Historic Exeter deserves better
An incongruously large development planned for Exeter would greatly overshadow the surrounding low-rise historic townscape The Victorian Society has objected to proposed plans to build two blocks on the site...
The Victorian Society winter lecture series
The Victorian Society launch a series of lectures exploring the imaginative conservation and reuse of historic buildings. The Victorian Society is offering the chance to hear leading architects such as...
The Victorian Society oppose unnecessary loss of Preston’s gothic Victorian orphanage
A historic Grade II-listed orphanage complex in Preston faces the wrecking ball to make way for a housing development. Proposals plan to demolish all of the former orphanage buildings retaining...
Who will protect Sheffield’s historic buildings from circling developers? The Victorian Society slams reports of proposal to slash planning department
The Victorian Society expresses its grave concern over reports that Sheffield City Council intends to cut up to 40 jobs within its planning department, stressing that the repercussions of these...
Fisons Factory fire
Suffolk’s historic Fisons Factory destroyed in a major fire. We are deeply saddened that an irreplaceable part of Suffolk’s heritage, the Fisons Factory, has burnt to the ground. Featured in...
The Victorian Society announce Top 10 Most Endangered Buildings 2019
Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: “This year’s Top Ten Endangered Buildings is a particularly rich mix, with buildings of amazing quality throughout the country facing demolition...
Save the historic Watson’s Hotel Building
A key part of Mumbai’s heritage is under threat from demolition. On a hectic street in Mumbai stands the dilapidated Watson’s Building, India’s oldest surviving cast iron structure. Once a...
The Birmingham & West Midlands group of the The Victorian Society donates £2000 to Birmingham Cathedral restoration project
Funded by event ticket sales, the Birmingham and West Midlands group was able to donate £2000 to the Divine Beauty Appeal, a campaign to restore the stained-glass windows at Birmingham...
Save the Still and Star!
The historic Still & Star pub in Aldgate, dating back to the 1800s, faces demolition with a new bid to replace it with an office block. A new threat to...
Save the Still and Star!
The historic Still & Star pub in Aldgate, dating back to the 1800s, faces demolition with a new bid to replace it with an office block. A new threat to...
Presentation to winner of 2017 Conservation Award
A presentation ceremony has taken place for the winner of the The Victorian Society’s 2017 Birmingham & West Midlands Conservation Award, Green Lane Masjid. On Thursday 17 January 2019, officers...
The Victorian Society 2018 Top 10
All of the buildings on this year’s list are Grade II or Grade II* listed, and yet have been neglected for so long that they have now reached a critical...
Not over yet: The Victorian Society appeals against Bath Abbey judgement
The Victorian Society have applied for leave to appeal against the recent judgement in favour of removing the nave pews from Bath Abbey. Late last year the Chancellor of the...
Grade I St Botolph’s to keep chancel fixtures following heritage battle
Much of the Victorian interiors of the chancel of St Botolph’s Church in Longthorpe are to be retained following a protracted legal battle between the parish and The Victorian Society....
Save our gasholders! Iconic skyline at The Oval at risk of being lost
A trio of gasholders best known for providing the backdrop to The Oval cricket ground are at risk from a new planning application. The application from Berkley Homes Ltd seeks...
West Midlands Group 2017 Conservation Award winner announced
The winner of the The Victorian Society’s 2017 Birmingham & West Midlands Conservation Award has been named as the former Green Lane Public Library and Baths, now the Green Lane...
Griff Rhys Jones appointed President of the The Victorian Society
The Victorian Society is delighted to announce the appointment of Griff Rhys Jones as its new President. He will be replacing Lord Briggs of Lewes (who died in March 2016),...
Fight for Bath Abbey pews culminates in Consistory Court hearing
The Consistory Court hearing concerning the permanent removal of Bath Abbey’s pews will commence today. As part of its Footprint scheme, bolstered by £12.1 million of Heritage Lottery funding, Bath...
Save Conan Doyle’s last building from demolition
The only surviving building designed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle could be demolished for new residential units if a planning application gets consent. Best known for his creation of world...
Irresponsible development razes Tudno Castle Hotel
The Grade II-listed Tudno Castle Hotel in Llandudno is set to be completely demolished after botched planning has left it structurally unstable. In 2014, planning permission was granted – despite...
Top Ten endangered buildings list highlights neglect outside South East
All the buildings in the Top Ten are in real risk of being lost if action is not taken in the immediate future National architectural charity the The Victorian Society...
Griff Rhys Jones launches 2015 Top Ten Endangered Buildings list
Top Ten Endangered Victorian and Edwardian Buildings in England and Wales 2015 revealed. The Victorian Society has announced the Top Ten Most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian Buildings in England...
