Norwich Catholic Cathedral among 14 buildings 'at risk'

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist, in Norwich's Earlham Road, is among 14 buildings added to Historic England's annual Heritage At Risk register.

The cathedral, along with more than a dozen churches, one of Norwich's oldest houses and Victorian glasshouses have been put on the list because of concerns about their future.

'A sobering moment' - why the Catholic cathedral is at risk

The Catholic Cathedral of St John The Baptist, in Norwich (Image: KeithMorris/rcdea.org.uk)

The 19th-century Catholic cathedral, with its Victorian Gothic Revival architecture and stained glass, is deemed to be under threat due to issues with rainwater pipes and failing gutters, which have led to leaks into the roof.

Church officials say inspections revealed they needed to spend £8m to make repairs.

Leaking water has caused damage to the Catholic cathedral (Image: The Historic England Archive, Historic England)

They have already carried out £1m worth of work on the transept roof, including recent emergency repairs.

Matthew Champion, Diocesan heritage officer, said: "Whilst acknowledging that such a fantastic building as St John’s Cathedral is at risk is always a sobering moment, it is also an opportunity to focus upon the challenges of making it safe once more.

"We therefore welcome being added to the ‘at risk’ register as an opportunity to bring together the Diocese and local community to work together to secure the future of the building."

The Catholic Cathedral of St John The Baptist in Norwich (Image: The Historic England Archive, Historic England)

Originally built as the parish church for the Catholics of central Norwich, the building became the cathedral of the newly created Diocese of East Anglia in 1976.

It is the second largest Catholic cathedral in the country, after Westminster Cathedral.

Matthew Champion (Image: Diocese of East Anglia)

Mr Champion said: "A historical lack of maintenance, some poor-quality previous repairs, and some questionable choices of building material have all combined to put the future of this fantastic building at risk.

"The cathedral is also struggling to cope with the effects of climate change, with the Victorian gutters and downspouts being simply overwhelmed by the increased levels of rainfall in recent years."

The cathedral, designed by the prominent architect George Gilbert Scott Junior and built between 1882 and 1910, has applied to Historic England to get grant funding for more repairs and is appealing for donations.

Norwich's oldest house in peril

Dating back to the 12th century, the Music House at the now-closed Wensum Lodge site in Norwich, is one of the oldest houses in the city and includes a stunning arched undercroft, which used to be Jurnet's Bar.

But the building, with its King Street facade largely dating to the 17th century, has been added to the at risk list.

The Music House in Norwich (Image: Peter Prinsley) From 1170 to 1240 it was the home of the Jurnet family, a wealthy merchant family who moved to Norwich after the Norman Conquest.

The undercroft at Norwich's Music House (Image: The Historic England Archive, Historic England) Some urgent repair work has begun, with Norwich City Council working towards a plan of repair and restoration, with advice and guidance from Historic England.

Fears for Victorian glasshouses

Also deemed at risk are glasshouses at Victorian Somerleyton Hall, which are believed to have been the work of Joseph Paxton, thought to be the designer of London's Crystal Palace.

The glasshouses at Somerleyton Hall (Image: The Historic England Archive, Historic England)

The structures are showing signs of vulnerability and brickwork decay, but a strategy for repair and renovation is being developed so visitors can explore them.

Medieval churches at risk

A string of churches have also been added to the list. They are: St Peter and Paul's in Harling, St Peter's in Billingford, St Margaret's at Hardley, St John the Evangelist's in King's Lynn, St Andrew's in Walpole, St Mary's in Erpingham, St Peter and St Paul's at Burgh Castle, St Mary's at Surlingham, St Peter's in West Rudham and St Margaret's in Lowestoft.

St Mary's Friary at Burnham Norton (Image: Denise Bradley)

The ruins of the medieval St Mary's Carmelite friary, its gatehouse and holy well at Burnham Norton have also been added.

Saved for future generations

But there is good news for Norfolk and Waveney, with some sites deemed to be at risk now removed from the register, after grants helped with work to save them.

St Margaret de Westwick Church in Norwich's St Benedicts Street (Image: Historic England)

Among them are the medieval St Margaret de Westwick Church in Norwich's St Benedicts Street, Becket's Chapel in Wymondham and the 500-year-old Church of St Edmund in Kessingland.

Work on St Edmund's Church in Kessingland (Image: Historic England)