Full list of West Midlands landmarks at risk of being lost including popular castle and school

Historic buildings across the West Midlands and Birmingham are at risk of being lost forever - including a popular and much-loved castle and former city grammar school. Historic England’s 'Heritage at Risk' register for 2024 revealed dozens landmarks across the region were at risk of falling into disrepair as a result of neglect or decay.

For 2024, 13 sites were added to the at risk register in the West Midlands and 12 sites were saved. In total, there are 399 entries on the Heritage at Risk Register in the West Midlands in 2024, which is one more than in 2023.

Historic England shared the full list with BirminghamLive, which includes a Birmingham grammar school, famous castle and boatyard once home to a British pre-eminent canal engineer. The attractions in question are spread out across Birmingham, Tamworth, Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire.

READ MORE: 13 West Midlands landmarks at risk of being lost including famous castle and city school

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13 new West Midlands landmarks at risk - Historic England

1) Church of St Michael, Ufton in Warwickshire - Significant repairs are required to the roof and there is an exceptionally high level of damp resulting from the roof issues, inadequate and broken rainwater goods, underground drainage, and lack of ventilation.

2) Kings Norton Old Grammar School in Birmingham - A new entry onto the register for this year is Kings Norton Old Grammar School, which won the BBC's Restoration programme 20 years ago. With parts dating from the early 15th century, the half-timbered building was probably built as a priest’s house, before being remodelled in the 17th century and put into use as a school. When Emmeline Pankhurst was on trial at the Old Bailey in 1913, her supporters around the country unleashed a wave of arson against public buildings, however they spared the school. More on that, here.

3) City walls between Angel Place and Bath Cottage in Worcester - Approximate 30m stretch of Worcester’s medieval city wall is at risk. There has been good progress in designing a permanent solution after a wall collapse and works to complete repairs and reinstate the historic fabric are anticipated during the second half of 2024

4) Crompton Tomb, metres south west of Church of St Michael, Church Street in Staffordshire - Tomb of William Crompton, d.1603, and his wife, d.1626 with effigies. The effigies have lost a significant amount of fabric

5) Holy Trinity Church Birmingham - Victorian Gothic church by JA Chatwin built in 1864 in red Hollington stone and sandstone string courses. Church was in very poor condition but after a National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant in 2018 major high level repairs to the nave roof were carried out. However aisles roofs have reached the end of their life now, rainwater leaking into the building and generally the church is poorly maintained

6) Church of St James Southam - Parish Church dating from C14 with C16 and C17 alterations. The South aisle roof covering is leaking and the ceiling inside has partially collapsed

7) Church of All Saints, Broad Street, Worcester - A church was first recorded on the site in 1125, but probably on the site of a Saxon church. The Norman church was rebuilt in the 15th Century

8) Tamworth Castle - One of the best-preserved motte-and-bailey castles in England which has a history of structural movement and extensive repairs are needed. Tamworth Borough Council funded an initial phase of Curtain Walling repairs in 2023 and Historic England has awarded funds for structural and other investigations to inform the process of broader repairs

9) The Museum, Enville Hall, Enville - Internally there are issues of detached plasterwork, and there is a lack of general maintenance. The development of a strategy is required.

10) Former Chapel of St Silas, Herefordshire - Small chapel of three bays, and a nave and chancel. Rebuilt between 1865 and 1867 with the addition of south porch and bellcote. The nave roof is C14 and the roof is covered with sandstone slates in poor condition

11) Blacksmith's and Joiner's Shop and canal depot in Shropshire - Built in 1806 and attributed to canal engineers Thomas Telford and William Jessop, the yard remains in use as a maintenance facility and is the best-preserved canal workshop site in Britain

12) The Timber store at Shropshire canal depot

13) Chatterley Whitfield: Hesketh Heapstead in Stoke-on-Trent - Chatterley Whitfield Hesketh Heapstead was constructed in 1915-17. The Hesketh shaft was the last shaft to be sunk at the colliery. The whole colliery site is now vacant and these buildings are in very poor condition. The council are continuing to explore longer term proposals which include reuse of the site

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England said: “Heritage is so important to the West Midlands It plays a vital role in our society and boosts the regional economy.

"This year, we have seen partners and communities come together to help save the historic buildings and places that need it the most. It’s inspirational to see how we can harness the power of our heritage to benefit local people across the West Midlands. Together, we can save our places and find new ways to enjoy the heritage that people value so much.”