Historic England: heritage sites at risk – in pictures

Historic England’s register lists the heritage sites most at risk of being lost for ever as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development

Main image: The Mile End Ragged school in Tower Hamlets, east London. Photograph: Chris Redgrave/Historic England, Chris Redgrave.

  • Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill, Dudley, West Midlands.

    Dudley Castle has had a long and varied history. Elizabeth I was once a visitor and it was later considered as a potential residence for the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots. During the civil war it was a royalist garrison, then a century later it was gutted by a fire and left to stand as a romantic ruin. In 1937 the earl of Dudley opened Dudley Zoological Society within the castle grounds, displaying a range of exotic animals
    Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill, Dudley, West Midlands. Dudley Castle has had a long and varied history. Elizabeth I was once a visitor and it was later considered as a potential residence for the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots. During the Civil War it was a Royalist garrison, then a century later it was gutted by a fire and left to stand as a romantic ruin. In 1937 the Earl of Dudley opened Dudley Zoological Society within the castle grounds, displaying a range of exotic animals.

  • Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill, Dudley, West Midlands.

    Today the standing remains of the castle have significant issues, including specific areas of structural failure, loss of masonry and invasive vegetation
    Dudley Zoo, Castle Hill, Dudley, West Midlands. Today the standing remains of the castle have significant issues, including specific areas of structural failure, loss of masonry and invasive vegetation

  • Madeira Terrace, Brighton

    Madeira Terrace is the most striking feature of Brighton’s eastern seafront, but is in a very poor and deteriorating condition. It is a remarkable example of 19th-century engineering, with 805m of cast iron arches
    Madeira Terrace, Brighton Madeira Terrace is the most striking feature of Brighton’s eastern seafront, but is in a very poor and deteriorating condition. It is a remarkable example of 19th century engineering, with 805 metres of cast iron arches.

  • Madeira Terrace, Brighton

    Today the terrace’s structural stability is a serious concern; and it has been closed off to the public since 2012
    Madeira Terrace, Brighton Today the terrace’s structural stability is a serious concern; and it has been closed off to the public since 2012.

  • Redoubt, Main Road, Harwich, Essex

    . The Grade II* listed Harwich Redoubt was built in 1808-1810 as part of the Martello Tower chain of defences against a possible Napoleonic invasion, stretching from Aldeburgh to Seaford. An imposing 180ft diameter circular fort, the redoubt defended the port of Harwich with 10 guns on the battlements
    Redoubt, Main Road, Harwich, Essex. The Grade II* listed Harwich Redoubt was built in 1808-1810 as part of the Martello Tower chain of defences against a possible Napoleonic invasion, stretching from Aldeburgh to Seaford. An imposing 180ft diameter circular fort, the Redoubt defended the port of Harwich with ten guns on the battlements.

  • Redoubt, Main Road, Harwich, Essex

    After 1910, the Harwich Redoubt became barrack accommodation and from the 1920s the site was unused and falling into disrepair. It was taken back into military use during the second world war and, after the war, was transferred to the Civil Defence, who used the fort for atomic exercises until their disbandment. The redoubt is suffering the effect of leaks with significant loss to the inner and outer moat walls. Internally there are clear signs of plant growth throughout due to failing roof coverings
    Redoubt, Main Road, Harwich, EssexAfter 1910, the Harwich Redoubt became barrack accommodation and from the 1920s the site was unused and falling into disrepair. It was taken back into military use during the Second World War and, after the war, was transferred to the Civil Defence, who used the fort for atomic exercises until their disbandment.The Redoubt is suffering the effect of leaks with significant loss to the inner and outer moat walls. Internally there are clear signs of plant growth throughout due to failing roof coverings.

  • The Mile End Ragged school

    The Mile End Ragged school was opened in 1877 by Dr Barnardo as a free school providing a basic education for poor children in London’s East End. It occupied converted warehouses on the Grand Union Canal, and in its day was the largest ‘ragged school’, with more than 1,000 pupils on weekdays and 2,400 for Sunday school. The school closed in 1908, when local government provision became adequate, and the building was used for a time as a factory
    The Mile End Ragged School The Mile End Ragged School was opened in 1877 by Dr Barnardo as a free school providing a basic education for poor children in London’s East End. It occupied converted warehouses on the Grand Union Canal, and in its day was the largest ‘ragged school’, with over 1,000 pupils on weekdays and 2,400 for Sunday School. The school closed in 1908, when local government provision became adequate, and the building was used for a time as a factory.

