Little Dorrit’s church, a 14th century row of houses and the retreat of celebrated artist JW Turner are among the jewels of England’s heritage at risk of being lost forever.
This year 328 new sites across the country have been added to an annual ‘at risk’ register – including the world’s oldest gasholder in London’s Fulham Gasworks and a medieval timber-framed building in York.
The Heritage At Risk Register 2017 from government heritage agency Historic England reveals 5,290 historic buildings, places of worship, gardens, battlefields, protected wrecks and conservation areas are under threat.
Historic England warns the high number of conservation areas on the register this year – the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the designation – is of ‘particular concern’, with 47 historic town areas added in 2017.
There are now 512 conservation areas at risk, facing common problems such as unsuitable replacement windows, doors and extensions, poorly maintained streets and neglected green spaces.
There is better news for other historic sites including a bombed-out church in Liverpool, an atomic bomb store, a and a prehistoric stone circle threatened by a bracken infestation whose futures have been secured.
Accumulator Tower, Mill Road, Limehouse Basin, London
This is the last surviving accumulator tower of three originally built in Regent’s Canal Dock, now known as Limehouse Basin.
This is the last surviving accumulator tower of three originally built in Regent’s Canal Dock, now known as Limehouse Basin
This distinctive octagonal accumulator tower and chimney stack was built in 1869 by William Armstrong, inventor of the hydraulic crane. Hydraulic power was used extensively in the second half of the 19th century before electric power was generally available. This is the last surviving accumulator tower of three originally built in Regent’s Canal Dock, now known as Limehouse Basin. All three were once connected to a pumping station which fed water under high pressure into a hydraulic main that powered coal cranes around Regent’s Canal Dock. The accumulator tower ensured that the water pressure did not drop in times of high demand and was a key component of this busy industrial area on the banks of the Thames. The tower has some problems with water damage, vegetation growth and graffiti.
Turner’s retreat, Sandycombe Lodge, Twickenham
Pictured: Sandycombe was built in 1813, to Turner’s own designs, as a retreat for himself and his father from the hectic London art world
This villa in Twickenham was designed and lived in by the artist JMW Turner. Although one of England’s greatest painters, his aspirations to pursue a career in architecture are less well known. Sandycombe was built in 1813, to Turner’s own designs, as a retreat for himself and his father from the hectic London art world. After a £2.4m restoration, thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund, the charitable trust which now owns the building has been able to provide a tantalising glimpse into Turner’s architectural ambitions. The house opened its doors to the public earlier this year.
Church of St George the Martyr, Borough High Street, Bermondsey
St George the Martyr is often referred to as ‘Little Dorrit’s Church’ for its intriguing connection with Charles Dickens’ life and works
St George the Martyr is often referred to as ‘Little Dorrit’s Church’ for its intriguing connection with Charles Dickens’ life and works. The churchyard was used for many years as a burial place for prisoners who died in Marshalsea debtors’ prison next door, where Dickens’ father, mother and some siblings were incarcerated in 1824 for debt. Debtors’ prisons and workhouses feature throughout Dickens’ novels and Marshalsea was the place of imprisonment for the Dorrit family in Little Dorrit, with the church of St George the Martyr featuring regularly in the text. The church even has a depiction of the character Little Dorrit in one of its stained glass windows. Although currently in a poor condition, the church recently received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its restoration.
The Royal Pavilion Gardens in Brighton
The Royal Pavilion Gardens surround the iconic Royal Pavilion and were designed by English architect John Nash
Since the late 1980s, when the gardens were subject to landscape restoration, their increased popularity with visitors is affecting their overall condition
The Royal Pavilion Gardens surround the iconic Royal Pavilion and were designed by English architect John Nash. They are a picturesque layout of serpentine walks, drives, open lawns, shrubs and trees. Since the late 1980s, when the gardens were subject to landscape restoration, their increased popularity with visitors is affecting their overall condition. The special character of the Gardens is also being eroded by a disparate range of fencing, litter bins, signage and lighting and these combine to weaken the sense of the Gardens’ rich history for visitors. Historic England will be working with Brighton and Hove City Council to develop a Conservation Management Plan which will identify how to redress the balance and develop a strategy for keeping the historic gardens in good condition for visitors to enjoy for many years to come.
