Listed buildings off 'risk' list

Heaton Hall has been earmarked for renovation by the council

Eleven listed buildings in the North West have been removed from the English Heritage "at risk" register, after restoration work has been completed.

Among them are two lodges and an 18th century circular temple in north Manchester's Heaton Park.

Country house Heaton Hall, earmarked for renovation, remains on the list.

Six properties have been added to the register, including the Lion Salt Works in Marston, Cheshire, and Brownsfield Mill in Ancoats, Manchester.

Buildings removed from the list Grand Lodge, Heaton Park Smithy Lodge, Heaton Park Temple, Heaton Park Hampton Old Hall, Hampton Sessions House, Knutsford Jordangate House, Macclesfield Staircase House, Stockport Cromwell House, Warrington Scaleby Castle, Scaleby Kirkless Hall Farmhouse, Aspull Lathom House west wing, Lathom

Heaton Park, which is the largest urban park in the United Kingdom, once housed the White Heather Camp, a charity that offered children from the slums a chance to breathe fresh air.

During the war the park also housed an RAF transit camp.

Manchester City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund have invested in the buildings taken off the register.

The Lion Salt Works is one of the buildings nominated for the BBC Restoration programme, won last year by Victoria Baths in Manchester.

Councillor Neil Swannick, from Manchester City Council, said: "We are delighted to be working closely with English Heritage and the appointment of our buildings at risk officer can only strengthen a close working relationship."

Buildings added to the list Lion Salt Works, Marston Hadrian's Wall, in two sections Upper Denton Bastle, Upper Denton Brownsfield Mill, Manchester Grane Mill, Haslingdon

He added that although three buildings in Heaton Park had been removed, there was still plenty of work to be done.

Dedicated officers who deal with buildings at risk are now based in Manchester and Liverpool, funded in part by English Heritage.

Tony Jones, Heritage Lottery Fund Regional Manager for the North West, said: "Heaton Park is real landmark of heritage in the North West.

"This is a crucial moment for its regeneration. We're delighted to have played a lead role in helping to save the park, part of our ongoing commitment to protecting and opening up the region's diverse heritage."