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County's only windmill added to at-risk list

Matthew LockwoodBedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire
Nigel Wighton The white post-mill windmill surrounded by trees, hedges and open grassland. The windmill sits on a red-brick base with a small information plaque mounted on the wall. The mill's large lattice sails are prominent, with four extending from the central hub. It has wooden steps going up to the door at the rear, and the steps are on wheels, so that the windmill building can rotate on its central post. There is a smaller fantail set of eight sails fixed on the steps by struts. Nigel Wighton
The 17th Century windmill has attracted hundreds of visitors over the years

A county's only surviving windmill has been placed on Historic England's heritage at-risk register.

Cromer Windmill in Hertfordshire sits on an historic mound dating back to the 13th Century, but issues with the building mean the post-mill's operation and public access are now under threat.

The Hertfordshire Building and Preservation Trust, which owns the structure, said the windmill was a "unique and irreplaceable" historic asset for local residents, volunteers and visitors.

Nigel Wighton, the trust's director, said the listing would help it seek funding for "vital repairs".

The at-risk register provides an annual snapshot of the condition of England's historic buildings and places.

The Cromer building, in Ardeley near Stevenage, is a post-mill — a type of windmill where the whole building rotates on a vertical central post that allows the main sails to face the wind at all times.

The organisation said the post-mill's rear fantail assembly is suffering from "serious rot" in its main structural timbers.

The fantail aids the building's rotation.

Historic England warned that, without intervention, there was a risk of structural failure and the loss of the mill's ability to turn.

It added that, internally, a key structural beam had twisted under the weight of the windshaft, affecting the rotation of the main sails.

Historic England The Church of St Andrew and St George with a distinctive curved, barrel-shaped roof clad in pale green metal. The church is surrounded by mature trees and landscaped gardens. The front entrance features brick walls, wide steps and metal handrails leading up to a covered doorway. Historic England
The Church of St Andrew and St George was the largest church to be erected in Hertfordshire following World War Two

The Church of St Andrew and St George in Stevenage, designed by Seely and Paget, was also added to the at-risk register.

It was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother and built between 1956 and 1960.

Historic England said the building, on Cuttys Lane, had suffered from "heritage crime" and flooding.

As a result, it was at risk from water ingress, damp and consequent damage to architectural features, including to the pre-cast flint and concrete wall panels, internal timberwork and flooring, and the frame of its vast stained-glass east window.

The church was recently awarded a grant of £882,255 from Historic England to repair its structure and fabric.

Other places added to the at-risk register include St Denys' Church in Little Barford, Bedfordshire and All Saints Church in Caddington, Bedfordshire. No sites in Buckinghamshire have been added this year.

Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, 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."

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