Rylands Mill, Wigan, Greater Manchester (Grade II, 1865, George Woodhouse)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included three Lancashire & Greater Manchester buildings on its 2016 list of the Top Ten Endangered in England and Wales. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation outside the South East. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

A former cotton mill with integral boiler, chimney, weaving sheds, own private railway and collieries – the mill reportedly held 60,000 spindles and 1,500 looms. The building was last occupied by Wigan and Leigh College but has lain derelict since the early 2000s. Although designed to be fireproof, the mill has suffered regular fires in recent months, resulting in the demolition of a 20th century extension. Locals remain concerned about the lack of vision for the site where children risk their lives trespassing. Ideally located next to a public park, the mill is currently for sale £2,500,000. The owners must be certain that a sale at this price is possible and, in the meantime, properly secure the site before someone is seriously hurt.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘Lancashire and the north west has more buildings on our Top Ten than anywhere else in the country. But for the first time we have no entries for London or the South East. We simply got far more nominations from areas like Lancashire. This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason, I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur local authorities and owners to urgently find a way to bring these buildings back into use. At a time when there has been much discussion of creating a northern power house this is more important than ever. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.’

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

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Clayton Hospital, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (Locally listed, 1879 extended circa 1900, William Bakewell)

The Wakefield Grammar School Foundation owns schools on either side of the building and has submitted a planning application for total demolition of the hospital to enable expansion to create an ‘iconic’ centrepiece. It seems inconceivable that the landmark main hospital building cannot be incorporated into the schools’ plans to provide this. The Society is urging the public to oppose the application (Ref 16/00798/OUT or read our objection letter). Pictures are here.

Clayton Hospital is the first non-listed building to be included on the Top Ten for several years. Its inclusion reflects the very high quality of the carved stone Tudor Revival building which dominates the surrounding conservation area. Although its dramatic central tower is visible from two of the main roads into Wakefield it has fallen into disrepair and had its lead flashings stripped from the roof.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘For the first time we have no entries on the Top Ten for London or the South East. We simply got far more nominations from areas like Yorkshire. This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason, I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur local authorities and owners to urgently find a way to bring these buildings back into use. At a time when there has been much discussion of the gap between the South East and elsewhere this is more important than ever. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.’

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post Wakefield’s Clayton Hospital on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

St Joseph’s Seminary, Upholland, Lancashire (Grade II 1880-83 J O’Byrne, extended 1921-8 by Pugin and Pugin)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included three Lancashire & Greater Manchester buildings on its 2016 list of the Top Ten Endangered in England and Wales. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation outside the South East. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

This large and impressive three storey complex of gothic sandstone buildings, reportedly sits at the geographic centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Liverpool and bears witness to a time when many young men wanted to train to become priests. Numbers dramatically declined after the 1960s and the seminary became a boarding school in the 1980s for boys considering a vocation. Alumni reportedly include the comedians Tom O’Connor and Johnny Vegas (who is said to have left after becoming homesick). The buildings closed in the early 1990s and have been slowly decaying ever since, becoming a mecca for ‘urban explorers’ some of whom have damaged the interior. Just 15 minutes’ drive from Wigan surely a residential conversion is possible? Pictures are here and online video footage is here.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘Lancashire and the north west has more buildings on our Top Ten than anywhere else in the country. But for the first time we have no entries for London or the South East. We simply got far more nominations from areas like Lancashire. This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason, I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur local authorities and owners to urgently find a way to bring these buildings back into use. At a time when there has been much discussion of creating a northern power house this is more important than ever. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.’

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

Thank you to “Proj3ct M4yh3m” www.proj3ctm4yh3m.com and Fragglehunter who provided pictures of the building. More photos of St Josephs Seminary are here.

The post St Joseph’s Seminary near Wigan on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Photo Credit: Mal Vickers.

