The Victorian Society’s 2024 list includes iconic sites like the Kursaal in Southend-on-Sea and Jesmond Dene Banqueting Hall in Newcastle. These Grade II and higher buildings face challenges in conservation and require urgent attention for preservation.
The Victorian Society has released its 2024 list of the most “endangered” Victorian buildings in the UK. Notable sites include the Kursaal in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and Jesmond Dene Banqueting Hall in Newcastle.
The Victorian-era Kursaal, designed by George Sherrin and opened in 1901, was the world’s first purpose-built amusement park. It included a circus, ballroom, arcade, dining hall, billiard room, zoo, and ice rink. After closing in 1986, the site, which is Grade II-listed, is now occupied only by a Tesco Express.
Jesmond Dene Banqueting Hall, built in 1860 by John Dobson and later expanded by Norman Shaw, was made for the employees of industrialist William Armstrong. It is currently in a state of decay and faces challenges in continuing to host artists who use it as a studio.
Other buildings on the endangered list include:
- Kennington Boys’ School, London
- Former Bramcote Tennis Pavilion, North Yorkshire
- St Luke’s Chapel of Nottingham City Hospital, Nottinghamshire
- St Martins (formerly Roslyn Hoe), Devon
- Chances Glassworks, West Midlands
- St Agnes’ Vicarage and Hall, Liverpool
- Former Education Department Offices, Derbyshire
- Cardiff Coal Exchange, Cardiff
All listed buildings are Grade II or higher, indicating their significant historical and architectural value. The Victorian Society, established in 1958, aims to highlight the importance of preserving these landmark structures, emphasizing their contribution to the urban landscape and historical continuity. The charity’s president, comedian Griff Rhys Jones, described the list as both “exciting” and “terrifying,” underscoring the urgent need for rescue and repair.
