OVERVIEW
The South Essex Building Preservation Trust began life as the Southend-on-Sea Building Preservation Trust in 1978. It was formed out of the Southend Society which was established in 1973 to watch over the Cliff Town Conservation Area. Six years earlier the Civic Authorities Act had pointed to the setting up of such societies to ensure there was improvement in such conservation areas as Cliff Town. There was a great interest in the Society and the new Trust and both bodies received membership from all over the Borough. Sir John Betjeman became the patron of the Society, while the Trust looked at areas where it might be able to use its powers to restore or help restore buildings at risk.
The Trust’s philosophy is to preserve for the benefit of the people of South Essex and the nation, the historical, architectural and constructional heritage that may exist in and around South Essex in buildings of particular beauty or historical, architectural or constructional interest. The Trust has access to funds to assist with historic building repair and to specialists who can find new uses for redundant historic buildings. It is always available to offer itself as a developer of last resort to ensure historic buildings can be saved.
PROJECTS
The Trust has been working continuously since the 1970s to rescue and repair historic buildings. Below are some of the projects with which it has been actively involved. (Click on an item for more information)
