What Is Listed Building Consent Required For?
In England, it is a criminal offence to carry out renovation or construction works on a listed building without listed building consent. See more on the blog.
In England, it is a criminal offence to carry out renovation or construction works on a listed building without listed building consent. This can include demolition work, extensions and any material alterations that you want to have done.
Listed building consent is what planning authorities fall back on to make sure that any changes you want to make to a listed building you own are sympathetic to the original character of the site, helping to protect the original heritage of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.
All types of works are covered under the rules, as are all parts of the building covered by the listing protection, including structures and objects fixed to it and to any structures or objects found in the area of land around and associated with the principle building (as long as the work in question would affect the character of the site).
It’s often thought that a listed building’s special interest only lies in the various features that can be found onsite, such as the plasterwork and the fireplaces. This, however, is a common misconception and, in fact, the special interest of a building is found in its architecture and history.
If there is a surrounding area of land included under the listed protection, it is generally advisable to get in touch with your local planning authority so you can make sure that you can carry out the work you have in mind without contravening the law.
It’s unlikely that you’ll need listed building consent if you plan to replace old materials on the building for new ones on a like-for-like basis, as long as the repairs won’t affect the overall character of the site. But, again, it’s advisable to check with your planning authority first.
For help with listed building restoration, get in touch with the Ovolo London team today.
The Fascinating History Of St Bartholomew’s Hospital
St Bartholomew’s Hospital, known colloquially as Barts, is the oldest functioning hospital in Britain. It was founded an astonishing 900 years ago in 1123.
St Bartholomew’s Hospital, known colloquially as Barts, is the oldest functioning hospital in Britain. It was founded an astonishing 900 years ago in 1123 by a courtier of King Henry I, and has been the site of many important medical discoveries. It is also a building of architectural merit, and has undergone some extensive renovation works.
The hospital still stands at its original site in West Smithfield, London, having survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, and later on the Blitz during the Second World War. The hospital was originally part of a Priory that was closed during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, although fortunately the hospital was permitted to continue.
All of the mediaeval buildings of the monastery were demolished in the eighteenth century, and the architect James Gibbs rebuilt it around a main square with four wings in the 1730s. Today, the North Wing that includes the Great Hall still survives, along with the East and West Wing.
Further buildings were added throughout the years, including a purpose built lecture theatre in 1791. Since then, the hospital has remained an important centre for medical teaching and training, and a School of Nursing was added in 1877. In 1948, the hospital was incorporated into the NHS, and today it is a specialist cancer and cardiac care centre.
This March, the hospital celebrated its 900th birthday, and to mark the occasion it has launched fundraising campaigns for the heritage, health care and research of the hospital.
The Grade I listed North Wing of the hospital houses an extensive range of paintings by the artist William Hogarth, as well as a large collection of other artworks and hospital archives. The Great Hall contains one of the most important interiors in the UK. The astonishingly ornate plasterwork ceiling is decorated in gold leaf by Jean Baptiste Michel.
The walls are adorned with portraits of donors among other artworks, and the Hall has always been used for social and cultural purposes rather than to care for patients.
In January, the Barts Heritage charity celebrated the funding award of £4.9m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Match funding has been achieved from other donors to take the total to £9.5m. The money will be spent on repairing the famous Hogarth Stair and the Great Hall, plus educational and cultural schemes.
St Bartholomew’s Hospital chief executive Professor Charles Knight OBE said: “The North Wing has been at the heart of our hospital for hundreds of years – most recently as a wellbeing hub for our busy NHS teams.”
He added: “Sharing Historic Barts will secure the future of this beautiful building into the next century and beyond so that future generations can continue to be inspired by the magnificent ambition, art and architecture that is St Bartholomew’s heritage.”
The Hogarth Stair adorns the walls of the grand staircase and depicts Biblical stories at an impressively large scale.
If you would like some information about listed building restoration, please get in touch with us today.
4 Of The Best Gothic Revival Buildings In England
The Gothic Revival style of architecture emerged in England in the late 18th century. Here’s a look at a few of the best examples that remain well-loved today.
The Gothic Revival style of architecture emerged in England in the late 18th century. It was strongly influenced by the elaborate and lofty Gothic style that dominated the later Middle ages in Europe, particularly for cathedrals, churches, libraries, and colleges. The Gothic Revival or Neo-Gothic style was also applied to domestic buildings.
