The thing is Lyn, if they are not going to restore it, are they actually going to watch it fall down so there is nothing left but a pile of rubble?
phil as both of us are realists i would say thats possible..
The thing is Lyn, if they are not going to restore it, are they actually going to watch it fall down so there is nothing left but a pile of rubble?
The problem with that approach is that the Golden Lion is unlikely to be of interest to anyone with that attitude to authenticity. Would someone that supports the view "The instant you make any kind of intervention to a building you change it, however subtly; if you take off 18th century handmade pan tiles and replace them with new beautiful hand-made pan tiles you have, nevertheless, replaced the original or earlier ones with something different. This applies equally to historic houses, great or small, as it does to churches and chapels." even bother with a building that isn't in the place it was built?I'm doing a course in English Lit. that's based around stately homes and as a sideline came across this article. I thought what is happening the the old Golden Lion would upset the author Peter Burman, Director, Centre for Conservation Studies, loAAS, University of York and another author who he quotes, John Ruskin. Maybe this article will be of interest/inspiration to some on this forum
"A Question of Ethics":- https://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/ethics/conservation_ethics.htm
Vivienne
The Golden Lion was moved to stop it being demolished when the road through Digbeth was upgraded. If it had remained it would have been in the middle of the city bound lane. In 1911 the building was dismantled and re-erected at Cannon Hill Park. Its move was funded by the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society. It seems that in those days we had societies that were willing to put their money where their mouths are.
Isn't it amazing that money can be found for a statue costing £100,000 but this building has basically rotted away to the point that it would cost millions just to bring it back up to standard let alone move it. Talking of which moving it back to Digbeth is a truly fantastic idea.
I agree with you WAM and fear it would be a diversion to use as an argument with the council.I don't really think the statue is relevant here. The money for that would have come from the arts budget. Restoration is usually Heritage or some such. I could think of quite a lot of stuff that should have been maintained by someone (occasionally the council) that should have had a much higher priority. The sort of places that are still in use to start with.
had this reply to the email i sent councillor phil davis last week..looks like the survey on the gold lion will be very soon....
Dear Linda
I've checked with the council and I'm told that our Property Services section will have the survey underway soon.
Once I have further information I will be in touch
Regards
Phil
Cllr Philip Davis
Heritage Champion BCC