Latest news with #HeritageEngland
BBC News
16-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Work to restore Grade I listed Marlow Bridge starts
Work to restore a Grade I listed suspension bridge damaged by heavy lorries has begun. Marlow Bridge, which crosses the Thames, was completed in 1832, but "over time it has suffered from wear and tear", Buckinghamshire Council said. As part of phased work, the nearby Marlow Canoe Club building will be demolished to give access to the underside of the structure. New support bearings will be added which were critical for the "safe operation of the crossing".The council said the "iconic" bridge will remain open during most of the work, which is set to be completed by 2027. The authority said it was important to "preserve the bridge for the future", and it had consulted Heritage England and local heritage teams about the added that the 12 new bearings, which give support to the bridge deck, were designed to last for about 50 years. The authority reassured residents that it had worked closely with both the Canoe Club and Marlow Rowing Club, which uses parts of the bridge's underside for equipment storage, to provide suitable alternative arrangements during the works, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Councillor Thomas Broom, Conservative cabinet member for transport, said the council had been working to ensure it has "as little impact on the residents of Marlow as possible".He added: "This is a major infrastructure project to restore and retain an iconic structure in the county."The second phase of the work will include restoring the steelwork on the underside of the bridge, then cleaning the structure and reinstating protective coatings. Designs were still being finalised for the final phase, but the plans included the renewal of pedestrian walkways and lighting, restoration of the bridge's historic masonry towers, repainting of the structure, and additional safety and visual Bridge, was built between 1829 and 1832, and was designed by William Tierney council said the last major works were completed between 1965 and 1966. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cardboard City exhibition to shed light on London's homeless history
An exhibition showcasing the stories and history of a London homeless community is opening later this Heritage in Waterloo will weave together personal accounts, artworks and photographs to shed light on those who lived in the Bullring area in known as Cardboard City, the area was home to an encampment made from hundreds of cardboard boxes in the underpasses between Waterloo station and the South to 200 people were sleeping rough in boxes in the area in the mid-1980s. The homeless community was evicted in 1998 following a High Court order. The project is funded by Historic England's Everyday Heritage grant, which celebrates working-class comes after Heritage England gave a grant of almost £25,000 for a project looking at Cardboard and led by those with lived experience of homelessness, the exhibition aims to bring together stories of love, solidarity and resilience while also confronting the challenges of fear, hardship, and destitution, organisers said. Euchar Gravina, artistic director at St John's Waterloo, said the exhibition represented "the first public outcome of this ongoing project" and as a result will not be "comprehensive"."Instead, it offers a heartfelt endeavour to preserve and reflect upon the memories shared by and archival fragments of those whose lives were shaped by it, while honouring the legacy of those who are no longer with us."Tom Foxall, Historic England's regional director, said: "There are so many hidden histories to uncover here in London, with the Cardboard City among the most poignant. "The strength of our Everyday Heritage grant programme is we are funding projects that are community-led and really engage with local people by empowering them to research and tell their own stories."Homelessness Heritage in Waterloo: "The spirit of the Bullring lives on..." runs from18 Feb to 2 March in the Crypt at St John's Church in Waterloo.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Yahoo
Police hunting lamp thief recover hundreds of antique lanterns
Hundreds of antique lanterns have been recovered after a suspected street lamp thief was caught by police. Some 296 ornate light fittings were found at a house in Barkway, Cambridgeshire, earlier this month after hundreds of listed lamps and street lights went missing. They included three vintage Richardson candle lamps which were first installed in Cambridge in the 1950s. The theft of the Grade II-listed lamps, which were taken from the centre of the university city in September and October last year, was described by Historic England as a 'heritage crime'. Other lanterns found in the property appeared to have been stolen from ordinary houses. Several of them were missing panels. An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft. He was released on bail while investigations continue and is due to report to a police station on April 1. Pc Thomas Woollard, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said the 'unique case' involved lights that had been stolen from multiple counties. He said: 'We believe the majority are from across Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire and may have gone missing in the last six months. 'This is a unique case and significant investigations are being conducted into the items recovered. We have already made contact with local authorities and Heritage England. If you think some may belong to you, please get in contact.' A report last year found that thefts of historic metal and stone objects were on the rise, with some thieves disguising themselves as workers by wearing high-visibility clothing. Research by Historic England and the National Police Chiefs' Council found that church roofs, stone walls, paving slabs, troughs and fountains were among the materials being targeted. The Richardson street lights were stolen from St John's Street and Trumpington Street in the centre of Cambridge between Sept 13 and Oct 1 last year. At the time, a Historic England spokesman said: 'The Richardson candle street lights are a distinctive feature of Cambridge city centre and are Grade II listed. 'We are aware of the unexplained disappearance of three of the lamps and have offered our support and advice to Cambridgeshire Police in their investigation of this apparent heritage crime.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
