What’s the Story? The Victorian Society

It’s hard to imagine there was a time when Victorian architecture was despised and neglected. The Festival of Britain in 1951 sponsored the idea of a Brave New Britain, with modernist architecture and design. Meanwhile, Britain’s architectural heritage was under attack form the wrecking ball at a shocking rate. By 1955 one major Country House was being destroyed a week and collectively they have come to be known as ‘The Lost Houses’. Victorian industrial buildings were hit  even more badly as the post-war reconstruction raced on.

There were, however, some far-sighted people who realised we may well regret the loss of so many period buildings. One such person was Anne, Lady Rosse, who galvanised her group of intellectual friends on Guy Fawkes night 1957 and, over her famously strong cocktails, they formed The Victorian Society for the preservation of Victorian (and Edwardian) architecture. Formally opening in February 1958, it included big names like the architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner,

and national treasure, John Betjeman

whose statue stands in St Pancras stands as testament to his work to save this much loved Victorian Railway Station. Threats to two particularly important buildings provided the Society with early battlegrounds. The first was Euston Station and the famous Arch that stood in front of it.

The second was JB Bunning’s wonderful Coal Exchange in the City of London.

In both cases the battle was lost, but only after long struggles which increasingly attracted not just public attention but also public support for the fledgling Society. Today, the Society does a lot of work advising government and local authorities and running educational events. We owe them a debt of gratitude for reviving a fondness for our great Victorian heritage, which makes up a great deal of our area.

If you are ever near St Pancras pop into the Gilbert Scott Bar for an eyeful of exuberant Victorian interior design – I love it.