English Heritage: 57 new sites at risk

The conservation public body has published its risk register for 2014, with 57 sites across the region added because of concerns about their condition, 48 of which are places of worship.

The Heritage at Risk Register, published annually by English Heritage, identifies listed buildings and historic sites most at risk of loss or decay. It focuses attention on those that need help and targets resources to where they can make the most difference.

While 57 sites were added in the North West, 50 have been repaired and removed from the register. Over the past year English Heritage said it had offered more than £880,000 in grants to historic sites in the region.

New additions to the register in the past year include Long Street Methodist Church in Middleton, Bellmanpark lime kilns in Clitheroe, and Waterloo Park in Sefton. Sites that have been removed include the Royal Insurance Building in Liverpool, and the former home of Elizabeth Gaskell in Manchester, both of which have been renovated.

In total, there are 96 secular buildings, 115 places of worship, 166 scheduled monuments and 88 conservation areas on the register in the North West.

The Heritage at Risk headlines for the region are:

• 10 buildings or structures have been taken off the register and one has been added
• Four churches and places of worship have been taken off the register and 48 have been added
• 35 archaeological sites have been removed from the register and one has been added
• Four conservation areas have been removed from the register this year, seven conservation areas have been added
• £881,000 in grant was spent on 10 sites on the North West register during 2013/2014.