Impressive Villa Among Britain’s Most Threatened Buildings | Bristol Live

A grand West Country villa has been listed among Britain’s most “haunted” Victorian buildings by a charity committed to preserving them. The Victorian Society’s annual top 10 list of endangered buildings and structures has been labeled “terrifying” by its chairman, comedian Griff Rhys Jones.

The listing features a Grade II listed Devon property, St Martins in Ilfracombe, originally known as Roslyn Hoe. Mr Rhys Jones urged the owners to restore the building to its former glory, reports Devon Live.

According to The Victorian Society, the Gothic coastal villa, designed by a local architect, is one of the most impressive houses in Ilfracombe, particularly noted for its exquisite decorative details.

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Roslyn Hoe was speculatively built on land bought by a local builder, reflecting the growing popularity of new seaside resorts as a result of expanding rail links, the company explained. As early as 1885 it began as a small girls’ school, with Mrs. Walcott Harris, formerly of Brighton, advertising in the Western Morning News for eight young ladies.

She noted that “delicate girls” could “be admitted for a change of air by special arrangement.” By the 1930s, St Martins had become a small hotel.

St Martins, often hailed as an ‘exercise in symmetry’ by esteemed local architect Alan Hussell, is one of the finest residences in the most sought-after part of this delightful city. The Wesleyan owners in the 1930s, who were related to Mr Hussell, were known to have a strong appreciation for his refined design, according to The Victorian Society.

Since the death of the last owner, the deteriorating state of the building has raised alarms among local heritage groups.

James Hughes, director of the Victorian Society, said: “The poor condition of this splendid tall Victorian house is a cause for deep concern. Examples of domestic architecture of this date and of special quality are rare and of national importance”.

The list of endangered buildings also includes the Kursaal in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, which holds the distinction of being the world’s first purpose-built amusement park. It boasted a circus, ballroom, arcades, dining hall, pool hall, zoo and ice rink.

Designed by architect George Sherrin and opened in 1901, today only a solitary Tesco Express occupies the Grade II listed site. Kursaal had to close its doors in 1986 after a failed attempt to save the beloved attraction.

A 19th-century banqueting hall in Newcastle, built for the workers of wealthy industrialist William Armstrong, is also on the list. Jesmond Dene Banqueting Hall was erected by John Dobson in 1860 and later extended with a gate, reception hall and exhibition hall by Norman Shaw in the following decade.

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The charity has expressed concern that it is “in an increasing state of disrepair”, warning that it may soon be unfit to house the artists who currently use it as a studio. Each site identified as requiring saving and repair has a Grade II or higher listing, indicating their historic and architectural significance.

However, the charity fears this protection may not be enough in some cases. The list also includes one of the world’s oldest tennis pavilions and a retained school where author Vera Brittain served as a nurse during the First World War.

Mr Rhys Jones described the list as “a testament to the excitement, variety and invention of the Victorian era”. He added further: “Restoring and reusing them makes huge business sense. They are attractions in themselves” and “They are already destinations. It should be part of local pride.”

This marks the 14th list of endangered buildings issued by the Victorian Society, established in 1958.