The annual hunt for the ten most endangered Victorian or Edwardian buildings in England and Wales begins this week, led by the Victorian Society.
The Victorian Society reports:
The Society is calling on historians, enthusiasts and local campaigners across the country to nominate Victorian or Edwardian buildings that are at risk in their local area.
The campaign aims to highlight the problems facing many of our historic buildings and 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, but 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, and many good Victorian buildings aren’t listed, but they should 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 we 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.
Victorian Society News: LINK
