The list recognises at-risk Victorian and Edwardian buildings and structures throughout England and Wales, with all of the buildings on this year's list now at a critical point of dereliction and in need of urgent repair and renovation.
The factories among the list are:
Chance's Glassworks, Smethwick, West Midlands
(Grade II, 1824, The Chance Brothers)
Based in the West Midlands, the clock faces of Big Ben and other glass in the Palace of Westminster were produced here, as well as some 2300 Victorian lighthouse lanterns used around the world. The Victorian Society says that the buildings have been left to deteriorate “to a shocking degree”.
Buckley's Brewery Maltings, Llanelli, Wales
(Grade II, 1852-6, Rev James Buckley)
These maltings once formed part of the 19th century development and expansion of Buckley's Brewery. They have been left empty and without a use since the brewery closed and moved to Cardiff in 1998. The Victorian Society says that a planning application of conversion to residential apartments was approved in 2014 but no progress has been made.
Cannington Shaw no.7 Bottle Shop, St Helens, Merseyside
(Grade II, 1886, architect unknown)
The Bottle Shop is all that now remains of what was once claimed to be the largest bottle making factory in the country. The abandoned building has gradually been surrounded by a new development and now lies in the middle of a supermarket carpark..
Fison's Fertiliser Factory, Bramford, Suffolk
(Grade II, 1858-60, architect unknown)
Originally built as a fertiliser factory in the mid 19th century, the buildings known as the North Warehouse are the only structures remaining on the site of one of the major British brands of the Victorian era. Since the site closed in 2003, redevelopment plans have been approved but no progression has been made and the building, which still maintains many of its original features, is continuing to deteriorate.
Victorian Society vice-president Griff Rhys Jones said: "The Victorian Society's Top 10 Endangered Buildings campaign is now in its tenth year and over the years we have seen what a difference it can make to the future of Victorian and Edwardian buildings in peril. All of the buildings on this year's list have local, even national, importance in terms of their history and/or architecture. To have let them fall into their current state is deplorable, but there is still time to save them for future generations to enjoy."
Victorian Society director Christopher Costelloe added: "We're very proud of the continued success of the Top 10 list over the last decade. Out of the 100 buildings that have appeared on the list since 2007, only four have been completely demolished and over a quarter have been saved by being sensitively redeveloped and are now thriving back in the community. Many others are on their way towards salvation with dedicated community groups banding together to raise money and awareness to keep the buildings they love safe from insensitive redevelopment or dereliction."
To see the list in full, click here.
Image Credits: The Victorian Society (http://bit.ly/2xjEUVG)