Strawberry Hill House
The most famous example from the late 18th century is Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, London. It was built by the writer and politician Horace Walpole between 1749 and 1776. The white stone exterior features decorative circular towers, turrets and battlements with arched windows and doors.
The interior is even more extravagantly decorated, with elaborate carved cornices and ceiling roses, ornate shelving and furniture, and painted ceilings. It’s a house that divides opinion, but there’s no denying the great skill and craftsmanship that has gone into creating and maintaining it over the years.
The Palace of Westminster
This world famous building is home to both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There have been royal residences on the site since 1097. After the original palace was destroyed by a fire in the 16th century, it became the seat of Parliament, only to be partially destroyed by fire again in 1834.
The building was reconstructed in the Gothic Revival style that still stands today. The Neo gothic design is attributed to Charles Barry, but he was assisted in his work by Augustus Welby Pugin, and some believe that the latter should have been given the greater credit as the architect despite being only 23 at the time.
John Rylands Library
The John Rylands Library and research institute on Deansgate in Manchester is regarded as one of the finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Europe. It opened in 1900 after being commissioned by Enriqueta Augustina Ryland in memory of her late husband, who was a successful businessman and philanthropist.
The library was designed by the architect Basil Champneys. The exterior is built from distinctive dark red Cumbrian sandstone, while light shank stone is used in the interior. The interior of the library is reminiscent of a cathedral with its high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows.
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain, and the eighth largest church in the world. It was designed by the architect Giles Gilbert Scott. He was appointed after a competition was held and his design won the approval of the committee, who considered Gothic architecture to inspire greater devotion than any other.
Some members of the committee argued against it as they preferred the restrained Renaissance or Classical style of architecture. However, Scott’s design won the overall contest and construction began in 1904 using the distinctive local red sandstone.
The huge scale project was not fully completed until 1978, 18 years after Scott’s death. The belltower is one of the largest and tallest in the world, and is the fourth tallest structure in Liverpool.
If you would like some information about Victorian coving in London, please get in touch with us today.
3 Amazing Listed Buildings In London
Touring London looking for the best historic buildings to be found is a great way to explore. Here are three of our favourite listed buildings in London.
Listed buildings will always be of particular interest, celebrated for their special architectural and historical interest. The older a building is and how rare examples of its specific kind are, the more likely it is to be listed.
We’re very lucky in England to have more than 400,000 listed buildings around the country and we’re very blessed with an incredibly rich architectural history - particularly in London, which is home to some of the finest examples of architectural design and style.
Going on a tour of the capital looking for some of the best listed buildings to be found there would be a wonderful way to explore the city. Here are just three of our favourite examples of listed buildings in London for you to put on the must-see list.
The decommissioned coal-fired Battersea Power Station is Grade II-listed and can be found on the south bank of the River Thames. It’s one of the biggest brick buildings in the world and is renowned for its original Art Deco interior design and fittings.
It’s made up of two power stations, which were built in two stages between 1929 and 1941. Construction was put on hold because of the second world war and the site was eventually finished in 1955. It was given listed status in 1980 on account of its outstanding interest on architectural grounds.
One of the most iconic features on the London skyline has to be Senate House, a stunning example of Art Deco architecture designed by Charles Holden (best known at the time for designing London Underground stations).
Construction on the Grade II-listed building began in 1932 and it was given listed status in 1969. You may well recognise its beautiful Art Deco interiors, as well as its impressive exterior and courtyard, as it’s been given the Hollywood treatment many times, including in Batman Begins, The Theory of Everything and The Dark Knight Rises.
It was also the inspiration for the Ministry of Truth, the landmark building in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.
The Lloyd’s building - also known as the inside-out building - is Grade I-listed and prized for its architectural innovation as a late 20th century design by one of the most significant modern architects of the time, Richard Rogers.
The site itself takes its name from Welshman Edward Lloyd who opened a coffee house in Tower Street way back in 1688. The shop served as a meeting place for merchants, shipowners and seafarers, as well as the first-ever underwriters who insured ships and their cargo.
The Portland stone arched entranceway to the building is a World War I memorial arch that was designed in 1922 and is all that survives of the original building, later to be restored and re-erected on Leadenhall Street.
