Why has Chances Glassworks been added to the Victorian Society's 'at risk' register?

A Birmingham building, Chances Glassworks, has been labelled "at risk" by the Victorian Society.

The organisation annually identifies ten Grade II listed structures in the UK that urgently need preservation due to their historical or architectural significance.

Despite their listed status, existing protections are often not enough to prevent further deterioration.

Decisions about which buildings make the list are based on their historical importance and the extent of decay.

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Chances Glassworks, established in the early 19th century in Smethwick, is especially notable for its extensive archaeological remnants.

These include the bases of up to six furnaces and major tunnels, representing one of the most comprehensive surviving examples of Victorian glass manufacture in the country.

Preservation advocates urge immediate action to save this and other crucial landmarks from neglect and potential ruin.

The 2024 list of the 10 most at-risk Victorian buildings includes:

• Kennington Boys’ School, London
• The Kursaal, Essex
• St Martins (formerly Roslyn Hoe), Devon
• St Luke’s Chapel of Nottingham City Hospital, Nottinghamshire
• St Agnes’ Vicarage and Hall, Liverpool
• Chances Glassworks, West Midlands
• Former education department offices, Derbyshire
• Former Bramcote Tennis Pavilion, North Yorkshire
• Jesmond Dene Banqueting Hall, Newcastle
• Coal Exchange, Cardiff

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