When you think of a listed building, images of stately homes or ornate churches probably spring to mind.

But in the seaside town of Margate lies a more obscure and slightly less glamorous heritage asset - a block of urinals.

Located at the edge of Dane Park, this quirky piece of history is believed to be one of Kent’s strangest listed buildings.

The 1800s gentlemen’s toilets are deemed a Grade II asset, owing to special ironwork on the walls, which depicts six-pointed stars and floral motifs.

They are the only urinals with this status in the county yet they have fallen into a state of disrepair.

Shrubbery grows through cracks in the roof and floor, and the original glazed stoneware urinal slabs mentioned in the list entry are crumbling.

The toilets on Park Road were once owned by Thanet District Council but then sold off to a private buyer in February 2020.

Before they went to market, the facility was already becoming dilapidated, with photos from the original advert showing boards up around the building.

At the time, Estate agent Clive Emson said: “This detached Grade II Listed building is former toilets incorporating ‘Doultons decorative cast iron panelling’.

“They may be suitable for a variety of uses, subject to all necessary consents being obtainable.”

They were subsequently purchased at auction for £11,000, but it is understood no work has been done on them since.

Saddened to see the historic structure in poor condition, Margate resident John Cripps, said: “It’s been shut for a few years.

“Kids used to go in and damage it, so they boarded it up.

“I think it's sad. Unfortunately, we seem to be boarding everything up in Margate.

“They have become an eyesore, but luckily they have sort of been hidden by the shrubbery.

“I think someone should come and restore it.”

The 67-year-old finds the fact nothing has been done to the property odd, especially considering they were purchased for thousands of pounds.

“Whoever bought it hasn’t done anything to it. No one has been there to maintain it and stuff has been dumped inside,” he explains.

“Why would you buy something and then just leave it? ’d say it's the county's strangest listed building.

“Firstly – it’s a toilet, and it’s derelict.”

The urinals were added to the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission’s national list in 1997.

Writing at the time of the listing, Historic England said: “It was manufactured by Dalton Engineering of London and Paris with the glazed roof added subsequently.

“The structure is built of patented pre-fabricated cast-iron panels. It is six panels length-wise and two panels width-wise with a ventilation panel at the top.

“The central panel has a six-pointed star, central floral emblem and scrolls and the lower panel has floral motifs.”

Previous owners Thanet District Council told KentOnline it is “committed to preserving heritage buildings” and considering taking action.

A spokeswoman said: “The disused building housing urinals in Park Road, Margate, is privately owned, and is recognised by the council as a designated heritage asset.

“The council is committed to preserving heritage buildings throughout the district, and our conservation and enforcement teams will investigate whether enforcement action is required.”