Listing of Buildings - Trust Annual Report 1969
The Committee of the Trust is now engaged in reviewing the list of buildings of architectural and historic interest in Winchester, which it is the responsibility of the Minister of Housing and Local Government to compile.
The principles of selection are as follows:
All buildings built before 1700 which survive in anything like their original condition are included.
Most buildings between 1700 and 1840 are also added, though selection is necessary.
Between 1840 and 1914 individual buildings of definite quality and character are included and representative works of the principal architects are sought. A start is now to be made in choosing buildings between 1914 and 1939. Less important buildings in groups are also included because of their composite value.
In selecting buildings, architectural, social and economic history are all taken into consideration. Innovation in building methods such as the use of cast iron or prefabrication may be a reason for inclusion.
Other grounds for inclusion are association with well known people or events.
After a survey has been carried out by the Minister's investigators, provisional lists are issued for each local have authority area. They are classified to show their relative importance.
Grade I are buildings of outstanding interest, such as Winchester Cathedral. Only about 4% of all listed buildings are in this grade.
Grade II are buildings of special interest which warrant every effort being made to preserve them.
Grade III buildings do not normally qualify for the statutory lists but attention is drawn to them so that the case for preservation can be fully considered. Many buildings which were described as Grade III twenty years ago, when the lists were first prepared, are now considered to be of special interest, especially where they possess group value.
When these formalities have been completed Statutory Lists are compiled and this protects buildings under the Act of 1968. In Winchester the task is to review the list to make sure first of all, that no houses were omitted from the original list, and then to decide which buildings in Grade III should be proposed for upgrading and whether any additions should be made on account of group value.