Western Morning News (Saturday)
Boathouse among coastal buildings earning listed status
AUNIQUE thatched boathouse at the mouth of the Avon estuary in South Devon has been given listed status as one of a number of seaside structures attracting special protection in a year in which the British coast has welcomed unprecedented numbers of visitors.
The Coronation Boathouse on Bantham Quay, near Kingsbridge, has been listed at Grade II by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England.
Five other seaside heritage sites across the country have also been listed, including a former convalescent home in Skegness, eight of Blackpool’s iconic promenade shelters and a stone obelisk in Southend that marked the City of London’s jurisdiction over the River Thames from 1197-1857.
Historic England said: “England has a rich and distinctive seaside heritage. Ranging from piers to pavilions, bathing pools to beach huts, there are so many colourful historic sites that reflect almost 300 years of seaside holidays and are still welcoming millions of visitors each year.
“Seaside resorts began as a relaxing place for the wealthy few to promenade and look out to sea, as well as recover from illness. Later, destinations like Blackpool were the place for working class people to holiday and unwind. This summer our seaside resorts are enjoying an influx of visitors again and these six newly listed sites offer a small insight into the range of seaside heritage England has to celebrate.”
Coronation Boathouse, part of the seaside village now owned by multimillionaire Nicholas Johnson, is within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and experts decided its striking, distinctive design make it a landmark feature worthy of special protection.
It was designed by John-Baptiste Sebastian Comper for Lieutenant Commander Charles E Evans RNVR, the former owner of the village of Bantham and its surrounding area, to commemorate the coronation of King George VI in 1937. This is marked by the Royal insignia and wall plaque at the east gable end.
Despite some modern flourishes, it draws on historical design elements such as Elizabethan traditions and maritime themes, uniting local materials and building traditions with early 20th century, high-quality craftsmanship. The next-door store building is also listed at Grade II, with its thatched roof and stone walls making it a wellpreserved example of the buildings that once were commonplace across the coastal landing places of Devon and Cornwall.
Deborah Mays, head of listing at Historic England, said: “Our seaside towns are a huge part of our national story. People have enjoyed trips and holidays to our coastal towns for hundreds of years and each place contributes to an important part of our shared history. I’m thrilled the significance of our seaside heritage has been recognised with these six new listings, especially as so many of us will be heading to the seaside to enjoy the final few days of summer this bank holiday weekend.”
Allan Brodie, senior architectural investigator at Historic England and author of The Seafront, added: “These new listings highlight the huge variety of England’s seaside heritage. They also reveal that there’s more to look at this weekend than just the sea and the beach.”
Heritage Minister Caroline Dinenage said: “I am delighted that these six seaside heritage sites have been listed. Our magnificent seaside towns have been must-visit destinations for hundreds of years and many of us have rediscovered just how much they have to offer this summer. It is absolutely right that these sites will be recognised and protected.”