Bengreave Farm, Bradfield, Sheffield
Application to demolish a farmhouse near Damflask Reservoir, Sheffield:
I must give thanks to the heritage statement for the detailed research, placing this building in the mid18th century, as a traditional laithe-house with local historical significance. I can feel the author’s reluctance to support the demolition of this building, in spite of being on the books of the developer.
Let’s hope the replacement is as architecturally interesting and also manages to get three centuries of use from generations of families.
Detached house, Barnsley
Application to demolish stone cottage in Elsecar:
A handsome cottage sadly now in a state of dilapidation, just down the road from the Elsecar Heritage Centre museum. Somehow the applicant is going to squeeze two detached dwellings onto this plot. Humans must be getting smaller.
Braithwaite Lodge, Doncaster
Application to demolish a farmhouse near Braithwaite, Doncaster:
This application involves the replacement of the house with a new dwelling, so perhaps the condition of the building has deteriorated internally. A lack of available planning documents leaves this to speculation. A beautiful rural house nonetheless, the building’s complex geometry of lean-to and extension elements are charming. I’d be curious to know if beneath the render it is stone or brick. Smashing it to pieces is one way to find out I suppose.
Shirebrook WMC, Sheffield
Application to demolish working men’s club of Full Monty Fame:
Not the most beautiful of buildings, but an important cultural icon, having featured in Yorkshire’s second greatest film (yes, Kes wins), Shiregreen Club is set to be demolished.
An online petition that has featured on ITV’s website has gained wide support, so hopefully the decision-makers will accede to public opinion.
Aside from stardom, let us not forget that this represents further erosion of working-class culture in Northern England. Working Men’s Clubs are disappearing at an astonishing rate. In my previous post I mentioned the opportunity loss of new immigrant churches not using vacant Victorian churches. Similarly, new micro-breweries could also set themselves up in old pubs/clubs, with a taproom ready to go. I call upon policymakers to be artistic and find a way to matchmake the pubs without beer, to the beer without pubs.
Balby Road Methodist Church, Doncaster
Prior notification of demolition of an ornate Methodist Church in Doncaster:
Even as public life grinds to a halt, still the cultural crimes fester. This stunning chapel from 1863 has been given prior approval for demolition pending a bat survey, which means the applicant, Mr Surjit Duhre, will be seeing off this example of Victorian splendor imminently.
It is rare that the Primitive Methodists displayed such ostentation, so this building seems to have caught them in an uncharacteristically extravagant mood.
The applicant argues that there is minor spalling on the brickwork (as there is in every brick building of this age); the only remedy for which is complete demolition. If thats the case why did you apply for conversion to flats 3 years ago?
Extremely sad to see this building go, as it offers a notion of civic life along this high street otherwise dominated by residential uses. With so many new churches springing up in inner suburbs such as this, namely by immigrant pentecostal communities, it is such a shame that these new congregations can’t make use of the already existing religious buildings. This is both a planning failure, and a market failure to marry supply and demand.
Doncaster needs to retain as much cultural heritage as possible, so I’ll be pressing for a spot listing from Heritage England. Sad to see no media coverage of this in the local press. Let’s hope that changes soon.
The Demolition Register 