ONE site which was at risk of being lost forever as a result of neglect and decay has been saved thanks to much needed works, Historic England has announced today.

Following severe flooding from Storm Desmond in December 2015 New Sedgwick Gunpowder Works, a scheduled monument, was placed on the Heritage at Risk Register.

Historic England, which provided a grant aid, confirmed that repairs had been carried out with funding from the National Trust.

The monument includes a building, ruins and buried remains of the gunpowder works. Production of course powders for mining, quarrying and other blasting activities began in 1858.

But falling orders led to its closure in 1935.

Meanwhile, Morecambe Winter Gardens, a flamboyantly ornate 19th century theatre on the seafront is still undergoing repairs.

As the building is still at risk Historic England, the Theatres Trust and Lancaster City Council are working in partnership to support the Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust.

In turn, the Trust, Friends and Volunteers are working tirelessly to repair and make the theatre viable. Work to make governance more resilient has recently started, thanks to a Theatres Trust grant. A consultant will be working to support the Acting Chair, Trustees and Advisory Board.

Catherine Dewar, Historic England’s Regional Director in the North West said: “The message is clear – our heritage needs to be saved and investing in heritage pays.

"It helps to transform the places where we live, work and visit, creating successful and distinctive places for us and for future generations to enjoy. But there’s more work to do.

"There are buildings still on the Heritage at Risk Register that are ideal for rescue and capable of being brought back in to meaningful use and generating an income, contributing to the local community and economy. These are the homes, shops, offices and cultural venues of the future."

Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register gives an annual snapshot of the critical condition of some of the North West’s most important historic buildings, sites, monuments and places. Across the region 19 sites have been removed from the Register because their future has been secured, often by community intervention, while 16 sites have been added to the Register because of concerns about their condition.

Over the past year, Historic England has offered £887,000 in grants to help some of the North West’s best loved and most important historic sites.