Helping hand for ‘at risk’ buildings
THE Victorian Society is asking residents in the West Midlands to nominate threatened Victorian buildings for the 2018 Top 10 Endangered Buildings List.
Now in its 11th year, the Victorian Society’s biggest annual campaign encourages people across the UK to nominate Victorian buildings in their area that they feel are under threat, whether from neglect, insensitive redevelopment or even demolition.
A shortlist of the ten most endangered Victorian buildings in the country is then chosen by architecture and conservation experts, and the buildings given valuable publicity that could help save them.
Chance Brothers Glassworks in Smethwick appeared on the society’s 2017 list and, while the site is still at risk, steps are being made towards its salvation.
The heritage trust which is planning the future of the site is working on an outline planning application, while the council is continuing to explore legal means to remove a skip hire business operating illegally on the site.
The news is more promising for St Luke’s Church in Wolverhampton, which featured on the 2015 list, where conversion works are almost finished to transform it into a new antiques and vintage emporium.
Send nominations by email to media@victoriansociety.org.uk. The deadline for nominations is Friday July 13.