Some Heritage Assets, be they archaeological sites, historic buildings, shipwrecks, parks, formal gardens or battlefields, are considered to be of national importance. If tight control over alterations or destruction of these sites is considered to be of national interest then they may be protected using several different pieces of legislation.
In North East Lincolnshire there are three types of these legally, or Statutorily, protected sites - Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and a single Registered Park.
Listed buildings
Listed Buildings – What are they?
When buildings are listed they are placed on a statutory list of buildings of 'special architectural or historic interest'. National government, through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, is responsible for compiling the list. English Heritage provides expert advice on which buildings meet the criteria for listing, and for administering the process.
A wide range of buildings and structures are listed. In North East Lincolnshire these include Parish churches, manor houses, industrial buildings, twentieth century military defence structures, terraced town houses, farmhouses, vernacular cottages, medieval crosses, gravestones and phone boxes.
There are three categories of listed building. These are:
Grade I - Buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important. There are 12 such listed buildings in North East Lincolnshire.
Grade II* - Buildings of more than special interest. There are 13 such listed buildings in North East Lincolnshire.
Grade II – Buildings of national importance and of special interest. These total 92% of all listed buildings nationally and we have 191 list entries for this grade of building locally. It should be noted that a list entry may cover more than one single building, e.g. a terrace of five individual houses of one build period would be covered by one list entry.
Which parts of a property are protected by listing?
A common misconception is that only the front of a building is listed and therefore protected. This is not so. A list description (an entry on the list of special architectural or historic interest) may only describe the front elevation of a building but this is purely for identification. Listing covers all parts of the building and the interior. Listing also protects fixtures and fittings, as well as outbuildings, boundary walls and all other structures if constructed before 1st July, 1948. Simply because the interior of a building is not mentioned in its list description does not mean it is not protected.
How does listing protect the building?
Listing does not mean that a building can never be altered or demolished. But by requiring Listed Building Consent for work and providing interested parties with an opportunity to comment, it ensures the special historic and architectural interest of the building is fully taken into account.
Alterations to a listed building of any grade, whether the works are inside or outside it, needs Listed Building Consent before any work can start. It is illegal to start any work without Listed Building Consent. To do so is likely to result in prosecution and the imposition of a substantial fine, as well as returning the building to its former condition.
It is strongly recommended that early advice is obtained if you are considering any work to a Listed Building. Free expert advice is available from the Council Conservation Officer, who would be very pleased to help you.
Can I undertake any works to a listed building?
Each listed building is different and it can be very difficult to define what works require Listed Building consent. In all cases, we suggest you get early advice from the Council Conservation officer so that this can be decided. Any works affecting the special interest requires listed building consent. This can include; removal of interior features such as fireplaces, staircases, fitted cupboards, original cornices, joinery, floor boards and tiles, etc; making new openings in walls, removing walls, subdividing rooms, replacing windows and doors or roof coverings. This is not an exhaustive list and is an indication only. Repairs must be carried out very carefully using appropriate materials and techniques and you may be asked for a specification to ensure the methods and materials proposed are appropriate and do not require Listed Building Consent. The potential complexity of arranging works to a Listed Building means it advisable to employ conservation accredited professionals.
Listed Building Consent is not the same as Planning Permission or Building Regulations Approval. These are different and separate consents. Even though you may have obtained other permissions and approvals, if the work requires Listed Building Consent you cannot start the works until Listed Building Consent is obtained.
The Design & Conservation Officer is Elizabeth Mayle who can be contacted on 01472 324266 or elizabeth.mayle@nelincs.gov.uk
Links to conservation organisations, conservation accredited architects, surveyors, engineers and historic building consultants, researchers and historians are given below:
Helpful Sources and Organisations for Listed Buildings
Planning Portal
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/appeals/otherappealscasework/listedbuildingconserv
English Heritage – General advice
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/caring/listing/listed-buildings/
English Heritage - Guidance for improving energy efficiency is traditional homes
http://www.climatechangeandyourhome.org.uk/live/content_pdfs/526.pdf
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings -Technical Questions and Answers – the repair of historic buildings
http://www.spab.org.uk/advice/technical-q-as/
Finding an appropriately qualified and experienced conservation accredited professional
Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC)
http://www.ihbc.org.uk/hespr/
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
http://www.architecture.com/UseAnArchitect/ConservationRegister/ConservationRegister.aspx
http://www.rics.org/site/scripts/documents_info.aspx?documentID=1575&pageNumber=1
Conservation Accredited Register of Engineers (CARE)
http://www.careregister.org.uk/
Scheduled monuments
Scheduled monuments are nationally and internationally important archaeological sites which are protected from unauthorised damaged and development by the Ancient Monuments and Areas Act 1979
North East Lincolnshire has 11 scheduled monuments (also known as Scheduled Ancient Monuments), one of which is also in the district of West Lindsey.
Ash Holt Long Barrow: A Neolithic long barrow in the parishes of Beelsby and Swallow in West Lindsey
Beacon Hill round barrow, on the south west side of the cemetery: A Bronze Age round barrow in Cleethorpes
Churchyard cross 20m south of St Peter and St Paul's Church: A medieval churchyard cross shaft and attached sundial in Stallingborough
Churchyard Cross, St George's Church: A medieval churchyard cross in Bradley
Civil War earthwork fort 350m north-east of Walk Farm: A Civil War earthwork artillery fort in Irby upon Humber
Deserted Medieval Village of Beesby: The earthworks of a deserted medieval settlement and church in Hawerby cum Beesby
Humberston Abbey: A medieval abbey, which the parish church was once part of, in Humberston
Premonstratensian priory chapel 170m south west of Priory Farm: The remains of a chapel associated with a medieval priory in West Ravendale
Round Barrow 240m south west of Hatcliffe Manor House: A Bronze Age round barrow in Hatcliffe
Stallingborough medieval settlement, post-medieval manor house and formal gardens: The earthwork remains of a shrunken medieval settlement and post medieval manor house with associated formal gardens in Stallingborough
Two Moated Sites at Healing Hall: A pair of interlinked medieval moats which would have surrounded a medieval manor house in Healing
For further details please contact the Historic Environment Record.
Registered parks and gardens
The "Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England " is similar to the "List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest" but applies to parks and gardens rather than buildings.
The register is compiled and maintained by English Heritage according to the National Heritage Act 1983.
There is only one registered park within North East Lincolnshire:
People's Park, Grimsby, N.E. Lincolnshire: A public park constructed from 1882 to 1883 by the Council, the land having been gifted by local landowner and MP, Edward Heneage.
Further details on Nationally Designated sites can be obtained from the Historic Environment Record or from English Heritage's on-line database: The National Heritage List