A dozen heritage sites across Dudley considered at risk

According to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register there were 12 historic sites in Dudley listed as heritage at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development as of November 2023, when records were last updated.

These included six listed buildings, two monuments and four conservation areas.

In total, there were 4,871 heritage buildings and sites across the country considered at risk.

In the Dudley area, there were six historic sites determined to be in a very bad condition. These were the Wollaston conservation area, Wordsley Church conservation area, the triangular crane at Bumble Hole Boat Yard, the fan house and chimney at the former New Hawne Colliery, Brierley Hill High Street and Stourbridge Branch Canal in Canal Street.

Dudley Castle (Image: Newsquest)

Also on the register is Dudley Castle, St Thomas’s Church in Dudley (Top Church), Church of St James the Great in Dudley, Church of St Edmund in Dudley (Bottom Church), Holbeche House in Wall Heath which has links to the Gunpowder Plot, and Wordsley Manor.

Liz Fuller, buildings at risk officer at SAVE Britain's Heritage, said: “It is vitally important to monitor and find new uses for historic buildings which are being neglected as they can deteriorate in condition very quickly.

“The worse the condition of the building, the more expensive it will be to bring them back into use.”

Wordsley Manor

Historic England said around 6,800 historic sites have been rescued over the past 25 years.

Chief executive Duncan Wilson added: “Protecting our heritage is so important.

“The Heritage at Risk programme shines a light on our historic sites most in need and can help to attract funding and help.

“After a quarter of a century of the Heritage at Risk Register, we are celebrating how many places have been saved and continue to find new ways to involve local people in caring for and enjoying their heritage.”

Helen Martin, director of regeneration and enterprise at Dudley Council, said: “We are fortunate to have so many assets that hold historical significance in our borough.

“As a council, we are actively involved in making suggestions to Historic England on what should be considered for inclusion on the heritage at risk register and we deal with heritage at risk cases all year round. We work closely with the Diocese of Worcester to address the Places of Worship on the register and with Historic England on the scheduled monuments, conservation areas and Grade II* listed buildings on the register.

“While it may sound alarming that local sites are placed on the heritage at risk register, it can have a positive impact. The register brings greater focus and attention on vulnerable assets and in some cases, it can open up new opportunities for funding, which can be used to help resolve issues and remove the site from the register.

“Using a combination of our planning and enforcement powers and opportunities to bid for external funding, we have not only been successful in preventing a lot of heritage assets being added to the register, but we have also managed to secure the removal of a number of heritage assets from the register. We continue to work on resolving the outstanding heritage at risk cases in the borough so they too can be removed.”