Historic Grade-II listed house in West Bromwich could be knocked down
A once grand home with links to the oldest family-owned aluminium foundry in the country looks set to be demolished.
The crumbling Grade II-listed Hall Green House in Stone Cross, West Bromwich, is in a dangerous condition and would cost in the region of £1.8 million to rescue, according to owners aluminium die-casting firm JH Lavender.
Now the firm has lodged a planning application to knock down the Hall Green Road home, which dates back to 1762 – with equipment and parts being sent to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley for preservation.
The museum is interested in forming an exhibition around the work of the firm, founded by John Herbert Lavender in Wednesbury in 1917 to supply components for the motorcycle and car industry in the Black Country and beyond.
In 1931, Lavender's opened a foundry at the corner of Crankhall Lane and Hall Green Road, in the grounds of the home where it remains today.
Several rooms and the first-floor landing of the house – once the home of the Lavender family – have been destroyed in a series of arson and vandal attacks over the years.
The plans read: "The proposals are in effect for the total demolition of Hall Green House and its stables.
"It is proposed that any materials which can be salvaged, will be removed from site and utilised at the BCLM.
"The relocation may allow greater access to and understanding of the national heritage by the general public in terms of the history of aluminium casting and JH Lavender’s role in developing the industry locally."
The house was in later years converted into flats for the elderly but it has remained empty since it was vacated by residents in the 1980s and has not been used since.
Officers have recommended councillors back the plans to tear down the historic building in this "extreme case".
Councillor Paul Moore, who represents the area, said: "It would be a shame if a historic building was to be demolished, but it's been in a very bad condition."
