Thanks to Steven Goodman from the Friends of Frank James Hospital for this report from last week’s Stop the Rot event held at Northwood House by English heritage. Ed

Speakers at the well-attended presentation included representatives of English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Gardens Trust, Past Wight Heritage Consultancy, The Venerable Peter Sutton, Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight, and seventeen year old Joshua Aitken-Dunkeld, who movingly conveyed the passion of the Frank James friends and others caring for our heritage.

Well attended event
The free event, organised by English Heritage, was open to anyone interested in saving heritage at risk.

Those attending included Northwood House Trustees and volunteers, Island Parish and County Councillors, Portsmouth City Council’s Conservation Officer and Harbour Project Manager, the Army Flying Museum CEO, representatives from the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust, Carisbrooke Castle Museum, Shanklin Theatre, Dinosaur Isle, the Hammerhead Crane Trust, Island churches, the Isle of Wight Society and History Centre, Historic Ryde Society, and a number of heritage and conservation professionals, Island residents, and several Friends of Frank James.

Speakers shared their expertise
Conservation architect Duncan Wilson led attendees on a guided tour of the magnificent Georgian House, which has been granted some money for essential repair and restoration.

Regional Director of English Heritage Andy Brown opened the presentation. He pointed out that per head of population the Isle of Wight has more listed buildings at risk than anywhere else on the South Coast.

The Archdeacon had a similar message. The Island’s population is about the same size as Watford’s, which has nine Church of England churches; we have about 60 (plus other churches, chapels, church halls, vicarages, rectories, and curates houses); those apparently include 11 Listed Grade I, 17 Grade II*, and 22 Grade II , with many classed as ‘at risk’.

Financial assistance explained
Other speakers explained the financial and practical assistance available to anyone trying to save heritage at risk, and the legal obligations of owners and Local Authorities.

Briefly, although owners of listed properties have no positive obligation to maintain them, Local Authorities have a duty to enforce the extensive protective legislation, and because that has not always happened much of value has been, or remains in danger of being, lost.

Some good news is that since 1999, 59% of the buildings at risk then have been saved; however, as those are removed from the list, new ones are being added and the continuing spending cuts imposed by central government now aggravate the situation.

Support from MP
MP Andrew Turner had planned to speak at the event but had to travel to London for the emergency debate in Parliament over air strikes in Iraq.

However Mr Turner sent his best wishes and pledged his continuing support for the Friends who are campaigning to get the Grade II Listed former Frank James Memorial Hospital in Adelaide Grove returned to beneficial use.

New planning application
The owners of the neglected former Hospital, which remains in need of some urgent work to make the building weatherproof and secure, have recently submitted an application to create dwellings in the main building and an extension and new houses in the grounds; residents will as usual have an opportunity to comment on the proposals, and the Frank James Friends and other caring champions will, as usual, continue working to maintain our shared heritage.

Image: © Josh Aitken Friends of Frank James Hospital