Thanks to Ian Pickard from the Friends of Frank James for a reminder about this upcoming event. Ed
English Heritage announced earlier in the year that it would be staging its much acclaimed “Stopping the Rot” presentation on the Isle of Wight.
The event, launched in conjunction with the Friends of Frank James, will be staged at Northwood House on Friday 26 September and will highlight the practical and financial assistance available to those looking to save and preserve heritage buildings on the Isle of Wight.
Friend of Frank James, Ian Pickard, said,
“We are delighted with the response and demand for tickets has exceeded our expectation. English Heritage initially looked at holding the event at East Cowes Town Hall but in the end moved it to Northwood House to accommodate more people.”
Advice on funding
The line up of speakers includes Tessa Hilder from The Architectural Heritage Fund (which advises projects on how to apply for Heritage Lottery funding) along with speakers from English Heritage who will explain the procedures for serving an Urgent Works Notice and other statutory notices intended to protect and preserve important listed buildings.
Mr Pickard went on to say,
“Your readers will be aware that the Friends of Frank James collected nearly 3,000 signatures earlier this year calling on the Isle of Wight Council to issue an Urgent Works Notice on the owners of the Grade II listed former Frank James Memorial Hospital in East Cowes. Since being sold in 2002 by the island’s NHS Trust the building has remained unoccupied despite efforts by the local community and calls from The Victorian Society and SAVE Britain’s Heritage to return it to beneficial use.
“The Friends remain committed to saving this outstanding property which is not only a cherished local landmark but a building of national importance. We hope “Stopping the Rot” will spur the owners and the Isle of Wight Council into taking action to save it after a decade of abandonment and shocking neglect.”
Book your set
There are a limited number of tickets still available for the event which is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about how to save Island Heritage.
They are available by contacting [email protected]
Image: © Joshua Aitkin
