The Twentieth Century Society

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Put Forward

Somerset College of Arts and Technology, College of Arts Building, Wellington Road, Taunton, Somerset County Council Architects’ Department (Peter Hirst and Derek Rutherford), 1967-72

Described by the local civic group as ‘one of the few good brutalist buildings in the southwest’, this is a large brick and concrete building which provides naturally lit studios and workspaces for the college students across four floors.  The Society has had to act quickly to forward this to EH following proposals to demolish and has been supported in its actions by Prof Jeremy Gould, author of an official report on the building. The building has gone forward at Grade II.

Michael Sobell Sports Centre, Hornsey Road, Islington, London, Bill Laming for Seifert Partnership, 1973

The Society has supported a request to list this huge, oval sports centre at Grade II after an informative site visit with James Dunnett. The ribbed and hammered, brutalist exterior of the building hides a well planned and executed interior plan, which provides one of the largest leisure interiors in London. Largely unaltered inside, apart from a detrimental addition at the front, the building is the subject of much debate and controversy after the local council proposed a plan to demolish and build a smaller centre on the site, with added housing. James Dunnett has drawn up a counter scheme which shows how retention and addition would be possible.

Tewin Memorial Hall, Hertfordshire. Herbert Baker, 1921-22

This elegant village hall is in the late Arts and Crafts, early Lutyens style of red brick with tall chimneys and sweeping roofs. It was commissioned by Sir Otto Beit in memory of villagers who died in the war –including his eldest son, Theodore, aged 18. C20 has recommended that the building, an interesting example of a practical war memorial, be listed at Grade II.

Derwent Tower, (Dunston Rocket), Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, Owen Luder Partnership, 1969-74

This is the Society’s last realistic chance to get a large Luder Partnership building listed – after the disappointments at Gateshead Trinity Square car park and The Tricorn, Portsmouth. The ‘Rocket’ as it is affectionately known locally, is the tallest building on Tyneside. 30 floors hold 196 flats that command spectacular views. Unfortunately, due to ‘maintenance’ problems, the Rocket currently stands empty – Gateshead council having moved everyone out last year. Its distinctive fins are a response to the building being built on disused mineshafts – the fins spread the weight, but it’s distinctive shape and plan are all the Partnership’s.   Put forward for Grade II listing.

Rootes Building, Maidstone, Kent, Howard & Souster, 1938

We  have supported Maidstone Council in requesting that this former showroom be listed at Grade II (see Casework Report).

Devon County War Memorial, Cathedral Green, Exeter, Devon, Sir Edwin Lutyens, 1921

After hearing of a threat to both the memorial, and the elegant Jellicoe steps that lead to the west front of the cathedral, we put the memorial forward for spot-listing at Grade II. A large war cross, constructed of local Dartmoor granite, the memorial is a monument to the memory to all those who lost their lives from across the county, during both wars. Lutyens positioned the memorial to align with the altar down the longest unbroken Gothic vault ceiling in the world. We hope listing will mean the Cathedral will be put off moving it to a nearby street – which is their current intention. We have been supported in our request by the War Memorials Trust.

Waterloo International Terminal, Lambeth, London, Nicholas Grimshaw, 1991-4

While the DCMS take its time in deciding the status of the entire station, we fear that the future of the award-winning International Terminal is increasingly vulnerable, and the building remains redundant since Eurostar vacated to St Pancras. C20 has recommended that this stunning piece of late twentieth century High Tech engineering be listed at Grade II*.

Preston Bus Station, Tithebarn Street, Preston, Lancashire; Keith Ingham of Building Design Partnership, 1968-69; unlisted (turned down in 2001)

Contrary to the recommendation of English Heritage and support from the Twentieth Century Society, an initial listing application in 2000 and a subsequent appeal in 2001 were both rejected. More than seven years later, and under continuing threat of demolition from a series of regeneration proposals for the centre of Preston, Lancashire, in January we put Preston Bus Station forward for listing again, at Grade II. (See Casework Report.)

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