North West historic buildings labelled ‘at risk’
As 10 sites in the region move off Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, another 10 have been added.
Among the 10 sites saved are Bank Hall in Lancashire, Moot Hall in Appleby-in-Westmorland, and the Church of Saints Peter, Paul, and St Philomena in New Brighton.
The heritage sites added to the register are situated in Cheshire, Merseyside, Cumbria, and Greater Manchester. The list includes part of the World of Glass in St Helens, the Parish Church of St Anne in Haughton, and Thornton Manor in Wirral.
Being added to the register means that the buildings are deteriorating and could soon be lost if nothing is done to help repair and restore them. There are currently 410 North West buildings, parks, and conservation areas on the Heritage at Risk Register.
Historic England works to help secure grant funding for repairs for some of these sites, having awarded £920,000 to 16 sites in the North West over the past year.
“The historic buildings and places we are helping to save bring people together and inspire deep pride and a sense of belonging,” said Trevor Mitchell, regional director of the North at Historic England.
“This year’s successes are a testament to the tireless work of owners, custodians, and local volunteers taking action to bring historic places back to life and help to level-up communities across the North West.”
Mitchell added that there is a sustainability angle for restoration as well.
“As the threat of climate change grows, the reuse, recycling, and the sensitive upgrading of historic buildings and places becomes ever more important,” Mitchell said. “Finding new uses for buildings and sites rescued from the register avoids the high carbon emissions associated with demolishing structures and building new”.
Here are the sites that have been added to the Heritage at Risk Register this year:
Church of St Paul in Macclesfield
Located on Brook Street, this grade two-listed church has experienced failures with its roof covering and gutters, leading to water damage. Its stonework also needs repair.
Church of St John the Baptist in Saltersford
This grade two star-listed building sits on Hooleyhey Lane in the Cheshire East town. The building dates back 1733 and is suffering from “extensive water ingress problems” according to the register.
Parish Church of St Anne in Haughton
This grade one-listed structure in Denton dates back to 1880 and was designed by James Medland and Henry Taylor. The church is on the Heritage at Risk Register because of damage found due to vibrations from the nearby M67.
Christ Church in Kensington
Now known as Christian Gold House Ministry, this grade two-listed church in Liverpool was built in an Italian Romanesque style. It was previously used as a furniture warehouse, before returning to its use as a church. It is on the register because of roof and brickwork deterioration. Inside, water has damaged the building resulting in the loss of plaster.
Mossley Hill Baptist Church in Liverpool
This grade two-listed former Baptist Chapel was built in 1906. The old church sits on Dovedale Road and is currently owned by Cornerstone Church. A repair project is in the works for the building, whose roof and leadwork have deteriorated. The church’s terracotta is also failing and there are concerns over water ingress.
Church of St Chad in Knowsley
Situated on Old Hall Lane, this grade two star-listed church was built in the Gothic style and retains some Norman details. The building has water ingress problems and its stonework needs improving. The building has also been the target of graffiti artists.
World of Glass in St Helens
World of Glass’s Tank House is England’s best surviving example of late 19th-century glassmaking tank furnace building, according to Historic England. The structure is grade two star-listed and a scheduled monument. Extensive cracking has appeared in the west corner of the building, which is why it is on the register.
Thornton Manor in Wirral
Built as the principal residence of Viscount Leverhulme in 1840, this grade two star-listed building is in “very bad” condition, according to the register. The building was badly damaged by a fire in 2022, which also caused the destruction of the roof.
Clifton Park in Tranmere
This conservation area in Birkenhead is listed as being in “poor” condition on the register, and with a high level of vulnerability. Within the conservation area are 22 listed buildings, which are in different states of deterioration.
High Mill in Alston Moor
This grade two star-listed building was built in 1767 as a water-powered corn mill. As time went on it was expanded. Now, however, there is “extensive vegetation growth in the gutters” and the stonework is in need of repair, according to the registry.
I notice that most of the buildings added to the At Risk Register in the North West are churches. This is clear evidence regarding the direct effect of the current lack of suitable grant funding for church repairs. The sad thing is that St Chad’s Kirkby has already had funding, but it was insufficient to complete all the urgent repairs. Future phases of repairs are still needed.
By Anthony Grimshaw Associates LLP
Historic England should get up London Road in Liverpool. See the calibre of the buildings that are just being demolished and turned into 1 bed student flats and the like! The TJ Hughes building being made into apartments is a travesty – hope Liverpool City council make the developer keep commercial units on the ground floor or this area will be dead soon! Its declined now! The old jewelry shops that look like they have Rapunzel hats on all marry in with each other, the old Nat West Bank with the clock tower – but London Road seems to be forgotten by Liverpool City Council. this is a gateway through to the Museums and could be AMAZING.
By Bob Dawson
There are a few sites in Liverpool that are on the register – they’re just now new additions. Among the on the list: Wellington Rooms, Derwent Square conservation area, Duke Street conservation area, and Stanley Dock conservation area.
By Julia Hatmaker
The majority of these buildings are churches and are the responsibilities of their respective congregations. If these congregations cannot be bothered to spend the money required to maintain them (in spite of having their income tax free due to charity status) then they should be forced to relinquish while they are in reasonable shape. They should not be going cup in hand to the taxpayers whose coffers they didn’t contribute to.
By SWH
Re the TJ Hughes original building, the plan to convert it into flats is the best option, as today`s retail climate means it is too large to sustain a big department store in London Rd.
From what I have seen the plans are good ones and will include ground floor retail.
I reckon a big Morrisons or Tesco would do well there, anyway it`s positive that there are plans afoot as this conversion will cost a bit, in addition more residents will add footfall to the area and help the remaing businesses.
By Anonymous
Bank Hall was on my original BAR list in 1984! HE’s focus on churches is a purposefully skewed focus not born out by real data. Listed signal boxes, hospital buildings, or other types could equally have been featured.
By John Fidler
Given what happened to the Welsh Presbyterian Church when in the hands of another evangelical mob I don’t hold out much hope for Christ Church. Not sure about furniture storage but it was once home to the notorious Gilbert Deya.
By JB
London Road has been dying since Liverpool’s population crashed in the 60s-70s. What’s happening on London Road is largely positive those that keep thinking is the 1950s are those the prevent Liverpool moving to the future.
By JB
Well said SWH.
By BLS Bob