Latest news with #historicbuildings
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Discover Hong Kong's Wan Chai: free literature-theme tour opens for registration
Free literature-themed guided tours of Hong Kong's Wan Chai have opened for registration, offering 90 spots in August for participants to explore the district's historic buildings and hidden gems through the eyes of local writers. Advertisement Co-hosted by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the Museum of Hong Kong Literature and the Salvation Army in Hong Kong, the two-hour tour sessions are free of charge and led by Wan Chai residents. The URA said on Tuesday that there would be six tours, each accommodating 15 Hongkongers, next month, following its initial six tours held earlier this month, which saw more than 900 sign-ups. 'These tours draw inspiration from a selection of works that capture the scenes and stories of Wan Chai in the old days, reflecting another side of the neighbourhood,' said Yuki Yu Hwan-gung, the museum's operations and marketing director. 'Participants can also hear first-hand accounts from tour guides, who are local experts, to learn more about stories and developments in Wan Chai.' Advertisement A key highlight is Spring Garden Lane, depicted in the novel The Drunkard, authored by the late Liu Yichang in the 1960s.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Budapest's Most Historic Site Gets a Controversial Rebuild
Thanks to US President Donald Trump, historic revival architecture has returned to the news this year. In January, the president signed an executive order demanding that all new federal buildings respect 'traditional and classical architectural heritage' in their design — reflecting a wider right-wing trend associating revivalist architecture with conservative values. This push for new-old buildings is global: In Dresden, Germany, whole sections of the city's historic center have been rebuilt to resemble the city's pre-World War II self, a form of project being repeated across Germany, Russia and France. Often these initiatives are promoted both by mainstream right-wing parties such as Germany's CDU, and through culture war agitation from figures on the far right. Perhaps the most high-profile example of this phenomenon is underway in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, where the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is rebuilding the Buda Castle district, a complex of ornate 19th century palaces and buildings on a fortified hill commanding the heights above Budapest. The project, initially estimated at $590 million but likely to cost far more, has been billed as restoring the area to its prewar glory. But critics have pointed out that the revamp — referred to as the National Hauszmann Program — is anything but historically accurate.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Devon and Cornwall church repair concerns over grant changes
Fears have been raised over changes to a grant scheme that supports work on historic South West religious Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which since 2001 has allowed sites to claim back VAT on urgent repairs, has only been extended until March 2026 and had a cap of £25,000 per year introduced by the has raised concerns from people looking after venues in Devon and Cornwall about whether they would be able to afford future Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it been a "difficult decision" to make the changes but data suggested 94% of claims would be unaffected. Claire Walker, chief executive of the National Churches Trust, said the government scheme was a "lifeline" to many said: "It's not within the means of a congregation to find that extra money, so that could mean churches cannot stay wind and watertight and they can't keep themselves open." A fundraising campaign is taking place at St Grada Church on Cornwall's Lizard peninsula, which needs an estimated £450,000 worth of restoration work carried Elliot, who has been coming to the church for more than 50 years and is helping with the fundraising, said the main issue was parts of the roof falling Elliot said: "It is not going to fall under our watch, we have got to save it."The Church of St Philip & St James in Ilfracombe, which dates to 1856 and is now known as Pip and Jim's Church, is on Historic England's Heritage At Risk current phase of work to renovate its stonework is costing about £600, Reverend Mark Ruoff said the church was at the "heart of the people" of the town."It needs to be renewed and revived," Mr Ruoff added. A statement from DCMS said the changes were being implemented against a "tough financial background across the heritage and cultural sectors"."We made the difficult decision to implement an annual limit of £25,000 on the amount individual places of worship can claim in the coming year," a spokesperson said."We believe that this will continue the widest distribution of the scheme's benefits within the available means."The spokesperson added funding after March 2026 would be considered.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Warwick: Historic leper hospital gets £2.8m to restore into homes
More than £2.8m has been secured to transform two 15th-century buildings into affordable St Michaels' Place project aims to "rescue and reuse" the Master's House and St Michael's Chapel in Saltisford, Warwick, after receiving the award from the National Lottery Heritage two buildings on the 800-year-old leper hospital site are Grade II* listed. Councillor Helen Adkins welcomed the funding. "We will be able to preserve the legacy of the site and rescue these long-neglected historic buildings, offering them a sustainable future," she said. The project to transform the site is a collaborative effort between West Midlands Heritage and Warwick District Council to restore and convert the buildings that have been derelict for more than 50 years into affordable rented Brazier, chair of West Midlands Heritage, credited the work of her colleagues and support from the local community for reaching an "important delivery stage"."We are now able to ensure that St Michael's Place will have a very homely future," she part of the project a heritage community assistant role is to be created. There will also be opportunities to learn about heritage craft skills and a series of local community events and activities will be held. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Former Hexham Workhouse from 19th Century up for sale
A 19th Century workhouse, which has been described as a "bit of a blot", is being former Hexham Workhouse on Corbridge Road, which dates back to 1839, served as housing for the destitute until 1939 before it was made part of the old Hexham Hospital. It has stood empty for more than a Landwood said the Northumberland property, which has an asking price of more than £800,000, should "generate plenty of interest". The site is being sold following the collapse of its previous owners the 79th Group, which fell into administration amid a fraud investigation by the City of London Police. The Southport-based company has denied any wrongdoing, the Local Democracy Reporting Service building is being sold by the company's administrators councillor Derek Kennedy said he hoped a new developer would be able to make the most of the historic said the building's lack of use had been a "bit of a blot for the town"."We had high hopes for the 79th Group – we met with them on a few occasions and they laid out their plans," he said."There was some interesting proposals for housing but they never came to fruition."He said a developer could make "something spectacular" with the site. "We do like developments that use old buildings," he said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
