At risk: building ‘sights’ which require action
CHURCHES AND MILL STILL CAUSES FOR CONCERN
AN official list of historic buildings at risk across the country has highlighted several around Huddersfield.
Seven crumbling churches and a dilapidated Colne Valley textile mill have been included on Historic England’s latest Heritage at Risk Register.
The register raises fears that a number of Grade 2 and Grade 2* buildings in our area could be lost if work to maintain them isn’t urgently begun.
Historic England has also aired concerns about the condition of Huddersfield’s conservation area, which covers most of the town centre, rating it as “Very Bad”.
The list of decaying properties is dominated by Westwood Mills at Lowestwood Lane, Linthwaite.
The early 19th century mill complex has five separate entries on the register, including its mill dam, powerhouse, water tower, engine house, workshops and various blocks.
The original Huddersfield Infirmary within the former Kirklees College campus remains on the list after years of neglect by two different owners.
The hospital was constructed in 1831 in response to concerns about industrial accidents, funded by public donations. It has been lying empty since the college moved to Chapel Hill in 2013. Efforts to redevelop it have failed. Seven churches are also on the list including St John’s at Birkby, St Stephen’s in Lindley, St Thomas’ at Longroyd Bridge, Christ Church at Woodhouse Hill, Holy Trinity at Trinity Street, Highfields, Church of Emmanuel at Kirkburton and St Mark’s at Longwood.
The heritage organisation also lists the Birkby conservation area as “poor”.
Several of Kirklees’ at risk listed buildings are the higher Grade 2* rating.
Just 5.8% of Britain’s listed buildings are Grade 2*, while only 2.5% are the highest Grade 1 listing.
There are only five Grade 1 status buildings in Kirklees: Huddersfield station, the Banney Royd mansion in Edgerton, and three churches – All Hallows in Kirkburton, All Hallows in Almondbury and St Michael’s at Emley.
Historic England’s 2019 Heritage at Risk Register was published on October 17. It says there 87 fewer entries than the year before.
The list includes 1,462 buildings, 913 places of worship, 2,089 archaeology sites, 102 parks, three battlefields and three shipwrecks.
A spokesperson said: “Reducing the number of sites at risk is an important part of Historic England’s strategy.
“Our regional teams work with owners, developers, funders and communities to focus on the country’s most vulnerable historic places and find solutions to rescue them.
“Over the last year 310 historic buildings and sites have been saved.
“Imaginative uses have been found for empty buildings, providing new homes, shops, offices and cultural venues.
“Monuments in our landscapes have been lovingly cared for, often by dedicated teams of volunteers. Communities up and down the country have celebrated the things that make their conservation areas special.
“But there’s more work to do. There are 500 buildings still on the Heritage at Risk Register that are capable of being used and generating an income.
“These are the homes, shops, offices and cultural venues of the future.”