News / Architecture
Dozens of 20th century buildings given extra protection by city council
Bristol’s Local List of valued buildings recognises buildings and monuments not already listed in order to preserve their quality, style or historical importance.
Additions to the list this year focus on important architectural monuments of the 20th century, including Purdown Tower in Lockleaze, the Brabazon Hangars in Filton and the High Kingsdown estate.
They join the likes of St George Primary School at the foot of Brandon Hill, the Cambridge Arms pub in Westbury Park and more than 500 buildings across the city on the Local List, a register which provides extra recognition in the planning process.
is needed now More than ever
The 115ft-high Brabazon Hangars cover an area of 400,000 square feet and could one day house the long-awaited Bristol Arena
Built in 1950, the Purdown BT tower is one of the few communication towers built of reinforced concrete.
The Odeon stands on a Union Street site once occupied by Fry’s chocolate factory. At its heyday there was seating for 1,000 in the stalls and 900 in the balcony.
Nicola Beech, cabinet member for spatial planning & city design, said: “This year’s focus on the 20th century sees a number of buildings added to the list that challenge traditional ideas of what historic monuments look like.
“Nevertheless these buildings have a strong architectural importance, or social significance, that express the attitudes and beliefs of people in the era they were built.
“It’s a challenge to focus on modern buildings, many built within our lifetimes, as heritage, but it’s important to protect the achievements of recent generations, so they might be appreciated and enjoyed by those in the future.
“Bristol is now leading the way nationally in protecting and managing appropriate change in these buildings.”
Despite their addition to the Local List, these flats on Eugene Street in Kingsdown could still be demolished to build a new hospital multi-storey car park
Patterson House forms part of the Redcliffe estate
Among other buildings now recognised are a number of social housing projects, including industrial housing in Mina Road in St Werburgh’s, 1930s flats in Eugene Street in Kingsdown and parts of Redcliffe estate.
A marked increase in health and leisure time in the 1930s is reflected in the addition of the Art Deco Central Health Clinic in St Philip’s, Jubilee Pool in Knowle, and Broadmead’s art deco Odeon cinema.
Four experimental post-war churches are also new additions to the Local List: St Stephen’s Church in Southmead, Church of Christ the King in Filwood, Redcliffe Methodist Chapel and Broadmead’s Baptist Church.
Completed in 1969, Broadmead Baptist church replaced a nineteeth-century chapel on the same site, with shops built on the ground floor and the chapel above
Canynge House on Prewett Street is also part of the Redcliffe estate
Bob Hardcastle, chairman of the Twentieth Century Society’s west group, said: “The Twentieth Century Society welcomes Bristol City Council’s outstanding work in recognising the importance of iconic 20th century buildings in the city by adding them to their Local List.
“We hope that future generations of Bristolians and others will value and preserve these buildings due to their importance in the ongoing development of the city.”
Waring House on the Redcliffe estate has been used as a location in Doctor Who and the new Hellboy film
Jubilee Pool in Knowle was saved from closure in 2017 following an impassioned community campaign
Read more: ‘Bristol has become unadventurous when it comes to architecture’
Main photo: The Bristol Hotel on Prince Street. All photos (except for Brabazon Hangars) courtesy of Bristol City Council.
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