BaR News Round-up July 2023

Reuse Me, Don't Lose Me: Buildings at Risk new entries 2023

The annual launch of new entries to our Buildings at Risk register on June 28th was a lively and interesting event that attracted a good deal of both national and regional press coverage.  In some cases it was the unusual building types which drew attention - the Norwich urinal attracting great interest - but the overall message that we should reuse our historic buildings to preserve them resonated strongly.

Four local radio stations picked up the story of the buildings in their area being featured on the register with Liz Fuller talking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Humberside, Somerset and Norfolk about the new entries. Liz was also interviewed for a TV news piece by BBC Midlands Today about Dudley Hippodrome. The story of the new entries was also featured in Country Life, The Times, the Yorkshire Post, the Daily Echo in Hampshire, the Eastern Daily Press, Norwich Evening News, the Western Mercury, Somerset County Gazette, BBC News online, Wales Online and the Daily Star.

At the launch event at our offices we heard more about the new entries as well as from our three guest speakers about three very different buildings which they were involved in nominating and which were added to the register this year.

Tony Evans, Chair of the Harlow Civic Society, showed us round Parndon Hall in Harlow, Essex, a Victorian mansion which survived as the new town was built around it and whose interior was decorated by its first inhabitant, Elizabeth Arkwiright, a painterly and accomplished horsewoman and trainer.

Heritage expert and consultant Tom Hassall revealed the 1970s survey and detailed research which shows the early origins of a small building standing on what was once the moat of Oxford Castle, 29a Castle Street. 

Finally, Julie Minns, chair of the friends group fighting to save Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths in Cumbria, showed us the interior delights and inspiring people behind the development of the baths and the history of access to hygiene for workers.  

These three buildings and their histories exemplify the richness and relevance of our historic building stock and the need to value them and find new uses to ensure their survival.

Read a summary of all the buildings added to the register here.

We would like to thank everyone involved in nominating, researching, writing up and photographing the new entries, in particular all our volunteers.   

Other BaR News

FOR SALE

North End House, North Muskham, Nottinghamshire - We have just been notified by an eagle-eyed Friend that North End House (also known as Muskham Hall) near Newark, a beautiful Georgian house in Nottinghamshire, which has been on the register for some time has gone on the market for £650,000.  Click here for particulars.

22 Market Place, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 9AZ - Dating probably from the early 18th century, this building is listed grade II and is in a Conservation Area in this attractive village.  After years of neglect, the Council served a s 215 Notice on the owner last year.  Now the building which had been used as a shop unit, posisbly with accomodation above is on the market. Click here for more details.

Prees Square, Prees, Shropshire - Prees Square is a collection of buildings of various ages on a corner site.   Solutions for this group have been elusive with various buildings in individual ownership and an overall scheme for several different building types tricky to achieve. This unique grouping is now on the market with a scheme having been partially carried out.

FOR AUCTION

The White Horse Hotel, Wem, Shropshire SY4 5DG is up for auction on 13 July 2023, having sold last year fo £75,000.  This historic grade II listed coaching inn dates from the 17th century. We added it to our register several years ago after it closed down. For more details and to register to bid visit www.bondwolfe.com or email auctions@bondwolfe.com, or call 0121 312 1212 or 01902 928510.