Over the past year, 13 historic buildings and sites in the East of England have been removed from the Register. Many have been saved thanks to the hard work and dedication of local communities, who have come together to rescue places despite the challenges wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic over the past 18 months. Charities, owners, local councils and Historic England have also worked together to see historic places restored, re-used and brought back to life.
Historic England gave £1.5 million in grants to historic places in the East of England throughout the past year, plus another £928,650 for lifeline grants from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund. These emergency grants have kick-started essential repairs and maintenance at many precious historic sites during the pandemic and helped protect the livelihoods of the skilled craft workers who keep our cherished historic places alive.
A total of 26 sites in the East of England have been added to the register because of concerns about their condition. They are at risk of being lost forever as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
Examples include a natural garden in Essex created by one of the country’s most influential women horticulturalists, a military structure created for Henry VIII and one of the oldest windmills in England.
Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said: "I'm delighted that so many famous landmarks have been removed from the Heritage at Risk register in 2021. We've supported the sector throughout the pandemic with our unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund and it's great news to see this investment, along with other financial support, having such a positive impact. Heritage helps us understand our past and bringing old buildings and sites back into public use helps us to level up communities, create growth and protect these important assets for future generations."
Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England said: “Our heritage is an anchor for us all in testing times. Despite the challenges we have all faced recently, this year’s Heritage at Risk register demonstrates that looking after and investing in our historic places can bring communities together, contribute to the country’s economic recovery and help tackle climate change. Our historic places deserve attention, investment and a secure future.”
SITES RESCUED AND REMOVED FROM THE HERITAGE AT RISK REGISTER IN 2021 ACROSS THE EAST OF ENGLAND INCLUDE:
SAVED: Parish Church of St Mary, Whaddon, Cambridgeshire (Grade I listed)
Stolen roof replaced on this 14th century gem thanks to generous local community
Two years after the entire lead roof of St Mary’s Church was stripped and stolen, this 14th century gem is now safely watertight under a new roof and the church is now welcoming visitors to regular Covid-19 compliant church services.
The daunting repair work was made possible by the determined fundraising efforts of the local community. The project also benefited from a Culture Recovery Fund grant administered by Historic England alongside funding from Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust and Amey Community Fund.
Built from 1300, St Mary’s Church is the oldest surviving building in Whaddon. Decorative features include nave-supporting structures representing mythical beasts and grotesque heads, and carved heads on the aisle windows appearing to show well-to-do figures on the south aisle and humble figures on the north aisle.
David Grech, Church Warden, St Mary’s Church Whaddon said: “When, in 2019, we discovered all the lead had been stolen from our church roof, we were pretty low. It looked like a herculean task to find the money to re-roof the church, and we were worried it might be beyond the limited resources of a small rural parish. But we soon found we were not alone, and with the help of our wider village community, plus technical advice and encouragement from Historic England, together with some generous grant support, we have got there. If you had told me in 2019 that we would have a new roof within two years, I would not have believed you!”
SAVED: Church of St John de Sepulchre, Norwich (Grade I listed)
Domesday-era church given new lease of life
The Church of St John de Sepulchre was founded during the reign of Edward the Confessor in the 10th century and is mentioned in the Domesday book. Much of the church seen today is 15th and 16th century, making it an outstanding example of an East Anglian medieval church.
Deconsecrated in 1984, it was used for many years by an Orthodox congregation.
The church was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register due to structural issues. The vestry was at risk of collapse and, if left to deteriorate, would have also caused significant damage to the medieval chancel. There were also structural cracks caused by trees being too close to the building and the drainage system wasn’t functioning properly.
Historic England gave grant funding of more than £200,000 to support a comprehensive programme of repairs.
In the care of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, the Church of St John de Sepulchre is now home to ‘The Flint Rooms’, a wedding and ceremonies venue.
SAVED: Ruins of All Saints Church at the Deserted Village, Godwick, Tittleshall, Norfolk (Scheduled Monument)
A prominent medieval monument saved in its ancient landscape for visitors to enjoy
The Lost Village of Godwick is one of the best preserved of the deserted medieval villages in Norfolk. The features of this ancient landscape, grazed by livestock and never cultivated, are clearly etched into the local pastureland.
