More buildings and structures in Reading could get local protection

Conservation organisations in Reading have devised a shortlist or “starter for ten” of more than a dozen new buildings and structures they believe should be added to the local list.

Five applications have been submitted so far, for:

• The Whitley Pump
• Huntley and Palmers Social Club
• Huntley and Palmers Garden
• Attwell’s Drinking Fountain
• The Queens Head, on Christchurch Road

READ MORE: A locally listed building in Caversham was recently saved from demolition

What is local listing?

Buildings that are not listed by Historic England (Grade I, Grade II* or Grade II) can be placed on a local list by the council.

Unlike nationally listed buildings, they do not have statutory protection, but the interest of the building must be considered during the planning process.

There are 13 buildings currently on the list, including the closed Arthur Hill swimming pool, Gillette’s HQ and an arts and crafts-inspired 19th century Church.

READ MORE: Two new buildings added - the thirteen important buildings with local protection in Reading

What has happened so far with the latest applications?

The application to locally list Whitley Pump – which was also the moniker for the recently shut local blog – has been rejected as it is only a replica of the original, dating back to 1999.

If the original had survived, it would have been locally listable.

Reading Conservation Area Advisory Committee (RCAAC) is waiting to hear back from the council on the other applications and preparing more requests with Reading Civic Society and the Bell Tower Community Association.

The committee is also working on an update to the Market Place/London Street Conservation Area, with a larger protected area proposed, which would mean two of the buildings listed below (the Old Post Office and the old Reading Gas Co) would not need to be locally listed.

These buildings would become part of the extended conservation area and be identified as Buildings of Townscape Merit.

Buildings and structures in conservation areas cannot be locally listed as conservation areas provide greater protection than local listing and so these would then be removed from the shortlist.

Another building that was being considered for locally listing is the Harris Arcade, as it was believed only the entrance was listed nationally, but Historic England says the whole arcade should be included in the Grade II listing.

The shortlist

Here is the shortlist of 24 buildings and structures currently being considered for local listing, which includes a fire station, tea hut, fountain, war memorial and four drinking troughs:

1. Elizabeth House, Gosbrook Road

2.Caversham Road Fire Station

3. E P Collier School

4. Ajilon House, Friar Street (The Old Atheneum Club)

5. The old Reading Gas Co in Friar St (now Haslams) by G W Webb, 1903-5

6. Former Co-op building, West Street/ Cheapside (Primark Offices)

7. Old Post Office (Yates) by Myers, 1923

8. The Old Forge, Merchant’s Place (Shed/Milk)

9. The Queens Head, Christchurch Road (application submitted by Evelyn Williams, chair of RCAAC and Dennis Wood, author of 'Views from the Hill: The Story of Whitley')

10. Union Workhouse, 344 Oxford Road, by architect William Roland Howell, 1911 (including 'Battle Hospital' gatehouse)

11. Whitley Methodist Hall by William Roland Howell

12. Fountain in Forbury Gardens

13. Spanish Civil War memorial, Forbury Gardens by Eric Stanford

14. Cartwheeling Boys, Düsseldorf Way

15. Tea Hut/Central Kebabs, St Mary’s Butts

16. Attwell's Drinking Fountain, Thames Promenade

17. Huntley & Palmers social club

18. Huntley & Palmers garden

19. Aldridges, Friar Street

20. Smelly Alley/Union Street

21. Drinking trough #1: Arthur Newbery Park, Armour Hill

22. Drinking trough #2: Park Lane, Tilehurst

23. Drinking trough #3: Scours Lane, Norcot

24. Drinking trough #4: Bedford Road

All photos by Sean Duggan of Reading Civic Society except for 2, 8, 20 and 24 by Evelyn Williams, 18 by Richard Bennett, 7 and 15 by Tevye Markson and 9 from Google Street View.

Can you help grow the list?

Richard Bennett, vice-chair of RCAAC, says suggestions for buildings to be locally listed will be welcomed but comprehensive justifications are needed.

This would involve contacting RCAAC at chair.readingcaac@gmail.com and providing information about the building, or other structure, which should include its:

• Historical association
• Social and industrial importance
• Architectural interest
• Townscape value
• General information