Historic England has added 138 buildings to its Heritage at Risk Register for 2025, meaning they are under threat from ‘decay, neglect or inappropriate development’.
They include a cherished Italian-style pergola on Hampstead Heath in London and the ‘birthplace of vaccination’ in the Garden of the Chantry in Gloucestershire.
There’s also a rare church dedicated to a saint known for the gift of healing and an ancient Roman settlement on the Isle of Wight.
The charity urges the public to show their support for these fascinating places, which are now at serious risk and need saving due to neglecting and underfunding.
And the Daily Mail’s new interactive map reveals where the nearest ones are to you in the country to help you plan a visit.
‘The heritage we see all around us impacts how we feel about our local places,’ said Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-CEOs of Historic England.
‘The annual Heritage at Risk Register gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of bringing our historic buildings back into use. The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them, turning them into places of local connection and joy.’
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. The good news is 129 sites have been removed from the register for 2025 because their ‘futures have been secured’, putting the overall total of England’s at-risk sites at 4,891.
Historic England has added 138 buildings to its Heritage at Risk Register for 2025, including a cherished Italian-style pergola on Hampstead Heath in London (pictured) and the ‘birthplace of vaccination’ in the Garden of the Chantry in Gloucestershire
The Daily Mail takes a closer look at five of the 138 sites newly added to the Heritage at Risk Register for 2025.
The Hill Garden Pergola, Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath must be one of trendiest meeting spots in London, but its iconic Hill Garden Pergola is easily missed.
The beautiful hidden terrace inspired by the Italian Renaissance was constructed by architect Thomas Mawson for the the wealthy Lord Leverhulme. It’s accompanied by a beautiful, landscaped garden, filled with elaborate vines and exotic flowers.
But according to Historic England, the picturesque Georgian structure, now nearly 125 years old, is staring to show its age.
Some of the materials used to create the Pergola are starting to deteriorate due to age and weathering, while the vegetation needs continued attention.
According to the charity, a conservation strategy is now being developed to save the Hill Garden Pergola following its addition to the Heritage at Risk Register.
Entry is free all year round, but essential maintenance work is currently taking place at the Pergola making some areas inaccessible.
Visiting the Hill Garden Pergola of Hampstead Heath feels like stepping into the Italy countryside with its unique architecture and lush landscapes
Historic England’s interactive map shows all 4,891 of England’s at-risk sites including the 138 newly added for 2025
Dr Jenner’s Hut in the Garden of the Chantry, Berkeley, Gloucestershire
It may look like something from The Hobbit, but this small, rustic hut holds a remarkable place in Britain’s medical history.
On May 14, 1796, Dr Edward Jenner performed the first ever vaccinations against smallpox the hut, located in the garden of The Chantry house in Gloucestershire.
The legendary Gloucestershire doctor, known today as the father of immunology, is credited for saving more lives than any other human.
It was from this hut that he pioneered his theory of vaccination, carrying out trials of his vaccine and giving free vaccinations to the district’s poor.
Also known as the ‘Temple of Vaccinia’, English Heritage calls it the ‘birthplace of vaccination and immunology’.
Sadly, is currently in poor condition with its thatched roof almost bare at the ridge, while ‘urgent’ work is also required to repair the rear wall and chimney.
Both the hut and the larger grade II* listed 18th-century house which it adjoins are open Sunday to Wednesday each week with no pre-booking required, entry costing £9.
The birthplace of vaccination and immunology: It may look like something from The Hobbit, but this small, rustic hut in Gloucestershire holds a remarkable place in Britain’s medical history
Brading Roman Villa Hypocaust, Sandown, Isle of Wight
Brading Roman Villa, eastern Isle of Wight, is generally considered one of the finest Roman sites in the UK.
Construction of the site dates back to around AD 100 – not long after the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43.
It has one of the few surviving examples of Roman heating in Britain – a system known as a ‘hypocaust’ that circulated hot air through the walls and under the floors.
This hypocaust, used in bath-houses and heated rooms, is an example of the ingenuity of the Romans when it came to creating new domestic systems.
At its height during the 4th century, Brading Roman Villa was home to a family of wealth and importance – but who any of them were is a mystery.
When the hypocaust was finally excavated in the 1880s, it was decided to erect a small building over it, but this is currently failing and in need of repair or replacement.