Do you need help with listed building restoration at the moment? Get in touch with the Ovolo London team today to see what we can achieve.
4 Of The Best Gothic Revival Buildings In England
The Gothic Revival style of architecture emerged in England in the late 18th century. Here’s a look at a few of the best examples that remain well-loved today.
The Gothic Revival style of architecture emerged in England in the late 18th century. It was strongly influenced by the elaborate and lofty Gothic style that dominated the later Middle ages in Europe, particularly for cathedrals, churches, libraries, and colleges. The Gothic Revival or Neo-Gothic style was also applied to domestic buildings.
Strawberry Hill House
The most famous example from the late 18th century is Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, London. It was built by the writer and politician Horace Walpole between 1749 and 1776. The white stone exterior features decorative circular towers, turrets and battlements with arched windows and doors.
The interior is even more extravagantly decorated, with elaborate carved cornices and ceiling roses, ornate shelving and furniture, and painted ceilings. It’s a house that divides opinion, but there’s no denying the great skill and craftsmanship that has gone into creating and maintaining it over the years.
The Palace of Westminster
This world famous building is home to both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There have been royal residences on the site since 1097. After the original palace was destroyed by a fire in the 16th century, it became the seat of Parliament, only to be partially destroyed by fire again in 1834.
The building was reconstructed in the Gothic Revival style that still stands today. The Neo gothic design is attributed to Charles Barry, but he was assisted in his work by Augustus Welby Pugin, and some believe that the latter should have been given the greater credit as the architect despite being only 23 at the time.
John Rylands Library
The John Rylands Library and research institute on Deansgate in Manchester is regarded as one of the finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Europe. It opened in 1900 after being commissioned by Enriqueta Augustina Ryland in memory of her late husband, who was a successful businessman and philanthropist.
The library was designed by the architect Basil Champneys. The exterior is built from distinctive dark red Cumbrian sandstone, while light shank stone is used in the interior. The interior of the library is reminiscent of a cathedral with its high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows.
Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain, and the eighth largest church in the world. It was designed by the architect Giles Gilbert Scott. He was appointed after a competition was held and his design won the approval of the committee, who considered Gothic architecture to inspire greater devotion than any other.
Some members of the committee argued against it as they preferred the restrained Renaissance or Classical style of architecture. However, Scott’s design won the overall contest and construction began in 1904 using the distinctive local red sandstone.
The huge scale project was not fully completed until 1978, 18 years after Scott’s death. The belltower is one of the largest and tallest in the world, and is the fourth tallest structure in Liverpool.
If you would like some information about Victorian coving in London, please get in touch with us today.
New Heritage Trust For Historic Stoke Buildings
A charitable trust has been created to preserve historic buildings in Stoke-on-Trent. It will ensure that heritage architecture doesn’t fall into disrepair.
A new heritage trust has been created to preserve historic at risk buildings in Stoke-on-Trent. The Stoke Sentinel reports that the City Council have set up the charitable trust to ensure that the city’s most admired heritage architecture doesn’t fall into disrepair and decay.
Council members looked at similar schemes in the region, including the Leek and Moorlands Historic Trust, the Staffordshire Historic Buildings Trust, and a similar scheme in Coventry.
Councillor James Smith, cabinet member for infrastructure, heritage and development management spoke to the publication about the new initiative.
He said: "The trustees could be people from all walks of life – the important thing is that they are experts in heritage. When I was the council's Heritage Champion I met lots of people across the city who were passionate about Stoke-on-Trent's historic sites. This will be an opportunity for them to really influence things and make a difference.”
He added: "We've done some benchmarking with other organisations around the country, including one in Coventry, and settled on the idea of a charitable trust. Once it has been set up, we're hoping that it will accept the gift of a heritage building from the council as its first project.”
The city has some fine examples of 19th and early 20th century architecture, such as the Queen’s Theatre in Burslem. It was originally built as a town hall in 1911, but was repurposed as an entertainment venue shortly afterwards. The building has an impressive frontage featuring a full height portico with three pairs of Corinthian columns.
The interior of the theatre features a marble staircase in the foyer, and a decorative plasterwork ceiling. The theatre has been closed since 1998, and is in need of refurbishment and repairs.
If you are looking for Victorian coving in London, please get in touch today.
What Were The Origins Of The Gothic Architecture Style?
