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35 - 39 West Street, Rochford.
A vital local restoration project
by the Southend & District Building Preservation
Trust.
What are Building Preservation Trusts?
Building Preservation Trusts are voluntary, non profit organisations set up
by people interested in preserving our country's fine old buildings. Trusts usually become involved in the renovation of high
risk, low return historic buildings in which nobody else is prepared to invest. These properties are not major national monuments
like stately homes, but more local, everyday buildings which are able to earn their keep once repaired and rehabilitated.
The Architectural Heritage Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund was formed by government in 1976, this organisation
has a register of over 160 Building Preservation Trusts in the United Kingdom. The Architectural Heritage Fund is able to
assist B.P.T's with loans and certain limited grants.
Building Preservation Trusts in Essex.
Essex has three
building preservation trusts, in Colchester, in Billericay and one in the Southend area.
Southend and District
Building Preservation Trust
The Southend and District Building Preservation Trust was established in 1978 by local enthusiasts
for the renovation of the Royal Hotel, the prominent Georgian property high on the cliffs above Southend sea front. This building
and the Royal Terrace had close links with Caroline of Brunswick the much abused wife of George IV. The patronage of high
society and Princess Caroline in particular enabled Southend (the south end of Prittlewell), to become a fashionable place
in the Regency period and to develop into the large town we know today.
Throughout the years since its formation
the Southend and District Building Preservation Trust has saved a number of buildings within its sphere of operation. This
has been achieved through direct renovation work using professionals and companies expert in their field of operation. The
Trust also acts to enable and ensure renovation by others and as a last resort will dismantle and store old timber framed
buildings. The Trust is presently completing a cottage renovation in East Street, Prittlewell.
The Trust's next
project
The S. & D. B. P. T. will soon begin repairing and refurbishing an early Georgian Terrace in West Street,
Rochford.
35 -39 West Street, Rochford is a Grade II Listed terrace of three properties dating from the eighteenth century
(please see photographs). These beautiful early Georgian buildings lay in the heart of Rochford's conservation area. Unfortunately
they have been seriously neglected over a very long period, after many attempts to force the owner to carryout repairs Rochford
District Council finally issued a compulsory purchase order in the year 2000. Subject to the Sec. of State agreeing the C.P.O.,
the terrace will be bought by the Southend and District Building Preservation Trust Ltd. on a 'back-to-back' agreement from
Rochford District Council with a loan from the Architectural Heritage Fund.
Incredible as it may seem the Southend and
District Building Preservation Trust has not been inside the buildings it has promised to buy. Not until the compulsory purchase
arrangements have been ratified (hopefully in the next few weeks), will the trust gain access. This is not a scheme for the
faint hearted and the Trust expect there will be a few surprises ahead (not all pleasant). We hope to find some financial
donors to assist the Trust in this scheme, but whatever happens the renovation will go ahead.
One of the first
jobs to be carried out will be a thorough photographic and written record the buildings as found on day one. We hope to make
this record and further reports of any interesting finds and details of work in progress available to those interested.
A
Trust spokesperson said 'We greatly welcome community support for this project which should greatly enhance the Rochford Conversation
area. One good way to encourage local interest is to involve local schools who can learn a lot about past inhabitants of the
town and the way people lived. These properties have seen about twelve generations come and go and we hope they will shed
some valuable light on past times in Rochford.'
The Trust has been fortunate in gaining access to the Rochford website
(http://welcome.to/thisisrochford). It is hoped that information can be circulated on the website and by more conventional
means to schools and anyone interested in the project.
Eventually the buildings will be sold and (hopefully) the
money received will settle the debt to the Architectural Heritage Fund, any surplus will be used for other local renovation
work. Clearly the Trust is going to have its work cut out during the coming months, but when the buildings are made safe and
nearing completion it is hoped that those who have taken an interest in the restoration can visit. Until then it will be all
hands to the pumps!
We expect to post further information bulletins on this site as the project develops. In the
meantime if you would like to know more please telephone Andrew Labbatt on 01702 616060.
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