The desire to make heritage contribute to the regeneration of depressed urban centres further encouraged Michael Heseltine, then Environment Secretary, to shake up the system and undertake a root-and-branch revision of the list. No less important were the inner-city riots the following year. This notorious episode made clear the shortcoming of the lists, particularly with regard to 20th-century architecture. Listing shifted gear in the 1980s, in part as a result of the demolition in 1980 of the Art Deco Firestone Factory, Brentford, west London, on the eve of it being listed. Slowly, they embraced Victorian and then 20th-century architecture, too. They were also periodically revised, but owners weren’t consulted. The lists were obscure documents, which were hard for the non-professional to track down. Lists for each local authority quickly took shape and were issued by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (or its successors). Inspectors would tour their assigned areas, clipboards at the ready, identifying buildings that met the criteria. As in this case, it is her opinion that ultimately prevails if listing is contested. The new Culture Secretary, Nadine Dorries, for example, recently did so with a 1950s concrete tower in Redcar, North Yorkshire. Now and then, however, the minister does overturn a recommendation. There is a political aspect to this act of heritage recognition as well: Historic England recommends listing and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport - almost always - agrees. Conferring ‘listed’ status triggers the demand for an extra planning consent, so listing carries clear implications for owners. There are also degrees of listing, with the most important identified as Grade I or Grade II*.
‘Special’ is a high test - and is distinct from the curious. Notionally, this is a list of all buildings of special architectural or historic interest in this part of the UK. It’s a staggering fact that there are about half a million listed buildings - the precise number is impossible to tally and it changes anyway - on the National Heritage List for England. To describe a building as ‘listed’ is a way of saying it is important, but what does it mean? Roger Bowdler looks at how listing came about and how it has changed. Country Life's Top 100 architects, builders, designers and gardeners.