icknield Street School is in urgent need of repairs. Despite being partly in use on the ground floor as a Hindu temple, its upper storeys are vacant. Water leaks from the slate roofs and gutters are now causing damage to both roof and walls.

The building was designed by J.H. Chamberlain of Martin and Chamberlain, who created several of Birmingham’s now listed or lost Victorian buildings. A slated spire rises out of the school in three stages, and the building’s high gables and pitched roofs are typical of Chamberlain’s schools, that were designed for hygiene and fresh air. The accompanying headmaster’s house is also listed and in an alarming state of repair. Both buildings are owned by the council and risk irreparable damage if a solution to their dilapidation is not found.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “Icknield Street School is a beautiful building that is at risk of being lost if essential repairs are not carried out. The rain damage will only continue to get worse. This must be addressed as a priority. The school is in a convenient location and the potential for repurposing is clear, as it is currently partly occupied. The council must act soon to both deal with the damage to the fabric of the building it is the custodian of and to find additional occupiers to make the most of its wonderful Victorian space.”

Picture Credits: Photos by Stephen HartlandDownload images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/C8XJf2P26YdNrTB88

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

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The post Icknield Street School, Birmingham, Grade II* Listed, by J.H. Chamberlain of Martin and Chamberlain, 1883 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

The market tells the story of Burslem’s rise and subsequent decline, with its ghost signs and fading advertisements from the Victorian era that still adorn several closed shops attached to the market hall. Burslem indoor market’s gothic design and ironwork is reminiscent of King’s Cross station in London.

The market closed its doors for the final time in 2003 after masonry dropped from the ceiling, making it unsafe for shoppers. It is now in need of vital repairs. The market’s impressive iron and glass roof is now in danger of collapse, and the repair bill is expected to be close to £1,000,000. The market is owned by the council.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “Like many Victorian markets across the country, Burslem Indoor Market was a busy part of the town. Now it stands empty and crumbling, a sad sight for those who still remember it bustling with life. Funding must be secured to repair this public building, which could create new job opportunities, and revive a community space. The market covers 11,000 square metres, with shops, and market floor, that could be re-imagined as community-use-space, small business premises and much, much more. Stoke on Trent Council is very keen to find a developer to assist them in bringing this building back to use. Could it be you?”

Photo Credit: Our Burlsem

Download Images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/X6qjGiAkj6nidR4T9

UPDATE: Plans to convert the market into a refugee-run international food hall have been tabled. The project team includes Our Burslem community group, artist Ian Mood and regeneration expert Mike Riddell, and Colchester-based Market Asset Management, which helped to relaunch Crewe’s market last year.

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

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The post Indoor Market, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, Unlisted, Architect Unknown, (1897) appeared first on The Victorian Society.

The Jones and Higgins Department Store opened on the corner of Rye Lane and Peckham High Street in 1867 and formed a key part of a ‘Golden Mile’ of shops that rivalled Oxford Street. The clock tower was designed by Southwark architects Henry Jarvis & Sons, who also built Dulwich Hospital and the Walworth Town Hall. They took their inspiration for the building’s façade from the Clock Tower in St. Mark’s Square, Venice.

The original store closed its doors in 1980 and part of the building has since been demolished to make room for the Aylesham Centre. The rest of the building was taken over by the Peckham Palais nightclub until it closed almost 10 years ago.

Without an occupier or purpose, the building is falling into ruin, despite receiving some respite in 2015, when local architect Benedict O’Looney received funding to repair the clock that had been out of service since 1980. The building was intended to become a new pub or club venue, but remains unused, and now there is cause for serious concern about the building, and the clock has stopped again. Peckham has seen huge investment and change in recent years.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “There is a feeling of nostalgia for this beautiful building in the local community, many of whom still remember it as an important part of the high street. The building’s architectural credentials, with its clock tower and design that is an ode to Venice, make it a valuable heritage asset. Its local connections with other buildings that were built by the same Southwark architects make it a vital part of a larger heritage context. This impressive structure at the centre of Peckham is at risk of falling further into disrepair. Surely a use can be found for this striking building in what was described by the New York Times as ‘The Beating Heart of London’s Most Dynamic Art Scene’?”

