Worksop Priory Gatehouse in Nottinghamshire has been removed from Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register after being brought back into use for the first time in 25 years.
The historic building is among 13 sites across the Midlands whose futures have been secured, according to the Heritage at Risk Register 2026, published today (Thursday 5 November).
Historic England’s annual register identifies historic buildings and places threatened by neglect, decay or inappropriate development, as well as those which have been restored sufficiently to be removed from the list.
The organisation confirmed that Worksop Priory Gatehouse had been brought back into use following a quarter of a century, allowing it to be removed from the register.
Across the Midlands, 58 historic buildings and sites have been newly added to the register over the past year, while 13 have been removed following conservation and restoration work.
Other sites removed from the register include Waltham Windmill in Lincolnshire, which is milling flour again following major repairs, and Building 18 at Cromford Mills in Derbyshire, which can now contribute to the wider regeneration of the historic site.
Historic England said further investment would still be needed to secure the long-term future of the Cromford Mills building.
The Severn Wharf Building in Ironbridge has also been removed from the register following a £260,000 repair project to address flood damage caused by severe storms in 2020.
Among the newly listed sites requiring attention are Hall’s Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon, the former home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall, and Clifford Castle in Herefordshire, where heavy rainfall caused a substantial masonry collapse earlier this year.
Historic England said the recovery of buildings and sites across the region had involved local communities, charities, owners and funding organisations, including The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Several government-supported funding programmes also provide assistance for the conservation and repair of historic buildings, places of worship and heritage sites.
Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-chief executives of Historic England, said: “Our historic buildings and places help tell the story of where we live and contribute to the character and identity of local communities. Each year, the Heritage at Risk Register showcases the positive impact that restoring and reusing these special places can have.
“The most effective way to protect our buildings is to bring them back into use as places that create connection and enjoyment for local people. The sites saved and removed from the Register this year show what can be achieved when partners and communities work together to deliver positive, lasting change.
“By working together, we can protect our heritage for generations to come.”
The Heritage at Risk Register is updated annually to track the condition of significant historic buildings and sites across England and identify where conservation work is needed.
Historic England previously awarded £178,147 towards repairs to the Grade I listed gatehouse, which dates from the early 14th century and once formed the entrance to Worksop Priory.
The building was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in 1998, and the Worksop Priory and Gatehouse Community Trust was established in 2009 to help secure its future.
A five-month restoration project, celebrated with an official reopening in June 2026, included new flooring, repairs to lime plaster ceilings, upgraded electrical and plumbing systems and the installation of a kitchen. The work was supported by Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and Bassetlaw District Council’s Conservation Team.
The gatehouse has previously been used as a shrine and a school and survived the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.
Historic England’s latest register marks the end of its 28-year period on the at-risk list.
