They believe it will help prevent the building of turbines so close to Upton
Cressett, an area they say has been “unspoilt and untouched” for more than
800 years.

The case is the latest in the tense stand-off between wind farm developers,
driven by a government push for vast increases in the number of turbines,
and those who oppose them – saying they are eyesores, and ineffective at
generating clean energy.

Upton Cressett Hall, near Bridgnorth, Shropshire, is a combination of 14th
century great hall and Elizabethan manor, which was praised by Nikolaus
Pevsner, in his gazetteer of English architecture, as “remarkable” and by
Sir John Betjeman, the former poet laureate as “beautiful”.

In its long history it is said to have been a stopping place in 1483 for
Edward V on his way to the Tower of London where he would meet his death,
while its Elizabethan gateway was, according to local legend, a hiding place
for Prince Rupert, the Royalist cavalry commander, during the Civil War.

In 1970, fallen into disrepair, it became the family home of Bill Cash, who
was drawn by its unspoilt views and who set about restoring it.

But last year a new threat to its future emerged, a plan for a local wind
farm.

The proposal to erect the two 255ft high turbines on farm land overlooking
Upton Cressett’s gatehouse is by Crida Community Wind, an organisation whose
members include two local wind energy co-operatives, Sustainable Bridgnorth
and Sharenergy.

No formal planning application has yet been submitted, but work has begun on
measuring wind speeds in the area to work out how much electricity could be
generated.

The news of the wind farm proposal prompted a campaign, led by Mr Cash’s son
William, a magazine publisher, to protect the hall.

Now he has achieved a victory by having English Heritage declare the hall,
gatehouse and church a monument.

To acquire Grade I listed status buildings or monuments must be deemed to have
“exceptional architectural merit”.

The listing will, he believes, make it far more difficult for wind turbines to
be built nearby, after a precedent was set when a planning inspector ruled
that the views of another Grade I listed house must not be harmed by
turbines.

The application for a wind farm to be erected around a mile from Kimbolton
Castle, in Huntingdonshire, the former royal palace of Catherine of Aragon,
was rejected at an appeal hearing when the inspector described the historic
buildings as of “very significant heritage value”.

He ruled that, viewed from the Robert Adam Grade I gatehouse, the “turbines
would be a modern, elevated, intrusive feature in the countryside to the
north seen from many parts of the grounds that would be difficult to avoid
in interpreting the setting of these buildings.”

Mr Cash said that he and others would now be using this ruling, and that he
expected it to prevent development near Upton Cressett. English Heritage
says that such status should be treated with importance in the planning
process.

If the tactic is successful it will encourage campaigners who fear that the
spread of turbines across the country threatens the setting of other
historic houses.

Mr Cash said: “The landscape and ancient buildings around Upton Cressett have
been unspoilt and untouched by developers for well over 800 years.

“In addition, the hamlet includes an important part of the Jack Mytton
Way, Shropshire’s flagship tourist trail for riders, walkers and cyclists.

“I hope attaining Grade I listed status puts an end to any misconceived and
dangerous idea of straddling the Jack Mytton Way with two giant industrial
wind turbines.

“We now have three Grade I listed buildings and three scheduled ancient
monuments at the settlement of Upton Cressett.

“I hope this new statutory designation sends out a clear
government-endorsed message that Upton Cressett is one of Shropshire’s
special heritage assets and deserves full protection, so the asset can be
enjoyed by both tourists visiting Shropshire and the local community.”

The wind farms are also being opposed by Philip Dunne, defence minister and MP
for Ludlow.

He said: “I sincerely hope the developers will now have the good sense to drop
the proposed wind farm proposal in the light of the clear message sent out
by English Heritage with regards to the importance of protecting
Shropshire’s historic landscape and hills.

“It would seriously threaten the historic tourism and equestrian holiday
industry that is so important to Shropshire’s economy.”

A spokesman for Crida Community Wind said: “The site and turbines have been
carefully chosen to minimise impact on landscape, wildlife, noise and other
concerns.

“We estimate that the turbines will produce around 10 per cent of the
electricity used by households in Bridgnorth.”

It said the turbines would be owned by a co-operative open to anyone with a
minimum investment of £250.

The income from the turbines would return to the members of the co-operative.
Furthermore a fund of £10,000 would be set up for spending on local
community projects, it added.