Brighton and Hove sites at risk of being lost for ever

Historic England’s most recent Heritage at Risk Register shows there were 19 historic sites in the city listed as heritage at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development as of November 2023, when records were last updated.

These included eleven listed buildings, two parks and gardens and six conservation areas.

The register “gives an annual snapshot of the health of England’s valued historic buildings and places”.

Across the country there were 4,871 heritage buildings and sites considered at risk.

While the register saw 159 new additions over the last year, 203 sites were removed for positive reasons such as repairs done or the overall management has been improved.

There was one Brighton and Hove historic site removed from the register last year, but none were added.

The Royal Pavilion Gardens are included in the list (Image: The Argus)

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The historic sites in the city listed as being at risk are:

1.           Benfield barn

2.           Church of All Saints, Eaton Road, Hove

3.           53, Brunswick Square, Hove

4.           Church of St Patrick, Cambridge Road, Hove

5.           The West Pier, Kings Road, Brighton

6.           Church of St Paul, West Street, Brighton

7.           Hippodrome, 52-58, Middle Street, Brighton

8.           Old Town

9.           Marlborough House, 54, Old Steine, Brighton

10.        The Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton

11.        Church of St Peter, St Peters Place, Brighton

12.        Valley Gardens

13.        Church of St Mary the Virgin, St James's Street, Kemp Town, Brighton

14.        East Cliff

15.        Madeira Terrace and Madeira Walk and Lift Tower and Related Buildings, Madeira Drive, Brighton

16.        Stanmer, Brighton and Hove

17.        Stanmer Park

18.        Round barrow south of Ditchling Beacon

19.        Saltdean Lido, Marine Drive, Saltdean

Of all the buildings and sites on the register nationally, 789 were assessed to be in a very bad condition, while the most – 1,707 were in a poor condition.

Saltdean Lido (Image: The Argus)

Of these, no solution was agreed for 549 in a ‘immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric’. There was also no solution agreed for 1,019 sites suffering from ‘slow decay’.

In Brighton and Hove, there were eight historic sites deemed to be in a very bad condition. These included:

• East Cliff
• Old Town
• Valley Gardens
• Stanmer
• Church of St Mary the Virgin
• Madeira Terrace and Madeira Walk and Lift Tower
• The West Pier
• Benfield Barn

Historic England said around 6,800 historic sites have been rescued over the past 25 years – equivalent to around three-quarters of the entries on the original register from 1998.

Chief executive Duncan Wilson said: “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.”

Arts and heritage minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said: “I look forward to the new additions to the register receiving similar care and attention so that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from our rich heritage for years to come.”