As with all parish churches the building is cared for by the local community but Shobdon is well-known enough to have influenced churches abroad, including one modern example in Virginia.

What is not so clear is how the building was constructed. A stockpile of reused beams and planks appears to have been incorporated into the masonry walls and internal framing during its 18th century conversion. Now these timbers are rotting resulting in significant and damaging movement that will be expensive to repair and require deconstruction of parts of the church. In a general sense, this is yet another example of the plight of many parish churches nationwide which depend upon the commitment of volunteer parishioners for their survival.

Now a Royal Navy Dockyard, warships were stocked and repaired at Sheerness until its closure in 1960. The twentieth century contributed World War II and cold war structures including a now disused nuclear bunker.

Sadly the site has recently fragmented into ownership by different parties with separate agendas. As a result some of the most significant buildings lie within the bounds of a commercial port, remain unused and are decaying. Elsewhere highly inappropriate changes and redevelopments are currently being proposed which threaten two complete and virtually unaltered Georgian terraces. The most immediate opportunity is to significantly raise the profile of Sheerness, support a strong local and national conservation campaign, and therefore to deflect inappropriate planning applications whilst promoting a sustainable and careful pattern of ownership and usage.

Over time and due to changing zoological practice, the design of the zoo has been adversely affected by disuse of some Tecton structures by newer constructions in other areas and by the alteration of the natural, wooded, setting into a more manicured garden environment. However its uniqueness and integrity warrant inclusion on the Watch. When the zoo was opened in May 1937 it was so popular that 250,000 people attempted to visit in one single day: that enthusiasm is sought anew through championing conservation-minded refurbishment.

Lubetkin’s work at Dudley Zoo is currently underappreciated; we hope any proposal will consider the twelve Tecton structures as a single piece of work rather than as individual buildings.

The sculpture present in the cemeteries records the development of architectural styles in Scotland and is testament to the craft traditions which created them. The stones and monuments also record the transition of Edinburgh from a medieval burgh in the early 18th century through the enlightenment and to becoming the second city of Empire in the late nineteenth century. Many prominent Scottish individuals and families are buried here and so there are certainly strong community attachments that remain.

However in some instances the cemeteries have become known for negative reasons, as an unsafe environment home to illicit activities. The general condition of the funerary monuments is poor and in many instances headstones have been pushed over and fractured or have been set down for safety reasons. However, aside from their heritage value, these are wonderful inner-city urban spaces that deserve to be reclaimed for everyone. A comprehensive plan that brings together diverse stakeholders towards a common end is urgently needed.

Between 1951 and 1976 the estate was owned by the renowned collector Sir Alfred and Lady Beit who later transferred the ownership of the site and their unique art collection to a charitable trust which ensures that the house remains open and accessible to the public. This recent history, and the fact that many local people work at Russborough, ensures that there are strong community attachments to the place. However, income generated from visitors to the site fails to fund the specialist conservation care of the house’s collection and its landscape.

Russborough could benefit from an international awareness of its qualities. But with a necessary focus on increasing visitor income it is important that a suitable balance between conservation and development is reached. WMF is hopeful that inclusion on the Watch will encourage enhanced management of the designed landscape surrounding the property which has not been previously prioritised.

Site Update

Built between 1872 and 1875, the church was home to one of the largest and most significant Methodist congregations in Belfast. It was constructed by a native architect, James Carlisle, in memory of his son. Designed in the Gothic Revival style by William Henry Lynn, one of Belfast’s noted architects, it was constructed using a now very unhappy mix of limestone and sandstone.

However this high quality Victorian building has been empty since 1982 and is now in a critical condition after many years of neglect. Another part of the site is used as an Indian community centre and with its location at a major interface between Catholic and Protestant residents any solution for its renovation and reuse will be complex. Having said this, the potential for this building to really contribute to the regeneration of north Belfast is very evident and a priority for WMF and the nominator, the Belfast Building’s Preservation Trust, who have a recognised track record in similar regeneration projects.