The most recent ‘at risk’ register lists 25 local buildings from across the Portsmouth area including brickworks, military buildings and boatyard buildings and outlines the action needed to preserve these historical gems.
The full ‘at risk’ register can be found on Historic England’s website.
The ones in our area are:
. Buildings 'at risk' across the Portsmouth area
A number of buildings across the area are on Historic England's 'at risk' register Photo: Contributed
. Church of St Luke, Greetham Street, Portsmouth
The Neo-Norman church by Thomas Hellyer of Ryde is dated 1858-61and is built of flint and stone with a Welsh slate roof. It is at risk due to extensive damp problems caused by water ingress resulting mainly from faulty and undersized rainwater goods. Cementitious repointing worsens the damp problems. Plans are in the pipeline to ‘transform’ the St Luke’s church car park into a garden and café as part of an overall project to improve the building and surrounding area which it is hoped will also address the outstanding repair issues. Photo: Google Maps
. Iron and Brass Foundry, Victoria Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth
The iron foundry and smithery was built 1857-1861, by Col GT Greene RE and Andrew Murray, Chief Engineer; extended 1878, with later alterations and the main part of the building was converted to office use in 2003. The east wing (Building 1/136) remains unused and at risk, Historic England says. There were concerns over drainage and regular flooding of the building but this has been resolved. Photo: Contributed
. Church of St Cuthbert, Hayling Avenue, Portsmouth
Built in 1914-15 by E Stanley Hall, the original east end apse was destroyed by bombing, and the present east end wall is a post-war reconstruction. This has been remodelled in the last 10 years to provide community facilities and the present church sits in the western two bays of the former nave of the church only. The roofs over the worship space and the bell tower are in poor condition. A National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Places of Worship scheme grant was used to develop the project, but funding for repairs has yet to be found. Photo: Google Maps
. Fort Fareham, Newgate Lane, Fareham
The Royal Commission fort was built in 1861 and is the only one of three proposed 'Gosport Outer Line' forts built due to defence cuts. It was intended to be part of a further line of defence to the already completed 'Gosport Advanced Line' of Forts Elson, Brockhurst, Rowner, Grange and Gomer, built to defend Portsmouth Harbour. Historic England say the fort is suffering from decay and heritage crime in parts, however the interior of the Fort functions as a business and industrial estate. Photo: Google Maps
. The Parade, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth
The terrace of dockyard officers' lodgings was built in 1715-19 and was partially converted to office use but is now empty. Historic England said it was prone to wet rot and some structural movement and some structural and drainage problems persist between the main building and the rear extensions. There is extensive decay in panelling and some plaster ceilings have collapsed, it said. An extensive programme of repair is underway and the roof has been reslated and the gutters repaired. Further works are planned. Photo: Google Maps
. Fort Purbrook, Portsdown Hill
Fort Purbrook is one of a series of forts built for the defence of Portsmouth against landward attacks in the 1860s and known as Palmerston's Follies as they were never used defensively. It is now used by the Peter Ashley Activity Centres as an outdoor activities centre which is popular with many in the community. The wrought iron bridges have been repaired with funding from the Heritage Stimulus Fund and a structural survey and vegetation management plan through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Problems related to the drainage of the ramparts and maintenance of the moat's retaining walls put it at risk, Historic England said. Photo: Robert Pragnell
. Fort Southwick, Portsdown Hill
The 1860s fort is part of the Palmerston Portsmouth defences and Historic England say that parts of the monument are in poor condition. Following disposal by Defence Estates, the site is now operated by an estate management company as a business park with a number of different companies operating from the site - including for a park and ride site for staff working at QA. Historic England say the new owners have carried out some repairs but more are needed, together with a carefully planned maintenance regime. Photo: Google Maps
. Church of St Mary, Fratton Road, Portsmouth
The church was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and built of flint and Bath stone with plain tile roofs between 1887-9. The church has received significant grant aid from Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund in three phases and this has dealt with some of the roofs and tower. Recent repairs to the building fabric have been carried out in connection with the Organ Project but further repairs are required including to the roofs, south clerestory and chancel windows. Photo: Google Maps
. Fort Widley, Portsdown Hill
Fort Widley is one of a series of forts built for the defence of Portsmouth against landward attacks in the1860s and known as Palmerston's Follies as they were never used defensively. It is laid out in a massive polygonal trace plan and surrounded on three sides by a dry moat. The fort is run by the Peter Ashley Activity Centre which uses the site as its equestrian centre. Maintenance issues are now becoming repair problems, Historic England. A structural survey of the counterscarp wall and a vegetation management plan has been funded through Countryside Stewardship. Photo: Google Maps
1. Buildings 'at risk' across the Portsmouth area
A number of buildings across the area are on Historic England's 'at risk' register Photo: Contributed
2. Church of St Luke, Greetham Street, Portsmouth
The Neo-Norman church by Thomas Hellyer of Ryde is dated 1858-61and is built of flint and stone with a Welsh slate roof. It is at risk due to extensive damp problems caused by water ingress resulting mainly from faulty and undersized rainwater goods. Cementitious repointing worsens the damp problems. Plans are in the pipeline to ‘transform’ the St Luke’s church car park into a garden and café as part of an overall project to improve the building and surrounding area which it is hoped will also address the outstanding repair issues. Photo: Google Maps
3. Iron and Brass Foundry, Victoria Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth
The iron foundry and smithery was built 1857-1861, by Col GT Greene RE and Andrew Murray, Chief Engineer; extended 1878, with later alterations and the main part of the building was converted to office use in 2003. The east wing (Building 1/136) remains unused and at risk, Historic England says. There were concerns over drainage and regular flooding of the building but this has been resolved. Photo: Contributed
4. Church of St Cuthbert, Hayling Avenue, Portsmouth
Built in 1914-15 by E Stanley Hall, the original east end apse was destroyed by bombing, and the present east end wall is a post-war reconstruction. This has been remodelled in the last 10 years to provide community facilities and the present church sits in the western two bays of the former nave of the church only. The roofs over the worship space and the bell tower are in poor condition. A National Lottery Heritage Fund Grants for Places of Worship scheme grant was used to develop the project, but funding for repairs has yet to be found. Photo: Google Maps