A BUILDING which was home to the country’s only surviving methodist band has been has been given historical protection.

The former Boxted Methodist School Room has been placed on the Colchester Local List.

The list provides added protection to landmarks across the borough, if they end up at risk of destruction or removal.

Built in 1907, the School Room is believed to be the first building in the Colchester area to be built using precast concrete blocks.

It was considered a new method of construction at the beginning of the 20th century.

The School Room had been the headquarters of Boxted Methodist Silver Band for the past 113 years.

But the band needs to find a new home after the building was put on the market by the Colchester Methodist Circuit which owns it.

Chairman of the band Sir Bob Russell asked Colchester Council to consider adding the building to the list.

It followed research he carried out at the Essex Record Office.

Sir Bob said: “I was fascinated to read the history of how School Room came to be built, and to discover that what was then a revolutionary form of construction in the UK is believed to be the first in the Colchester area.

“That is certainly the view of the Concrete Society who I contacted.”

“My research also proved that every penny which paid for the School Room to be built was raised from the Boxted congregation.”

Although now homeless, the band is keen to remain in Boxted and there is hope this will happen.

Sir Bob said: “Boxted Methodist Silver Band is looking forward to a new challenge – continuing with its proud traditions but adapting to meet the future with confidence and optimism, staying loyal to the Christian foundations which has sustained it for the past 122 years.”

The Local List records and safeguards heritage assets which, although not suitable for designation nationally as a listed building or scheduled monument, are considered historically or architecturally important at a local level.

At a meeting Colchester Council adopted 64 of the items which were put forward including 197 ceramic street names and 389 cast iron lamp posts.

To see the full list visit bit.ly/34rCsgq.