The Salvage Expert Rescuing Our Forgotten Treasures
Many of us have saved something destined for destruction from a skip, but Charles Brooking has made it his life’s work. He believes that the demolition of historic architecture is now as rife as it was in the 60s and 70s, making his quest to save what he can of our heritage, before it is buried in a skip, an increasingly urgent task.
Brooking’s staggering collection of historic features boasts some fine staircases, fireplaces, doors, windows, wood paneling and a host of authentic detailing spanning a number of centuries and many more architectural styles.
You get a clearer idea of the absence of thought that goes into some demolition/refurb projects when you hear Brooking talk about his work: “In the last few weeks I have recovered amazing details from Georgian buildings which have been tragically left unlisted. A friend tipped me off about the demolition of a supposedly mid-Victorian house near Egham in Surrey. I was horrified to be confronted with a high-quality oak staircase of the 1720s, the best London quality equal to the finest houses in Spitalfields, with three barley twist balusters to each tread, carved tread ends and ramped handrails.”
Brooking frantically tried to get the building listed, but was too late. He and his joiner rescued as much as possible from the demolition while contractors took a break, but many of the 1720s features had already been destroyed and removed by skip hire firms.
In other recent missions, Brooking successfully rescued a 191-year-old staircase from a Soho house refurb, and some original woodwork features from a Thomas Cubitt house in Eaton Square.
“Last year I was given a whole set of architectural details from a 1796 house in Kennington which a neighbour salvaged as they were being put on the skip.” Said Brooking.
During the recent updating of Broadcasting House, he saved some classic 1930s pieces, but the majority of Brooking’s work takes place near his home in Surrey. According to Brooking, “Surrey houses with wonderful arts and crafts detail are biting the dust week by week.”
It’s surprising to learn that the scale of such destruction is on the increase again, when planning restrictions seem only to get tighter and organisations such as English Heritage are becoming increasingly prolific.
A failure to maintain and update the register of listed buildings is cited as a major factor. English Heritage have undertaken the re-listing of existing buildings by town and county, favouring thematic surveys – especially where buildings of the 1900s are concerned. This process has lead to many worthy buildings still remaining unlisted. Houses in towns are a particular concern, where historic features have often been concealed by subsequent modernisation.
Brooking also believes that the application of VAT to maintenance and repairs, but not to new-build and alterations, is a key factor, saying: “Wherever I go the old windows are being stripped out and replaced by plastic imitations. Yet the old Georgian hard wood sash windows last for centuries if properly looked after.”
The bulk of Brooking’s collection resides at the University of Greenwich, although it is not open for viewing on a regular basis. However, Hadlow College is now hoping to sign the lease on an area of land where a new museum is intended to be built.
Chairman of Brooking’s trust, Sir William McAlpine, commented: “The collection is of vital importance for the restoration industry. It’s essential to give it a permanent home, and we’re seeking to raise £7 million.”
In the meantime, Brooking continues to mount his passionate rescue operations, with help from organisations such as SAVE Britain’s Heritage, who released immediate funds enabling the recovery of the Egham staircase.
