Historic England reveals heritage 'saved' and 'at risk' across the south
Seven buildings have been added across Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Sussex
Several historic buildings and places across the south have been added and saved from Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register this year.
In the past year, 58 historic buildings and sites in the South East and South West were added to Historic England's 'at risk' register due to neglect, decay, or inappropriate development.
However, 25 sites, including Polegate windmill, two Sussex churches with rare medieval wall paintings, Tolpuddle Old Chapel in Dorset, Hursley's Norman castle in Hampshire, and Newport Minster on the Isle of Wight, have been saved and removed from the register.
in 2022/2023, Historic England were awarded £2.79 million in grants for repairs to 75 historic places, with support from local communities, charities, owners, and funders like The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Despite progress, the organisation says more work is needed as additional buildings and places face the risk of deterioration.
25 Years since the first national Heritage at Risk Register
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first national Heritage at Risk Register (previously known as the Buildings at Risk Register). Over the past 25 years, since it began in 1998, around 6,800 entries have been removed. This equates to around three-quarters of the entries that were on the original Register.
Many of the remaining entries from the 1998 Register have seen good progress despite often being the hardest cases to solve.
Tom Foxall, Regional Director for London and the South East, said: “In the 25 years of the Heritage at Risk Register, huge progress has been made in saving irreplaceable historic sites, and this year is no different.
"Across the South East, we’re celebrating the successful restoration of a collection of large, complex buildings and structures, along with numerous other special places that had been vulnerable for a long time.
"Thanks to strong partnership working and a strategic approach and vision, these places steeped in history now have a new and vital part to play for people today. Local communities are at the heart of finding solutions for heritage at risk and we are dedicated to supporting them so they can benefit from even more historic places being removed from the at risk Register.”
Rebecca Barrett, South West Regional Director at Historic England, said: “Looking after and celebrating our heritage is so important. With the publication of the Heritage at Risk Register each year, I’m always inspired by the stories of communities coming together to help save historic buildings and places and to find new uses for them.
!After a quarter of a century of the Heritage at Risk Register, it’s inspiring to look back at the historic places now saved, and we look forward to finding new ways to involve local people in caring for and enjoying their heritage."
Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: "For a quarter of a century, the Heritage at Risk Register has helped to focus efforts to preserve cherished sites across the country.
"It is heartening to see that so many sites have had their futures secured and have been taken off the Register over the past year thanks to the hard work of Historic England and local people.
"I look forward to the new additions to the Register receiving similar care and attention so that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from our rich heritage for years to come."
Saved: Tolpuddle Old Chapel (Former Methodist Chapel to the East of Martyr’s Cottages), Tolpuddle, Dorset (Grade II* Listed)
A building of vital importance to the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs is saved by committed local volunteers and skilled craftspeople after 25 years on the Heritage at Risk Register.
In the summer of 2023, Tolpuddle Old Chapel reopened after a nine-year regeneration project.
The Old Chapel was built in 1818 and used for worship by four of the six men who were to become famous as the Tolpuddle Martyrs: George Loveless, James Loveless, John Standfield, and Thomas Standfield. It is possible that some of them were involved in the original build. The simple architecture and construction of the Old Chapel, from cob (earth) and timber, reflects the agricultural skills of those who built it. It is an example of a small rural Methodist building of real and very great historic interest.
It continued to be used as a chapel until at least 1843 after which it was converted for agricultural use as an animal shelter and for storage. Its deterioration led to its addition to Historic England’s Buildings at Risk Register in 1998.
The Tolpuddle Old Chapel Trust (TOCT) acquired the building in 2015 and began planning its repair and reuse. Supported by grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, work began in November 2021.
Specialist historic building architects and contractors were both involved in carrying out careful repairs, informed by research and analysis of the building. The fragile cob walls were repaired with earth from the chapel site and a historic chalk pit a mile away. Research shows that it was originally built of earth from the site it sits on.
A new extension, which will be used for education and other activities, completes the restoration.
Professor Philip Martin, Chair of TOCT, said: “The Old Chapel is the first significant material trace of four of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and speaks of the importance of their determination, independence and faith. George Loveless and Thomas Standfield were both trustees of the original building, and Loveless was a lay preacher here.”
“The Old Chapel reflects the lives and hardships of the people who built it, and their desire for change. We’re delighted to have secured this important part of our local and national story.”
