SAVE Britain's Heritage

The Destruction of the Country House Exhibition, V&A, 1974
SAVE Britain's Heritage 1975-2005An exhibition celebrating 30 years of campaigning

Image: The Destruction of the Country House Exhibition, V&A, 1974
Photograph by Robin Wade, exhibition designer

 

The birth of SAVE was sparked by the immense publicity generated by the now legendary exhibition 'The Destruction of the Country House' held at the V&A in 1974. The exhibition's Hall of Destruction was a fantasy of tumbling columns illustrating a selection of over 1,000 historic country houses demolished over the preceding century. In 1955 one house was demolished every five days. Such was the concern generated by the exhibition that from 1975 demolition of historic country houses came to a virtual halt.

 

About SAVE|

Some of the 150 SAVE reports 1975-2005|

From its launch in 1975, SAVE has taken the offensive

Churches under fire|

Holy Trinity, Rugby, under demolition|

Examples of the historic churches tragically lost despite SAVE's efforts 

Military history|

Cover of SAVE report campaigning for Farnborough|

Saving the remaining military history at Farnborough

Barlaston Hall|

Barlaston Hall, shortly after SAVE bought it in 1981|

One of the biggest success stories in English heritage, originally brought for £1

Industrial heritage|

Manningham Mills, Bradford, before restoration|

Giving old mills a new lease of life for work, culture and as homes

Time gentlemen please!|

The restaurant at Whitelocks, Leeds|

Preserving a part of social history and the interiors of the past

Hospital architecture
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Carlton Hayes Hospital, Narborough, near Leicester|

Finding new uses for Victorian medical buildings
  

Fight for London town houses|

Chinese Embassy, Portland Place , under demolition|

The victories and major losses in the battle for London's houses

At risk today...
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Gwrych Castle|

The essential campaign to save more of Britain's heritage

 

Based on the exhibition ‘SAVE Britain's Heritage 1975-2005: 30 Years of Campaigning’, held 3 November 2005 - 12 February 2006 in Room 128a, Architecture Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum.

Curator: Marcus Binney, President of SAVE Britain's Heritage
Sponsered by the DARE Group
Supported by the Drue Heinz Trust

 

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