{"id":5714,"date":"2025-05-21T23:39:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T22:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victoriansociety.org.uk\/?post_type=endangered_building&p=5714"},"modified":"2025-05-22T00:09:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T23:09:35","slug":"ground-breaking-norfolk-early-concrete-building-placed-on-victorian-societys-top-ten-endangered-buildings-list-2025","status":"publish","type":"endangered_building","link":"https:\/\/www.victoriansociety.org.uk\/endangered-buildings\/ground-breaking-norfolk-early-concrete-building-placed-on-victorian-societys-top-ten-endangered-buildings-list-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Ground-breaking Norfolk early concrete building placed on Victorian Society\u2019s Top Ten Endangered Buildings list 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Facade of 33 – 39 St James St, King’s Lynn. Photograph: Connor McNeill.<\/p><\/div>\n

33 \u2013 39 St James Street, King\u2019s Lynn, Norfolk. Grade II, A. F. Scott, 1908<\/h3>\n

The Victorian Society has placed this extraordinary early example of modernist design and concrete construction on its Top Ten Endangered Buildings List 2025<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Griff Rhys Jones OBE, Victorian Society President, <\/strong>said: \u2018<\/strong>Kings Lynn is a wondrous town, and this is a truly exciting building. Given that it looks so fit for purpose, so strong and elegant, what a pity that people have cause to worry about it. The place looks boldly modern and yet there are worries about its decay and future use. I feel confident that a minimum amount of attention from the owners could make this a shining example of recycling for the modern era. What are we waiting for?\u2019<\/p>\n

Norfolk might not be known for architectural innovation, but No. 33\u201339 St James Street in King\u2019s Lynn defies expectations. Designed by Augustus Frederic Scott<\/strong>, a pioneering Norfolk-based<\/strong> architect – and a Primitive Methodist, vegetarian, teetotaller, and cyclist – it stands as an extraordinary early example of modernist design and concrete construction.<\/p>\n

\"\"

A.F. Scott (Photo: courtesy Judith Merrill: A.F. Scott Archive)<\/p><\/div>\n

Built before World War I, No. 33\u201339, a Grade II listed building<\/a>, is remarkable for its exposed concrete frame, boldly expressing its structure rather than concealing it behind brick or render. This makes it a rare and significant precursor to the European Functionalism that gained prominence after the war. Architectural critic Ian Nairn, writing in Architectural Review<\/em> in 1955, called Scott \u2018a free thinker who produced modern buildings without knowing they had done so.\u2019 This building exemplifies that sentiment: devoid of ornament, defined by its clean lines, and entirely shaped by function.<\/p>\n

\"\"

A photo of the staff of the Building Material Company (King’s Lynn) Ltd who commissioned the building, in front of their 33-39 St James Street, King’s Lynn offices, showroom, and warehouse. Photograph: G D T Green.<\/p><\/div>\n

Scott had already made waves in 1903 with his Chamberlin\u2019s factory in Norwich, the first reinforced concrete building in East Anglia – described by Pevsner as of \u2018European importance.\u2019 Though that factory is now demolished, Scott\u2019s influence continued in projects like the Buntings department store (now M&S) in Norwich, which concealed a steel frame behind a traditional fa\u00e7ade. The loss of these other buildings makes the survival of No. 33\u201339 in King\u2019s Lynn all the more critical.<\/p>\n

Constructed as the offices, showroom, and warehouse for the Building Material Company (King’s Lynn) Ltd<\/strong>., the building was built by local contractor W. A. Bardell. The company operated there for over six decades until its insolvency in 1968. The structure later became a car showroom and workshop, and is currently leased by Kwik Fit.<\/p>\n

\"\"

33-39 St James Street in King’s Lynn today. Photograph: Connor McNeill.<\/p><\/div>\n

In the late 20th century, internal subdivision created two retail units, one of which briefly functioned as a pub. However, since at least 2019, the upper floors – once offices and showrooms – have been inaccessible due to the removal of staircases and lifts. They have reportedly stood empty for 15 to 20 years.<\/p>\n

Though Kwik Fit leases the entire property, it appears to maintain only the small area it uses on the ground floor. The building’s remainder, particularly the St James Street-facing section, is in long-term disuse and deterioration. The King\u2019s Lynn Civic Society has long voiced concern, and The Victorian Society now urges action.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kwik-Fit at the rear of 33 – 39 St James Street in 2025.<\/p><\/div>\n

Given the significance of Scott\u2019s early modernist concrete work – and the loss of his other key concrete building – No. 33\u201339 may be of European importance. The building\u2019s current owners, an investment company, must act now to safeguard this rare piece of architectural heritage.<\/p>\n

James Hughes, Director, The Victorian Society said: <\/strong>\u2018This bold and brilliant building is an unheralded but pioneering example of early modernism. It deserves urgent attention – not just to preserve its fabric, but to celebrate its place in European architectural history.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"

St James Street decked out for a royal anniversary. Photograph: G D T Green<\/p><\/div>\n

The full Top Ten Endangered Buildings list 2025 of Victorian and Edwardian buildings, and the archive of our previous Top Ten lists can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

33 \u2013 39 St James Street, King\u2019s Lynn, Norfolk. Grade II, A. F. Scott, 1908 The Victorian Society has placed this extraordinary early example of modernist design and concrete construction…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":5715,"template":"","endangered_buildings_list":[258],"class_list":["post-5714","endangered_building","type-endangered_building","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","endangered_buildings_list-258"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEndangered building - Ground-breaking Norfolk early concrete building placed on Victorian Society\u2019s Top Ten Endangered Buildings list 2025 - The Victorian Society<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ground-breaking Norfolk early concrete building placed on Victorian Society\u2019s Top Ten Endangered Buildings list 2025 is on our list of endangered buildings. 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