Conservation Bulletin 70 | PDF - English Heritage

COMMUNITIES FIGHTING BACK
Promoting economic and social growth
by tackling heritage crime
Henry Owen John
Planning Director (North West), English Heritage
Research commissioned by English Heritage and
published in March 2012 noted no significant variations
in the levels of heritage crime in different
parts of the country. It did show, however, that
in areas of high deprivation more than 26% of
heritage assets had been harmed by criminal activity.
In places with low deprivation, by contrast, the
figure was 13%. The research also highlighted the
fact that anti-social behaviour deters enjoyment of
heritage assets as well as investment in their future.
In places suffering from high deprivation it is
often an historic building that acts as a landmark
for a local community.Vandalised and in poor condition,
it highlights wider social and economic
problems; in good condition and active use it can
act as a flagship for resolving these problems and
a catalyst for investment.
Just to the south of Liverpool’s city centre,
Toxteth suffers from high levels of deprivation. It
also boasts some remarkable heritage assets. The
magnificent Princes Road Synagogue stands next
door to the church of St Margaret of Antioch and
across the road from the Greek Orthodox Church
and the former Welsh Presbyterian Church. Near
by is Princes Park, designed by Joseph Paxton,
while a little further away is the Florence Institute
St James’s Church in Toxteth: a long-term victim of casual vandalism that now faces a
brighter future. © English Heritage
for Boys (the Florrie), which served a vital role
in the community for almost one hundred years
from its opening in 1890. On the edge of Toxteth
nearest to the city centre stands another historic
church, St James, while in the lee of the massive
Anglican cathedral are St James’s Gardens. This
remarkable landscape, originally created by 17thcentury
stone quarrying, was used as a cemetery for
more than a hundred years until its closure in 1936,
since when it has remained open as a public park.
All these places have suffered the consequences
of high levels of deprivation and a changing demographic.
The synagogue was severely damaged in
the riots of 1979, and more recently was attacked
by metal thieves at the same time as St Margaret’s.
The Florrie was vandalised and suffered a major
fire, while anti-social behaviour and vandalism
caused problems in both St James’s Gardens and
Princes Park. St James’s Church closed its doors
to worshippers 30 years ago and was placed in the
care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Heritage
crime and anti-social behaviour were undoubtedly
inhibiting the regeneration of Toxteth in the 1980s
and 1990s and into the early years of this century,
despite the strenuous efforts and investment of
national and local government.
Community involvement in regeneration,
including tackling heritage crime, is transforming
this picture. The bad press that Toxteth received
from many sections of the media overlooked the
strength and determination of those who were not
prepared to see their neighbourhood wrecked by
vandalism and crime against their precious heritage
assets. The story of the Florrie exemplifies this.
Despite the devastation caused by years of dereliction,
vandalism and the fire, local campaigners
championed its restoration.With financial support
from the Heritage Lottery Fund and others, the
Florrie is thriving again with a gym, a café, a
nursery, a heritage resource and archive centre, all
serving the needs of the community.
The congregation of the synagogue repaired
the extensive damage caused in 1979 within a year
and continues to invest time, commitment and
resources in the ongoing repair of the building,
which is now listed Grade I. On the initiative of
the Bishop of Liverpool (who also championed the
cause of the Florrie), St James’s Church was taken
back from the Churches Conservation Trust and
now forms the focal point of the new parish of
St James in the city, with a growing congregation
that includes overseas students. English Heritage
has grant-aided roof repairs and an ambitious
scheme of wider regeneration is being planned
Issue 70: Summer 2013 | Conservation bulletin | 27