Restored or at risk? Crumbling
HISTORIC ENGLAND LIST REVEALS WHICH STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN
THE number of buildings listed as “at risk” is growing in Leicestershire and Rutland – due to crumbling disused churches.
There are currently 60 structures registered on the danger list by Historic England, the agency formerly called English Heritage.
Last year, three sites were removed from the list thanks to restoration projects, but a further five have been added in that time.
The places that have been removed from the list in the past year and are no longer at risk are Ashby’s former railway station, which is now an office building, and the parish churches in Tugby, near Billesdon, and Ashwell in Rutland. Both are 14th century churches that have been restored.
The new additions to the list are St Peter’s Church, in Belgrave, Leicester, and little-used village churches in Loddington, Owston, Garthorpe and Great Stretton.
The statistics have been released to mark the 20th anniversary of the Heritage at Risk Register.
Ben Robinson, Historic England’s heritage at risk principal in the East Midlands, said: “Over the past 20 years we have used the Heritage at Risk Register to highlight places in need of care and attention.
“We have dedicated time, expertise and money to bring cherished places back into use and we are proud to have played our part in saving them from neglect.
“Despite the successes, other places continue to fall into disrepair. They have been added to this year’s register and we will focus our attention on them in the years ahead.”
He said that achieving so much in 20 years has depended upon “sheer dogged determination” by communities, charities, owners and partners.
Historic England’s technical advice, grant aid and “creative negotiation” had all been needed to deliver people’s vision for how these places could be used, he said.
In the East Midlands, Historic England has spent £1,166,944 in grants to help some of the region’s most important historic sites.