Conservation charity Historic England has removed 129 sites from its Heritage at Risk Register, a survey on the health of England’s historic buildings and places.
There are currently 4,891 entries in the register, including 1,460 buildings or structures, 1,864 archaeology entries, 986 places of worship, 469 conservation areas, 105 parks and gardens, four protected wreck sites and three battlefields.
Sites rescued this year include the Augill Smelting Mill in Cumbria; the Former Weavers’ Cottage on Redchurch Street, in London’s Tower Hamlets; and the revamped Bruce Grove public toilets in Tottenham, north London.
The Old School Coffee House in Devon, once a school for “20 poor maids” in 1659, has been transformed into affordable housing.
Historic England spent £7.4m in grants for support and repairs to 123 sites on the Heritage at Risk Register during 2024/2025.
Other sites removed from the register are Rockingham Kiln near Rotherham, a rare porcelain works that once produced pieces for royalty and aristocracy; and 26 Westgate (Old Judges House) in Gloucester, the largest timber-framed townhouse in England, dating back to the 16th century.
Sites at risk
The 2025 update of the Heritage at Risk Register also shows that 138 were added to the list, which means they are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
Some of the sites added include the Hill Garden Pergola on Hampstead Heath in north London; Dr Jenner’s Hut in Gloucestershire, known as the birthplace of vaccination; and Cromford Mills in Derbyshire, home of the modern factory system.
Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-CEOs of Historic England, said: “The heritage we see all around us impacts how we feel about our local places. The annual Heritage at Risk Register gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of bringing our historic buildings back into use.
“The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them, turning them into places of local connection and joy. The sites that have been saved and have come off the register this year really highlight the benefits of working together in partnership, and with communities, to create positive, sustainable change. Together we can safeguard our heritage for future generations.”
Heritage minister Baroness Twycross said: “We are determined to protect the heritage at the heart of our communities.
“It is fantastic to see so many historical sites saved for communities up and down the country. These are much-loved places and it is great to see them being brought back into use. This year alone, our £15m Heritage at Risk Capital Fund has been key to saving buildings like these.”
