“A ruin is more interesting than a freshly completed building. It shows the effects of time and experience.” Walker Evans: Photographer.
For many years I’ve had an interest in old and derelict buildings, mainly for aesthetic purposes with my photography, looking at form, light, shade, and what I saw as evidence of life. I’d like to think it’s an interest I’ve always had, but get the feeling that as a kid playing in and around these buildings, (that you weren’t supposed to go anywhere near), I was oblivious to the history around me. Nothing stays the same for very long anymore, and more so today than ever. If you don’t stop and take a look around once in a while, you could miss it.
This brings me to the old weavers cottages in the Horsefair that no-one seems to care about, (although they are of ‘immense historical significance’) and are being preserved. Now, I’m a huge advocate for retaining historical significance, but when all that’s left is original brick (covered in pebbledash, which could be why they’re still standing) and slate, I hate to say it but it almost seems futile. To repair the building you’d virtually have to demolish it and start again, which sometimes makes me wonder as it’s then not original anymore. It will also be extraordinarily expensive, as everything these days to do with building seems to be. “Is that a loose brick?” (Sharp intake of breath). “That’ll cost you extra. Oh, about £20,000.” And don’t forget the addition to your council tax bill!
And this is often the argument. It takes a terribly small amount of time to destroy years of history, and it is far cheaper and profitable to build twelve houses in the gap. It’s staggering the scant regard most of us pay to our local heritage. Look at the old Kidderminster library, which virtually disappeared overnight so the land could be built on.
‘The row of buildings in Market Street comprising the library and schools of art and science were pulled down, even though it was known English Heritage considered them worthy of listing. For their commitment to wanton destruction Worcestershire County Council and Wyre Forest District Council jointly received the Macmillan Award from Private Eye for the most philistine local authority.’*
I gather there was a public outcry, but what did that achieve apart from the wonderful award from Private Eye? (For that alone there should be a plaque on a wall somewhere). I don’t believe anyone disappeared and found a new use supporting the foundations of the new buildings anyway. Once it’s knocked down, there’s not a lot you can do about it.
Personally, I grew up in County Durham, and spent time running around what was the village workhouse (not knowing that at the time), now demolished of course, with housing on the site. This housing, incidentally, was built to supposedly mirror the original building that shouldn’t have been demolished in the first place. (Something to do with a protected village boundary line being drawn on the wrong side of the building I believe). Oh, so you forgot it was there? That’s okay then.
As kids we used to meet in an old wooden hut and stables area behind a pub. Okay, they were probably pretty useless to anyone derelict, but the stables housed horses to the pub, which was originally an old coaching inn. Interested? Want to know more? Bad luck, there’s houses there now.
Then there was the cattle mart in the village which, yes you guessed it… Had a lovely old peoples home built on it. Okay, maybe not the best example of architectural wonder, but it was history, links to our past. But then, some may argue that’s exactly what they put back…
What I’m saying is do we have the right to destroy these buildings at all? Especially when everyone really knows they are protected. Unfortunately these days, it comes down to a simple thing. It’s not seen as evidence of our life and history. It’s not a shining beacon of our achievements as a society, or something we should retain for future generations. It comes down to our one and only true god… Money.
*Kidderminster Civic Society website. Visit www.kidcivicsoc.org.uk/lost_buildings.html
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