Heritage at risk

At the next meeting of Enfield Council's Environment Forum, on Tuesday 25th April, councillors and other participants in the forum will be given a briefing about buildings, parks, conservation areas and other structures in the borough that are included in Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register for London and SE England. Sites are listed if they are considered to be the "most at risk of being lost through neglect, decay or inappropriate development".

There are a total of 20 listings for Enfield (the average across London's 33 boroughs is 19). They comprise 11 buildings and structures, two places of worship, one archaeological site, four parks and gardens and two conservation areas (both in Edmonton - Fore Street and Church Street).

It's no surprise to find Broomfield House, its Stable Block and Broomfield Park itself among the listings. But not far away, and less conspicuous, is Southgate House, the 18th century building that was used by Southgate College until a few years ago and before that housed part of the former Minchenden School. It was recently sold to a new owner and the council are working towards serving an urgent works notice, as the building, currently empty, is in "poor" condition. The Register notes that "Water ingress, now halted, has led to outbreaks of dry rot, and vegetation growth has hampered ventilation and drainage to the building."