Three Rossendale historic buildings ‘at risk’

5:30pm Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Rossendale Photograph of the Author By Chris Adams

'CRUMBLING GEM' Waterside Mill, Bacup 'CRUMBLING GEM' Waterside Mill, Bacup

THREE historic buildings in Rossendale have been identified as ‘at risk’ in a new report – the only three in Lancashire to be added to the list this year.

The catalogue, by conservation charity Save Britain’s Heritage, details 100 buildings in England and Wales in need of urgent repair.

Waterside Mill, Bacup, Waterbarn Baptist Chapel, Stacksteads and Horncliffe House, Rawtenstall are all described as the Valley’s ‘crumbling gems’.

All three buldings are Grade II listed.

And the influential charity hopes that the list will inspire suitable people to help to restore them to their former glory.

Earlier this month the Waterbarn church, built in 1847, was described as ‘dangerous’ by concerned local residents.

Their concerns followed the collapse of its roof and a surrounding wall in eight months.

Rossendale Council said that little could be done because the liability for its upkeep was entirely up to its absent owner, who is thought to live in Switzerland.

Waterside Mill, a former 173-year-old cotton mill, is still reeling from a fire that struck the building in May 2003, which ruined its roof and three of its four floors.

Prior to the fire, planning permission had been granted by the council for its conversion into flats.

But the project never materialised.

The building is not currently on the market.

Horncliffe House, formerly a retirement home and hotel, was intended to be a family home.

But emergency repairs had to be carried out in 2010 as it remained unoccupied.

The council said that it is ‘keen to see the building reoccupied.

And the council will encourage the site’s ‘sympathetic development’.

Rhiannon Tracy from Save Britain’s Heritage, said: “We focus mainly on empty and disused buildings, mainly grade IIs, that we think can be restored through a bit of enterprise.”

Comments (8)

6:43pm Wed 30 May 12

mavrick says...

Perhaps the buildings that are empty, should be brought up to standard by save Britains Heritage. By listing buildings they wrap them in so much expensive red tape that it soon becomes financially prohibitive to maintain or repair the building. these bodies while being the protector of the heritage are also the destructor's of the same heritage. they have a totally inflexible approach with the building owners as to the way forward. Buildings of national Heritage importance should never be allowed to deteriorate to such disrepair.
Perhaps the buildings that are empty, should be brought up to standard by save Britains Heritage. By listing buildings they wrap them in so much expensive red tape that it soon becomes financially prohibitive to maintain or repair the building. these bodies while being the protector of the heritage are also the destructor's of the same heritage. they have a totally inflexible approach with the building owners as to the way forward. Buildings of national Heritage importance should never be allowed to deteriorate to such disrepair. mavrick

7:42pm Wed 30 May 12

Mrs Greenkeepers Back says...

Woah, what a cool looking building. I've no doubt they will let it fall over then put a prefab industrial unit in its place. Like they have done throughout lancashire.
Woah, what a cool looking building. I've no doubt they will let it fall over then put a prefab industrial unit in its place. Like they have done throughout lancashire. Mrs Greenkeepers Back

7:53pm Wed 30 May 12

sen c bl says...

Religious buildings left to ruin is a curse upon the local inhabitants, Waterbarn Baptist Chapel.
Religious buildings left to ruin is a curse upon the local inhabitants, Waterbarn Baptist Chapel. sen c bl

8:44pm Wed 30 May 12

disgusted tunbridge wells says...

Waterside has been falling down since the 70s, nobody wants it, get it pulled down, would you buy a "Listed" building ?
Waterside has been falling down since the 70s, nobody wants it, get it pulled down, would you buy a "Listed" building ? disgusted tunbridge wells

9:50pm Wed 30 May 12

everywhere is sh1t says...

i'll live in horncliffe house,and i will take care of it
i'll live in horncliffe house,and i will take care of it everywhere is sh1t

9:45am Thu 31 May 12

Joseph O'M says...

I'd say at least 25% of East Lancashire's Historic buildings are at risk, particularly in Blackburn, especially as the vast majority aren't even listed - at least these 3 have got that protection (although it appears to have done them little good), although from that photo, Horncliffe House looks to be in good condition! Save Britain's Heritage could do much more to promote proactivity (if not becoming more proactive themselves) - suggesting "restoration through a bit of enterprise" (although it sounds good) just won't cut it round these parts as there sadly isn't the vision or the money. We all know the most likely "suggestion" would be demolition or abandonment followed by replacement with a bland nothing building. Less talk and more action needs to be taken to really save these buildings, and with cash thin on the ground, it's a very real struggle to ensure the protection of our architectural heritage. Blackburn's heritage continues to drop at an alarming rate - the Spiritualist Temple appears to be the next on the demolition list - a lovely building built as a Spiritualist Temple in 1905, still used by a devoted congregation of Spiritualists (but this unfortunately doesn't stand in the way of progress)...really sad.
I'd say at least 25% of East Lancashire's Historic buildings are at risk, particularly in Blackburn, especially as the vast majority aren't even listed - at least these 3 have got that protection (although it appears to have done them little good), although from that photo, Horncliffe House looks to be in good condition! Save Britain's Heritage could do much more to promote proactivity (if not becoming more proactive themselves) - suggesting "restoration through a bit of enterprise" (although it sounds good) just won't cut it round these parts as there sadly isn't the vision or the money. We all know the most likely "suggestion" would be demolition or abandonment followed by replacement with a bland nothing building. Less talk and more action needs to be taken to really save these buildings, and with cash thin on the ground, it's a very real struggle to ensure the protection of our architectural heritage. Blackburn's heritage continues to drop at an alarming rate - the Spiritualist Temple appears to be the next on the demolition list - a lovely building built as a Spiritualist Temple in 1905, still used by a devoted congregation of Spiritualists (but this unfortunately doesn't stand in the way of progress)...really sad. Joseph O'M

11:15am Thu 31 May 12

disgusted tunbridge wells says...

You know that Blackburn St Peter's Vicarage has been demolished ?
You know that Blackburn St Peter's Vicarage has been demolished ? disgusted tunbridge wells

11:55am Thu 31 May 12

Joseph O'M says...

disgusted tunbridge wells wrote:
You know that Blackburn St Peter's Vicarage has been demolished ?
I did know - I suppose that's what I meant by the Spiritualist Temple being next . I was very sad to see it go - it was half down by Saturday afternoon, a real loss to the architecture of that area (not that many would agree). The Vicarage, the Spiritualist Temple and the old Nurses Home made/ make Byrom Street (architecturally speaking) into a unique forgotten corner of Blackburn's (outskirt) town centre and the vicarage was the last built link to St Peter's Church. I can't see where the demolition of Blackburn's heritage will ever stop - nothing really seems safe.
[quote][p][bold]disgusted tunbridge wells[/bold] wrote: You know that Blackburn St Peter's Vicarage has been demolished ?[/p][/quote]I did know - I suppose that's what I meant by the Spiritualist Temple being next . I was very sad to see it go - it was half down by Saturday afternoon, a real loss to the architecture of that area (not that many would agree). The Vicarage, the Spiritualist Temple and the old Nurses Home made/ make Byrom Street (architecturally speaking) into a unique forgotten corner of Blackburn's (outskirt) town centre and the vicarage was the last built link to St Peter's Church. I can't see where the demolition of Blackburn's heritage will ever stop - nothing really seems safe. Joseph O'M

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree