Historic England adds more sites in Cumbria to its 'at risk' register

The organisation has today revealed its list of sites which appear on their Heritage at Risk register in the north west of England, giving a snapshot of the condition of some of the region’s most important historic buildings, monuments, sites and places.

Across the north west, 19 entries have been removed from the register, while 24 sites have been added because of concerns about their condition - of that figure, more places of worship have been added than removed.

The Settle to Carlisle railway, the Church of St James on Mill Lane in Great Ormside, and the Church of St Bridget on the A595 at Calder Bridge are among the six Cumbrian sites to be added to the list.

The railway conservation area runs 78-miles across the north of England.

Built in the 1870s, the line has several historic tunnels and bridges such as the imposing Ribblehead Viaduct.

In the 1980s British Rail planned to close the line, prompting rail groups, heritage bodies, local authorities and residents to fight a successful campaign. In 1989 the British government announced it would not close the line.

One section of the conservation area on the approach into Carlisle is being added to the register this year due to the deteriorating condition of a number of buildings, including the former Grade II listed London Road Goods Station.

Carlisle City Council is carrying out an appraisal of their section of the conservation area to review its boundary and to develop a long-term strategy to remove it from the Register.

And there could be good news on the horizon for the listed building on London Road.

Following a planning application to build a McDonald’s drive-thru on the site of the former J and W Watt goods yard, which lies within the conservation area, the chain were granted permission in July to build a new branch, providing they make the nearby building secure.

Speaking after permission was granted, Carlisle Councillor Ann Warwick said: “I’m really pleased the building is going to be restored.

“I think the site will be greatly improved. It might lead to the other buildings being given the same treatment.”

The London Road section of the conservation area, currently in a poor condition, is a key road and rail

gateway to Carlisle and the council has recognised it as

an opportunity for regeneration.

Of the 419 sites on the north west register, 121 of those are in Cumbria.

Some places of significance in the county that remain on the list include Brampton Old Church Roman fort and the medieval Church of St Martin, a stretch of Hadrian’s Wall to Stainton, Lowther Castle near Penrith and Cockermouth Castle bell tower and kitchen tower.

One site to be saved and removed from the register is Coniston’s Copper Mines.

A Heritage Lottery Fund grant enabled a two-year project to conserve the remains of the mines.

More than 150 items were in need of repair and reconstruction.

The mining of copper in Coniston started towards the end of the 16th century.

In the 1830s, a gentleman called John Barratt was assigned manager of the complex and over the next three decades transformed mining here.

Water power was introduced and the mines were developed to reach depths of 270 feet.

The output was so great that in 1859 the Coniston Railway was opened to transport the copper ore.

Copper mining, which had fostered the growth of Coniston, stopped in 1914.

Charles Smith, Heritage at Risk principal in the north west, said: “Over the past 20 years we have used the Heritage at Risk register to highlight places in need of care and attention.

“We have dedicated time, expertise and money to bring cherished places back into use and we are proud to have played our part in saving them from neglect.

“Despite the successes, other places continue to fall into disrepair - in particular, we’ve seen a rise in the number of places of worship at risk here in the north west. They have been added to this year’s register and we will focus our attention on them in the years ahead.”