Although All Saints Church has existed at Godwick since at least 1100, the current tower was built in the 15th or 16th century before it fell into disrepair when the local village population declined in the 16th century.
In the early 17th century the tower was rebuilt as one of the earliest follies in Britain, forming a decorative part of the landscape park around Godwick Old Hall.
Recently, the tower was decaying badly with the west side cracking and at high risk of collapse. Historic England supported a repair scheme, completed in summer 2020, which has enabled this prominent medieval feature to be enjoyed by visitors once again.
SAVED: Church of St Edmund, Hargrave, Suffolk (Grade II* listed)
Historic 12th century church saved by devoted community
There has been a church in Hargrave for at least 1000 years, serving a small rural farming community.
Built in the late 12th century, St Edmund’s Church was extensively remodelled in the 19th century.
The modest interior has a number of special features, including the original late 12th century south door, a 15th century rood screen and font, and within the 1460 brick tower - considered the church’s finest feature - three bells dating from 1566, 1622 and 1841.
Together with grant funding from Historic England, the church community raised £80,000 for the re-slating of the roof in 2013. A year later, severe cracks were discovered in the east end of the chancel, once again putting the building at risk. Time was of the essence and the church again started urgent fundraising for repairs, which were completed in 2020.
St Edmund’s Church was also supported by the Taylor Review Pilot, a £1.8 million scheme funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and run by Historic England, helping 396 listed places of worship during its two-year period. St Edmund’s Church benefitted from help with repairs and the development of a building maintenance plan.
The church is now safe and once again enjoyed by its local community.
SAVED: Unitarian Meeting House, Ipswich (Grade I listed)
18th century meeting house praised by novelist Daniel Defoe
The Unitarian Meeting House, on one of the oldest streets in Ipswich, is regarded as one of the finest surviving 18th century Dissenters’ meeting houses in the country. It was opened for services in 1700 and has been used continuously for worship ever since.
English novelist Daniel Defoe waxed lyrical in 1722: “as large and as fine a building of that kind as most on this side of England, and the inside the best finished of any I have seen, London not excepted.”
The exterior is self-effacing, giving little clue to the classical grandeur of the historically complete interior.
A year-long restoration project was made possible by grant funding of more than £600,000 from Historic England and tireless fundraising efforts by volunteers and community members who raised more than £140,000.
Extensive structural repairs to the building were needed, including the re-covering of the entire roof, an overhaul of all drainage, and works to rectify structural movement in the timber frame. Cracked composite cement render covering the exterior was replaced with a more suitable lime render.
Repair work now complete, the congregation and volunteers at the Unitarian Meeting House are welcoming visitors once again with plans for more public events in the future.
The Unitarian Meeting House team has recently been awarded a Suffolk Heritage Champion Award by the Suffolk Preservation Society in recognition of the restoration of this important building.
Linda King, Chairperson of the Unitarian Meeting House Trustees said: “The Trustees and congregation are thrilled with the final result of the restoration programme and are full of admiration for the men and women whose knowledge and skills have achieved the rescue of such an historically important building. Equally important is that once again we are able to use the Meeting House for our worship and for community events.”
SITES ADDED TO THE REGISTER ACROSS THE EAST OF ENGLAND IN 2021 INCLUDE:
AT RISK: Bourn Mill, South Cambridgeshire (Grade I listed)
One of the oldest windmills in England is at risk of collapse
According to recent research, the main post of Bourn Mill is from a tree felled after AD 1515, likely making this the earliest mill main post yet dated in England.
John Cook, the first recorded owner, sold the mill in 1636 to Thomas Cook of Longstowe. From 1701 to 1875 the mill was owned by baker John Bishop and his family. Their initials are carved into the interior side timber of the mill. The last miller at Bourn was George Papworth, whose father was landlord of the village pub.
The mill became redundant in 1926 and was sold for £45, before passing into the care of local charity, Cambridgeshire Past, Present & Future in 1932.
Bourn Mill provided inspiration for the work of one of our most eminent architects, Lord Foster, who prepared drawings of the mill whilst studying architecture at Manchester University.
A dedicated team of volunteers have kept the mill running with activities and regular maintenance.
