CONSERVATION areas in the Bridgnorth area are under threat from neglect, decay and damaging development, according to a new report from English Heritage.
And several ancient monuments, buildings and other sites also have uncertain futures according to the 2009 ‘Heritage at Risk’ register. English Heritage is campaigning to get residents, local groups and councils to work together to preserve the sites before it is too late.
The preservation body says that UPVC plastic windows and doors as well as infill development is detracting from Stottesdon’s historic centre – a situation which is also evident at Beckbury.
English Heritage also has Shifnal in its sights, focussing on the poor state of the former magistrates’ court building, poor quality infill development and plastic windows in the town’s conservation area. It adds that it expects an improvement.
Plastic windows replacing traditional sash ones and quarry waste are affecting Quatford which includes the historic St Mary’s Church and Danery Inn. The report also spotlights Neenton, where it explains timber-framed buildings are in a ‘very poor state of repair’.
It points out that the former Pheasant pub is now closed and there is a lack of any economic activity in Neenton and the deterioration of recent years is ‘not expected to stop’.
A long terrace of 19th century houses, which were occupied by miners at Clee View, Highley have, say English Heritage, had their original front doors replaced with modern four-panel patterns and more than a third of the original windows have been removed and replaced with UPVC.
Buildings and monuments at risk include the soft sandstone Hermitage caves at Bridgnorth, which includes a medieval chapel, where there is a need to consider a strategy to protect its future.
Number 48 Mill Street, Bridgnorth – a three-storey building which forms part of commercial premises used as an antique centre and which fronts the road – is in “poor” condition. It was built in about 1675.
A mainly 15th century barn by Hall Farmhouse, Aston Eyre is also listed, but the report says that repairs, which will take a number of years, have started.
Charlecotte Furnace is a 17th century blast furnace at Aston Botterell, where a scheme of urgent repairs is subject to further approval.
Over at Shifnal, Roman camps south-west of Stoneyford Cottages and a Roman fort which is 300 metres east of Drayton Lodge Farm are both vulnerable due to arable ploughing.
And the Castle Hill motte and bailey at Tong is ‘generally satisfactory’, but with significant erosion.