Picture Credits: John Cowley
Download Images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PFxk4tE53PUsvNed8

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

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We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Jones & Higgins Department Store, London, Unlisted, Henry Jarvis & Sons, 1894 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Minley Home Farm was once part of the sprawling Minley Manor Estate. It was completed circa 1896 to the designs of Arthur Castings, associate to the renowned George Devey, who worked on other buildings in the estate. The model farmstead was designed to reflect farming changes during the agricultural depression when arable land was converted to livestock use after cheap imports from America caused wheat prices to plummet. The farm includes a dairy, pigsties, bull boxes, and calf and cow boxes.

The farm is particularly rare because, as a result of the depression, few farm buildings were constructed during the late 19th century.

The Manor house itself has found new owners, but the farm, and thousands of acres of surrounding land are still owned by the Ministry of Defence, which acquired the manor and its estates in 1935.

The farm buildings are now in a precarious state. In January of this year the MoD submitted plans to demolish the farm. In a letter to the Secretary of State for Defence the The Victorian Society urged a rethink of the plan highlighting the farm’s architectural and historical significance, as well as the environmental and financial costs associated with demolition and the mooted replacement. SAVE Britain’s Heritage took legal action to block the demolition under permitted development rights and made a listing application which the The Victorian Society is supporting.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “Years of neglect have taken their toll on this model farm, but there is still hope. Gaining listed status would help protect the farm in the first instance. Agricultural buildings from this part of the Victorian period are rare, and the farm’s unique architecture and location with a larger heritage context mean that it needs to be preserved. The owner of the nearby manor is keen to buy the farm, and with its location in stunning countryside on the edge of the MOD’s land, with relatively easy public access, make redevelopment feasible – if only the MOD would sell rather than demolish.”

Picture Credits: Liam Heatherson (www.BeyondthePoint.co.uk)

Download Images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/BKuM3cm7i9K9ikQ36

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

Sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest news on the Top Ten Campaign and the fight to save our Victorian and Edwardian Heritage.

We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Minley Home Farm, Hampshire, Unlisted, Arthur Castings, 1896 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Oldham Equitable Cooperative Society (Hill Stores) commissioned Thomas Taylor to build what would be one of the largest buildings in the area, and it was completed in 1900.

The building was designed to include drapery, gentlemen’s outfitting, furnishing, boot and shoe, butchering and grocery departments, together with offices, committee, and board rooms, and included an educational department with newsroom, library, and conversation room.

The Oldham Equitable and Cooperative Society building stands out from other Cooperative Society buildings with its two ballrooms. The largest one was built with a seated capacity for 1000 people, and the smaller of the two can fit 500.

Oldham Equitable Building Society was last used in the ‘80s as a dance and music venue. The scale of the building, with its ballrooms and multiple levels, have made it challenging to find a buyer, and a new lease of life for the deteriorating building. While some shops remain on the ground floor, the other rooms are now in need of urgent attention.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “It would be a tragedy if The Oldham Equitable Cooperative Society or Hill Stores is allowed to decay further. It was a popular dance hall and entertainment venue up until recent memory and is still much-loved by many in the community.”

“Its massive scale provides many opportunities for repurposing and re-use. Its existing commercial and entertainment space should give plenty of inspiration to the council, community groups and businesses to make the most of this wonderful building.”

Picture Credit: Mark Watson

Images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QkidxzLsYjQdW7Bf6

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

Sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest news on the Top Ten Campaign and the fight to save our Victorian and Edwardian Heritage.

We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Oldham Equitable Cooperative Society (Hill Stores), Oldham, Grade 2 listed, Thomas Taylor, 1900 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Picture Credits: Scrappynw

The Whitchurch Hospital first opened in 1908 as ‘Cardiff Lunatic Asylum’, in the typical style for medical facilities – with a spine of central administrative blocks, and to each side, five-storey ward blocks. It was amongst most modern of its period, designed as a self-contained community, with a farm, powerhouse, water supply and even its own fire station. Architects Oatley and Skinner of Bristol designed the hospital with its ornate interiors including the recreation hall with vaulted ceiling, and external red and yellow brick banding.

