PRESS RELEASE: 03/03/16,for immediate release
One man’s journey from cricket lover to saviour of national heritage
“I’ve never done anything with heritage before but I want to save this gas holder behind my house and I don’t know where to start.” An unlikely start to a phone conversation that would lead to the listing of an iconic piece of Victorian architecture. But thanks to one man’s concern for a local landmark, Gasholder no.1 overlooking the Oval has been saved from destruction and is now a listed structure.
Lawrence D’Silva, an ethical investor from South London, loves cricket and found his ideal home overlooking the Kennington cricket ground in South London. However, it wasn’t just the stadium he thought iconic. Theimposing site of Gasholder no.1, a striking Victorian wrought-iron Gasholder stood at the other side of his home. He found himself growing to love its stark industrial beauty, so when he received a letter saying it was to be decommissioned, he contacted the Council for British Archaeology (CBA) for advice on how he could protect this local landmark and its iconic silhouette providing the backdrop to international cricket matches at the Oval.
The CBA were able to put Lawrence in touch with a leading expert on gasholders, Malcolm Tucker. The CBA’s Listed Buildings Caseworker also helped him to craft a listing application to Historic England. "I'm really grateful that the CBA agreed to help out on this issue; I've always had some interest in local heritage but I can't say I've ever had any experience in listing a building and so I think I would have been a bit swamped without their help."Lawrence’s hard work paid off and Historic England today announced that the structure is now listed at Grade II, indicative of its national importance and meaning it is protected from demolition. This means that developers would have to apply for listed building consent to make significant alterations to the structure in the future.
“Heritage is what people and communities decide is important to them. Lawrence’s work to preserve Gasholder no. 1 is a great example of how anyone can make a real difference and defend their ownheritage. The Council for British Archaeology are here to encourage and support people to do just that”
Claire Price, Listed Buildings Caseworker at the Council for British Archaeology
ENDS
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Claire Price, Listed Buildings Caseworker, Council for British Archaeology
Telephone: 01904 521 242
Email:
NOTES TO EDITOR:
Supporting images for this release are available on our Dropboxaccount with more available on request. All images copywrite of the CBA.
The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) is a leading educational charity working throughout the UK to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of present and future generations. Since 1944, it has been active in Westminster and with grassroots community groups to safeguard the UK's historic environment and demonstrate the fact that our historic environment matters.
Gasholder no. 1 was designed by the eminent engineer, Sir CorbetWoodall, Gasholder No.1 was the world’s largest when it was built in 1847. It was later rebuilt in 1879 ahead of the first test match at The Oval in 1880.Gasholders have formed a part of Victorian London’s skyline for over 200 years, when the UK relied on gas power for energy.Gasholder No.1 is an early example of the use of wrought-iron to construct the gasholder guide frame, which allowed the holder to double its capacity.The decision to list was made based on historical and architectural interest, which includes technical interest, historical association and landscape interest.
Malcolm Tucker, MA CEng MICE is and Engineering Historian and Industrial Archaeologist and is author of the, ‘London Gasholders Survey’ for Historic England