Historic English Sites, Including Ancient Castle and School, Added to At-Risk Register

Historic England’s most recent at-risk register now includes Tamworth Castle, a Grade I-listed structure over 1,600 years old. This castle, which served as a residence for Mercian kings prior to its 11th-century reconstruction by the Normans, is recognized as one of England’s most well-preserved motte-and-bailey castles and is among 13 new additions from the West Midlands to the register. The Grade II*-listed Kings Norton Old Grammar School in Birmingham, which won BBC2’s Restoration Live in 2004, has also been identified as being at risk. Historic England (HE) reported that the 2024 Heritage at Risk Register features a total of 399 entries within the West Midlands, with £1.1 million allocated for necessary repairs. HE states that the comprehensive national list offers an overview of the condition of significant properties and locations throughout England. According to HE, Tamworth Castle has been depicted in J.M.W Turner’s paintings, mentioned in Sir Walter Scott’s writings, and has operated as a museum for visitors since 1899. Its inclusion on the register stems from structural instability, necessitating substantial repair work. The Kings Norton school also boasts a significant history, including surviving an arson attack in 1913. During the same year, as Emmeline Pankhurst faced trial at the Old Bailey, her supporters engaged in setting fire to various buildings nationwide as a form of protest, with the school being one of their targets. Nevertheless, a note discovered on a blackboard the next morning stated: “Two Suffragists have entered here, but charmed with this old-world room, have refrained from their design of destruction.” Conversely, in the West Midlands, HE has now identified 12 sites as having been successfully preserved. Among these is Hunningham Bridge in Warwickshire, which suffered partial demolition following two collisions in 2015, and further damage from a farm vehicle crash in August. However, HE confirmed that due to repairs and the implementation of new preventative measures, the bridge has been removed from the at-risk register. Ecton Copper Mine in Staffordshire, formerly the nation’s most advanced and deepest mining location, is also now deemed secure. The completion of nearly two decades of repair efforts this year allows for its removal from the at-risk register. The Grade II*-listed Ellesmere Boatyard in Shropshire, founded in 1806 and recognized as the UK’s oldest operational canal-yard, is also facing risks. Currently serving as a base for the Canal & River Trust charity, it was placed on the at-risk list due to a Grade II*-listed timber store and engine house being considered in immediate peril of deterioration.