In this instalment of Savills series In conversation with… Hugh Maconochie speaks with Joe O’Donnell, Director of the Victorian Society, to discuss his passion and deep knowledge of properties from this period.
The sense of satisfaction of walking down the street, say, in central London and thinking that property wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for our involvement. That’s a really good feeling that you’ve saved something for everybody.
Joe O'Donnell
Although Joe O’Donnell has always been interested in historic architecture, he never considered it a career option until he bought a Victorian house in Lewisham. The property needed a lot of work but, crucially, restoring it sensitively and sympathetically required a deeper understanding of Victorian architecture. He turned to the Victorian Society for guidance and a new professional path opened.
For Joe, the journey to becoming director of the Victorian Society was an unusual one. “I used to work in the City and after buying a Victorian house, I joined the Victorian Society, saw a role here as Media Officer and had a total career change.”
The society’s mission is twofold: first is to protect properties from disfiguration or demolition - as a reflection of the prejudices when the listing system was created in the mid-20th century, many interesting Victorian and Edwardian houses are unlisted. Secondly, they educate through a series of lectures, events, books and journals.
“We are the only national charity dedicated to fighting for our Edwardian and Victorian heritage,” says Joe, “looking after these buildings and reusing them is a key way to tackle the climate emergency, rather than wastefully demolishing them and rebuilding them.”
Joe hopes that new owners of these beautiful buildings will join the society for advice and support their future campaigns. Likewise, the Victorian Society is currently seeking nominations for its endangered list, which highlights buildings that are in dire need of repairs or are at risk of being lost completely. Buildings included in previous years’ lists have already seen new funding, planning applications, and structural improvements that preserve them for future generations.
To find out more about the Victorian Society and what both Joe and Hugh love about properties from this period, watch their conversation below.
Do you want to save a threatened historic building? Nominate it for the Victorian Society’s endangered list 2021 here.
View period properties for sale here.
See some of the properties with interesting Victorian details currently on the market below.
The Church, Braintree, Essex - Guide price £1,395,000
The Church, Braintree, Essex - Guide price £1,395,000
The Church, Braintree, Essex - Guide price £1,395,000
The Church, Braintree, Essex - Guide price £1,395,000
Parkgate Road, Battersea, London - Asking price £2,975,000
Parkgate Road, Battersea, London - Asking price £2,975,000
Parkgate Road, Battersea, London - Asking price £2,975,000
Parkgate Road, Battersea, London - Asking price £2,975,000
Godden Green House, Sevenoaks, Kent - Guide price £10,000,000
Godden Green House, Sevenoaks, Kent - Guide price £10,000,000
Godden Green House, Sevenoaks, Kent - Guide price £10,000,000
Godden Green House, Sevenoaks, Kent - Guide price £10,000,000
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