Victorian Society Flags Berkshire Devon Victorian Buildings at Risk

Campaigners have identified several Victorian buildings in Britain at significant risk, including Aldermaston Court in Berkshire, which played a key role in British nuclear history as the site of the first commercial nuclear reactor and is located near the Ministry of Defence's Atomic Weapons Establishment. The Victorian Society also listed the Torquay Pavilion, once frequented by Agatha Christie and notable for its art nouveau architecture, which has been closed for over a decade. Additional endangered sites include the last remaining Victorian bath house in South Yorkshire and Birmingham's former Methodist Central Hall. Aldermaston Court, originally built on an estate dating back to 1299 and redesigned in the Tudor revival style in the mid-19th century by architect Philip Charles Hardwick, has been derelict for over ten years. Historically, the estate was used for significant wartime roles, including as barracks for the Women's Land Army and the US Air Force during World War II, before being acquired by Associated Electrical Industries. These buildings represent important cultural and historical heritage now threatened by neglect and lack of preservation efforts.