THE latest chapter in Historic England's at Risk Register has been published this morning and it is a mixed bag for the North East.

Several high profile buildings have been removed from the list after restoration work was carried out but several others have taken their place – including two churches and the childhood home renowned explorer and archaeologist Gertrude Bell.

This year's list marks the 20th anniversary of the scheme designed to protect the country's historic buildings.

According to the latest information, 75 per cent of the original 1998 register have been removed but 26 sites across the region remain on the list, with 15 new ones added this year.

Over the past year, Historic England has spent £1,151,346 in grants to help some of the region’s best loved and most important historic sites.

Kate Wilson, Heritage at Risk Principal in the North East, said: “Over the past 20 years our Heritage at Risk Register has provided an excellent tool for highlighting the special, historic places in the North East in need of our care and attention. Historic England has dedicated time, expertise and money to rescue many of these precious places.

"In many cases they have found new uses so that we can still enjoy the contribution they make to our towns, cities and villages, bringing quality to our lives in the places where we work and play.

“Many people and organisations have played a part in this success story and we are proud to have worked with them in delivering the results. Despite the successes, the work continues as other places are being neglected and falling into disrepair.

"Many have been added to this year’s Register and we will focus our attention on them in the years ahead because investment in our heritage is an investment in the future of the North East.”

Red Barns House and Red Barns Hotel in Redcar – the family home of Gertrude Bell where she lived with her father Sir Hugh – was vacant and deteriorating due to a lack of regular maintenance, but now the building is occupied and planning permission has been granted for the conversion and reuse of part of the building and this work is now well under way.

Christ Church in Consett has also made it onto the register after problems were identified with the Grade II listed building's tower. The church's architect and engineer are in the process of ascertaining the best way forward and preparing budget estimates for the proposed repairs.

However, it was better news for several other buildings which have been saved following restoration work.

One of the most successful projects was the work carried out on the medieval chapel and other buildings, on St Cuthbert's Island, Holy Island, Northumberland. A successful programme of repair, backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to stabilise the eastern side of St Cuthbert’s Island from erosion, meant this year the site came off the Register.

Previously, the scheme helped to secure the long-term future of Sockburn Hall, near Darlington. The Hall had been steadily deteriorating due to a lack of repair but investment of more than £100,000 from the HLF helped restore it.