HISTORIC buildings in Heybridge have been revealed to be at risk of being lost if work is not carried out to save them.

Historic England's Heritage at Risk register saw Woodfield Cottages added to the list. 

The cottages are rows of concrete homes which were built by the 19th-century industrialist, E H Bentall for his agricultural workers.

The 41 single-storey cottages, built in 1873 are a pioneering example of mass concrete construction.

A spokesman for Historic England said: “These experimental dwellings were accompanied by generous gardens, outbuildings including privies, and a communal water supply.

“The lanes, gardens and borders that surround the cottages add to the area’s special character.

“Until 1918, the cottages and outhouses had flat roofs and were known as the ‘Flat Tops’.

“Although the cottages were Grade II listed in 1971, several have been altered in ways that detract from their traditional character and some have fallen into a poor state of repair.”

Maldon District Council has prepared a Local Listing Building Consent Order which simplifies and streamlines the consent process for owners to carry out sympathetic and restorative building alterations.

A Conservation Area Partnership Agreement between Maldon District Council and Historic England is also being explored.

If successful, the partnership would make grant funding available to cottage owners for historically sensitive repair and restoration work.

In good news Thomas Plume’s Library in Maldon, one of the oldest libraries in England was among those buildings saved in Essex this year.

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Tony Calladine, East of England Regional Director, Historic England said: “It is central to Historic England’s mission that we pass on to future generations the rich legacy of historic buildings and places that we have inherited from previous generations.

“They tell the story of who we all are, they enrich our day to day lives and support sustainable economic growth, and we are coming to see how they can help in our struggle with climate change.

“Our Heritage at Risk programme is a key contributor to this ambition. With the help of local communities and partners, imaginative thinking and business planning, we can bring historic places back to life in the East of England.”