HISTORIANS are warning the childhood home of Lawrence of Arabia could be left open to vandalism after a bid to get it protected was snubbed.

The TE Lawrence Society was left 'bemused' after Culture Secretary Karen Bradley blocked an application to make 2 Polstead Road in North Oxford a listed building.

Her decision followed an assessment by Historic England, which claimed changes to the property over the years had 'diluted' its historical value.

This is despite the First World War hero's other homes being Grade II-listed, including the house in Wales he lived in for a year as a baby which has since been converted into a hostel. The society is set to contest the ruling.

City councillor Liz Wade, who led the campaign to get the Polstead Road house listed, said: "This is a big disappointment to the large number of Oxford people who have supported this listing.

"The process has been long and tortuous, and in the end it is not clear why the Secretary of State came to the conclusion this house was not worthy of recognition and protection.

"It has now been closed up for over two years, with no access afforded to anyone and is likely to have become dilapidated."

The Polstead Road property was Lawrence's family home from 1896 and 1921. He moved there aged eight and stayed until 1909, later returning from time to time.

It is where he spent his final year in the city before embarking on his travels in the Middle East, which would ultimately shape the rest of his military, diplomatic and literary career.

Of particular interest to historians is the timber bungalow, comprising a bedroom and study, built in the garden for Lawrence, which he lined with soundproofing materials and brass rubbings.

Historic England said the bungalow’s fireplace was where Lawrence may have burnt the first draft of a book about his travels but changes made in the 1970s had 'diminished' its value.

In an assessment it added: "It has been claimed by some that Lawrence’s bungalow is still recognisable in its current form, but in truth the footprint of the bungalow has been expanded by a third, completely altering its character.

"It is no longer the same structure that Lawrence inhabited for a year."

But Alan Payne, of the TE Lawrence Society, insisted the bungalow and house itself remained 'largely unchanged'.

He added: "It still exists almost as it was, but it is currently at risk and could be wrecked if it is not listed.

"This is the house where the boy became the man – we are not asking for any public funding, all we want is a bit of respect for one of Oxford's heroes."

Mr Payne said the decision was 'hard to reconcile' with others by Historic England, including the listing of a building in London because Johnny Rotten, of the Sex Pistols, had scrawled graffiti on the walls in the 1970s.

TE Lawrence gained international fame as the 'Uncrowned King of Arabia' for uniting Arab tribes against the Turks during the First World War.

He died in a motorcycle accident in 1935 and was hailed at the time by the Oxford Mail as 'the greatest mystery figure of modern times' and 'perhaps the greatest Oxford man of his time'.