The expansive Whitchurch hospital has been falling into ruin since it closed its doors to patients in 2016. Plans were first submitted to convert the hospital and surrounding grounds to residential, commercial, and leisure uses back in 1995, but they have never come to fruition.
After constant renewal, the plans expired in 2020. The NHS are keen to sell before the site deteriorates further, with smaller, longer neglected buildings becoming a serious concern.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “Whitchurch hospital has so much potential for repurposing. It covers a site of five acres with a diverse range of buildings that could easily be re-opened as offices or converted into housing and commercial spaces… … Its prime location on the edge of Cardiff must surely make it very appealing to developers with big plans and a passion for heritage… … We hope that a buyer can be found soon who recognises the unique potential of this once self-contained community and bring it back to its former grandeur.”

Picture Credits: Scrappynw (www.flickr.com/photos/scrappynw/ and www.instagram.com/scrappynw/)Download images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WLxfZTXW1hiRWeqw5

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

Sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest news on the Top Ten Campaign and the fight to save our Victorian and Edwardian Heritage.

We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff, Grade 2 Listed, Oatley and Skinner, 1902-1908 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Photo Credit: Ben Abel for the Victorian Society.

The Church of St Helen, Biscathorpe stands nearly alone, its former village having long since disappeared.

Rebuilt on the site of the old church in 1847 by W. A. Nicholson in a fanciful Gothic style – more than fifty grotesque faces perched high on the steeple peer down onto visitors.

The church retains many of its original features including stained glass, pulpit and cast-iron poppy-headed benches. The windows are filled with diamond leaded panes, mostly of clear glass, though with some coloured borders, and the east window carries a depiction of the Descent from the Cross, after Rubens.

An absence of regular maintenance over a period of years has left the building in desperate need of repair, and the interior is now partially exposed to the elements. Plaster foliate stops are now falling off, and internally and externally the rendered walls are crumbling. Water ingress is causing significant damage.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “St Helen’s is an exquisite little church nestled amongst trees in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds. It is a delicate and fascinating work of architecture and a remarkable survival. The church is now closed to regular worship, but given the quality of the building, handing it over to the Churches Conservation Trust or the Friends of Friendless Churches is one obvious option to ensure it is saved…

… Whatever happens, urgent repairs are clearly now required. In the longer term, a sensitive new use for it is needed, one that preserves the lovely and largely intact interior and its original suite of furnishings.”

Picture Credits: Ben Abel

Download Images: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UdJzTfRbSbfhSbr49

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

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We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Church of St Helen, Biscathorpe, Lincolnshire, Grade II* Listed, W. A. Nicholson, 1847 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Halifax Coal Drops were built for the Ovenden and Halifax Junction Railway Co. and are an important part of the town’s industrial history. They comprise 15 wooden bunkers built into the hillside supported between stone piers. Trains would stop over the top and unload coal into the bunkers, and local traders would back their horse-drawn carts into the spaces beneath to load their coal for distribution.

Their relatively intact internal machinery makes them a rare and large scale survivor. Now owned by Calderdale Council, the Coal Drops have been fenced off to the public for 15 years after a piece of masonry fell from the roof. They are now in a state of serious decline and without urgent attention could soon fall into irreparable ruin. A full structural survey is needed to establish the work necessary to ensure their future.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “Nowadays, we are moving away from fossil fuels, but the Halifax Coal Drops are a reminder of how long fossil fuels have been important to people’s lives and communities…”“… A new plan for an improved footpath and cycleway, between the town centre, and the nearby Hebble Trail, going directly past the Coal Drops is a great opportunity to restore the coal drops and preserve them as a landmark, to be enjoyed by both locals and visitors…”“…Funding for an initial structural survey is urgently needed to understand exactly what is needed to save this unique piece of industrial heritage.”

