News

Town looks after historic buildings

March 21, 2006

YATELEY can give itself a pat on the back for its care of its historic buildings.

Amid concerns about the future of many old structures in other parts of Hampshire, none of the town’s listed buildings are on the danger list.

Hampshire County Council has included in Hampshire Treasures details of historic buildings in the county which were under threat last year. It lists 14,090 buildings of special interest, with 237 at risk from neglect, decay or outliving their function. Hart district has 1,086 with nine threatened, mostly barns in Crondall, Mattingley and Odiham.

None of the 17 listed build-ings in Yateley are considered to be in danger. Highest rated is Grade II* Yateley Hall, con-verted from a convent school to a high-grade company headquarters. Oldest is
The Old Vicarage, partly dating to 1400 and now a private house.

Colin Ive, Sub Officer at Yateley fire station, is pleased local buildings of importance have been maintained. He said: “It is absolutely tragic when we have to go to a wonderful house full of history that has fallen into disuse and then caught fire. Fortunately in the last 23 years as officer in charge at Yateley fire station I cannot recall a fire at one of our historic buildings here in the town.”

Town mayor Cllr Bob Harward said: “It is particularly pleasing to see that local owners of these noted buildings appreciate their worth.”

Peter Tipton of the Yateley Society lives at Monteagle House, a Grade II listed build-ing dating from about 1600. He said: “Most people who live in listed properties in Yateley — many of them members of the society — are keen to keep them in good condition.”

He is society planning sub-committee chairman and leads the heritage and conservation topic group for the parish plan.