Heritage at Risk Register 2022 reveals what is at risk on Wirral

The Heritage at Risk (HAR) programme helps understand the overall state of England's historic sites.

The programme identifies those sites that are most at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

Every year Historic England updates the Heritage at Risk Register.

The end result is a dynamic picture of the sites most at risk and most in need of safeguarding for the future.

The Register now includes:

• Buildings and structures
• Places of worship
• Archaeology entries
• Registered parks and gardens
• Registered battlefields
• Protected wreck sites
• Conservation areas

Over the past year, 175 historic buildings and sites have been added to the Heritage at Risk Register because of their ‘deteriorating condition’.

However, it is not all bad news, with 233 sites saved and their futures secured.

According to the Heritage at Risk Register, Fort Perch Rock, Storeton Hall and Thornton Manor are all at risk for 2022.

Fort Perch Rock (Image: Creative Commons)

Also at risk in the area are Church of St James (New Brighton), Church of St Nicholas (Wallasey), Church of St Mary (Liscard), Church of St Paul (Wallasey) and Roman Catholic Church of St Michael and All Angels (Woodchurch).

St James's Church, New Brighton (Image: Creative Commons)

John Codling, Restoration manager of the Church of St James committee, said: "Even though the Church is not going to fall down, there are certainly things in the Church that are at risk.

"We have an awful lot of work to do. Things are expensive to do and we could do with someone winning the Euromillions.

"Being on the At Risk Register is something we have to accept. It's not nice to have it on the list but it does indicate that there's importance there.

"It's important we restore the heritage of it."

Hamilton Square, Clifton Park, Flaybrick Memorial Gardens and the Moated site 400 metres North East of North Hall have also made the at Risk Register.

John Moffat, Secretary and founder of the Friends of Flaybrick, told the Globe: "The term, 'At Risk', clearly suggests crumbling ruin to most people but rest assured that is not the case at Flaybrick Memorial Gardens.

"Flaybrick is the oldest cemetery on the Wirral and the chapel buildings date from 1864. Sadly, the chapels and cemetery have suffered from neglect and vandalism through the latter part of the 20th century.

"Although the Friends of Flaybrick have worked since 1993 to improve the situation they were only able to make a difference to the landscape which is now vastly improved due to their input.

"Indeed, an input that now amounts to 1500 man hours per quarter from the volunteers who work every Thursday and Saturday throughout the year. 

"When Flaybrick went onto the Heritage at Risk register everything changed and English Heritage provided the first significant funding for the buildings. With match funding by the council a £350k fund ensured that the chapels were consolidated and made safe.

"The Heritage at Risk status means that we have a case officer from English Heritage,(now Historic England) and quarterly meetings with the council. All of which gives Flaybrick a fighting chance of obtaining more funding to improve both the chapels and the surrounding landscape."

At Risk Register 2022 (Image: Historic England)

Mick Whitley, MP for Birkenhead, said: "Heritage is not simply a storage cupboard for old monuments. Heritage is what gives a place character, it educates today’s inhabitants about why a town and why buildings and monuments were created.  

"It is something that can be carried into the future regeneration of a place by being preserved, respected and enjoyed by the people of a town.

"In Birkenhead, our heritage is something to be very proud of and I urge all those who can to do all they can to preserve, restore and protect those sites that may be under threat of damage or decay. 

"I firmly believe that the commitments made back then should still be honoured today so that the buildings in the area survive as beacons of architectural achievement.”