Northamptonshire church added to Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register 2025
Historic England has today (Thursday, November 6) revealed its Heritage at Risk Register 2025, including the addition of a church in the north of the county.
The register gives an annual snapshot of the health of England’s valued historic buildings and places. It helps to ensure they can be protected and continue to be enjoyed in the future.
Historic England works together with partners and communities to breathe new life and hope into places that need it most.
The aim is to see ‘at risk’ historic buildings brought back into productive use so they can be enjoyed by local communities and contribute to the local economy.
This year alone, nine sites in the East Midlands have been rescued and their futures secured. Many have been rescued with the help and commitment of local people, communities, charities, owners and funders including The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
There are also more buildings and places which need help.
In total, 17 historic buildings and sites in the East Midlands have been added to the register this year because they are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development.
The church of St Leonard in Main Street, Apethorpe, is among the sites added to the at risk register.
The building is Grade I Listed and in a conservation area. The South Chapel dates to 1621 and contains monuments to Sir Anthony and Lady Grace Mildmay.
The interior is suffering from water ingress caused by poor drainage around the north side of the church. Some rainwater goods need monitoring for leaks.
The Churches Support Officer is working with the Parochial Church Council and a local support group to plan phases of repair and seek grant funding.
In contrast, another Northamptonshire site has been saved – Astwell Castle Farm (Gatehouse Tower) in Helmdon in the west of the county, which is a Scheduled Monument.
The three-storey stone gatehouse tower has been repaired and consolidated. At roof level the parapet has been repaired with some renewal of the worst ashlars.
All cement from previous repairs removed and new stone is Bath stone to match closely. Externally stonework has been repointed and consolidated with new rainwater downpipes to the side elevation.
Following these repairs, the Gatehouse has been removed from the register this year.
Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-CEOs of Historic England, said: “The heritage we see all around us impacts how we feel about our local places.
"The annual Heritage at Risk Register gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of bringing our historic buildings back into use.
“The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them, turning them into places of local connection and joy. The sites that have been saved and have come off the register this year really highlight the benefits of working together in partnership, and with communities, to create positive, sustainable change. Together we can safeguard our heritage for future generations.”
Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: “We are determined to protect the heritage at the heart of our communities. It is fantastic to see so many historical sites saved for communities up and down the country.”