Top Ten Most Endangered Buildings 2014 revealed
The Victorian Society annouces the Top Ten following a national appeal for nominations The Victorian Society has revealed the Top Ten Most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian Buildings in England and...
Revealed: Top Ten endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings 2013
The Victorian Society highlights buildings at risk See full illustrated list of Top Ten endangered buildings. England and Wales’s top ten most threatened Victorian and Edwardian buildings of 2013 have...
The cemetery chapels survey
In February 2009 we called for help to document the state of cemetery chapels around the country. We heard about boarded up and derelict chapels; chapels converted into homes or...
Former South Eastern Railway offices, London
Distinctive character offices at risk from complete destruction It’s been described as London’s Flat-iron building because of its distinctive tapered end, but the former South Eastern Railway Office on Tooley...
The Victorian Society declares Manningham Pool a heritage crime scene
The Victorian Society protests at the closure of Manningham Baths as the Grade II-listed Edwardian pool finally closes its doors to swimmers. On Friday afternoon the The Victorian Society will...
Give Manningham Pool one last chance!
That’s the plea from the The Victorian Society in response to Bradford City Council’s announcement that Manningham Pool will close on Friday 8th July. The council claims that the pool...
Saturday free for all at threatened Bradford pool
Swimmers will have the opportunity to step back in time on Saturday at Bradford’s historic Manningham pool when the The Victorian Society offers them a chance to swim for free....
Historic London pool restored
Camberwell Baths in south London will officially re-open to the public this Saturday after the completion of the first stage of a £4.7 million restoration project. ‘This is a victory...
Council urged not to close historic Staffordshire pool
England’s oldest listed public swimming pool in which it is still possible to swim is at risk of closure under plans proposed by Stoke-on-Trent Council. Tunstall Pool on Greengates Street...
Campaigners fight on for London’s longest-serving pool
Local residents running a petition against the demolition of a Victorian pool in Lewisham have once again been backed by the The Victorian Society, the national charity campaigning for the...
Grand finale of 1000 Year Swim
Last week Dr Ian Dungavell successfully completed his challenge to visit all of the listed Victorian and Edwardian pools still open for public swimming in England and swim a lap...
What people have been saying about the 1000 year swim challenge
The 1000 year swim challenge has really captured people’s imagination. Wherever I have swum, local people have thought it a great idea, and local media have turned out to cover...
Why the 1000 year swim?
Heritage swimming pools offer people a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in living history. With only 14 out of more than 50 listed Victorian and Edwardian pools still open for...
When? It’s all over!
Ian began his challenge, which amounted to a total of 1543 lengths or just over 22 miles, at Bramley Baths in West Yorkshire on Thursday 24 July 2008. Over the...
St Luke’s pool, Brighton
Many schools in the early 20th century had their own swimming pools, but this is the first one I’ve been in. The poor physical state of the nation’s young men...
Queensbury pool, Bradford
Like much else in Queensbury, the baths were given by the local mill owners, the Foster family, whose firm is very much in business still today. Victoria Hall, Queensbury Sand...
Manningham baths, Bradford
This is the most exceptional of the baths I have visted so far. Not because it has elaborate decoration, stained glass and very high quality finishes. It doesn’t. Its interest...
Health Hydro, Swindon
What an amazing thing the Swindon Health Hydro is. And it’s a hidden gem: passing it on Faringdon Road you get no sense that the building is open, and it...
Batley baths
Batley is a beautiful town and Batley baths, designed by local architect Walter Hanstock, are a most suitable adornment to it. Cambridge Street, Batley, West Yorkshire. Opened 1893. Listed Grade...
Bramley baths, Leeds
Well, this was a great start to the 1000 year swim! There has been so much interest in the event from national and local media, and people are keen to...
Camberwell baths
Camberwell Baths is apparently the earliest surviving public baths (1891) by Henry Spalding and Alfred WS Cross who came to specialise in this building type. Artichoke Place, Camberwell, London. Opened...
Beverley Road baths, Hull
Beverley Road Baths is an impressive monument to turn-of-the-century civic pride. A central square tower topped by an octagonal cupola marks out the entrance, and another smaller cupola with a...
Camberwell baths
Camberwell Baths is apparently the earliest surviving public baths (1891) by Henry Spalding and Alfred WS Cross who came to specialise in this building type. Artichoke Place, Camberwell, London. Opened...
Council urged not to close historic Bradford pool
Councillors in Bradford must vote to keep the city’s listed Edwardian swimming pool in use, according to the The Victorian Society. Plans to close the Grade II-listed Manningham Baths on...
Tell Bradford Council why the pool must stay open!
The Victorian Society is calling on people to write to the leader of Bradford Council to explain why Manningham Pool is important to them. The Grade II-listed Manningham Baths on...