Exterior photo of a large formal botanical building with columns and tall windows. Lawns in front and trees beyond. — Camellia House, Wentworth Woodhouse, Cortworth Lane, Wentworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Exterior, view across lawn from southeast. © Historic England Archive. DP372256

Camellia House, Wentworth Woodhouse, Cortworth Lane, Wentworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Exterior, view across lawn from southeast. © Historic England Archive. DP372256

Heritage at Risk in Yorkshire Revealed

Published 9 November 2023

Today, Historic England publishes its annual Heritage at Risk Register for 2023. The Register is the yearly health-check of England’s most valued historic places and those most at risk of being lost forever as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

Map showing places on the Heritage at Risk Register

What's at risk near you?

Find Heritage at Risk on an interactive map. Move around the map to see what's at risk in your area or use the address search.

See the map

Highlights from sites saved in 2023

Over the past year, 13 sites have been saved and their futures secured in Yorkshire. Many have been rescued thanks to heritage partners and dedicated teams of volunteers, community groups, charities, owners and councils, working together with Historic England.

Saved: Holmfirth Conservation Area, West Yorkshire

Holmfirth is best known as the home of Last of the Summer Wine, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Encompassing the town centre and surrounding townscape, Holmfirth Conservation Area is characterised by its textile industry heritage. It went on the Register in 2009, owing to economic decline which led to many business premises becoming vacant or derelict.

In recent years, vacancy rates have improved, and buildings have been repaired and repurposed.

Rainy exterior of an urban cafe building with bunting and steel table sets outside.

Sid's Cafe, 4A Towngate, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. Exterior, building (in the rain) featured as Ivy's Cafe in BBC TV comedy series 'Last of The Summer Wine'. View from north. © Historic England Archive. DP372243.

Saved: South Cliff Gardens, Scarborough

South Cliff Gardens comprises a series of coastal paths, ornate gardens and handsome architecture. Developed from the mid-19th century to the 1930s, several notable landscape architects shaped the gardens, including Sir Joseph Paxton.

Sadly, coastal erosion and the general deterioration of its condition led to the Gardens’ addition to the Register.

They underwent a £7m restoration project, which included the restoration of 14 shelters and the creation of a new accessible path.

Italianate Garden, laid out on a curve and articulated by steps so that the topography and levels are maried to the natural form of the cliff. Access and views into and out of these gardens is designed to be limited. Drone view of garden and pavilion from south.

Valley Gardens and South Cliff Gardens, below Esplanade, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. © Historic England Archive. DP372204.

Saved: The Camellia House, Wentworth Woodhouse

Situated in the grounds of Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham, the Camellia House is an early-19th century conservatory created from a tea house.

By 2017, the building was derelict and roofless. Its camellias, exposed to the elements for decades, were found to include plants dating from the early 1800s.

Last summer, a year-long project was carried out to repair and transform the Camellia House into a public tearoom, protecting the historic blooms throughout.

The interior of a botanical building, with growing trees, large windows and white blinds over windows and skylights.

Camellia House, Wentworth Woodhouse, Cortworth Lane, Wentworth, Rotherham, South Yorkshire.Interior, drone view from southeast. showing camellia trees and new roof structure. © Historic England Archive. DP372246.

Saved: Sheffield General Cemetery

Sheffield General Cemetery was opened in 1836 in response to overcrowding in Sheffield’s churchyards.

The site is home to 10 listed buildings and monuments.

Over the years, many of the cemetery’s buildings fell into disrepair and the site became a target for anti-social behaviour. In response, Sheffield General Cemetery Trust set about rescuing the cemetery, restoring buildings and running community activities.

In 2018, a major repair and community engagement project was undertaken, successfully safeguarding the cemetery for future generations.

View of the exterior of a cemetery wall, with monuments and trees beyond.

Sheffield General Cemetery, Cemetery Avenue. Exterior, drone shot of recently restored wall above conserved Catacombs, view from west. © Historic England Archive. DP372276.

Added to the Register

In Yorkshire, 7 sites have been added to the register because of concerns about their condition. They are at risk of being lost forever as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.

At Risk: Cannon Hall Kitchen Garden Wall, Barnsley

Cannon Hall kitchen garden was constructed in 1760 and sits to the east of the Grade II* listed Cannon Hall.

There has been substantial investment in the repair and maintenance in Cannon Hall’s gardens in recent years which has transformed this much-loved place.

However, the site has gone on to the Register as a large section of the north kitchen garden wall is at risk of collapsing onto the path.

A red brick wall with missing bricks in need of repointing.

Cannon Hall, Bark House Lane, Cawthorne, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Exterior, section of brick wall showing repaired area next to the section that needs repair. View from south. © Historic England Archive. DP372267.