Listed building's condition a 'significant concern'

Witney's West End House has been listed since the 1950s

A council said the condition of a derelict listed building is a “significant concern”.

West End House, in Witney, Oxfordshire, has been listed since 1952 and has visibly deteriorated over recent years.

West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) said it was in the “preliminary stages” of assessing what it could do to protect the building in West End.

It said while it was not “committed” to a specific course of action, it wanted to prevent further wind and rain damage to the Grade II listed building.

The building dates back to the early 18th Century with other features, including a six-panelled door, dating back to the early 19th Century.

WODC said its officers have “tried over a number of years to engage with the owner but without success”.

The council previously “entered the property using statutory powers” to check on damage.

Historic England classifies Grade II buildings as being of "special interest". About 92% of all listed buildings are classed as Grade II.

One of the listed owners of the property late last year was the acclaimed healthcare writer Nancy Kohner, who died in 2006, aged 55.

It appears she co-owned the property from at least October 1995.

The Times said her "groundbreaking" Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death: Guidelines for Professionals was sent to every midwifery unit in the country and "transformed the way the death of a baby was understood and managed by health professionals".