English Heritage event
The much anticipated English Heritage event “Stop the Rot”, held in conjunction with the Friends of Frank James, took place on 26th September 2014 at the lavishly decorated Grade II* Listed Northwood House.
Directors, Chris Quirk (Chairman) and Graham White attended the presentation and found it very worthwhile. Graham and Chris now have a clear view on a submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund and a direct line to the Regional Representative to help us get it right first time!
Image: © Josh Aitken Friends of Frank James Hospital
Speakers at the well-attended presentation included representatives of English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Gardens Trust, Past Wight Heritage Consultancy, The Venerable Peter Sutton, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, and seventeen year old Joshua Aitken-Dunkeld, who movingly conveyed the passion of the Frank James friends and others caring for our heritage.
Well attended event
The free event, organised by English Heritage, was open to anyone interested in saving heritage at risk.
Those attending included Northwood House Trustees and volunteers, Island Parish and County Councillors, Portsmouth City Council’s Conservation Officer and Harbour Project Manager, the Army Flying Museum CEO, representatives from the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust, Carisbrooke Castle Museum, Shanklin Theatre, Dinosaur Isle, the Hammerhead Crane Trust, Island churches, the Isle of Wight Society and History Centre, Historic Ryde Society, and a number of heritage and conservation professionals, Island residents, and several Friends of Frank James.
Speakers shared their expertise
Conservation architect Duncan Wilson led attendees on a guided tour of the magnificent Georgian House, which has been granted some money for essential repair and restoration.
Regional Director of English Heritage Andy Brown opened the presentation. He pointed out that per head of population the Isle of Wight has more listed buildings at risk than anywhere else on the South Coast.
The Archdeacon had a similar message. The Island’s population is about the same size as Watford’s, which has nine Church of England churches; we have about 60 (plus other churches, chapels, church halls, vicarages, rectories, and curates houses); those apparently include 11 Listed Grade I, 17 Grade II*, and 22 Grade II , with many classed as ‘at risk’.
Financial assistance explained
Other speakers explained the financial and practical assistance available to anyone trying to save heritage at risk, and the legal obligations of owners and Local Authorities.
Briefly, although owners of listed properties have no positive obligation to maintain them, Local Authorities have a duty to enforce the extensive protective legislation, and because that has not always happened much of value has been, or remains in danger of being, lost.
Some good news is that since 1999, 59% of the buildings at risk then have been saved; however, as those are removed from the list, new ones are being added and the continuing spending cuts imposed by central government now aggravate the situation.