Now, the mill is at risk of collapse due to rotting in its central supporting beams (cross trees). Historic England has awarded a Heritage at Risk grant for emergency propping of the mill and to develop a future repair project for which Cambridgeshire Past, Present & Future are actively fundraising and seeking volunteer support.
James Littlewood, Chief Executive of Cambridge Past, Present and Future said: “The massive oak beams that support the mill are over 140 years old and have become rotten. We are incredibly grateful to Historic England and local donors and sponsors who have provided funds to pay for the scaffolding of the mill to prevent it collapsing. The beams and trestles need to be replaced, which will be a significant task. If we can raise the money, then we hope to be able to carry out the work in 2022 and re-open this important and amazing building to visitors.”
Image: Heritage at Risk - At risk 2021: Bourn Mill, off Caxton Road, Bourn, Cambs. View showing tall pole. Image copyright: Historic England Archive
AT RISK: Warley Place, Essex (Grade II Registered)
Remains of a wild natural garden created by famed horticulturalist Ellen Willmott
Warley Place features the evocative remains of a natural garden created by Ellen Willmott (1857-1934), one of the country’s most influential women horticulturalists and an early exponent of ‘wild gardening’.
Ellen moved to Warley Place with her parents in 1875. She transformed the grounds into one of the most celebrated gardens in the country.
Described by British garden designer, photographer and artist Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932) as ‘the greatest living gardener’, Willmott was an influential member of the Royal Horticultural Society and a recipient of the first Victoria Medal of Honour. More than 60 plants have been named in her honour.
Having dedicated her life and much of her money to her famous garden, Ellen was almost penniless when she died in 1934. The house was demolished in 1939 and the gardens fell into dereliction for more than 40 years. Since 1977, Essex Wildlife Trust has managed much of the site as a nature reserve with the help of an enthusiastic volunteer team.
Urgent action is now needed to fund and implement a Conservation Management Plan for this important landscape to repair ruinous structures, uncover hidden architectural features and save the essential beauty of Willmott’s famous garden, as well as enhancing the wildlife value of this important nature reserve.
AT RISK: Tudor blockhouse 300m south of Mersea Stone, East Mersea, Essex (Scheduled Monument)
Military defence structure built by Henry VIII and at risk from coastal erosion
The Tudor blockhouse at Mersea Stone was commissioned by Henry VIII in 1543.
It was one of three structures built to protect the strategically important Colne estuary as part of a defensive system along the east coast.
The Mersea Stone blockhouse is the only Essex example with upstanding earthworks. Instead of the usual stone structure, the defences were constructed of ‘earth and board’. The earthen banks that survive are up to 1.5m high.
The blockhouse held a small artillery garrison of 12 guns. Its cannons were removed in 1553 but the fortification was repaired to counter the Armada in 1588 and, in 1648, played a part in the Civil War. It was used briefly as a court, where local fishermen were prosecuted for dredging oysters out of season, before Cromwell ordered its demolition. It survived because the landowner prohibited its destruction.
Nationally, there are 27 examples of Tudor blockhouses still in existence in various states of repair, but most were destroyed or incorporated into later military constructions.
The Mersea scheduled monument is suffering from progressive and rapid coastal erosion with the south-east side substantially destroyed over the last 20 years. Historic England and Essex County Council are discussing excavation of the site to recover its important archaeological remains.
AT RISK: Thorrington Tide Mill, Essex (Grade II* listed)
The last remaining tide mill in Essex, rescued by former owner’s grandchildren
Situated in a wild and unspoilt area of coastal Essex, Thorrington Mill is the last remaining tide mill in the county and one of only three remaining in the East of England.
It is believed that there has been a mill at the head of Alresford Creek since at least the 14th century. A mill at Thorrington was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The present mill, built in 1831, is a three-storeyed timber-framed structure.
During the Second World War the mill was purchased by Thomas Alfred Glover, the present owners’ grandfather, who used it for the storage and drying of flower seeds.
The mill was sold by Mr Glover to Essex County Council in 1974 for a minimal sum so that it could be restored and opened to the public. Repairs to the waterwheel and its structure were carried out in the 1990s by the council’s millwright, English Heritage (now Historic England), and the National Rivers Authority (now the Environment Agency).
