Project to check up on ‘at risk’ Cornish listed buildings

Posted on by Listify Me

Project to check up on ‘at risk’ Cornish listed buildings

6:00am Wednesday 6th November 2013 in News

Project to check up on ‘at risk’ Cornish listed buildings

Cornwall Council will be working with local groups and volunteers to survey the condition of 500 Grade II Listed buildings in north and south east Cornwall thanks to a grant of £18,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The Cornwall Listed Buildings at Risk project is being led by the Council’s Historic Environment service who will train more than 25 volunteers from existing groups and societies to carry out the survey.

As well as the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, five local societies – the Cornish Buildings Group, Cornwall Archaeological Society, Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust, Cornwall Heritage Trust and Caradon Archaeology – are making financial contributions and / or directly supporting the project.

The survey will take place during November and December, with the project due for completion at the end of March 2014.

The main aims of the project include building on the wealth of public interest and support for Cornwall’s heritage; giving volunteers new practical skills, and enabling volunteers, building owners and the public to learn more about the quality and diversity of historic buildings and the risks that some of them face; and raising the profile of several voluntary groups. It will also create a legacy of greater volunteer engagement in managing Cornwall’s heritage, and increase the capacity of groups to do more surveys.

“There are more than 12,820 Listed Buildings in Cornwall” said Nick Cahill, Cornwall Council’s Historic Environment Information and Policy Team Leader.

“These include milestones and bridges, churches and funerary monuments, industrial structures, domestic houses and commercial premises. Over 11,874 of these are Grade II Listed structures which have never had their condition monitored.

“The project will be focusing on north and south east Cornwall as there has been significantly less investment in heritage projects and regeneration in this area than in other parts of Cornwall. The 500 buildings are sited across a variety of locations, including one principal town and a number of smaller towns and settlements.

“Following the completion of the survey we will be able to identify possible solutions to those at risk and measure the resources needed to address this.”

Nerys Watts, from Heritage Lottery Fund said “Cornwall’s rich and varied built heritage is a key part of the character and beauty of the county. By engaging local people in surveying and learning about some of the most threatened structures, this fascinating project will ensure that they continue to be cared for and valued into the future”.

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