Sarah Ball, Architect at Historic England, said “Although a small building, the repair of the Old Chapel has been a huge project. An enormous amount of collaboration and skill was needed at every stage to deal with its challenges and complexities. Our technical advice and grants to the Trust, along with their own fundraising and The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, has led to the rescue and repair and re-interpretation of this important building in England’s national story. It’s been an honour to have been part of it.”
The restored Old Chapel is now open for visitors to Tolpuddle, and as a social and cultural amenity for the local community.
At Risk: Polegate Windmill, Grade II* listed, East Sussex
The windmill at Polegate, on the edge of the South Downs, is a four-storey, brick tower windmill dating to 1817. It was built for milling oats and was operated by wind power until 1942.
Rainwater leaking in from the cap and tower walls is causing damage to the large timber beams on all floors and eroding the mill’s brickwork. The beams which support the heavy mill stones and internal mechanism are currently propped. As a result, there is no public access to the tower but the mini museum on the ground floor is open to visitors. An active volunteer group are passionate about saving the building and fundraising for its repair. A comprehensive condition survey and work to improve the mill’s condition and make it weather tight is urgently required.
At Risk: Church of St Michael and All Angels, Plumpton, Grade I listed, East Sussex
This small medieval parish church has a nave dating back to 1100 and a tower from around 1200. Inside are rare surviving Norman wall paintings but internal damp is putting the paintings at risk. Plumpton is one of four Sussex churches with extant early medieval paintings thought to be by the same artists, known as the Lewes group. The other examples can be seen at Coombes Church near Shoreham-by-Sea, St Botolph's Church at Hardham, and St John the Baptist's Church at Clayton.
At Risk: Church of All Saints, Buncton, Wiston, Grade I listed, West Sussex
All Saints Church is a small rural chapel with Norman origins and a chancel likely dating back to the 13th century. Problems with moisture is contributing to the building’s declining condition. The fragments of medieval wall paintings which survive inside are particularly vulnerable to the damp conditions. The chapel is still in use for Christian worship and a growing congregation hopes to develop a repair project.
Saved: Newport Minster, St Thomas’ Square, Grade I listed, Isle of Wight
St Thomas’ Newport Minster is a Victorian church built to replace an earlier 12th-century church on the same site. Prince Albert laid the foundation stone in 1854 and the building was dedicated jointly to Saints Thomas of Canterbury and ‘doubting’ Thomas the Apostle. A memorial to Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Charles I, who died at Carisbrooke Castle aged 14 was commissioned by Queen Victoria. Many earlier historic features survive including a 16th-century pulpit and vicar’s reading desk
The church was added to the register in 2012 due to decaying stonework and leaking roofs. Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund grant-aided repairs which have resolved these issues and allowed it to be removed from the register this year.
Rev. Emma Cooksey from the Parish of Newport and Carisbrooke with Gatcombe, said: “After many years of hard work, we are so pleased to have reached this point in our journey. It has been down to the dedication of staff, volunteers and Friends who have worked tirelessly to move this project forward through difficult times. We can’t wait to unveil the new building in late Spring next year.”
Saved: Merdon Castle, Hursley, Scheduled Monument
Work to secure the remains of Merdon Castle near Winchester is now complete thanks to a £240,700 grant from Historic England. The scheduled monument was overgrown, and stonework had become loose. Specialist repairs including repointing and the introduction of soft capping – adding a protective layer of earth and grass to the tops of ruined walls – have stabilised the Medieval motte and bailey castle. The Castle was probably built between 1129 and 1138 by Henry de Blois during the reign of his brother, Stephen, the last Norman king of England.
Merdon Castle is being used by Winchester University and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings to help students and specialists develop craft and survey skills.
Dr Monika Knul, University of Winchester, said: “We’re delighted that, together with the owners and Historic England, we have been able to introduce Merdon Castle to our students through their study of archaeological field techniques. We’re excited to expand this programme so that students, and the monument itself, benefit in the long term.”
Saved: Brambridge House, Colden Common, Winchester, Grade II* listed
Brambridge House is a grand Georgian country house built in 1762. It was remodelled after a fire in 1872 and converted to flats after the Second World War. The building had been slowly deteriorating and was added to the Heritage at Risk Register.
Happily, Brambridge House is now close to its former glory, thanks to the hard work and action of current freeholders. As more residents have taken on a share of the freehold active management has helped restored its character.