St Paul’s Church, Boughton, Chester, Cheshire (Grade II* 1876, extended 1902 John Douglas)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included St Paul’s Church, Boughton, Chester, Cheshire on its 2016 list of the Top Ten Endangered in England and Wales. The stunning Grade II* church is currently going through formal closure procedures with no plans for repairs or its future use. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

From the outside you would never know that St Paul’s Church, Boughton, incorporates an older classical church. Architect John Douglas, who designed much of Chester’s famous Victorian half-timbered town centre, was a congregation member and rebuilt the complex in his distinctive style leaving little trace of what went before.

Described in Pevsner as “the boldest of Douglas’ church designs” the stunning interior retains wall paintings and wonderful stained glass windows by Kempe, Frampton, Morris, and Burne-Jones. The church is currently going through the Church of England closure process after the congregation merged with another church.

Repairs are needed to the roof and the electrics. Although the rear of the church presents an idyllic situation down to the river, it fronts a busy, unattractive main road. However, it has many enviable facilities such as a large church hall, as well as a reasonable congregation; lack of car parking seems to have been the main reason for the congregation abandoning their church. Nevertheless, this Grade II*-listed building is too important to sit empty slowly deteriorating with no plan for its future. Pictures are here.

Grade II*-listed buildings are described by Historic England as ‘particularly important buildings of more than special interest’. Just 5.5% of listed buildings are Grade II*.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often focuses attention on the buildings which can help save them. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation in areas like Cheshire. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found in the notes to editors section below.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur the congregation and Church of England to urgently set out plans for this building’s future and how it will be maintained until a new use is found. Urgent action should be taken to prevent further decay. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work’.

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post St Paul’s Church, Chester on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Old Library, Stafford, Staffordshire (Grade II, 1913, Briggs, Wolstenholme and Thorneley)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included Stafford Old Library on its Top Ten Endangered Buildings list for England and Wales. The Society is urging Stafford Borough Council to consider a compulsory purchase order to bring this important city centre building back into use. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation in areas like the West Midlands. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

The Grade II listed Old Library in Stafford was designed by Briggs, Wolstenholme and Thorneley in 1913 and partially funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The small but impressive classical building in the centre of Stafford should have no problem finding a tenant yet it has been little used for nearly 20 years since the library closed in 1998.The building once housed Clement Lindley Wragge’s collection of ethnographic, zoological and geological material but it is unclear where the collection is now. The County Council sold the building in 2012 and a planning application for conversion to an Indian restaurant was approved in 2013 but nothing has happened since.

The Old Library currently appears to be on the market at £750,000. The owner should ensure that this is an achievable price given the library’s state of repair and consider offering the building to a community group which hopes to reopen the building as a multi-purpose arts/cultural hub. Perhaps an interim use of the space could be offered? Link to pictures.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here. The Society has also published an updated campaigning guide for people concerned about buildings which didn’t make the list.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur Stafford Borough Council and the owners to urgently find a way to bring the old library back into use. A listed building in a town centre conservation area deserves far better than being left to rot for nearly a decade. Perhaps local campaigners could be allowed to use the building for free in return for helping with maintenance while the library’s long term future is decided? Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post Stafford’s Old Library on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Photo Credit: The Victorian Society.

Red Barns, Redcar, Tees Valley (Grade II* 1868, Phillip Webb)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included the former home of Victorian explorer Gertrude Bell, Red Barns in Redcar on its 2016 list of the Top Ten Endangered in England and Wales. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation in areas like Yorkshire. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

Red Barns is an architecturally important building, designed by leading arts and crafts architect, Philip Webb. It is also the former home of Gertrude Bell CBE, a pioneering female Victorian explorer of the Middle East variously described as a political officer, administrator, spy and archaeologist. Philip Webb also designed Red House, William Morris’ home in South London, but the contrast between Red Barns and Red House could not be starker. While Red House is lovingly looked after by the National Trust its famous occupant celebrated, Red Barns lies in a terrible state with huge amounts of water damage to the interior.

