Minto Housefrom the north, showing the west wing (right), the Lorimer wing (left) and the categoryA listed mound (wound') inbetween. 17 September 1992. this notice should be complied with as a matter of urgency". Demolition resumes. Two-thirds of courtyard wall to east wing demolished and digger attacked the core, shunting rubble against the south elevation and south-west corner. 2 September 1992: Lord Minto's surveyor quoted in The Herald: "le is difficult to say at this stage where che demolition will stop. If you knock down one unsafe wall a.n adjoining wall may well then become unsafe". Remainder of core demolished, also south elevation and south west corner. Second Dangerous Building Notice served on site at 12 noon. The first breach of the courtyard wall had destabilised other parts of the ease wing. Works progress. Third Notice served on sire at 5pm. The whole of che east wing must be demolished. 3 September 1992: The Building Control Officer, quoted in The Herald: "As you can see, we have taken down a fair bit. The thing is, where do we stop?". Demolition of ease wing completed. Just the west wing (one-third of the main house) and the Lorimer service wing remain, together with the garden terraces, and a large mound of category A listed stonework. Listed building consent application advertised. 7 September 1992: The Building Control Officer, in discussion, advised che following additional matters: first, that a crane was introduced, standing in che courtyard, to finish off the east wing (if used earlier, instead of the digger, a crane could have reached over the courtyard wall); secondly, "no one is seeking to deny" what happened in relation to the initial breach, namely progressive destabilisation and rapid destruction of che east wing (lack of understanding of the pack of cards effect?); thirdly, the works still to be completed comprised che bricking up of the openings co che west and the Lorimer wings, the erection of a fence across the diagonal of the courtyard, and of fences to the garden side co prevent access eh rough the nowdemolished south elevation and corner. Around 24 September 1992: Forceful representations lodged by SAVE and numerous other corporate and individual conservation in cerests against the new application ro demolish. These included objections to its retrospective element, and strong concern chat it will be put before che self-same planning authority chat has been so instrumental in the pose-listing demolition and whose political leader is che house's owner. Application due to be cabled at the November Planning Committee meeting. Outcome awaited. 9th October 1992: Colin Bell, a Radio Scotland reporter, described Lord Minco's actions as a "textbook example" of what an owner should do when he objects co his building being listed. SOME COMMENTS Minto House stands on a secluded estate in one of che most sparsely populated areas of the United Kingdom. The interests of public safety, without which there is no context co issue a Dangerous Building Notice, may be served by: • excluding the public, • making che building safe; • demolition. Only after two-thirds of che main house was demolished were the first cwo options pursued. A variant of che manner proposed for these options, of bricking up openings and erecting fences, could have been adopted without the need for any demolition works, to serve as a containment of che house whilst a new use (and presumably owner) were found. The recent precedent of Mavisbank, Midlothian, is most helpful here: the terms of a Notice to demolish (totally) were overturned by interdict (injunction) in the Scottish courts and satisfied by the alternative of constructing a secure enclosure. The Dangerous Building Notice procedures are problem enough co conservationists without such a case as this to encourage their use where che collective will to demolish exceeds che will to conserve. Dennis Rodwell acquired and restored the derelict categmy A listed Melrose Station, Roxburghshire, in I985-86, from where he now conducts his architectural practice. Pilkington Glass in the right Context Warwick, the toughenable antique glass which combines the unique appearance of traditional, hand blown glasses, with the demands of modem glazing. The Oriel Collection of acid etched glasses - Four unique designs which complement the quality and subtle texture of this traditional decorative glass process. CONTEXT 36 Pilkington Glass Marketing Department Prescot Road St Helens WAlO 3TI Tel 0744 692302 0 PILKINGTON GLASS 31
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