Upminster couple’s long battle to save buildings sees them added to list of Special Historic Interest by Secretary of State.

Local couple Pat and Brian Flavell’s determination to save two historic Upminster buildings and stop them from being knocked down, has seen them achieve success!

The couple were so concerned of the future of the buildings situated in Upminster Park, that they began their battle to save them from destruction last year.

The buildings were believed to be in the process of being vacated by the London Borough of Havering grounds maintenance team, and with their future uncertain, Pat and Brian contacted Historic England with the hopes of securing their future. Historic England replied to them requesting more information and for the input of a local historical group regarding the importance of the site prior to them proceeding any further.

Brian contacted Tony Philpot, then chairman, of Hornchurch Aerodrome Historical Trust for his assistance, with the help of researcher Martin Friel and together they were able to add some historical content to their project of trying to persuade Historic England to preserve the buildings.

From the research it was shown that the former buildings were once used as a Second World War Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Report Centre with the site including a gas cleansing station, Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) station (forerunner to the London Fire Brigade) as well as other civil defence buildings on the site in St Marys Lane. This site was one of four Rescue Depots, commissioned by Essex County Council, that were spread over the former Hornchurch Urban District and the only one remaining in a largely untouched state.

With this additional information secured Pat and Brian once again contacted Historic England in July 2022 in the hopes of preserving these important buildings.

Their anxious wait was finally over in August this year when the pair were informed of the news that the buildings have now been added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport.

Well done to Pat and Brian for their incredible hard work that has seen a historic building now saved and preserved without the fear of it being knocked down.

Pictured are left to right Pat Flavell , Tony Philpot (Curator of the local RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre), Brian Flavell along with Martin Friel (Trustee of Hornchurch Aerodrome Historical Trust).

Both Tony and Martin assisted with the comprehensive research carried out.

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