The historically-significant remains are constantly under threat from exposure to the environment and burrowing animals.
The underfloor system, supported by small columns, would have circulated hot air to warm the rooms. The protective building around it is now at risk and its shelter needs repair
Brading Roman Villa is described as one of the finest Roman sites in the UK. Today it has a visitor centre, gift shop and café. In this bird’s-eye view, the hypocaust is the small pink-roofed building to the right
Today, the ancient site is home to a visitors centre with a museum, costing £14.60 to enter, along with a gift shop and café.
Church of St Wendreda, March, Cambridgeshire
St Wendreda’s is the only UK church dedicated to Wendreda, the 7th century Anglo-Saxon princess saint known for the gift of healing and even supposedly performing miracles.
For centuries, Britons have flocked to the holy building dating back to the 14th-century in the hope her spirit can heal ailments.
St Wendreda’s has a stunning and ‘irreplaceable’ double hammerbeam roof dating from 1523-26 that features 118 intricately carved oak angels and saints in two tiers.
But it is suffering from severe structural issues that threaten its survival.
Sadly, the stunning roof of this medieval church is at risk from collapse and the church bells can no longer be rung due to safety concerns.
Church representatives are engaged in an ambitious fundraising campaign to raise the estimated £250,000 needed for essential repairs.
Church of St Wendreda, March, Cambridgeshire: The stunning roof of this medieval church is at risk from collapse
Inside the Cambridgeshire church is the angel roof with 118 intricately carved oak angels and saints in celebration of St Wendreda
Buildings 26 And 21 At Cromford Mills, Mill Lane, Cromford, Derbyshire
Lastly, Cromford Mills in Derbyshire’s Derwent Valley is the world’s first successful water-powered cotton spinning mill, constructed in 1771.
English inventor Richard Arkwright built several mill buildings and created an early industrial community at Cromford, the forerunner of the textile mills across the world.
However, newly at risk at the site are Buildings 26 and 21 – a pair of cottages constructed in around 1780, perhaps to house mill workers on call, which are now in ‘very poor condition’.
Historic England has awarded a grant of around £25,000 for project development work at Cromford ‘which will include surveys and a feasibility study of potential sustainable new uses’, it said.
The charity stresses that being added to the Heritage at Risk Register 2025 is a good thing because it draws attention to places in need of support.
Buildings 26 and 21, a pair of white cottages constructed in around 1780 at Cromford Mill, are in ‘very poor condition’ and need saving
In total, there are now 4,891 entries on the register and the public can visit the Historic England’s website to see which one is nearby.
As well as giving them a visit, the public can offer support by getting involved in local community groups, connecting people to raise awareness and funds.
Historic England also reveals that 129 sites have been added to its ‘saved’ list, meaning they are no longer on the register.
Among them are Papplewick Pumping Station, a grand Victorian structure north of Nottingham built in 1881 that provided clean water to the city until it was decommissioned in 1969.
Also saved is the Grade II listed public toilets near Bruce Grove station in Tottenham, which now offers a brand new community space.
The Bruce Grove toilets were built around the First World War at a time when more women were out working and there was therefore a greater demand for public conveniences.
The renovation not only lets visitors do their business in the same spot as our war heroes a century ago, but now features a slick modern café.
And there’s the Rockingham Kiln near Rotherham, a rare bottle-shaped building dating from 1815 that was a key part of the production centre for the famous Rockingham Pottery.
Historic England also reveals that 129 sites have been added to its ‘saved’ list, meaning they are no longer on the register, including Rockingham Kiln (left) and Papplewick Pumping Station (right)
The Grade II listed public toilets near Bruce Grove station have been restored and reopened. The building now has a café, community space and new public toilets
Rockingham Kiln, a once internationally renowned porcelain works, produced flamboyant items for royalty and aristocracy, including King William IV.
Another saved site is Well Meadow Street Conservation Area, a 19th century site in Sheffield comprising several buildings that made the city a powerhouse for steel production.
The charity also reveals that the No.7 Bottle Shop, a Grade II listed building and Scheduled Monument in St Helens, Merseyside that made glass from 1886, is ‘making progress and could soon be saved too.
‘The sites that have been saved and have come off the Register this year really highlight the benefits of working together in partnership, and with communities, to create positive, sustainable change,’ said Kenyatta and Squire.
‘Together we can safeguard our heritage for future generations.’
