Many important old buildings in south east London and north Kent are in danger of being lost forever through continued neglect and decay. History writer LUCYA SZACHNOWSKI reports ...

DARNLEY Mausoleum, at Cobham Hall, in Gravesham, lies derelict and vandalised.

Built in 1783 by James Wyatt, under the terms of the will of John Bligh, 3rd Earl of Darnley, it is currently unused.

Some of its iron railings have been removed, it is in a bad condition and there is a serious risk of it continuing to deteriorate rapidly unless repairs are made, according to The Buildings at Risk (BAR) Register, by English Heritage.

English Heritage has just launched the fifth edition of its BAR Register, which comprises information on all Grade I and II listed buildings, structures and scheduled monuments at risk from neglect, decay or redundancy.

Since the launch of the scheme, some buildings have had the work needed to come back into use. This year, 21 buildings in the south east have been removed from the register after being restored, including Howbury Moated Site, in Bexley, a late-medieval construction.

But 13 sites have been added to the BAR Register for the south east, making a total of 230 buildings. Many, such as the Darnley Mausoleum, have been on the register for some time, with plans to restore them delayed or failing to materialise.

In 1990, the Darnley family sold the mausoleum to a property developer, who soon went into receivership.

It was bought by Gravesham Council, on behalf of Cobham Ashenbank Management Scheme (CAMS) in early 2001, but no repairs have been done so far.

A spokesman for CAMS said: "We have carried out investigative work. Archaeologists have sifted through rubble in the burial chamber. We have erected a security fence to ensure no further vandalism."

He added: "Despite it being on the BAR register, it is a robust building. We have the support of English Heritage, which has made a substantial grant offer towards repairs, and are preparing a bid to the Lottery this autumn. Works should start next summer."

According to English Heritage, the number of buildings still on the register is a serious issue in what can be considered a prosperous area and the problems with many of them are not easily solved.

Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage, said: "Historic buildings are both our history and our future. Repairing and finding uses for these buildings creates local identity and safeguards jobs and housing, boosts local economies and tourism, improves quality of life and protects green-field sites.

"A MORI poll shows 87 per cent of people think the historic environment plays an important part in our cultural life."

David Brock, English Heritage historic buildings inspector, said: "Historic buildings are an invaluable part of our lives and culture. Over the five years, English Heritage has given millions of pounds nationally to rescue buildings at risk."

Checkwww.english-heritage.org.uk/bar for more information.

July 12, 2002 09:30