Any donations, however small, to fund the structural survey and subsequent repairs, will be gratefully received. Payment can be made online to Halifax Civic Trust, sort code 20-35-84, account no. 50442445, including reference: “Coal Drops” please. Cheques should be made payable to Halifax Civic Trust and sent to: HCT Treasurer, Marsh Meadows, 31 Marsh Lane, Southowram, Halifax, HX3 9UF.

Photo Credit: David WitcherDownload Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/iNCTYCbAHZJytZbM6

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

Sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest news on the Top Ten Campaign and the fight to save our Victorian and Edwardian Heritage.

We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Coal Drops, Halifax, Grade II, Architect unknown, 1874 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

At its peak in 1892, Healings Flour Mill was considered to be the largest and most advanced flour mill in the country, capable of producing 25 sacks of flour an hour. Operations ceased in 2006, and the complex of buildings is now derelict.

A couple of twentieth century structures were demolished following the closure of the mill and machinery from the warehouse and mill was also removed.
The listed buildings are unsafe and need serious structural work to preclude the possibility of demolition. Although plans were tabled in 2019 to demolish the non-listed later structures surrounding the listed buildings, no formal application has been made. Likewise, a residential development plan from 2017 from a developer, has not yet come to fruition.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “Healings Mill represents Tewkesbury and the surrounding area’s agricultural and industrial past and is a source of pride for many people who live around it. The mill’s riverside location and attractive architecture, make it ideal for repurposing to breathe new life into the area. Its grand scale gives it the potential to become a focal point for the community, with space for small businesses, homes, leisure facilities or even a museum… …Sadly, its current state of extreme disrepair means that urgent action is needed to save this building from deteriorating further and facing total demolition. We hope a developer will see the potential in repurposing this wonderful building.”

Picture Credits: Andrew S Brown, Nicholas Jones of The Photo Studio Tewkesbury
Download Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2GpSyj31pRiadC8P8

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

Sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest news on the Top Ten Campaign and the fight to save our Victorian and Edwardian Heritage.

We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Healings Flour Mill and Warehouses, Tewkesbury, Grade II, by W H James of Tewkesbury for Samuel Healing and Son, 1865-6 appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Horncliffe House’s ornate exterior is almost all that remains of this once grand residence. Originally built as a private dwelling for Henry Hoyle Hardman, a local mill owner and businessman, the building went through several uses, including an old people’s home and hotel, before closing in 2007. In 2008, an application to convert it back to a single dwelling was rejected, and the house was subsequently abandoned. A fire in 2019 devasted the interior, which by then was already seriously dilapidated.

While its striking and ornate interiors with plaster mouldings and colourful wall paintings were lost to the fire, the exterior retains its finely-dressed stone and carved decorations, and an arched and columned entrance portico. The building requires extensive works to save it from total collapse – and even more works to restore it to its former glory.

Griff Rhys Jones said: “Horncliffe House is a beautiful building with an unlucky history. The tragic fire that destroyed most of its interior was almost the last nail in its coffin, but the exterior still shows its grand history and potential for salvation… … This is Horncliffe’s House’s last chance. Extensive works need to be done to make sure it continues to survive, but its easy-access location just off the A56, and striking appearance, would make it an ideal restoration project. It would be wonderful to find a business or individual willing to take up this challenge and bring this fascinating piece of Lancashire’s history back to life.”

Photo Credit: Anne Hodgson, David French
Download Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/PRs5ZYJPWxRPSCTP7

Click here to listen to Griff’s Talk ‘That’s the Way the Money goes’, where he talks about the perils and joys of restoring heritage buildings.

Sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest news on the Top Ten Campaign and the fight to save our Victorian and Edwardian Heritage.

We all wish we could do more to save the historic buildings we care about. Join us and let us do the fighting for you. Without members’ financial support our specialist Conservation Advisers would not be there to make sure local authorities and churches make the right decisions to protect our heritage.

The post Horncliffe House, Lancashire, Grade-II listed, Architect Unknown, 1869 appeared first on The Victorian Society.