Heritage sites: What's been saved, what's at risk?

John Miller Inside of historic dairyJohn Miller
Buildings and historic sites across England have been renovated and "saved" by Historic England

A graveyard inside a quarry, a windmill and a centuries-old library are among the places added to the latest register of at-risk heritage sites.

The list, compiled by Historic England, includes 216 new entrants deemed to be in danger of "neglect, decay or inappropriate change".

However, following investment and conservation work, 181 sites have been saved and removed from the register.

Here are some of the places to have moved off or on to the list.

Saved: Lewis Carroll's preaching place

THEPALMER/Getty Images Alice in WonderlandTHEPALMER/Getty Images
The Reverend Charles Dodgson is better known as author Lewis Carroll

The Rev Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass, was staying with nearby family when he conducted a sermon at St Mary's Church in Guildford, Surrey.

Better known now as Lewis Carroll, the writer's funeral was also held at the church in 1898.

Stonework at the Grade I building was decaying but after extensive repairs, the Saxon tower is no longer considered in danger.

Historic England St Mary's Church in GuildfordHistoric England
Lewis Carroll preached here

At risk: St James's garden cemetery

Alun Bull St James GardensAlun Bull
The carriage ramps need repair at St James's Cemetery

An early example of a public cemetery, St James's Garden was a stone quarry until it was bought by the Anglican community of Liverpool.

It was then laid out as a graveyard, with massive carriage ramps above catacombs.

Neglect, poor repairs and invasive vegetation have taken their toll on the site, leading to its inclusion on the register.

Alun Bull St James GardensAlun Bull
The garden and cemetery needs a little love and care

Saved: A fairy discotheque

Alun Bull Willie HoweAlun Bull
Willie Howe is an ancient funeral monument

Willie Howe in Driffield, East Yorkshire, is a prehistoric funerary monument mound called a barrow. Legend has it a drunk man discovered a bunch of fairies having a party there and they offered the man a drink. Wise to cunning ways of fairies, he did not imbibe the liquid but poured it away and stole the cup.

Over the years, Willie Howe became overgrown but grants from Natural England enabled the landowner (human not fae) to tidy it up a bit.

Human remains are often to be found in this sort of barrow - but Willie Howe was empty. Maybe the fairies took them.

Presentational grey line

What is on the list?

The latest register has 5,097 entries, including:

  • 932 places of worship
  • 103 parks and gardens
  • 3 battlefields
  • 3 protected wreck sites
  • 491 conservation areas.
Presentational grey line

At risk: An elaborate windmill

Historic England Dobson's WindmillHistoric England
The windmill's cap is considered to be an unusual shape

Dobson's Windmill in Burgh Le Marsh, Lincolnshire, was built in 1813 and was going strong until a storm earlier this year damaged its sails, cap and fantail.

The cap is an unusual shape and ornately decorated and the sails are special ones that can be adjusted without stopping the mill.

Repairs are needed, so the mill is on the register.

Saved: Mannerly milk-making

John Miller Cobham Hall dairyJohn Miller
The dairy at Cobham Hall was rundown and boarded up

The Dairy at Cobham Hall in Kent was designed in the late 18th Century, when ornamental estate buildings were the height of fashion.

Supervising the making of cream, butter and cheese was a recognised and decorous country pursuit for elegant Georgian women.

This dairy was conceived to resemble a tiny chapel topped with a bell tower.

It had been empty for decades but has now been fully repaired.

JOHN MILLER Dairy at Cobham HallJOHN MILLER
The dairy, repaired and spruced up, is now a holiday cottage

At risk: Royal roadhouse

Patricia Payne Buckdon TowersPatricia Payne
King Henry VIII and Catherine Howard stayed at Buckden, near St Neots

The 15th Century Buckden Towers are the remains of the Palace of the Bishop of Lincoln. Royals such as Henrys III and VIII, Edward I and Richard III all visited the towers.

It was during a tour that included a stay at Buckden Towers, just off the A1 in Cambridgeshire, that Catherine Howard was accused of committing adultery. It was an allegation that led to her beheading.

Of the structures still standing (parts were demolished in 1632 on the orders of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners) the brick gatehouse needs urgent repairs as the roof is leaking. This could cause the roof structure and ceiling to collapse.

Patricia Payne Buckden TowersPatricia Payne
Buckden Towers is now "at risk", just like visitor Catherine Howard's head proved to be