BRADFORD Civic Society has welcomed the spotlight on Bradford after 27 of its important listed buildings and conservation areas - including a battlefield - made their way onto Historic England's 'At Risk' register for 2019.

The public body has revealed the historic sites most at risk of being lost forever as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development. The register provides an annual snapshot of the critical health of England’s most valued historic places, and those most at risk of being lost.

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The announcement has been met with a favourable response from Bradford Civic Society chairman Si Cunningham, who said it helped flag up sites in danger and showed where funding was needed.

There are many success stories around Bradford, such as the city centre, the former Odeon, Lister Mills etc, where work is going on to listed buildings and in conservation areas, helping preserve them for the future" - Si Cunningham, Bradford Civic Society

He said: "I very much welcome the fact these have been added to the list by Historic England.

"Bradford has a disproportionately high number of conservation areas, the highest number for a district - I am told - outside London, and this means more of our buildings are deemed at risk which presents a bit of a challenge and something of a balancing act.

"Having these added to the list brings them to the fore and helps us focus on where funds need to be diverted.

"Funding has all but dried up for local councils so we are looking at other sources such as voluntary funding, asset transfers etc. There are many success stories around Bradford, such as the city centre, the former Odeon, Lister Mills etc, where work is going on to listed buildings and in conservation areas, helping preserve them for the future."

Some of the sites listed include:

  • Church of St Saviour, Fairweather Green, designed by architect George Pace. This is a complete and largely unaltered example of Pace's work. The asphalt roof and windows are in very poor condition.
     
  • Bradford Synagogue, Bowland Street. Dated 1880 to 1881 in the Moorish revival style by Francis and Thomas Healey. Repair works to the roofs and rainwater goods were carried out in 2015. An outbreak of dry rot has been treated and the building is being monitored to ensure that it does not recur.
     
  • Feversham Street First School, a Gothic Revival style school of 1873 commissioned by the Bradford School Board in response to the 1870 Elementary Education Act and designed by Lockwood and Mawson. It closed as a school in 1993 and its condition has subsequently deteriorated. Roofs are in very poor condition.
     
  • The Church of St John, Wakefield Road, dates to 1842 and was built at the expense of the Bowling Iron Company. The architects, RH and S Sharpe of York, were assisted by Fred Stott, works engineer at the Bowling Foundry.
     
  • Leventhorpe Hall, Thornton Road, is a late 17th century house with 19the century additions. The roof structure is intact but at risk of further decay and eventual collapse. All the windows require replacement. The Hall forms part of a group of historic buildings that includes two grade II listed barns.
     
  • Adwalton Moor, Drighlington, was the site of the 1643 battle during the English Civil War on moorland outside Bradford in which some 14,000 men fought and gave control of the north of England to the Royalists. The battlefield faces various development pressures. Historic England is advising local planning authorities on managing these issues through their respective Local Plans.

Other at-risk buildings include: 

  • St Paul's Church, Kirkgate,
  • Manningham Mill ancillary buildings and boiler house
  • Calverley Old Hall, Calverley
  • Catstones Ring on Catstones Hill, Cullingworth

Other at-risk conservation areas include:

  • Idle and The Green,
  • Thornton
  • Great Horton
  • Little Horton Lane
  • Heaton Estates 
  • Goitside
  • North Park Road
  • Apsley Crescent, Manningham
  • Southfield Square, Manningham

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