Endangered Suffolk church among key heritage sites saved from ruin
Historic England have published their annual Heritage at Risk Register
Lots of endangered buildings in the East of England, including Suffolk church dating back to the 12th century, have been saved from ruin.
That's according to Historic England, who've published their annual Heritage at Risk Register, which gives an annual snapshot of the critical health of England’s most valued historic places and those most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
Over the past year, 21 historic buildings and sites have been added to the Register in the East of England because of their deteriorating condition and 39 sites have been saved, with their futures secured.
Historic England say heritage partners and dedicated teams of volunteers, community groups, charities, owners and councils have worked hard to rescue important buildings.
Historic England awarded ÂŁ1.08 million in repair grants to 28 historic places and sites, including conservation areas, on the Heritage at Risk Register in the East of England over the past year.
Three historic places at risk have together benefited from close to half a million in grants from the heritage at risk strand of the Culture Recovery Fund during 2021/2022.
Sites added to the register in Suffolk include:
Church of St Edmund, Kessingland
The Church of St Edmund features a 30-metre-high flint tower, which has been a landmark for seafarers since it was built in the mid-15th century. The church interior includes many mementoes of the fishing heritage of the village.
The 17th century thatched nave roof and guttering are in poor condition, allowing water into the church. Repairs to the church roof can now go ahead thanks to a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of ÂŁ168,000 and enthusiastic fundraising by local residents and supporters.
The project team are planning a new heritage area, with guides to the church and village for visitors, involving local historians and the local Church of England Primary Academy. They are also making the churchyard more wildlife-friendly.
Church of St Andrew, Wingfield
The Church of St Andrew was built in the mid-14th to early 15th centuries following the founding of Wingfield College by the will of Sir John de Wingfield in 1362.
The interior of the church features a medieval nave roof featuring carvings of angels bearing shields. The chancel contains stalls featuring carved poppy heads and panelling. The large plain glass East Window shows fragments of old painted glass in the upper tracery work and features coats of arms.
Cracking on the west and north faces of the tower is of particular concern, along with cracking at the west end of the north aisle. The tower buttress is bulging and there are cracks in the roof canopy. The roof, replaced with pine tiles in the late 1900s, is now rotting and needs replacing.
Sites rescued and removed from the register in Suffolk include:
Church of All Saints, Stuston
The Church of All Saints in Stuston has been saved thanks to a 12-year fundraising campaign by a passionate and determined group of people.
The church dates to the 12th to 13th centuries, with a distinctive octagonal belfry stage added to the round tower in the 14th century and the church’s chancel, nave and south porch rebuilt in the 15th century. Polychrome brickwork in lateral courses of black, buff and red bricks, enhanced with paint, adds a remarkable vibrancy to the interior.
The church was at risk as there was structural movement and cracking to the medieval church tower, with falling masonry. Problems with leaks also led to structural movement in the chancel.
Urgent repair work was carried out thanks to grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other funding partners. This included masonry repairs throughout the building, including to the tower, and extensive maintenance to the roof.
The repair and restoration of the church has given the local community a space for events and social functions.