TEMPLE MILLS, HOLBECK - PARTIAL COLLAPSE

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 31 Dec, 2008 7:16 pm

chameleon wrote: But who are the relevant bodies Brandy, in many cases, not just in Leeds, the owners are local Councils. If we can't (and that seems to be the case) rely upon even them to set the standard by maintaining their properties, where do we go?The EP could be accused of taking another theme from SL with this but if it stimulates interest or even stirs a few to act, why not - but I doubt we will see much happen. Those amongst us who have tried the 'Official Channels' know too well that action, where it has a cost, is all too conspicuous by its absence. Article in the YEP today - a small contribution to support the feelings of many on here, small it is, but are people finally starting to notice and listen?http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 4833597.jp

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 04 Feb, 2009 9:01 pm

There's an update on the state of the building in theYEP tonight, copied here:Historic Leeds mill needs the mummy of all restorations...Temple Mill in HolbeckA historic Leeds mill needs hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on it to safeguard even its short-term future, the YEP can reveal.Part of Temple Mill – modelled on the Egyptian Temple of Edfu – collapsed in December, sending debris from the grade one-listed building showering into the street in Holbeck.Scaffolding was immediately set up to try to prevent further damage and further props are to be erected within the next fortnight.But English Heritage bosses say major works will be required to stop the 170-year-old mill from collapsing completely.Talks are currently underway with owners SJS Property Management and engineers are costing the work, expected to come in at hundreds of thousands of pounds.Trevor Mitchell, architectural historian with English Heritage, is in consultation with SJS.He said: "The damage you see on the outside doesn't at all give the real picture. The problem is actually 60 times greater than it appears from the front."What is happening is that the steel bars used in the construction were never really strong enough. Now the roof is basically pressing down on the building and pushing the walls out. When it was designed all those years ago, they did not have the technology we have now."The shoring that has gone up has stopped the damage from spreading but it won't stop the underlying problem so until more work is done, there is still some risk further collapse will happen."Some more scaffolding needs to go up quite soon and then there needs to be a long-term plan for the whole building which will be particularly expensive."In a way, the building is a victim of its own vanity. In a normal construction if you needed to buttress a building to support it, you could do it on the outside."Here, because the exterior is the feature, it must be buttressed on the inside, which makes it more expensive."The imposing building in Marshall Street, which covers an area of two acres, was erected between 1839 and 1841 and until the collapse boasted 18 ornate stone pillars. It had been used for storage for years but was bought by SJS Property Management in 2005.It announced plans to transform Temple Mill into a "cultural retail" centre featuring a mix of shops, art, sculpture, restaurants and cafes. The restoration alone was set to cost around £30m.The credit crunch has slowed those plans but a spokesman for the firm said it remained committed to the project.He said talks were ongoing over the best way to safeguard the mill's immediate future.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Wed 04 Feb, 2009 9:29 pm

I can only echo the sentiments already posted on here.If the structural defects are so serious, surely there will have been some evidence of problems to come when the property developers bought the place and presumably had it surveyed? After all they have owned Temple Mill for under 4 years.A cynic might conclude that this wouldn't be the first instance of a speculator buying a historic building, then in a falling property market encounter expensive problems and subsequently electing to let the whole thing decay to the point of collapse rather than spending money they don't have / can't afford. The same cynic might also express wonderment that the self same building hasn't caught fire yet....In many respects Temple Mills suffers because of it's location. Tucked away down a side street in one of the less salubrious areas of town, it's far from the landmark it should rightly be.I'd wager that many Lioners don't even know where it is.Imagine the difference if it fronted onto a major thoroughfare, like Meadow Lane or even Domestic Street, both just a few hundred yards away.Still, it needs saving, so what do we do next? Can anyone 'in the know' suggest some useful people to politely e-mail and express our concerns?

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 05 Feb, 2009 5:30 pm

raveydavey wrote: I can only echo the sentiments already posted on here.If the structural defects are so serious, surely there will have been some evidence of problems to come when the property developers bought the place and presumably had it surveyed? After all they have owned Temple Mill for under 4 years.A cynic might conclude that this wouldn't be the first instance of a speculator buying a historic building, then in a falling property market encounter expensive problems and subsequently electing to let the whole thing decay to the point of collapse rather than spending money they don't have / can't afford. The same cynic might also express wonderment that the self same building hasn't caught fire yet....In many respects Temple Mills suffers because of it's location. Tucked away down a side street in one of the less salubrious areas of town, it's far from the landmark it should rightly be.I'd wager that many Lioners don't even know where it is.Imagine the difference if it fronted onto a major thoroughfare, like Meadow Lane or even Domestic Street, both just a few hundred yards away.Still, it needs saving, so what do we do next? Can anyone 'in the know' suggest some useful people to politely e-mail and express our concerns? Well Leeds Civic Trust would be the first people to spring to mind,however i think they are a little "too nice".

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 05 Feb, 2009 5:34 pm

Is there going to be another series of Restoration? It would be great to get it on that!

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 05 Feb, 2009 6:10 pm

drapesy wrote: Is there going to be another series of Restoration? It would be great to get it on that! Yet again Drapesy comes up with a great idea,BUT,its in private hands,would the BBC be interested?

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 05 Feb, 2009 6:11 pm

drapesy wrote: Is there going to be another series of Restoration? It would be great to get it on that! Oh dear,fraid nothttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/restor ... 44790.html

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 05 Feb, 2009 6:20 pm

I cant help thinking that there will be nothing but hand wringing by those within the associated spheres of influence with the mills.the owners,the council,the civic trust and English Heritage.We'll end up with a Kirkgate White Cloth Hall situation,where someone privately owns an historically important building,want to do something to it(to make money natch),have those plans knocked back by the council/not carry out the plans due to the economic climate and all the while the damn thing is collapsing.Its so frustrating!!

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Thu 05 Feb, 2009 6:57 pm

cnosni wrote: drapesy wrote: Is there going to be another series of Restoration? It would be great to get it on that! Oh dear,fraid nothttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/restor ... 44790.html That's a shame - I thought it was great. (wonder what Ptolemy's doing now????)

Post by **cnosni** » Sat 07 Feb, 2009 2:40 am

drapesy wrote: cnosni wrote: drapesy wrote: Is there going to be another series of Restoration? It would be great to get it on that! Oh dear,fraid nothttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/restor ... 44790.html That's a shame - I thought it was great. (wonder what Ptolemy's doing now????) Trying to get a decent forename i would imagine.Loved the program.but hated the snobs coming on to tell us why a building was/is great.This condescending aspect of the series spoilt it for me.