NHER 12029 (Building record) - Winter Gardens, South Beach Parade

Elegant example of 19th century glass and iron architecture.
Designed by Watson and Harvey and erected at Torquay 1878 to 81.
Removed to present site 1903.
Information from (S1).
Architect's plans (S2) (1993) in file.
See newspaper cuttings (S3), (S4) and (S5) in file.

September 2008.
Concerns over structural safety, requiring a more extensive structural examination.
See (S9)
H. White (NLA) 17 December 2008

August 2009.
£750,000 restoration scheme drawn up for complete refurbishment of the Winter Gardens.
See (S10) for further details.
H. White (NLA), 1 September 2009.

September 2009.
Listed building consent sought for repairs to cast iron frame, timber fenestration and redecoration.
See (S11) and (S12) for further details.
H. White (NLA), 21 April 2010.

March 2010. Listing updated from Grade II to Grade II* for the following principal reasons:
It is the last surviving seaside Victorian cast iron and glass winter gardens in the country. The structure has an unusual prominent, tiered lantern and good quality decorative treatment to the exterior and interior cast iron frame. When constructed it was one of the three largest cast iron and glass seaside winter gardens in England. It represents the culmination of Victorian cast iron and glass design and technology, of which Paxton's Crystal Palace was a milestone, and demonstrates the engineering achievement and versatility of such structures. Although some of the glazing and window heads have been replaced, it is largely intact. It has considerable group value with the Edwardian entertainment architecture of Great Yarmouth's seaside resort.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 17 August 2010.

This building is still to remain empty for the fifth year running as plans for what to do with the building are still uncertain.
See (S13) for further information.
M. Langham-Lopez (HES), 10 January 2013.