Medina House, King's Esplanade, Hove

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 28 Sep 2016

Built in 1894 as a Turkish bath for ladies that later became slipper baths until the Second World War. From the 1940s to the 1990s it was used as a workshop for diamond cutters who attempted to purchase the building from Hove council but were turned down. After Hove and Brighton's authorities were unified the building was sold in 1999 to developer Sirus Taghan. Already empty for five years the building was occupied by squatters who were allowed to remain with the consent of the owner in return for a peppercorn rent. This agreement ended in 2006 when they were evicted and the first of about twenty planning applications went in to develop the site. Many of the plans involved the demolition of the property and all were rejected by the council by then under pressure by local residents to save the building. More squatters and two mysterious arson attacks still failed to remove the building but the council refused to budge and eventually Taghan gave up and sold the building to author Polly Samson, wife of former Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour, who both reside around the corner in nearby Medina Terrace. They had enquired about turning the building into a spa around 2013 but were turned down at the time by Taghan. As yet there is no news what the building will eventually become but it appears it will not be demolished.

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