Repairs are being carried out at Medina House on Hove seafront after Brighton and Hove City Council planning officials served an enforcement notice on the owners.
The council said that the owners, Anis and Sirus Taghan, were carrying out the repairs having failed to respond to informal requests made by officials.
The dilapidated building in King’s Esplanade used to house public baths and forms part of the Cliftonville Conservation Area.
It has suffered years of neglect and has been occupied by squatters on several occasions.
The enforcement notice gave the owners six months to
- wash down and repaint the southern and western walls
- remove the breeze blocks from the window openings and reinstate windows and glazing
- repair and make good all the windows and doors including reglazing as required
- repaint all external timberwork including window frames, doorframes and soffits
- rerender the eastern elevation of the property
Councillor Christopher Hawtree, chairman of the council’s planning committee, said: “The Hove seafront in its variety – from the twitten cottages to the mansions with their towers – is continually fascinating while, on a good day, the sea is worthy of Monet at his finest, and even energising on a rough day.
“It is, obviously enough, a reason why people live here. A stroll along the front is democracy in action.
“It’s always a shame when we have to resort to legal action to encourage property owners to act responsibly and maintain their buildings.
“However, I am pleased that these property owners have responded and are now carrying out the necessary repairs which are already making some improvement to the surrounding area.”
There is a good history of Medina House/Baths here:
http://amyfrankiesmith.co.uk/2011/11/14/the-promise-of-a-tomorrow-for-medina-bath-house/
It is the only remaining relic of Hove’s late 19th century seafront. Given the vital role of bathing in the growth and prosperity of Brighton and Hove, it should surely be renovated and re-used, and a plaque put on it to inform passers of its historical significance.
St. Aubyns Mansion, Sussex Road and Victoria Cottages also, with Medina House, date back to the 19thc. Victoria Terrace was an Amon Wilds design from about 1820 which had oriole window decoration added later in the 19th c. The Courtenay Terrace area is also 19th century and Medina Terrace is 19th century too.
Medina House is unique as having been a saltwater bath house. It is undoubtedly the last surviving one of its kind in the area and derives its historic social significance from this, from the time when homes did not have bathing facilities and people went to a bath house for this purpose.
Amy’s academic work on the Royal Doulton tilework done for Medina House is also on her blog and worth a read.
The significance of Old Hove and the Esplanade has not been sufficiently appreciated by the ten-year old Brighton and Hove City Council which remains Brightoncentric.