Historic England Adds New Sites to London’s At-Risk Register

Among the 26 locations across London newly included on Historic England’s at-risk register are a Jacobean mansion and a concert hall situated within a Baroque church. Charlton House, located in the Greenwich borough of south-east London, constructed in 1612 and restored after sustaining damage during the Blitz, has been placed on the register due to a leaking roof impacting its historical interior. Conversely, 25 other sites, including Abney Park Cemetery in Hackney, have been removed from the list, having been deemed safe. An additional location was delisted following a reassessment. Consequently, the heritage organization now identifies 599 sites throughout the capital as being vulnerable to neglect, deterioration, or unsuitable development. Additional sites added to the register include Smith Square Hall in Westminster, which holds a Grade-I listing. This location, initially opened in 1728 as the Church of St John the Evangelist, was converted into a concert venue in the 1960s after being decommissioned as a church due to bomb damage sustained during World War Two. Historic England stated that “issues with the historic fabric urgently need to be addressed through a programme of repair work”. The organization further noted, “Further works to services, including electrics, and improvements to space are also needed, to give the concert hall a thriving and sustainable future.” Stoke Newington Town Hall, an Art Deco structure designed by architect J. Reginald Truelove and built between 1935 and 1937, has been unoccupied for multiple years, rendering its full utilization impossible, according to Historic England. The heritage body stated that its inclusion on the register “will help to ensure that essential repairs are carried out and focus given to finding sustainable new uses”. Caroline Woodley, Mayor of Hackney, commented: “We have a strong track record of protecting our heritage buildings. However, like many councils, we’re currently facing significant financial challenges. We hope this news will showcase the potential of the building as we continue to plan for its future use.” Historic England reported that it had allocated more than £1 million in grants for repair work across 11 London sites over the past year. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, stated: “Heritage is so important to London. It’s inspirational to see how we can harness the power of our heritage to benefit local people across London. Together, we can save our places and find new ways to enjoy the heritage that people value so much.”