New At Risk register reveals good and bad news for the region
Historic England has published its latest assessment of heritage locations across the North East. Tony Henderson reports.
The historic centre of a Northumberland town is no longer considered at risk after “significant” rescue efforts.
Hexham Conservation Area has now been classified as “saved” and has been removed from Historic England’s At Risk register for 2024.
Central to the area are the gently-curving medieval streets of Priestpottle, Cattle Market and Battle Hill, historically the town's centre of trade.
The Conservation Area was added to the register as a large number of buildings were vacant with a run-down appearance, requiring extensive repairs and new uses.
Through the Hexham High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), a regeneration scheme led by Historic England and Northumberland County Council, many of the buildings have been brought back into use and there have been considerable repairs, including to shopfronts, which have enhanced the area’s special character.
Some of this was private investment inspired by the HSHAZ, which has also improved public spaces, introducing better lighting and natural stone paving.
This work, together with a programme of cultural events, has increased local business confidence and footfall in the Conservation Area, says Historic England.
Hexham is one of six North East locations to come off the new register, while six have been added to the list.
Added to the list in County Durham is what is considered to be the world’s first railway station.
The Heighington & Aycliffe station in Newton Aycliffe dates from 1826 and was built to serve the Stockton & Darlington Railway – the world’s first railway to use steam locomotives and which celebrates its 200th anniversary next year.
The building marks the point where Locomotion No 1 was placed on the rails for the inaugural journey in 1825.
While the building was originally designed as a pub, with a direct relationship to the rail line, it had characteristics of a station and fulfilled the main functions of what later came to be recognised as a railway station - a stopping point for trains, a building providing shelter for passengers, and a receiving point for parcels and goods being transported by rail.
Read more: Review - Hairspray at Newcastle Theatre Royal
There is evidence for people using the station to commute to work from before 1830.
In 1984, the building was converted into a pub but closed in 2017 and has remained empty, becoming derelict. Earlier this year, the Friends of the Stockton and Darlington Railway launched a campaign to save the station.
Also newly placed on the At Risk register is a former grammar school in Palace Street East in Berwick. The grade II* building dates from 1745 and after the school relocated in 1931, it has been used as a registrar’s services base, and an adult learning and community centre.
Locations which have been saved and are now off the register include:
Beaurepaire Grange and Chapel, Bearpark, County Durham
Dating from the 13th century, this manor house was part of the Beaurepaire estate once used as a rural retreat for the priors and monks of Durham Cathedral.
In recent years it had become a target for anti-social behaviour, but the site has since been transformed thanks to the DREAM Heritage community interest company.
The name Beaurepaire means ‘beautiful retreat’ in Old French and it still remains an attractive walking destination, and is said to be how the nearby village of Bearpark gets its name.
King Edward I, Edward II and Edward III all visited the manor with their armies during English campaigns against the Scots, who in turn launched raids both in the 14th century and during the English Civil War, leaving the site in ruins.
DREAM Heritage has recruited local volunteers to clear vegetation and litter, presented re-enactments and events, hosted activities for local families and schoolchildren, and organised donations of gravel from local quarries to help with maintenance.
Rebekah Watkins, founder of Dream Heritage, said: “We are passionate about creating community heritage, green and archaeological projects alongside setting up youth clubs and youth ministry, to create opportunities for local people to be ambassadors of local positive change.
“By involving the community and young people in their local heritage, they begin to grow a sense of pride and ownership.”
Goods Shed, Darlington
Built in 1833, the Grade II* listed goods shed is thought to be the oldest surviving building of its type and formed part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
The building was the railway’s main point for handling goods such as agricultural produce and doubled in size with an extension in 1839-40 to meet increasing commercial demand. At the same time, a clocktower was added to the roof.
The site was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 2019 as it was in poor repair with the clocktower in a particularly precarious state.
Since then, the Goods Shed has been repaired and redeveloped as part of Hopetown Darlington, the £37 million visitor attraction celebrating Darlington’s pioneering railway heritage. Historic England contributed more than £250,000 towards the repairs.
Mike Crawshaw, head of culture & heritage at Darlington Borough Council, said: “Funding received from Historic England helped to save the Goods Shed from its near state of disrepair and restore it as an icon of Darlington’s early railway heritage.
“The Goods Shed is the entry point to the visitor attraction and features a shop, café and railway-themed experiences including a live model railway and 3D Hologauze digital media experience.”
Also saved have been Coal Drops at the Soho Engine Shed in Shildon, and in Northumberland Glead’s Cleugh Iron Age fort site at Akeld and three Romano-British native setttlements near Kirknewton.
Historic England awarded £600,000 in grants for repairs to eight sites in the North East during 2023/2024.
Sites where good progress has been made this year include Westgate cemeteries and the Keelmen’s Hospital in Newcastle.
St John’s and Westgate Hill cemeteries in Elswick are both listed in recognition of their architectural and historic significance. These Victorian burial grounds are both in a poor state of repair and vulnerable to anti-social behaviour, and were added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 2017.
Funded by a Historic England capacity building grant, Tyne Wear Building Preservation Trust has run a programme on behalf of Newcastle City Council to connect people in Elswick including members of Chinese and Jewish communities with their local heritage, as well as providing access to nature.
Work has included art projects with children from local schools, youth groups and local artists, and supporting people to research the lives of relatives buried in the cemetery.
The city council has worked to clear heavy undergrowth, making the cemeteries more open and safer, and planted flowers to enhance biodiversity.
Dating from 1701, the Keelmen’s Hospital in Newcastle was originally built as an almshouse to care for old, sick or poor keelmen, who funded it themselves at a rate of one penny a tide. Keelmen were a vital middle link in the coal industry, using wooden boats called keels to transport coal from the banks of the Tyne to larger collier ships.
Listed Grade II*, the building was last used as student accommodation but has been disused since 2009, when it was added to the At Risk Register.
Since 2023, Historic England has been working with the council and Tyne Wear Building Preservation Trust to find a new use for the building. Historic England’s funding for initial project development to convert the building into affordable housing has since unlocked additional funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Heritage at Risk Register 2024 reveals that in the North East 72 buildings or structures (Grade I and II* listed buildings and structural scheduled monuments} ; 25 places of worship; 130 archaeology entries; six parks and gardens; one battlefield and 28 conservation areas are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate change.
Heritage Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “The Heritage at Risk Register plays a vital role in our ongoing mission to protect and preserve our rich heritage across the country. From Hexham to Brighton's Saltdean Lido, many sites have been removed from the list this year."
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England said: “Heritage is so important to the North East. It plays a vital role in society and boosts the regional economy.
“It’s inspirational to see how we can harness the power of our heritage to benefit local people across the North East. Together, we can save our places and find new ways to enjoy the heritage that people value so much.”