South East England: Medieval Church and Other Structures Added to Heritage at Risk Register

St Botolph’s Church, located in Hardham village, close to Pulborough, has been included in the heritage at risk register. This medieval edifice houses some of the nation’s most ancient wall paintings, which portray Christian figures such as St. George, the Annunciation, and Adam and Eve. However, according to heritage advocates, these 900-year-old murals are gradually deteriorating and losing their vibrancy. This church is one of thirteen locations in the South East that Heritage England has placed on its register, while eighteen other sites have been removed from the at-risk list. Michael Ryan, a former church warden, informed BBC Radio Sussex: “If we lose the paintings, we will lose the general arrangement that the building provides.” Mr. Ryan expressed hope that the church’s inclusion on the heritage at risk register would contribute to increased public awareness and facilitate the acquisition of funds to prevent further degradation of the paintings. He attributes their fading to the presence of moisture within the church. He further stated: “I’ve seen an enormous change in the time I’ve been here. The paintings are fading rapidly because of the loss of pigment.” Historic England commented that these paintings represent some of the earliest and most comprehensive surviving examples in England. The Roman Painted House in Dover, comprising the remnants of a mansion from the early 3rd Century AD, is another location appended to the organization’s register. This structure would have offered lodging in Roman Dover, then called Dubris, for travelers conducting official affairs. Discovered in the 1970s, the site was added to the register, according to Historic England, due to the swift degradation of its surrounding protective structure. Saltdean Lido, situated near Brighton, East Sussex, is among the eighteen sites that have been removed from the register. This Art Deco building, constructed in the 1930s, was in disrepair and faced potential demolition for residential development in 2010 before local residents intervened to preserve it. Currently, the building features a café, a library, and venues for events, available for public use. A total of 446 entries remain on the heritage at risk register within the South East region. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.