Pioneering concrete building listed as endangered

A Grade II-listed concrete building, described as an "extraordinary early example" of modernist design, has been place on a list of endangered buildings.

Number 33–39 St James Street, King's Lynn, Norfolk, was designed by architect A.F. Scott and dates fom 1908.

Originally an office, showroom and warehouse for a building materials company, it is now part-occupied by a Kwik Fit garage, and has been placed on The Victorian Society's top 10 endangered buildings list for 2025.

"This bold and brilliant building is an unheralded but pioneering example of early modernism," said James Hughes, director of the society.

"It deserves urgent attention - not just to preserve its fabric, but to celebrate its place in European architectural history."

The society campaigns for Victorian and Edwardian built heritage across England and Wales.

Other buildings named on its list include a water tower in Market Bosworth, Leicestershire, and Torquay Pavilion in Devon.

Concrete buildings dating from before World War One are very rare.

Connor McNeill, a senior conservation adviser at The Victorian Society, said: "You can go from anywhere in the world, from England to... the middle of the Amazonian jungle in Brazil and you'll find concrete buildings built in a similar way to what was being pioneered here in King's Lynn in in the early 20th Century.

"I think that's what makes it such an interesting building, although it's perhaps not the most prepossessing building when you're looking at the street."

Mr McNeill, who recently visited King's Lynn to photograph the outside of the building, said the town was "a bit of a paradise" for the "architectural history geek".

Number 33–39 St James Street was initially built to house the Building Material Company (King's Lynn) offices, showroom and warehouse.

The firm operated there for over six decades until its insolvency in 1968.

Much of the building today is unused with a Kwik Fit garage occupying the rear.

The Victorian Society and King's Lynn Civic Society have raised concerns about the condition of the building and the difficulties they have faced getting access inside.

A Kwik Fit spokesperson told the BBC: "The building is structurally sound – inspections are carried out at least once a month and these have raised no concerns."

The spokesperson said the firm remained open to possible uses of other sections of the building.

King's Lynn Civic Society welcomed the news that the building was going on the list.

It hopes someone hears about the space and comes up with a plan to maintain and use it.

Kim Leonard, the group's treasurer, said: "If it makes people look up and think 'Well, we need to do something about that', that's good.

"The building itself is not for everyone; it's one of those 'Marmite' buildings.

"But the more you look at it, the more you see value in it."

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