The Wet Web
Helen Gazeley discovers the ‘At Risk’ buildings taking on a new lease of life.
LAST November saw the annual publication by Historic England of its At Risk Register, the annual health check that holds a light up to the country’s most valued historic places.
It flags those we’re at risk of losing through neglect, decay or inappropriate development. In 2021, 130 new historic buildings and sites were added.
Churches are, by far, the highest proportion of the new listings, but particularly notable, perhaps, is the Grade II* listed Severn Wharf Building, sitting above the River Severn and home to IronBridge’s Museum of the Gorge. The Gorge itself was one of the first sites in Britain to be awarded World Heritage status, thanks to its pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution.
The Severn Wharf Building, originally a warehouse for the Coalbrookdale Company who may have been trying to advertise its art-casting ability with its striking gothic style, dates from the mid-19th century and is now classified as at immediate risk of rapid deterioriation, thanks to leaking gutters. The good news is that a Historic England Repair Grant has been awarded. The shop onsite is still open, but no date has been given for the reopening of the museum.
The register itself isn’t all bad news. Every year sites and properties are removed from it – 233 this year, thanks to owners, local authorities, charities and Historic England working together to restore or repurpose buildings at risk. Check out sites at risk in your area by visiting the website (historicengland.org. uk/advice/heritage-at-risk).
Particularly notable is the Transhipment Warehouse, a Grade II* listed building at the head of the Peak Forest Canal in Whaley Bridge, built in 1832 to serve the canal and the High Peak Tramway. The building had been empty and deteriorating for 30 years but a full restoration of its roof brought it back to the community. Its reopening as a heritage craft centre, which retains a narrowboat mooring inside, was reported in Towpath Talk in December 2020 (https:// bit.ly/3EzE475). For an idea of what’s been achieved, check out the Whaley Bridge Canal Group’s video (youtu.be/ZH4h_TTSdVs).
While restoration (with £100,000 provided mostly by the Canal and River Trust along with £10,000 from High Peak Borough Council) might seem the happy ending to the story, that’s not where the hard work stops. Now it needs to be used and maintained. The warehouse is leased from the CRT by the Whaley Bridge Canal Group Community Interest Company, the aim of which, under the directorship of founder Neville Clarke, is to create a villagegreen type space to the town. He’s pleased with progress so far. “People say to me, ‘It’s like a community hub.’ And we’re getting people from outlying towns coming to us.”
Since it opened, the warehouse has swung into action as a food bank, open three days a week and more. Upstairs is a second-hand bookshop, which became well-known over the lockdowns as the only place that would accept books. There have been regular Food and Arts events at the Basin markets, which it is hoped will go monthly in March. “And we’re relaunching the craft centre,” said Neville. “Pottery classes have been run all year and have taken off, and there have been jewellery and wicker classes sporadically.” In the run-up to Christmas there were rag wreath and porcelain ornament-making classes too. “We’ll maybe have a regular craft day, where you can bring what you want to do, have a chat with friends.” To keep up to date with developments, keep an eye on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ HighPeakHeritageCrafts).
Meanwhile, the volunteer historian of the Whaley Bridge Canal Society is putting together a history of the Transhipment Warehouse and welcomes photos, documents and information.
If you have anything you think will be of interest, find contact details on the website: www. whaleybridgecanal.org