Sheerness Building Tops Endangered List

A building in Sheppey has been named on a list as one of the most endangered buildings of worldwide importance.

The Victorian Society lists Sheerness Boat Store, at the dockyard, in its top 10 buildings at risk register for 2015.

Vice-president of the group, TV Presenter Griff Rhys Jones, launched the list last week.

It includes Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales.

The society is urging the owners of the Grade I listed site to seek inspiration from the way former naval buildings are re-used at Chatham Dockyard to give it a future use.

The disused boat store is the world’s earliest surviving example of a multi-storey, iron-frame and panel structure, following the destruction of the Crystal Palace and the first South Kensington Museum.

Completed in 1860, it was the world’s first multi-storey building with an all-metal frame.