Dozens of historic buildings and sites across Cambridgeshire are ‘at risk’ of being lost forever, according to Historic England.
A Heritage at Risk interactive map put together by the agency marks out numerous Grade-listed houses, churches, agricultural buildings most in need of repair.
The Heritage at Risk programme helps the public body understand the overall state of England's historic sites, identifying those most at risk of being lost.
Every year, Historic England updates its register which includes structures, places of worship, archaeology entries, battlefields, and conservation areas.
The map includes all three categories – Grade I buildings of the highest significance, Grade II* buildings of more than special interest and Grade II buildings that are of special interest.
More than 54 entries have been added to Historic England’s register of cherished locations in Cambridgeshire over the years, with the number of ‘at risk’ sites increasing.
One East Cambridgeshire entry is a religious site, namely Church of St Andrew on the High Street in Soham.
Dating back to 1180-90, the nave of the Grade I-Listed Church of St Andrew has been cordoned off due to loose masonry and suffers extensively from damp.
It was deemed in ‘very bad condition’ by Historic England and listed in the A category meaning there is an “immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric.”
The register states that a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant was awarded towards drainage work which was completed in 2019 as the first stage of a larger repair project.
Meanwhile, the barn to the north of St John’s Farmhouse was rated as ‘poor’, owing to the structural repairs to replace a temporary buttress.
Forming part of the former medieval Hospital of St John the Baptist and St Mary Magdelene, the register states that parts of the building remain unstable.
A further nine entries are also listed as religious sites in Huntingdonshire, with the Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Sibson-cum-Stibbington and the Parish Church of All Saints on Causeway in Broughton most at risk.
Both are currently rated as facing an “immediate risk of further rapid deterioration”, with complex structural issues.
The register states of the Church of All Saints: “Ongoing structural movement in almost all areas of the church including in relatively recent repair work.
“Tower buttresses are cracking; at least two windows on the south side of the church are at risk of collapse; recent structural movement in the chancel floor.”
For the Parish Church of St Mary, the register added: “Nave parapet gutters unstable and in an advanced state of deterioration. Other structural defects. Above and below ground drainage around entire building is defective.
“In 2020 Historic England awarded a Covid-19 Emergency Heritage at Risk grant for internal repairs and project development work which have now been completed.”
Meanwhile, of the 25 sites listed on the register for Peterborough, 15 are for archaeology entries, with sites Prior’s Fen Farm, Newborough exhibiting “extensive significant problems”.
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