Issue 37 Spring 23 WEB - Flipbook - Page 56
The Victorian Society seeks
listing for historic West
Sussex rectory designed
by a famous architect to
prevent demolition
The Victorian Society is urging the public to object to plans to demolish an Edwardian rectory
designed by a famous architect in the seaside village of Apuldram, West Sussex. The Society has
asked that Chichester Council issue a building preservation notice, to protect it whilst it is being
considered for listing.
Temple Moore was an important architect of the late
Gothic Revival, noted particularly for his ecclesiastical
work. His buildings often display an expert handling of
complex form coupled with refined architectural detail.
Many of his buildings are listed and notable ecclesiastical
examples are St Wilfred’s Church, Harrogate (Grade I),
and St Columba’s Church, Scarborough (Grade II*). He
is also well regarded for his secular commissions such as
the Hostel of the Resurrection, Leeds (Grade II*) and
Holmwood House, Redditch (Grade II*). Former Victorian Society Chair, the late Geoff Brandwood, stated in
his authoritative book, The Architecture of Temple
Moore, that the commission for the house probably came
through a cousin of Moore’s wife, Revd C. E. Storrs, the
Rector of Selsey a nearby town, who had previously
commissioned work from Temple Moore.
Apuldram House sits within the highly attractive Dell
Quay Conservation area and is an excellent example of a
small early Edwardian rectory. The little altered house was
built in 1900-2 by the important late Gothic Revival architect Temple Moore for the Revd R. H. Meredyth
Baker. Given its excellent state of preservation and high
design quality by a very important architect, the Society
has applied for the house to be listed by Historic England.
Connor McNeill, Victorian Society conservation adviser
said, “Apuldram House is a fine example of an early 20th
century rectory in a beautiful coastal location, designed
by the important gothic revival architect, Temple Moore.
It is surprising that such a well-preserved example of his
domestic work is not already listed. Demolition of such
an important building and its replacement with a bland,
new house would be a tragedy. We are urging Chichester
District Council to serve a Building Preservation Notice
which would protect the building and allow Historic
England to consider if it should be listed.”
After the Rev Richard Baker died in 1936 his widow Ethel
lived there until she died in 1961. It was brought by the
Clifford-Brown family who lived at the property until
1988. The former owners Mr and Mrs John Perry sold the
house in 2019.
The Victorian Society is urging people to object online to
the demolition plans before 7 March by visiting the
following link: https://publicaccess.chichester.gov.uk/onlineapplications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&ke
yVal=RN920DERH9D00
If Chichester Council approves Apuldrum House’s
demolition it would be counter to its own target of a 10%
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions year-on-year until
2025 – as set out in its Climate Emergency Action Plan.
The sensitive reuse of historic buildings is essential in the
Climate Emergency as this generates much lower carbon
emissions than demolition and rebuild such as is proposed
for Apuldrum House.
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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