Newcastle University bosses have been urged not to bulldoze an “amazing” listed building that was severely damaged in a devastating fire.
Flames ripped through Henderson Old Hall, in the High Heaton area of Newcastle, last week in dramatic scenes that left its roof destroyed. Nobody is thought to have been injured in the huge blaze at the disused former halls of residence, which more than 50 firefighters spent hours tackling, while two teenage arson suspects have been arrested.
But the sight of fire engulfing the building and the startling scale of the damage has led to an outpouring of sadness and concerns about its future. John Latham, a former student who lived at Henderson Old Hall from 1968 to 1971, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the loss of its roof should not mean that the site has to be demolished.
The 73-year-old, who now lives in Birmingham, called on the university to work with Newcastle City Council to find a way to restore the grade II listed building and bring it back into use. He added: “The fire is not to be taken as a fortunate opportunity for it to be razed, which, it is assumed, is not in the minds of those who are faced with making decisions.
"Reactions to the fire have indicated that Henderson is a building appreciated by people in the locality and within the city. Imaginative thinking and the will to reconstruct the lost parts will turn a tragedy into a success and, incidentally, enhance the reputation of both the University and the city."
Heritage campaigners have echoed the call to repair the building, which opened as a halls of residence in the 1930s, with the Northumberland and Newcastle Society’s Tim Wickens saying the group was left “profoundly saddened” by the fire. He told the LDRS: “This elegant Grade II listed building is an outstanding example of high-quality inter-war architecture and local construction expertise. We were truly shocked at the extent of the damage it has suffered.
“Whilst many of the building’s unique features will have been lost to the fire, the society very much hopes the quality of its construction has ensured it retains structural integrity that will facilitate its repair and return to practical use. These are clearly very early days in terms of the potential rehabilitation of Old Henderson Hall, nonetheless, we really hope that out of the catastrophe of the fire will emerge a positive and sustainable future for this amazing heritage asset.”
Newcastle University said that the future of the halls would be decided after more inspections are carried out to assess what state it has been left in following the blaze. A spokesperson said: “We are all saddened by the fire at Henderson Old Hall.
"Although it had been empty for a few years, many of our past students have been sharing their happy memories of their time there since it first opened as a residential block in 1932. We are delighted to hear that many of the local residents share these fond recollections.
“While the fire is extinguished, work is just beginning to make the building safe so that Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service can complete their investigations. After this, further structural assessments will need to take place as we work with our insurers and the relevant authorities to assess the safety and future options for the building.”
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