Two sections of Hadrian’s Wall have been removed from Historic England’s At Risk register after restoration work in time for the wall’s 1,900th birthday.
Steel Rigg in Northumberland and Port Carlisle in Cumbria have been protected through conservation work. At the National Trust-owned Steel Rigg in Northumberland, collapsed sections of the Wall were repaired by specialist stonemasons, and the top of the structure has been covered with stones and turf to discourage people from walking on it and protect it from further damage.
Among other saved sites in Northumberland are the 1818 Church of St Aidan in Tarset, and Bronze Age burial cairns on Coldsmouth Hill in Kilham, while the Union Chain Bridge – which for more than 200 years has spanned the River Tweed – is expected to be removed from the register when its major restoration project is completed soon.
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Saved sites in County Durham include an 18th century packhorse bridge at Headlam, the 16th-17th Low Harperley farmhouse in Wolsingham and 1820s elaborate wrought iron gates which are listed Grade II-star, at Lambton Castle.
The report also notes “good progress” at Seaham, which in the 19th century grew as a hub for transporting coal via rail and sea from the Durham Coalfield. The town’s conservation area includes the remains of the original harbour and railway lines, as well as elegant residential and commercial properties.
The Grade-I listed Holy Trinity Church in Sunderland’s east end has also been removed from the register after being transformed into a community hub. But eight sites in the region have been added to the at risk register, including St Paul’s Church in Jarrow, on the site of a monastery which was one of Europe’s most influential centres of learning and culture in the 7th century.
Trevor Mitchell, Historic England’s regional director for the North East and Yorkshire, said: “The 13 sites saved this year in the North East show what’s possible with funding support, committed partnerships and dedicated volunteers. Historic England’s Heritage at Risk programme is working with local people, councils, businesses and volunteer groups to rescue precious historic places so they can bring joy and economic benefits to their communities. As the threat of climate change grows, the re-use and sensitive upgrading of historic buildings and places becomes ever more important.”
Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register plays a vital role in our mission to protect and preserve our rich heritage.
“It helps to ensure that future generations can continue to benefit from everything our historic sites and buildings have to offer. It is also wonderful to see heritage sites removed from the register thanks to the support of local communities together with Historic England.”
Also judged to be at risk in the region is the 1818 Adderstone Hall in Northumberland, along with hill forts at Lordenshaws and Glead’s Cleugh in the county and an ancient settlement at Hartside Hill. Two conservation areas have been added to the register: Spittal in Berwick and St Mary’s Lighthouse conservation area in Whitley Bay.
In total, there are 254 entries in the North East on the 2022 Heritage at Risk Register, with items listed at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development. They include 72 buildings or structures, 23 places of worship, 122 archaeology sites, six parks and gardens, one battlefield site and 30 conservation areas
Historic England has awarded more than £600,000 in grants over the past year to sites at risk in the North East.
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