  • The Mile End Ragged school

    A successful campaign by local residents in the 1980s saved the building from demolition. The Ragged School Museum Trust opened the site as a museum in 1990, aiming to make history of the ragged schools and the broader social history of the Victorian East End accessible to all
    The Mile End Ragged School A successful campaign by local residents in the 1980s saved the building from demolition. The Ragged School Museum Trust opened the site as a museum in 1990, aiming to make history of the Ragged Schools and the broader social history of the Victorian East End accessible to all.

  • The Mile End Ragged school

    The Grade II building is underused due to the deteriorating condition of the roof, structural issues, and damp problems
    The Mile End Ragged School The Grade II building is underused due to the deteriorating condition of the roof, structural issues, and damp problems.

  • Buckden Towers, High Street, Buckden, Cambridgeshire.

    The 15th-century buildings of Grade I listed and Scheduled Monument Buckden Towers are the remains of the palace of the bishop of Lincoln. The palace enjoyed notable royal visits including from Henry III (1248), Edward I (1291) and Richard III (1483). Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first Queen, lived at Buckden Palace from July 1533 to May 1534
    Buckden Towers, High Street, Buckden, Cambridgeshire.The 15th century buildings of Grade I listed and Scheduled Monument Buckden Towers are the remains of the Palace of the Bishop of Lincoln. The Palace enjoyed notable royal visits including from Henry III (1248), Edward I (1291) and Richard III (1483). Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first Queen, lived at Buckden Palace from July 1533 to May 1534 until she was transferred to nearby Kimbolton Castle where she died in 1536. Henry VIII later stayed at Buckden Palace with Catherine Howard in 1541 as part of a summer tour prior to Catherine’s coronation as Queen. It was during this tour that Catharine was accused of committing adultery which led to her beheading for treason in 1542.

  • Buckden Towers, High Street, Buckden, Cambridgeshire

    Little now remains of the bishop’s moated palace except the great tower, the inner gatehouse, part of the battlement wall and the outer gate and wall. Parts of the complex were demolished in 1632 on the orders of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The most urgent concern is the 15th-century brick gatehouse where the roof is leaking badly, risking collapse of the roof structure and ceiling
    Buckden Towers, High Street, Buckden, Cambridgeshire Little now remains of the Bishops’ moated palace except the great tower, the inner gatehouse, part of the battlement wall and the outer gate and wall. Parts of the complex were demolished in 1632 on the orders of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The most urgent concern is the 15th century brick gatehouse where the roof is leaking badly, risking collapse of the roof structure and ceiling

  • St James’s Gardens, Liverpool

    Opened in 1829, St James’s Cemetery (now known as St James’s Gardens) is a very early example of a garden cemetery. The cemetery is registered at Grade I because of its beautiful and dramatic design and because it is such an early example of a public cemetery
    St James’ Gardens, St James’s Road, Street, Liverpool Opened in 1829, St James’s Cemetery (now known as St James’s Gardens) is a very early example of a garden cemetery. The cemetery is registered at Grade I because of its beautiful and dramatic design and because it is such an early example of a public cemetery.

  • St James’ Gardens, Liverpool

    A former stone quarry, the site was bought by the Anglican community of Liverpool and laid out, in dramatic fashion, as a cemetery. The design incorporated massive carriage ramps with catacombs beneath. These ramps allowed burial parties to access the floor of the quarry. In later years, the cemetery suffered from neglect and invasive vegetation took hold of the structures
    St James’ Gardens, St James’s Road, Street, Liverpool A former stone quarry, the site was bought by the Anglican community of Liverpool and laid out, in dramatic fashion, as a cemetery. The design incorporated massive carriage ramps with catacombs beneath. These ramps allowed burial parties to access the floor of the quarry. In later years, the cemetery suffered from neglect and invasive vegetation took hold of the structures
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