The Gothic architecture style is characterised by sweeping tall buildings with spires and intricately carved details on the interior and exterior stonework.
The Gothic architecture style began in the 12th century and persisted until the end of the 16th century. It is characterised by sweeping tall buildings with spires and intricately carved details on both the interior and exterior. The style evolved from the earlier Romanesque period, exaggerating the arches and decorative features of this style.
The Gothic style first appeared in France in the 12th century. The French abbot and historian Suger (1081-1151) is widely regarded as the most influential early patron of Gothic architecture, and its influence soon spread throughout Europe. He commissioned the reconstruction of the Basilica Church of St. Denis in Paris around 1137.
Suger extended the height and proportions, and added features such as vaulted ceilings, pointed arches, and flying buttresses. A key feature of the church was intricate and colourful stained glass windows. In a departure from the more stylised mediaeval era, the artwork features more lifelike figures with more expressive poses and expressions.
This was thought to make the stories of the bible more understandable and accessible to the general public, and windows, vaults and niches were used to depict narrative scenes. Nature was also a major influence on the Gothic style, with intricate and realistic carvings of leaves, fruit, and flowers appearing in stonework and ornate plasterwork on walls and ceilings.
The term ‘Gothic’ was first thought to have been used by the Italians in the 15th century to describe this form of architecture, and it was meant in a derogatory way. The Goths were a nomadic German people who had a reputation for barbarity and destruction, after the sacking of Rome in AD 410.
The critics of the Gothic style found it to be ugly and ostentatious, lacking in any refinement or subtlety. Fortunately, many fine examples of the Gothic architectural style still exist in a well preserved condition today. Famous examples include the Notre Dame in Paris, Milan Cathedral, and Westminster Abbey.
The imposing scale and soaring heights of the religious buildings in the Gothic style were intended to inspire awe in viewers, and bring them closer to God. The vast proportions and light filled spaces were designed for maximum impact, to show off the finely detailed artwork and carvings within and celebrate the beauty of religious devotion.
The emergence of Gothic architecture coincided with the expansion of many of Europe’s great cities, and it has left a permanent influence on the cathedrals, churches, universities, libraries, grand houses, and other landmark buildings. Alongside architecture, the Gothic movement inspired painting, sculpture, and other forms of decorative arts.
By the 16th century, the Renaissance overtook the late Gothic style as the dominant influence in art and architecture. However, the style was revived again in the 19th century, when it was known as Neo Gothic, or Victorian Gothic. One of the most famous examples of this style is the Palace of Westminster in London, designed by the architect AWN Pugin.
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What Grants A Building Listed Status?
Most people are aware of the concept of a listed building, and that it conveys some form of historic or architectural importance, but few know the specifics.
Most people are aware of the concept of a listed building, and that it conveys some form of historic or architectural importance, but fewer people are aware of the specifics and the implications for listed building restoration.
Essentially, each country in the United Kingdom has a statutory list of protected buildings and structures (updated and tracked by Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Cadw in Wales).
These buildings each have some form of special heritage to them that makes it important to preserve them as much as possible for future generations, with three grades (Grade I, Grade II* and Grade II) of importance.
However, the exact criteria for what grants a building listed status can vary, as it is largely dependent on the decisions of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ultimately decide with the help of recommendations from the four statutory agencies.
Typically, there are two main criteria that will affect whether a building receives listed status or not. The first is time, and the second is a set of characteristics that make it important to keep.
The general rule is that the older a building is that is in close to its original condition, the more likely it is to make the list of protected buildings, as there are often fewer examples of a particular type of architectural style that survive intact through the ages.
Typically, the priority list for listed status is:
Any surviving building built before 1700, providing it has some resemblance to its original character.
The vast majority of buildings built between 1700 and 1840, although the organisations tend to prioritise unique examples and examples of endangered architecture.
The major works of architects and architectural movements between 1841 and 1914.
Any historically important, high-quality buildings built between 1915 and 1939.
Limited, unique, often endangered outliers made after 1940.
The other forms of important characteristics are divided by DCMS into four specific groups:
Buildings of architectural interest that have important design or decorative characteristics or signs of particular heritage craftwork.
Buildings which provide insight into the UK’s history, be it cultural, economic or social.
Buildings linked to major people or events in history.
Buildings that are less historically important on their own but form a vital part of a group.