Listings report, Autumn 2007

Added

Desert Quartet, Montague Centre, Worthing, Sussex; Elisabeth Frink, II*
This is a key decision and we were delighted and relieved when in May, we received confirmation that Elisabeth Frink’s statues had been listed at Grade II*. This is a significant and historic listing and bodes well for our forthcoming murals campaign.

Cabinet Makers’ Factory, Lower Bristol Road, Bath, Somerset; Brian Henderson (YRM), 1966–7, ll
The first building in Britain to use Mero space frame technology, one of the first widely available space grid systems invented in Germany in the 1940s.

Bengeo Rural Water Tower, Temple Lane, Tonwell, Ware, Herts; Edmund C Perey, 1964, II
Praised for its clean modern appearance, careful massing and sculptural qualities this water tower is one of the first from this period to be listed.

Warwick University, Houses for Visiting Mathematicians, Warwick, Warwickshire; Howell Killick Partridge & Amis, 1968–70, II*
Designed for the very particular function of accommodating academics attending mathematics symposia at the university, these were listed for masterful use of materials and detailing.

Civic Centre, Armada Way, Plymouth, Devon; Geoffrey Jellicoe and Alan Ballantyne, 1958–62, II
A genuine surprise and a major milestone in the wider appreciation of post-war civic buildings, this listing is a significant achievement. Listed for the quality of the art collection in the council chambers, its careful massing and its importance as a symbol of the city’s resurrection after WWII.

Lewis’s Department Store, Ranelagh St/Renshaw St, Liverpool, Merseyside; 1953, II
The fine post-war murals by Carters of Poole form a substantial part of the list description and this is encouraging for our forthcoming campaign.

Chapel of the Venerable Bede, Leazes Road, Durham; 1939, Seeley & Paget, II
This wonderfully complete chapel in the grounds of Durham University is by one of the key mid-century practices. Ostensibly Deco, this Chapel has delicate touches of both gothic and renaissance detailing and echoes the practice’s achievements at Eltham Palace. The completeness of the interior fittings, which include a fine altar cross by Stephen Dykes Bower were another factor in this listing.

Stretford Town Hall (now Trafford Town Hall), Talbot Road, Trafford, Greater Manchester; Bradshaw, Gass and Hope, 1931–3, II
Another success, this time in tandem with our tireless North-West group. This fine Neo-classical public building was listed for its decorative features, both inside and out and the quality of the sculptural embellishment.

Stonecrop, Campden Hill, Ilmington, Warwickshire, West Midlands; Robert Harvey 1955–7, II*
See Casework Report.

Turned down

Inner Court, 48 Old Church Street, London; Joseph Rykwert & Mark Livingston, 1972, unlisted
Although English Heritage had many good things to say about the building–and indeed struggled to place it context prompting them to promise a ‘resumption of research into this period’, the building was turned down, in the main, because of some later alterations, though EH also noted that an inability to ascribe the building solely to Rykwert counted against it. Alan Powers represented the Society at a Public Inquiry in June, appearing as a witness for the Chelsea Society. News came through in July that the appeal against Kensington & Chelsea’s refusal to grant permission for a development which involved the demolition of Inner Court, had failed. This is heartening, as this interesting and important building now has a future. The case has highlighted the importance of advancing the frontier of listing to up to the limit of the ‘thirty year rule.’

Thorpeness: Barn Hall; devised by Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie with architects Forbes Glennie and W Gilmore Wilson, begun 1909, Barn Hall 1926, unlisted but Conservation Area
The former estate’s office was turned down for listing because English Heritage considered the building to be too substantially altered. The group value argument that we had put forward was not accepted because the building was considered too far away from the other buildings in terms of physical distance.

Put forward

Milton Keynes Central Shopping Building, Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire; Derek Walker, 1973–9, unlisted Support from a wide range of local groups, architects and our own members, has given great weight to our efforts to get this fantastic building listed. We have put it forward for Grade II* and reiterated our objection to another management plan. We have also put forward Liliane Lijns kinetic, ‘Circle of Light’ sculpture, which hangs in the centre at Grade II.

Building 50, Thornton Aero Engine Research Laboratory, Poole Lane, Ellesmere Port, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Cheshire; Sir AJ Cobham with Sir J Burnet & Partners, 1943–6, unlisted
Put forward at Grade II, this is an important building both to the history of Shell as a company and to the wider history of aviation. The main feature is a decorated, octagonal tower which above the entrance features reliefs of aircraft in flight.

Post Office, King’s Lynn, Norfolk; DN Dyke, 1939, unlisted
The post office is to close, putting it at risk of demolition and redevelopment.

The Barbican Estate: Milton Court, City, London; Chamberlin, Powell & Bon, 1956–81, unlisted
After one year there is still no decision on whether this building should be listed.

Historic Scotland
Post-War listing consultations

We were consulted on the listing of buildings by Peter Womersley as part of the thematic survey.

High Sunderland, Galashiels, Selkirk, Scotland; Peter Womersley, 1958
Suggested by HS for listing at Category A. Endorsed by C20. Result: Listed at Category A.

The Rig, Gattonside, Melrose Parish, Scotland; Peter Womersley, 1957
Suggested by HS for listing at Category B. Endorsed by C20. Result: Listed at Category B.

Hermandflat Unit, Haddington, Scotland; Peter Womersley, 1965 Suggested by HS for listing at Category B. Endorsed by C20. Result: Listed at Category B.

Church Square, Galashiels, Scotland; Peter Womersley, 1963
Minded not to list by HS. Suggested for listing at Category B by C20. Result: Will be reconsidered as part of a wider survey on post-war housing at which point we will again be consulted.

Nuffield Transplantation Unit at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland; Peter Womersley, 1968
Minded not to list by HS. Suggested for listing at Category B by C20. Result: Currently unlistable due to a live planning application (Under Scottish regulations buildings cannot be considered for listing if there is a planning application. This is a real threat to C20 buildings in particular, since we often are not made aware of the importance of a building unless it is under threat.)

Boiler House at former Dingleton Hospital, Chiefswood Road, Melrose, Scotland; Peter Womersley, 1977
Suggested by HS for listing at Category B. Endorsed by C20. Result: Again, there is currently a live planning application, so not listable at this time.

Group Practice Consulting Rooms, Inch Road, Kelso, Scotland; Peter Womersley, 1967
Minded not to list by HS. Suggested for listing at Category C(S) by C20. Result: Turned down for listing because considered too altered.

Back to list