Lost Heritage

Links

For those interested in this topic these links may be of interest.

For a general overview of why these houses came to be demolished there is a good explanation on wikipedia: 'Destruction of country houses in 20th-century Britain'

Campaigners

• American Friends of British Art - an American charity dedicated to preserving and restoring historic art and architecture in Great Britain.
• The Ancient Monuments Society - campaigning since 1924 to save any man-made structure of architectural or historical interest
• Colvin Fire Prevention Trust - raising awareness of the risks from fire to historic buildings
• CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) - protecting the unique character of the countryside
• English Heritage - the UK Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment (if only it would listen to them!) who also publish an annual Buildings at Risk Register
• The Georgian Group - The group campaigns against the neglect, maltreatment and destruction of Georgian buildings, parks and gardens in England and Wales.
• Historic Houses Association - represents the interests of Britain's historic houses, castles and gardens that remain in private ownership
• SAVE Britain's Heritage - one of the most influential and active groups campaigning to save endangered historic buildings
• The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
• Twentieth Century Society - buildings post-1914 - the country houses of the future
• VAT and the Built Heritage (Oct 1999) - a survey and report on the impact of VAT on repairs and alterations to listed properties
• Victorian Society - a national society responsible for the study and protection of Victorian and Edwardian architecture

Reference

• Architectural Heritage Fund - promotes the conservation of historic buildings in the UK
• Country Life magazine - an invaluable record and voice for country houses
• Biographies of important country house architects [Country Life]
• Scotland's Lost Country Houses - a excellent record of the losses in Scotland
• The DiCamillo Companion - the impressive results of one man's attempt to list every country house ever built in Britain and Ireland
• The National Trust
• Weddington Castle - A superb resource focusing particularly on Weddington Castle but also for anyone interesting in the major houses around Nuneaton in Warwickshire, covering those demolished and those that have survived.
• Hudson's Historic Houses & Gardens - The most comprehensive guide to heritage properties in Great Britain and Ireland

Restoration

• Building Conservation Directory - suppliers of products, services and information for the preservation, conservation and restoration of historic buildings, churches and garden landscapes
• COTAC (Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation) - aiming to improve the standards of those involved in building conservation
• Country Houses Foundation - the main aims of the Foundation are to support the preservation of buildings of historic or architectural significance together with their gardens and grounds, for the public benefit.
• English Heritage: Conservation and Grants
• DARE Group - DARE exists principally to undertake the conservation and sustainable redevelopment of buildings and sites of historical or architectural importance.
• Funds for Historic Buildings - comprehensive guide to funding for anyone seeking to repair, restore or convert for a new use any historic building in England and Wales
• Heritage Information - provides free, easy access to information about restoring and repairing your historic building or garden
• The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) - is the professional institute which represents conservation professionals in the public and private sectors in the United Kingdom and Ireland
• Maintain our Heritage (MoH) - promotes a long-term strategy for the care of historic buildings with emphasis given to maintenance rather than sporadic major repair
• Institute of Conservation - a voice for the conservation of cultural heritage in the UK