Newark and Sherwood’s decaying churches, country houses and historic hotels remain on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register
Just one new entry from the district has been added to this year’s Heritage at Risk Register — but a number of historic buildings remain in a state of decay.
From churches to country houses, a number of Newark and Sherwood’s buildings have been identified by Historic England as being in disrepair or declining states — while others are on the road to recovery.
One new building in the district has been added to the register, an 18th century Grade II listed building now known as Porters, which was formerly a printing press where Lord Byron’s first published work was produced.
The listing encompasses the entire building of 27 and 28, Market Place, and 1, 3, 5, Bridge Street, and is experiencing slow decay due to the poor condition of the roof, and no solution has yet been agreed.
The issues where identified during a survey as part of a recent High Street Heritage Action Zone project, which also investigated brining the vacant upper floors back into use.
Also among the inclusions on the 2024 list, published by the government department last week, is Newark Parish Church.
Dating back to 1180, the church, also known as the Church of St Mary Magdalene, has been listed as category B, a decrease in severity from its category A listing last year.
It remains at immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric, but a solution for its repair has been agreed and is to be implemented.
Issues affecting the church include leaking roofs, missing rainwater goods, poor high level parapets and open jointed stonework, as well as broken window panes.
The building had also been the victim of heritage crime.
A year-long closure began on November 11, for the £3m 'Reawakening of St Mary Magdalene' project works to begin, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
These works will protect the landmark for future generations, and breathe new life into the visitor experience — as well as completing the vital repairs needed to remove it from the register.
Other churches which remain on the register include:
- The Church of St Margaret, Bilsthorpe, which is suffering from masonry decay
- Church of All Saints, Hawton, which is suffering slow decay as further repairs to roofs, rainwater goods, parapets and masonry are required following urgent repairs to the bell frame, tower, flooring and belfry which have been completed
- Church of St Mary, Kilvington, due to damp-related decay
- Church of St Giles, Holme, which is in fair condition with a repair scheme recently completed
- Church of St Nicholas, Hockerton, which has had a repair scheme and new use agreed but not yet implemented
- Church of St John, Perlethorpe cum Budby, which is in very bad condition due to extensive and severe salt damage and stone decay
- Church of St Wilfrid, North Muskham, which has been subject to heritage crime and requires considerable masonry repairs to its tower.
A number of other notable buildings in Newark, Ollerton, Southwell and Upton also remain on the at risk register.
In Newark, the former White Hart Hotel in the Market Place is listed and is in poor condition. The building is suffering from slow decay with no solution agreed.
The 14th century building’s lower floors have been vacant for around two years, while its upper floors have been vacant for a decade, and a lack of maintenance and gutter clearing has led to areas of severe water ingress, which threaten the historic timber frame and vacancy has exacerbated high internal moisture levels.
Historic England and Newark and Sherwood District Council are working with the building’s owner to address the issues and find a viable new use.
In Ollerton, the 18th century country house Ollerton Hall has been decreased in severity from category C to D, as it continues to see slow decay, but a solution has been agreed.
Planning permission has been granted to transform the building into eight flats, approved in 2023, and an agreement is being reached with a new developer for the scheme to go ahead.
Some repairs to the building have been carried out in the meantime.
Part of another historic hotel, the North Range at Southwell’s Saracen’s Head has also been included on the list once again.
It remains in the same ranking as previously, experiencing slow decay, with some repairs to the north elevation still required.
Repairs to south elevation have been completed.
The unoccupied wing dates to the 15th century, and has suffered collapse of the lime ash floor and structural movement.
It has received grant support from Historic England's covid-19 Emergency Heritage at Risk Response Fund.
In nearby Upton, 19th century country house Upton Hall has no solution agreed to combat its slow decay, although some minor repairs have been made.
Currently used by the British Horological Institute as offices and as a museum, the hall is suffering from internal dampness and signs of active dry rot due to the poor condition of some roof features.
The adjacent stables and courtyard structures are in very poor condition and at significant risk of loss, according to Historic England.
The Heritage at Risk list also features a number of privately owned archaeological sites, primarily vulnerable to arable ploughing, as well as the Ossington sundial, which has experienced some decay and loss of detail.
No listings from the district have been removed from the register, and just one Nottinghamshire entry has been removed this year — the Church of St Giles, Cropwell Bishop — after undergoing repair work.
Other Rushcliffe entries include:
- Parish Church of St Andrew, Langar, where a repair scheme is in progress
- Church of St Mary, Orston, where the church tower is suffering from movement
- The Conservatory at Flintham Hall, Flintham, which has ventilation problems and water ingress causing the structure to deteriorate, although a repair scheme is in progress.
Also listed is the Margidunum Roman Station archaeological site, encompassing parts of Bingham, Car Colston, East Bridgford, and Newton, which is vulnerable to arable ploughing.
The borough has seen no new entries to the register this year.
