War Damage

[wobs]

Here in Hull, the last building still showing bomb damage is set to be developed. Hull was one of the worst hit during the war, and we have few old buildings left.

There are those that are opposed to it being developed, as they wish to keep it in its current state as a memorial. Personally I feel this is impractical, as vandals are no respector of such things. It will only get worse in the long run, and another frontage elsewhere has been turned into a modern building (flats), keeping the nice exterior.

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/environment/Cooking-plan-Blitz-site/article-1105676-detail/article.html

The pub next door shut a few years ago. Lovely frontage, like a few others in the area.

I recall the fantastic castle on Grand Designs, and the argument that if they don't develop it, it would be beyond help. I think in the long term, it could reach that point, and we'll lose it forever.
Any thoughts?

 

[MdB]

Redevelop.

I like that parts of the outside of the V&A have been deliberately left unrepaired and still show signs of shrapnel damage. However the V&A is still a great building and is operational in the damaged state and there is no requirement for it to be fixed. The historic damage can therefore be kept with a problem.

From the very small picture in the article I don't see any point in showing what happens to a building when it is hit by a bomb. I don't think there is anything historic about a 70 year old pile of rubble.

What it is turned into is a different matter, keeping the frontage sounds sensible I guess though the more recoverable the better.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

From the list description:

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE:
A cinema erected in 1914 with a brick and stone facade in a Baroque revival style, and in brick and steel-reinforced concrete at the rear. It was destroyed in part during an air raid in 1941 and it stands in a ruinous condition. Its special interest is in the fact that it is a rare surviving example of a building bombed out during the Blitz. This special interest rests in the facade, vestibule and foyer. The fragmentary survival of the auditorium is of much less significance, although there is poignancy in the site as a whole. The building is listable on the grounds of historical association with an event of at least Europe-wide importance that had a devastating impact on the city of Hull. Air raids on Hull went on longer than on any other British city and of Hull's 91,660 houses only 5,945 survived the air raids undamaged. There is sufficient of the National Picture Theatre remaining to embody the significance of the event happened upon it, and the particular role cinemas had in wartime as centres for news and entertainment, gives the remains additional resonance

So restored or redeveloped, it would cease to have that special interest, as with the various bombed churches which are preserved as war memorials. But this is the only secular building in the country in a similar situation.

 

[Feltwell]

That really is a hard one. As Gareth mentions, there are various churches that have been preserved in their ruinous state - but the key word there is preserved, not neglected. For example there is one in Southampton, another heavily bombed city - the walls that remain have had work done on them to stop them deteriorating and the public have access inside. And of course there is Coventry Cathedral.

But I suspect that unless something is done with this cinema then it will simply decay to the point of no return - very quickly if the vandals set fire to it. No offence Wobs, on my visits to Hull it looks like it needs all the cash and investment it can get and if someone is willing to invest in this so at least the facade is preserved for the future then that sounds like a good thing to me, compared to the alternative.

 

[wobs]

That really is a hard one. As Gareth mentions, there are various churches that have been preserved in their ruinous state - but the key word there is preserved, not neglected. For example there is one in Southampton, another heavily bombed city - the walls that remain have had work done on them to stop them deteriorating and the public have access inside. And of course there is Coventry Cathedral.

But I suspect that unless something is done with this cinema then it will simply decay to the point of no return - very quickly if the vandals set fire to it. No offence Wobs, on my visits to Hull it looks like it needs all the cash and investment it can get and if someone is willing to invest in this so at least the facade is preserved for the future then that sounds like a good thing to me, compared to the alternative.

No offence taken. Hull does indeed need investment, and I'm inclinded to agree that this does need development.

In fact I think its an opportunity to turn it into something that can retain the fabulous frontage. Any development could include displays of its historical importance, and help preserve something, and education those that visit.

There was another frontage that was integrated into modern flats (building opposite New Theatre). While not ideal, you can still see what remains, and it means it is saved. I hope it will be used for something more accessable for the public.

 

[wobs]

Further to this story, we were carrying out extensive real ale research in one of our regular haunts nearby, when we came across a leaflet about the old cinema. It turns out that they are now hoping to build/develop a history centre there. This sounds like a good idea, as it will use the site, and for purposes related to WWII.

The pub next door is also looking set to be developed as part of it, which is especially good news, as it has some fabulous architecture in it. The words "micro brewery" was used as well, is always a welcome idea.

The leaflet, and other info is available here:
http://ncww2mt.freewebspace.com/index.html

 

[LadyArowana]

Further to this story, we were carrying out extensive real ale research in one of our regular haunts nearby, when we came across a leaflet about the old cinema. It turns out that they are now hoping to build/develop a history centre there. This sounds like a good idea, as it will use the site, and for purposes related to WWII.

The pub next door is also looking set to be developed as part of it, which is especially good news, as it has some fabulous architecture in it. The words "micro brewery" was used as well, is always a welcome idea.

The leaflet, and other info is available here:
http://ncww2mt.freewebspace.com/index.html

A group in Bath that were concerned about the loss of collective memories of the bombing of the city set up an excellent website http://www.bath.co.uk/_code/external.asp?URL=http://www.bathblitz.org with lots of information. It's also possible to find pictures of what happened to some of the buildings even though they have been fully restored in many cases. I was able to find reference to our house, which apparently suffered only slight damage, even though a nearby church was completely destroyed. I wonder if anyone has done anything similar for your area?

 

[wobs]

There is a bomb map of Hull:
http://www.rhaywood.karoo.net/bombmap.htm
Along with discussion further down. 95% of houses were either damaged or destroyed.

Our regular drinking establishment narrowly avoided being destroyed as well:

http://www.paul-gibson.com/history/the-wellington-inn.php

 

[Penners]

As Feltwell says, this is one of those terribly difficult situations. It's a listed building, so should really only be repaired and/or sympathetically extended (with the appropriate consents). But if that doesn't happen, then the likelihood is that it will eventually crumble to a pile of listed dust.

Under the plans, the decorative frontage of the grade-two listed National Picture Theatre, on Beverley Road, would be retained. However, the stairs and landing would be demolished.

I suppose that ultimately one has to adopt a pragmatic view. If this proposal is the best/only game in town, then it should probably be permitted. At least the frontage of the building is saved.

But even as I type that, I can't help thinking about the new Grand Arcade shopping centre in Cambridge. The elegant frontages of the old shops were retained, but what this photo doesn't show is the fact that - if you step back a few yards from the location of the photo - you can see the new arcade building behind towering above the old shop fronts. It's terrible.

So I don't know what's best. I really don't.