History

The Twentieth Century Society exists to safeguard the heritage of architecture and design in Britain from 1914 onwards.

Explore the timeline below to see highlights from our 40 years of campaigning for modern British architecture. Click on each picture to see more info.

2019

C20 celebrates 40 years of saving outstanding buildings. One of our current campaigns is to save Grade II*-listed Richmond House

2019

C20 celebrates 40 years of saving outstanding buildings. One of our current campaigns is to save Grade II*-listed Richmond House

Our 40th anniversary was a time to look back on many successful campaigns, see 40 Buildings Saved. We are still having to fight hard for even listed buildings of our period, such as William Whitfield’s masterpiece, Richmond House in Whitehall, threatened by plans for a temporary House of Commons chamber.

2018

C20 Society Conservation Areas report recommends new C20th conservation areas

2018

C20 Society Conservation Areas report recommends new C20th conservation areas

Most of our casework relates to listed buildings but some groups of C20th buildings, which may not be suitable for listing, could be protected by becoming conservation areas. We undertook research, funded by a grant from Historic England, to identify over 50 potential new conservation areas, with detailed proposals on two areas, Plymouth Civic Centre and Eaglestone Housing Estate in Milton Keynes. Plymouth Civic Centre is now a conservation area.

2015

Paolozzi murals rescued after C20 campaign

2015

Paolozzi murals rescued after C20 campaign

Over 7,500 people signed an online petition to save the fabulous mosaic panels designed by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi for Tottenham Court Road tube station in 1980. They were at risk when the station was upgraded. The response shows how much high quality public art is cherished. Our campaign meant that TfL retained the large entrance panel from the Oxford Street entrance, as well as the platform level murals.

2014

100 Buildings 100 Years published to draw attention to the range of buildings we protect

2014

100 Buildings 100 Years published to draw attention to the range of buildings we protect

100 Buildings 100 Years was the first of a series of books published with Batsford to draw wider attention to our work and the range of buildings we protect. It included buildings nominated by members and became an exhibition at the Royal Academy. Subsequent titles include 100 Houses and 100 Churches. Royalties from these commercial books help support our research and campaigns.

2013

Preston Bus Station listed Grade II after long campaign

2013

Preston Bus Station listed Grade II after long campaign

This brutalist bus station was listed at Grade II after our third application, thanks to a tenacious campaign by local supporters and C20 Society caseworker Christina Malthouni. The first two applications were supported by English Heritage (now Historic England) but turned down by the Secretary of State. Designed by BDP, it is a building of national importance, which has since been sensitively and successfully refurbished.

2011

Tenth title in C20 Architects series celebrates Birmingham architect John Madin

2011

Tenth title in C20 Architects series celebrates Birmingham architect John Madin

Our Twentieth Century Architects series is designed to publish the work of C20th architects who deserve to be better known. There are now 16 titles in the series. This was the first major publication on the work of John Madin, who was the indisputable master of post-war architecture in Birmingham. Madin designed some of the most iconic buildings of that period, such as the Birmingham City Library, since demolished despite a hard-fought campaign to get it listed.

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2008

Launch of murals campaign to save public art

2008

Launch of murals campaign to save public art

The destruction of a number of landmark post-war murals, including a work by William Mitchell awaiting listing, sparked our campaign to make people aware of its importance. At least 1,000 murals were constructed between 1945 and the 1980s. Artists range from the internationally famous – John Piper, Mitzi Cunliffe, Ben Nicholson, Bridget Riley – to the totally unknown.

2002

Campaign to save Greenside, a 1937 modern movement house by Connell Ward and Lucas

2002

Campaign to save Greenside, a 1937 modern movement house by Connell Ward and Lucas

When Runnymede Council in Surrey granted permission for this important Grade II-listed modern movement house to be demolished, C20 Society launched a fundraising appeal for a judicial review. The decision was over-turned, but the owner defied listing building regulation and demolished the house without consent.

1994

Twentieth Century Architecture journal launched with issue on Industrial Architecture

1994

Twentieth Century Architecture journal launched with issue on Industrial Architecture

Twentieth Century Architecture is the Society’s journal, which is published about every two years. The first volume was about Industrial Architecture. Each issue is thematic and contains peer-reviewed articles by academics and independent researchers. It is sent free to members, is available on JSTOR or can be bought from the C20 Society shop.

1992

Society changes its name to the Twentieth Century Society

1992

Society changes its name to the Twentieth Century Society

As the Thirties Society was no longer only dealing with pre-war buildings, we decided to change our name to the Twentieth Century Society. We had around 1,000 members, and were generating income from a lively events programme. Caseworker Julian Holder was our first paid employee.

1991

Farewell my Lido campaign starts the rescue of stylish and popular outdoor lidos

1991

Farewell my Lido campaign starts the rescue of stylish and popular outdoor lidos

Our campaign and report about the many 1930s lidos around the country threatened with closure has had a long-lasting impact. Many lidos, including Saltdean in Brighton (pictured) and Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria, are now listed. Open-air swimming is more popular than ever as lidos have been re-opened, supported by the hard work of local user groups.

1987

Bracken House becomes a test case for the listing of post-war buildings

1987

Bracken House becomes a test case for the listing of post-war buildings

Until the late 1980s, buildings after 1939 could not be considered for listing. Bracken House, designed by Sir Albert Richardson for the FT newspaper and one of the finest post-war classical buildings, became a test case when it was sold and threatened with demolition. Our then Chairman Gavin Stamp led a successful campaign to save it, which started the process of reviewing post-war buildings for listing.

1985

Campaign to save Giles Gilbert Scott’s K2 & K6 red telephone boxes

1985

Campaign to save Giles Gilbert Scott’s K2 & K6 red telephone boxes

When a privatised British Telecom proposed to rip out Gilbert Scott’s red telephone boxes, C20 Society launched a vigorous protest campaign. We succeeded in tweaking legislation about the protection of street furniture to allow around 3,000 telephone boxes to be listed. These much-loved street icons have found new uses – from book exchange to mini cafe – as well as continuing to star in tourist selfies.

1980

The Art Deco Firestone Factory on the Great West Road in London demolished

1980

The Art Deco Firestone Factory on the Great West Road in London demolished

The Firestone Factory by Wallis Gilbert & Partners was the Society’s first serious case. This fine Art Deco building was demolished by its owners over a bank holiday weekend on the eve of being listed. The outrage at its loss galvanised support for the protection of C20th buildings and led directly to the listing of 150 inter-war buildings, including Battersea Power Station.

1979

The Thirties Society founded to protect architecture and design after 1914

1979

The Thirties Society founded to protect architecture and design after 1914

In the 1970s growing understanding of C20th design led to the need for a society to protect buildings after 1914, the end of the period protected by the Victorian Society, The new society was founded in response to the threat to demolish Sir Edwin Cooper’s Classical building for Lloyds of London. Marcus Binney, John Harris, Simon Jenkins, Clive Aslet (Secretary) and Bevis Hillier (Chairman) were the founding committee.

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