The heritage sites in Cornwall at-risk of being lost due to neglect and decay
Historic England says others have also been saved and restored
Heritage sites across Cornwall have been listed as 'at-risk' because of issues such as neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
This week Historic England published its annual Heritage at Risk Register for 2021. The Register is the yearly health-check of England’s most valued historic places and those most at risk of being lost forever.
Over the last year, 77 historic buildings and sites in the South West 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 £1.49 million in grants to historic places in the South West throughout the past year, plus another £1.24 million in 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 31 sites in the South West 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.
They include 24 Foundry Square, part of the historic Harvey’s Foundry complex in Hayle, Cornwall, which is important to the story of mining heritage and its communities.
SITES RESCUED AND REMOVED FROM THE HERITAGE AT RISK REGISTER IN 2021 ACROSS CORNWALL INCLUDE:
SAVED: Anchor Studio, Penzance, Cornwall
Birthplace of the Newlyn School of Painting, restored for a new generation of artists
Anchor Studio is vital to the story of Cornish and British art, and has been at the heart of cultural life in Newlyn since the 1880s. On a site overlooking the harbour, Anchor Studio was constructed in 1888 as a purpose-built studio for Stanhope Forbes (1857 -1947), the father of the influential Newlyn School of painters, who used the building for more than 60 years.
Forbes and his wife Elizabeth ran the Newlyn School at Anchor until 1940, attracting many students who went on to become distinguished artists, including John Wells, one of the principal St Ives Modernists who lived and worked at Anchor from 1947 until his death in 2000. The studio was gifted to the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust in 2002.
In 2019 much of the timber frame, timber cladding and slate roof needed urgent repair or replacement, and it was added to the Heritage at Risk Register. Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Cornwall Council and Arts Council England, amongst others, the repairs were completed in March 2021. Historic England were specifically able to fund the traditional west Cornish wet laid scantle slate roof, correct lime mortar repointing and crucial timber window reinstatements.
Chris Hibbert of the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust said: “We are thrilled to have repaired Anchor Studio this year and secured its removal from the Heritage at Risk Register. The Trust’s mission is to provide high quality, affordable studio space for artists working within the unique cultural context of Cornwall, so we are delighted that Anchor is once again in use as a studio, and since it now also includes accommodation, it is especially suited for visiting artists.”
SAVED: Cardinham Castle, near Bodmin, Cornwall
Little-known site saved with the help of Historic England grant to owner
Cardinham Castle is one of only a few medieval castles in Cornwall, and something of a well-kept secret. It is situated on a spur of land amidst ancient woodland associated with tributaries of the river Fowey, in a very beautiful, peaceful and secret location.
The castle was probably built around 1100 AD for the owner of the Domesday manor, Richard Fitz Turold, one of the chief landholders in Cornwall after the Norman Conquest. The scale of the castle and its earthworks reflect both the status of its owner and the strategic location, right at the centre of Cornwall. Having been abandoned by the 14th century, Cardinham does not have the stonework keep and curtain walls like the nearby Launceston or Restormel Castles but survives as impressive earthworks.
Through the hard work of the owner and with funding from Historic England, the castle has been cleared of damaging scrub and bracken and fenced to allow carefully controlled grazing which is better for earthwork monuments. Volunteers have been carrying out a geophysical survey to find out more about this little-known site and a stile has been installed for better public access
SITES ADDED TO THE REGISTER ACROSS THE SOUTH WEST IN 2021 INCLUDE:
AT RISK: Former Offices and Remains of Foundry of Harvey and Company (24 Foundry Square), Hayle, Cornwall
Building in the heart of Hayle now needs extensive repairs
The Former Offices and Remains of Harvey’s Foundry are an important part of the story of the town of Hayle, and of Cornwall’s global mining industry.
Although the building is currently in use as part of the Hayle Heritage Centre, its fabric now needs significant repair. 24 Foundry Square is being placed on the Heritage at Risk Register because there are structural issues, drainage and damp problems, and potentially subsidence.
Harvey’s Foundry Trust, a community development organisation, owns the building and has welcomed the addition of 24 Foundry Square to the Register. Keen to get started on a solution, as a first step the Trust are staging an exhibition to highlight the importance of the building to the local community, and to kickstart conversations about its condition and repair.
24 Foundry Square is part of the wider Harvey’s Foundry complex, a two-hectare site which includes six listed buildings and one scheduled ancient monument. Working in partnership with Cornwall Council and a number of funding partners, the Trust has successfully regenerated much of the site as part of an ambitious ten-year regeneration scheme.
Laura Walton, Chief Executive of Harvey’s Foundry Trust said: “24 Foundry Square is an important part of the Foundry complex, but it’s also very important to the story of Hayle. Its history is tightly bound up with the town, its people, businesses and industry, which we’re celebrating in our exhibition. This is a call to action - the building needs significant structural work and being on the Heritage at Risk Register enables us to access advice and grants to protect it.”
AT RISK: Late medieval packhorse bridge, Newport, Launceston, Cornwall
Repairs are planned for this largely unaltered packhorse bridge
This packhorse bridge is believed to have been built in the 15th century to serve the nearby Priory of Launceston. It straddles the River Kensey at a point where the river widens and in the past was used as a ford.
The narrow bridge has five small arches and a cobbled footway flanked by large slate slabs. An iron handrail and cast-iron lamp post may have been added in the late 19th century.
Because it only carries foot traffic, the packhorse bridge is a rare example of a monument that has survived almost unaltered. For the same reason, the bridge has not been regularly maintained and vegetation has grown in the masonry joints. Some of the footway’s cobbles have become loose and over the last year the bridge has suffered vandalism. Fortunately, work to construct a new footbridge beside St Thomas’s road bridge to the east has resulted in a temporary diversion of pedestrians over the packhorse bridge and focussed attention on these issues. A solution has been agreed and work has started on repairs.
AT RISK: Lanivet Cross, Cornwall
Richly carved early medieval cross requires careful management
The churchyard cross at Lanivet stands in what may be its original location. It is a rare example of a complete pre-Norman churchyard cross, decorated with interlace, knotwork, and plant scrolls. It is part of a group of pre-Norman monuments on the site which together provide important evidence for early Christianity in Cornwall.
However, the beauty and significance of Lanivet Cross are difficult to appreciate because it is engulfed by an Irish Yew which was planted about one hundred years ago. Over the years the yew tree has grown both up and out to the extent that as well as hiding the cross, branches of the tree now rub against the cross and in the longer term may threaten its stability.
As the value of trees to society and the environment is of such importance and a centenarian yew is a special thing, there is a potential conflict to address in devising a strategy to manage the situation. However, a solution has recently been agreed with the churchwardens of Lanivet. This will involve an assessment of the significance of both the cross and the tree and a careful consideration of options to resolve the conflict in a way which will be of benefit to both.
Ross Simmonds, Acting Regional Director at 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 contribute to the country’s economic recovery, bring communities together and help tackle climate change.
"The 77 sites saved this year in the South West, and the many examples of great progress made in 2021, show what’s possible with strong partnerships, dedicated individuals and funding support. But there is always more to do to give our cherished historic places the attention, investment and secure future they deserve.
"With the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 currently underway in Glasgow, this is an even more important moment to underline how heritage can play a role in reducing carbon emissions.
"Reusing those historic buildings and places rescued from the Register this year can help to tackle climate change by avoiding the high carbon emissions associated with demolishing existing structures and building new. To meet the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050, we know we must recycle, reuse and responsibly adapt our existing historic buildings."
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."