Crumbling sites that could be lost

13 April 2012
Long-term at risk

Severndroog Castle, Shooter's Hill, Greenwich, Grade I Built as a folly to commemorate a famous military victory in 1784. It was used as a beacon by ships in the Second World War, but is now run down. One of south-east London's best known landmarks, it towers above the Shooter's Hill area, 12 metres higher than St Paul's.

Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham, Grade I Built in the late 17th century and remodelled by Horace Walpole during his residency from 1747 to 1797.

It became the most influential Gothic Revival house in the country, inspiring designs for the Palace of Westminster 100 years later.

Many of the interiors are now in urgent need of restoration, and Strawberry Hill is also on the World Monuments Fund's 2004 list of the 100 most endangered sites.

New additions to the register

4 & 7 Haymarket, Grade II* Series of terraced houses and shops in the heart of the West End, dating back to 1822-23, when they formed part of John Nash's Suffolk Place. Suffered from a recent fire, but proposals for new uses are being discussed by the Crown Estate and Westminster council.

Former ABC cinema, in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, Grade II* Built 1929-30 as the Granada Cinema, it retains fine 1929-30 art deco and Moorish-style interiors. Now in poor condition, it is partly occupied by a religious group. Recently planning permission for its for use as a place of worship was refused, and there are no new proposals.

Newly off the register

Isokon Flats, Hampstead, Grade I

Britain's first Modernist building in Lawn Road, the flats were designed by Wells Coates for his developer clients Jack and Molly Pritchard, and opened in 1934 as an experiment in minimalist modern urban living.

It has been sympathetically restored by Notting Hill Housing Trust for both key workers and private buyers.

Gorilla house, London Zoo, Grade I A Modernist concrete building of 1932-33 by Berthold Lubetkin, who also designed the iconic penguin enclosure. It fell into disrepair after it was deemed unsuitable for gorillas. It has now been repaired, and is home to Madagascan lemurs. The master plan is to use it as a Madagascar Centre.

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