From the former home of explorer Gertrude Bell to a landmark of the Grimsby skyline, seven of Britain’s 10 most endangered historic buildings are in the north of England.
The annual list of once-celebrated structures, compiled by the Victorian Society, is dominated by “at-risk” buildings in the north and for the first time features none in London or the south-east.
The crumbling former home of Bell, the renowned 20th-century explorer, is one of the most famous structures on the list. The grade II*-listed Red Barns in Redcar, Teesside, is in a “terrible state” despite a local campaign to save it from ruin.
Griff Rhys Jones, the comedian and vice-president of the Victorian Society, said all the buildings on the list were in “dire need of help” but there was a lack of funding outside London.
“Restoring important historic buildings is worth investing in, as it can be a catalyst for wider regeneration,” he added. “I hope people living near these buildings will seize this opportunity and campaign to save them. Ultimately, it is the support of local people which will ensure that they are not lost for ever.”
A 137-year-old Tudor-style hospital in Wakefield, west Yorkshire, also features on the list. Clayton hospital has become a favoured haunt of ghost hunters since it was closed by the local NHS trust four years ago. The Wakefield Grammar School Foundation has applied for permission to demolish the 19th-century building to make way for an “iconic centrepiece” in its expansion plans, which the Victorian Society has opposed.
Overlooking the river Dee in Chester, St Paul’s church was once deemed one of the most ambitious designs of its kind. Now the grade II*-listed structure faces an uncertain future. It was formally closed when its congregation merged with another church, and there are no plans for its repair or future use, according to the Victorian Society.
A towering red-brick former flour mill, in the heart of Grimsby’s once-bustling docks, is also judged to be one of Britain’s most endangered buildings. Victoria Mill, which has been partially converted into flats, suffered structural problems earlier this year, forcing some people to move out temporarily.
The three structures outside the north of England include Cardiff’s Old Bute Road railway station, a grade II-listed library in Stafford, and a former brick factory in Devon that is set to be included in plans to build a huge new Asda store.
Christopher Costelloe, director of the Victorian Society, said: “For the first time we have no entries on the top 10 for London or the south-east. We simply got far more nominations from areas like Yorkshire.
“This perhaps reflects the vastly different financial climate for development. But whatever the reason, I hope inclusion in the top 10 will spur local authorities and owners to urgently find a way to bring these buildings back into use.
“At a time when there has been much discussion of the gap between the south-east and elsewhere, this is more important than ever. Retaining historic buildings like those in the top 10 is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work.”