The mill changed ownership in 2019 and is once again cared for by the Glover family who are looking to secure the long-term future and continued public enjoyment of the building.
The mill needs urgent investigation and repair as there is a water leak through damaged sections of the mill pond wall and areas of loose masonry. The mill is closed to the public until the repairs can be completed.
The owners are actively looking for a new team of local volunteers to work with them to help care for the building, provide guided tours on open days, and welcome visitors when it reopens. Anyone interested should email thorringtonmill@gmail.com.
“The mill sits at the heart of our family farm and has done since our grandfather first fell in love with the building and its setting in 1941,” says Tom Glover, Mr Glover’s grandson and co-owner of the mill with his sister Polly Baines. “We have begun work to secure the expert advice and funding needed to make urgent repairs. We’ll also be looking at how we can improve access and information provided in and around the mill so that future generations can enjoy this unique building.”
AT RISK: Church of St Michael Coslany, Norwich (also St Miles Coslany) (Grade I listed)
Impressive medieval church, now a community circus centre, but at risk of closure
St Michael Coslany is one of the grandest churches in north Norwich. Closed as a place of worship in 1971, the church is now in the care of the Norwich Historic Churches Trust, who protect, preserve and find new uses for 18 medieval churches in the city.
St Michael Coslany is home to Oak Circus Centre, bringing together artists and audiences who share a passion for circus arts.
The church chancel roof, probably dating to around 1500 with later additions, is in poor condition. Part of the ceiling became detached and fell down in early 2021. Project development, funded by Norwich Historic Churches Trust, has been completed and repair work will start imminently.
Historic England has offered a grant for environmental investigations and to assist the Trust with building repairs. St Michael Coslany has also benefited from a recently announced Culture Recovery Fund grant award.
Without urgent renovation the building would almost certainly be faced with closure and Norwich would lose a much-loved community space.
SITES WHERE GOOD PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE EAST OF ENGLAND THIS YEAR INCLUDE:
PROGRESS: The Plaiters Lea Conservation Area - 47 Guildford Street, Luton (Grade II listed)
The earliest surviving Luton hat factory is now an inspiring creative workspace
Located in the Plaiters Lea Conservation Area, 47 Guildford Street is the earliest surviving hat factory building in Luton.
It was built between 1840 and 1850 with alterations and extensions made in the mid-20th century.
47 Guildford Street was home to the hat industry until 2006. The building stood empty until, in 2017, it was bought by Luton Culture Trust as part of the Hat District heritage regeneration project.
A four-year programme of restoration and refurbishment was completed earlier this year. Alongside the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other partners, Historic England gave support and grant funding throughout the project.
Rebranded as Hat Works, the building now offers affordable work and social spaces, in an inspiring heritage environment, to young creative entrepreneurs.
HEADLINE STATISTICS IN THE EAST OF ENGLAND
The Heritage at Risk Register 2021 reveals that in the East of England:
113 Buildings or Structures (Grade I and II* listed buildings and structural scheduled monuments)
123 places of worship
112 Archaeology entries (non-structural scheduled monuments),
10 parks and gardens
0 battlefields
1 protected wreck sites
and 49 conservation areas
…are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate change.
- In total, there are 407 entries across the East of England on the 2021 Heritage at Risk Register.
Due to the ongoing restrictions of Covid-19 Historic England has only been able to assess sites and collect data where it has been safe to do so. This has given it a helpful temperature check of the condition of our historic environment in the last 12 months, but it has not been possible to carry out analysis of trends as in previous years.
HEADLINE STATISTICS FOR ENGLAND
Across the country 233 entries have been removed from the Register (for positive reasons), while 130 entries have been added because of concerns about their condition.
Over the past year, Historic England has spent £14.5m in grants on helping some of the country’s best loved and most important historic sites on the Heritage at Risk register. This includes £4.8m in additional emergency funding to help sites deal with problems exacerbated by the Covid-19 situation.
Image (top): Heritage at Risk - At risk 2021: Bourn Mill, off Caxton Road, Bourn, Cambs. View showing tall pole. Image copyright: Historic Englands Archive