You may recall that we ran a post a few months back asking for your support in saving the Cleveland Street Workhouse in London, which has connections to Charles Dickens.
The Cleveland Street workhouse was originally built in 1775 and it is the best preserved Georgian era workhouse in Central London, one of only three remaining in the Capital. Here is the latest update on the status of the project:
Thank you for continuing to support our campaign to save the Cleveland Street
Workhouse. Your signature, together with nearly 6000 others, was vital in our
effort of obtaining listed status for the workhouse. As you will hopefully be
aware, the workhouse was granted Grade II listed status by the Secretary of
State in March 2011, however it has come to our attention that the building may
again be under threat. We are therefore asking for your help once again.
University College London NHS Foundation Trust recently decided to evict the
current guardians of the site, leaving the building exposed to possible further
decay, speeding up its demise. With the recent spate of squatting in the area,
our group is also concerned that squatters may take over the building and damage
it, further exacerbating the situation.
The Cleveland Street Workhouse has served as short term accommodation for young
professionals for more than 3 years. The inhabitants have been placed within the
building through a “Protection by Occupation” scheme, which forbids squatters
from occupying the premises and helps prevent decay. Without constant monitoring
and heating during the winter months, the elements will take their toll.
In light of these potentially disastrous developments, we would like to call
upon UCLH NHS Foundation Trust to reconsider this decision.
If you could take a moment of your time to write to the University College
London Hospital Trust expressing your concern about recent developments, you
would once again provide invaluable help to preserve the building. Due to the
urgent nature of the situation, please address your correspondence direct to
UCLH NHS Foundation Trust's CEO:
Sir Robert Naylor
Chief Executive
UCLH NHS Foundation Trust
235 Euston Road
London NW1 2BU
e-mail: robert.naylor@uclh.nhs.uk
For more information, please visit The Cleveland Street Workhouse website.