The Cooperage, Newcastle upon Tyne
The Cooperage is the most complete timber-framed building from the late medieval period in the city
The Cooperage is the most complete timber-framed building from the late medieval period in the city. The Cooperage is Grade II* listed and is one of the most prominent buildings on the quayside, having escaped the great quayside fire of 1854. Built in the first half of the16th century as a merchant’s house it was later converted for commercial use including a grocers, coopers, restaurant and public house. It was a popular bar but since its closure in 2005 it has fallen into disrepair due to neglect and a lack of regular maintenance. On a quayside that is once again a vibrant commercial district of Newcastle, a new use needs to be found for the Cooperage if it is to survive.
Trevethy Quoit, Cornwall
Then: Trevethy Quoit is an example of a chambered tomb dating from the Early Neolithic period and is one of the best known archaeological monuments in Cornwall. Pictured above, a Victorian man proudly stands by the site in the early 1900s
At risk: Historic England has added the ancient site, believed to date back to 4000 to circa 2,500 BCE this year to protect its future
Trevethy Quoit is an outstanding example of a chambered tomb (also known as a portal dolmen) dating from the Early Neolithic period and is one of the best known archaeological monuments in Cornwall. It has been added to the Register as a result of increased erosion by livestock as well damage to the field and land caused by fencing. When the site came up for sale, Historic England helped to safeguard it by giving a £19,000 grant to the Cornish Heritage Trust to purchase the field. Historic England is working with the Trust and English Heritage to improve the site, protect the monument and ensure that it can still be enjoyed by local people and visitors.
Birkrigg Stone Circle, near Ulverston, Cumbria
Thanks to local volunteers, the pre-historic remains at Birkrigg Stone Circle, which had been on the Register since 2014, are safe once more
Thanks to local volunteers, the pre-historic remains at Birkrigg Stone Circle, which had been on the Register since 2014, are safe once more. Bracken infestation had caused some damage so Historic England funded a post to help with ‘bracken bashing’ and worked with the Lake District National Park and the Morecambe Bay Partnership to protect these archaeological remains which date back to between 1700 and 1400 BC.
Former RAF Barnham Atomic Bomb Store on Thetford Heath, Suffolk
RAF Barnham was built in the 1950s to store and maintain Britain’s first nuclear bombs – a free-fall type code named ‘Blue Danube’, carried by V-bombers.
It is the only Cold War facility of its type in England surviving largely intact, and documents a crucial phase in the nation’s defence history. Historic England has given more than £500,000 in grant aid over the past decade to repair a number of buildings and structures at the once top-secret installation, such as the watch towers, fences, ‘hutches’ to store separately the fissile cores of the bombs, and loading gantries – reinforced concrete overhead supports which enabled bomb components to be lifted on and off trucks. This work has greatly improved the condition of the site. However, unusually, one individual building, the bomb inspection building known as ‘Building 58’, has gone onto the Register while repairs are underway to deal with deterioration of its reinforced concrete frame.
St Luke’s ‘Bombed Out’ Church, Liverpool
This early 19th century Gothic church was burned out in the Second World War and had been on the Register since its inception in 1999
This early 19th century Gothic church was burned out in the Second World War and had been on the Register since its inception in 1999. We have worked with Liverpool City Council to bring the Grade II* listed building back into use, contributing £250,000 towards the repair costs. Works included removing vegetation, repairing walls, stabilising the masonry and bell frame, securing the tower stonework and re-roofing the tower. The refurbished church will now be home to an arts and events space. Run by a community company, it will support vulnerable people and provide volunteering opportunities.