Vive le chateau

But at the same time, staff and residents were gearing up for the second stage of the fight, as Bovis insisted it would still try to close the home.

When later editions of the Argus exclusively revealed the Government's Culture Minister Alan Howarth had agreed to list the building, cheers filled the home on Brighton seafront.

Home manager and tireless campaigner Catherine Gennaro gathered staff and residents in the dining room and told them the good news.

She said: "When I broke the news there was a fraction of a moment's silence before it hit, then everyone started spontaneously clapping and some residents were crying.

"It meant more to the residents than anyone else. This has been a real battle of David and Goliath."

Catherine added: "We could never have done it without the help and support of the Argus."

The decision to list the home means it cannot be demolished and turned into flats.

It came after months of campaigning which featured petitions and meetings with Mr Howarth.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr Howarth said: "Although there is no shortage of listed purpose-built late 19th Century convalescent homes in Britain, this is the only one with a French connection giving it very special historic interest.

"I am also particularly pleased that the home boasts the earliest example of secondary glazing in a building in Britain and that, through the listing process, we now have the opportunity to preserve this as part of our rich cultural heritage."

English Heritage had originally decided not to recommend listing the home, but the turnaround came this month after the organisation agreed to

inspect it.

As well as the architectural side, the home has also played a major part in Brighton's history.

During the First World War, it was used as a hospital for injured troops.

Penelope Adamson and her sisters are the only living descendants of the home's founder Achille Vintras. A bronze bust of their great-grandfather takes pride of place in the entrance hall of the chateau-style building.

Mrs Adamson, 65, of Roman Landing, West Wittering, said: "During the First World War my father went round to the injured soldiers with an exercise book and got them to sign it and write about the battles they'd been injured in.

"I have been so sad about the possibility it may get knocked down after playing such an important part in Brighton's history."

Kemp Town MP Des Turner, who has played a major role in the campaign, said: "It's been a great effort.

"The way the Argus has raised the issue has kept it very high profile.

"The next step will be for Catherine and I to sit down and assess the information. We've made a very important piece of progress by getting it listed because it will make it much more difficult for Bovis to go ahead."

Wheelchair-bound resident Rose Speed, 91, dissolved into tears as she talked about her relief at the news.

Rose, who has lived at the home for six years, said: "I wouldn't want to go anywhere else.

"I've been so upset worrying about it, all my friends are here."

And 86-year-old Jack Swain, a former journalist on newspapers including the Argus and The Daily Sketch, said: "This is very good. I hope it means I won't have to move again at my age. It's a big relief."

Muriel Lavender, 77, has been at the home the longest, having lived there since 1975.

She said: "I love it here, I wouldn't have stayed for so long otherwise. It's been a real worry because it's been going on and on.

"This news is such a relief."

May Standbridge, 89, has lived at the home for two years. She said: "It's very nice living here and the people here are so friendly."

Staff were also delighted at the news.

Senior care worker Margaret Jackson, 44, has worked at the home for 12 years. She said: "We were all very worried about the residents first and where they would go, rather than worrying about our jobs."

Deputy care manager Carol Thomson has also campaigned tirelessly for the home.

She said: "I feel deeply that no one cares for old people and this has to be a great step forward."

Maintenance manager and chairman of the residents' action committee Alan Reed said: "We're very relieved that we've got the right result but there's still a lot more work to sustain the building for it's original use.

"Some of the residents have really gone downhill about this worry and some have even had strokes."

But despite suffering such a setback, Bovis Retirement Homes insists it will still press ahead with its plans to close the building and leave the residents looking for new homes.

The company will become the home's owner later this year after exchanging contracts with the French government last October.

A Bovis spokeswoman said: "The news is a surprise to us but it won't affect the closure of the home.

"When we exchanged contracts it was unconditional, but we didn't put any time limit on the trustees to complete because they still need to carry out the closure of the home."

A spokeswoman for the trustees confirmed they still wanted to close the home, despite the Grade II listed status.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.