Victorian Society publishes list of most endangered buildings in England and Wales | Buildings at risk
Teesside’s Transporter Bridge, a disinfection station in Hackney and a former working men’s club in Barrow-in-Furness, has been included in a list ringing alarm bells for its Victorian and Edwardian heritage.
The Victorian Society has published its annual list of the top 10 endangered buildings as a way of drawing national attention to at-risk places in England and Wales.
Also on the list A secluded shrine in north Wales and an Essex house with remarkable, little-known painted interiors by artist Elizabeth Arkwright.
Griff Rhys Jones, president of the Victorian Society, said all 10 were from World War II. Listing in Grade II means they are both Grade II. He said it was a “desolation” that they were grade* listed, meaning they already had protection. He said they were all “threatened by decay or neglect.”
“We’ve had great results in the past. But unless we look after them, desolate or abandoned, beautiful and beautiful structures can be subject to arson attacks or constant decay. We need to call these out. They have a future for all of us. They can be reused.”
Tees Bransporter Bridge It dates from 1911 and has been closed since 2019 due to structural concerns.
The association said it was “one of the most recognizable engineering landmarks in the UK” but “its future is now in the balance”.
The association said responsibility for the bridge was shared between Middlesbrough and Stockton councils, but the estimated £60 million repair and restoration bill was beyond those councils’ means.
It calls for a coordinated national response to either reopen the bridge as a crossing or preserve it as a monument.
James Hughes, director of the association, said: “The Tees Transporter Bridge is one of Britain’s most remarkable engineering achievements and a defining landmark of the north-east.
“Its future cannot be left in limbo. A clear nationally supported strategy is urgently needed to secure both its structure and its continued role in the life of the region.”
Other names in the top 10 are as follows:
Hackney borough disinfection station The event in Clapton, London, has been described as “a rare and powerful reminder of the Victorian response to infectious disease”. It has not been used for decades.
The former Strand Railway Station and Railway Men’s Club in Barrow, Cumbria. Station, drilling hall and working men’s club “With no clear plan for its future, it is now neglected.”
Faenol (Vaynol) mausoleum, Pentir, near Bangor. The community said years of neglect have taken a toll on this secluded mausoleum, with graffiti and stained glass damage.
Parndon Hall, Harlow. Once an “exclusive family home” from the Victorian era, it lies “neglected” on the grounds of a modern hospital. The wow factor is Elizabeth Arkwright’s series of paintings on ceilings, doors, and wall panels throughout the house. The association says the building is being used for storage purposes with no plans for its future.
Rounding out the list are: New Market buildings, Bridgnorth; Oakes school, Huddersfield; St Michael’s RC cemetery chapel, Sheffield; Derby art school, Derby; and a former library and mechanical institute at Devonport.
Hughes said: “This year’s list demonstrates both the richness of our Victorian and Edwardian heritage and the extent of the ongoing challenge of securing its future. “These buildings were created with foresight, ambition and a strong sense of civic purpose. Today they are often left without clear ownership, investment or direction.
“With the right commitment, each of them can have a livable future. What is needed now is the will to act.”
