Charlton House On Heritage At Risk Register

M@
By M@

Last Updated 14 November 2024

Charlton House On Heritage At Risk Register
On top of Charlton House in Greenwich
The roof of Charlton House. "Leaky." Image: Matt Brown

26 London sites added to the "at risk" register; 25 removed.

Each year, Historic England publishes a survey of historic structures that are at risk in some way. And each year, a number of London buildings are added to that list. Sometimes, these are surprising.

This year's headline struggler is Charlton House in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This 400-year-old Jacobean Mansion is freely open to the public and is seemingly in fine fettle. However, a leaky roof (which we've had the pleasure of walking across) has put the building in danger. So onto the list it goes, along with 25 other sites across the capital.

St John Smith Square or Smith Square Hall
St John Smith Square. Image: Matt Brown

Another big name on the list is St John Smith Square, also known as Smith Square Hall. This is the old church in Pimlico often likened to an overturned footstool. This Grade-I-listed building, now a popular concert hall and posh cafe, has worrying issues with its masonry. Also among those added to the list are Stoke Newington Town Hall, Trent Park in Enfield and St Michael's Church in Highgate.

Spooky church of St Michael's Highgate
St Michael's in Highgate. Image: Matt Brown

It's not all bad news. As ever, the update includes a few London places that have been removed from the list, following restoration or safeguarding action. The 25 locations include the evocative Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington, Hornsey Town Hall and St Pancras Old Church.

Besides listing out all the problems, Historic England also helps make things right. It awarded over £1 million in repair grants last year. This, though, is drop in the ocean when we consider that almost 5,000 sites across England are on the 2024.

In London alone, Historic England now lists 599 structures as "at risk". You can view the entries on the Historic England website (via a spreadsheet), or on an interactive map (though this does not say whether locations are new or existing).