Bought by a developer after a pub at the building closed, foundations for housing have been dug in the grounds but work has not commenced. Nor have plans to convert the building into flats started. Urgent action is needed now to ensure Red Barns survives. Perhaps the developer could support the local campaign to turn the house into a museum to honour Bell’s memory. Pictures are here.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘For the first time we have no entries on the Top Ten for London or the South East. We simply got far more nominations from areas like Yorkshire. This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason, I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur local authorities and owners to urgently find a way to bring these buildings back into use. At a time when there has been much discussion of the gap between the South East and elsewhere this is more important than ever. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.’

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post Philip Webb’s Red Barns in Redcar on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Mount Street Hospital, Preston, Lancashire (Grade II, 1872, RW Hughes)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included three Lancashire & Greater Manchester buildings on its 2016 list of the Top Ten Endangered in England and Wales. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation outside the South East. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

The High Victorian Gothic building was built as an orphanage for Preston’s destitute girls. The orphanage closed in 1954 and later became a convalescent home, but has now been empty for over a decade.

We called for an Urgent Works Notice in 2009 to keep this important building weather tight and secured against vandalism or arson. Yet the building continues to be a favourite of ‘urban explorers’ with teenagersrecently seen hanging out of top floor windows. Preston City Council is said to be drawing up residential conversion proposals for the site with the owner. However, the buildings cannot afford further delay – sensitive plans urgently need to be put into action before the building is lost. Pictures are here and online video footage is here.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘Lancashire and the north west has more buildings on our Top Ten than anywhere else in the country. But for the first time we have no entries for London or the South East. We simply got far more nominations from areas like Lancashire. This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason, I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur local authorities and owners to urgently find a way to bring these buildings back into use. At a time when there has been much discussion of creating a northern power house this is more important than ever. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.’

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post Preston’s Mount Street Hospital on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Photo: Victoria Mills, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Photo Credit: The Victorian Society.

Victoria Mills, Grimsby, Lincolnshire (Grade II, 1889 and 1906, Sir William Gelder of Hull)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included Victoria Mills in Grimsby on its 2016 list of the Top Ten Endangered in England and Wales. The move comes days after demolition of the town’s historic ‘kasbah’ dock buildings began. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation in areas like lincolnshire. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

The Victoria Mills in Grimsby is Grade II listed and dominates the Grimsby skyline. The former flourmill, warehouse and office complex was built in phases between 1889 and 1906 to designs of Sir William Gelder of Hull and partially converted to flats in the 1990s.

Now the tower of this Grimsby landmark, which was not converted to housing, has suffered from structural difficulties. As a result, some people living in the flats were made homeless for weeks due to their homes being declared unsafe. After the owner failed to take action, the Council carried out work to allow residents to return home and prevent a collapse onto a main road. While the Council battles to recoup the costs of this work the long term future of the tower remains uncertain. The owner should either sell the silo tower or reapply for planning permission for conversion to residential – the existing permission having expired. Failure to take action to secure the building in the long term will simply see the Council being forced to carry out more emergency work in the future. Pictures are here.

Grimsby’s Ice Factory featured in our 2010 Top Ten Endangered Buildings and Wintringham School and School Board Offices in our 2013 Top Ten.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur North East Lincolnshire Council and the owners to urgently find a way to bring the silo tower at Victoria Mills back into use. The Council was right to take emergency action but a long term plan is needed. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work. At a time when Associated British Ports its demolishing some of the world’s greatest industrial fishing heritage in Grimsby this is more important than ever’.

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post Grimsby mill tower on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Old Bute Road Railway Station, Cardiff (Grade II*, 1842, Brunel?)

Cardiff’s Grade II*-listed old Bute Road Station is one of national architectural charity the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten Endangered buildings in England and Wales. The Society hopes Cardiff Council will work with the owner to develop plans for reusing the building – which was instrumental in the development of modern Cardiff. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

Arriving at Cardiff Bay by train today you would never guess that this dilapidated station was the home of the first steam-powered passenger train service in Wales and vital to the development of Cardiff into the important international port it became in the 19th century. Thought to be designed by Brunel, it was built as the headquarters of the Taff Vale Railway in 1842/3, and is Grade II*-listed as an exceptionally early surviving example of purpose built railway architecture in Wales. The station’s dereliction is all the more shocking given its location just a stone’s throw from the centre of Welsh political power at the Welsh Assembly and the regeneration of Tiger Bay. Surprisingly, a modern shelter was built at the station, which still serves commuters, right next to the old station – one of the few remaining historic buildings in the area. Sadly it has been left to rot since a museum it housed closed. Surely a new use can be found for this important building? With passengers still using the station a food or retail use may well be feasible.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often leads to new interest in the buildings which can help save them. For example, since the Cardiff Coal Exchange featured in the 2014 Top Ten list Signature Living has started redeveloping the site as a hotel.

Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘This year, for the first time, the Top Ten has no entries from London or the South East. We simply got far more nominations from other regions. This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason I hope Old Bute Street Station’s inclusion in the Top Ten will spur Cardiff Council and the owners to urgently find a way to bring this building back into use and provide a fitting gateway to the area. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.’

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post Cardiff’s old Bute Road Station on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.

Oliver Buildings, Barnstaple, Devon (Grade II, 1888, William Clement Oliver)

National architectural charity, the The Victorian Society, has included Barnstaple’s Oliver Buildings on its 2016 list of the Top Ten Endangered in England and Wales. The owner has appeared to have stopped fighting the buildings’ listed status, but North Devon Council must ensure that they are not left decaying with no plans being brought forward. For the first time there are no buildings in London and the South East on the list – where the Society had comparatively few nominations. The Society considers that the greater number of buildings nominated from elsewhere may reflect the more difficult development situation in areas like Devon. Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, has urged people living near the buildings on the list to ‘seize the opportunity’ and campaign to save them.

The Grade II listed Oliver Buildings occupy a prominent riverside site in Barnstaple. William Clement Oliver designed the Shapland and Petter multi-coloured-brick factory, showroom and office complex in 1888. Due to a disastrous fire which destroyed the firm’s previous works the buildings use an innovative combination of fireproof and fire-retardant construction, compartmentalisation and a sprinkler system. Shapland and Petter originally used advanced American machinery to produce high-quality, mass-produced Arts and Crafts furniture. Barnstaple’s biggest employer for many years, the buildings closed in 2009.

A developer who bought the site repeatedly fought to overturn the building’s recent listing, even backed by a local MP. Concerns over their future were compounded by North Devon Council leader Des Brailey mistakenly stating that Grade II-listing does not protect the buildings’ interior. After rejecting an offer by the local building preservation trust to buy the buildings, the developer must now produce plans incorporating the buildings without any further delay allowing them to decay further. Pictures are here.

The national exposure from inclusion in the Society’s Top Ten often focuses attention on the buildings which can help save them. Full details of all the buildings in the 2016 Top Ten, and updates on positive developments for last year’s buildings, can be found here. The Society has also published an updated campaigning guide for people concerned about buildings which didn’t make the list.

The Victorian Society Director, Christopher Costelloe, said: ‘I hope inclusion in the Top Ten will spur North Devon Council and the owners to urgently set out plans to bring the Oliver Buildings back into use. Simply stating that the buildings will be included in plans is not enough. These buildings need urgent action to prevent further decay. Retaining historic buildings like those in the Top Ten is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work’.

Griff Rhys Jones, The Victorian Society Vice President, said: ‘The nationally important buildings on the The Victorian Society’s Top Ten list are in dire need of help. Many of them are in prominent locations in their towns and cities. Following my experience with the Hackney Empire I know how difficult finding funding can be – especially outside London. However, restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration. I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost forever.’

The post Barnstaple’s Oliver Buildings on Top Ten Endangered Buildings list appeared first on The Victorian Society.