1 J W EVANS AND SONS IN THE � JEWELLERY QUARTER, . and difficult process involving major The cover image shows one of the many repair, detailed research, cataloguing rooms of J W Evans and Sons in the Jewellery and sympathetic adaptation to enable Quarter, Birmingham. In March 2008, this public access and enjoyment. Ultimately, family silverware and plate manufactory at this unique historic place will form part of the heart of the Quarter, which is itself an a heritage trail in the Jewellery Quarter area of international importance, was bought taking in the Jewellery Quarter Museum, by English Heritage to keep the building Pen Museum, the historic cemeteries and its irreplaceable contents intact. Run at Key Hill and Warstone Lane and the by the same family since the1880s, the Newman Brothers Coffin Works, plans premises are complete with equipment, for which are currently being prepared tools, dies, pattern books, wage books, by the Birmingham Conservation Trust inventories, and accounts. Purchase of to develop the site as a visitor attraction the site was just the first step in a long supported by office use.

Heritage Counts 2008 Heritage Counts 2008 is the seventh annual survey of the state of England’s historic environment.This report is one of nine separate regional reports and has been prepared by English Heritage on behalf of the West Midlands Historic Environment Forum. It should be read in conjunction with the national Heritage Counts 2008 report, available at www.heritagecounts.org.uk where a full set of statistics relating to the historic environment in the West Midlands region can also be found.

REGIONAL trends could be measured. In July • The West Midlands has the highest INDICATORS 2008, English Heritage published its proportion of registered parks and first Heritage at Risk (HAR) Register gardens at risk; 13% have been estimated UNDERSTANDING THE ASSETS bringing together the Grade I and to be at high risk and 30% at medium II* listed building entries, scheduled risk, compared with 7% and 26% � See figure below monuments, parks and gardens and nationally. The North East and London • The West Midlands covers an area battlefields at risk. regions have the lowest proportions of just under 13,000 sq km and has a identified in both categories. • The number of Grade I and II* population of 5.4m (based on figures buildings and structures deemed • Although not included in the Heritage in mid 2006) equating to about 10% by English Heritage to be at risk at Risk survey,World Heritage Sites are of the population and area of England. in the West Midlands has seen a net not free from threats. The Ironbridge • In 2002, only 29% of the West Midlands decrease for the second year running Gorge World Heritage Site is experiencing had been mapped through landscape falling by a further seven to 172 entries. major land instability problems.Telford characterisation projects. In 2008, this Staffordshire has seen a steady decline and Wrekin Council have estimated figure is 85%. Overall, 76% of England in its number and now has 13 fewer that in excess of £80m will be required has been mapped. entries than it did in 2002. On the to address the problem and protect the other hand, Birmingham has seen long term future of the site. • There are 13 Historic Environment an overall increase of nine entries. Records (HERs) managed by local authorities in the region with 23% • In the West Midlands, 50% of the MANAGING THE – Shropshire, Warwickshire and assets included since the Register’s HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT Herefordshire – accessible on-line, inception have been removed as • In 2007/08, decisions were made compared with about 25% nationally. their futures have been secured. on 49,961 planning applications in the English Heritage has a target for • Worcester with Powick Bridge Battlefield West Midlands region compared with 50% of HERs to be online by 2010. is at high risk as a consequence of the 50,709 in the previous year. Since reaching development pressures it is facing. a peak in 2004/05, there has been a HERITAGE AT RISK gradual decline in the number of planning • 29% of the region’s scheduled applications.This is replicated in all regions. � Case 2 monuments are at high risk and 34% are considered to be at medium risk. • There were 2,630 Listed Building • English Heritage published its first This is slightly higher than the national Consent (LBC) applications in 2007/08 national Register of Buildings at Risk average, with 23% at high and 31% at in the region, a modest fall on last year. (BAR) in 1998, with the 1999 Register medium risk. The West Midlands typically deals with establishing a baseline against which 8% of the national total of LBC decisions.

ASSET REGIONAL CHANGE AVERAGE % ENGLAND PROPORTION 34,151 TOTALS ON 2002 CHANGE FOR TOTAL 2008 OF ENGLAND ENGLAND ON TOTAL 1,425 2002 2008 2002 148 LISTED BUILDINGS 33,881 34,151 +270 (+0.8%) +0.7% 373,315 9.2% SCHEDULED 6 MONUMENTS 1,390 1,425 +35 (+2.5%) 2.3% 19,720 7.2% 1 REGISTERED PARKS AND GARDENS 143 148 +5 (+3.5%) +7% 1,595 9.3% REGISTERED BATTLEFIELDS 6 6 0% 0% 43 14% WORLD HERITAGE SITES 1 1 0% 21% 17 5.9% 2 ASTLEY CASTLE,WARWICKSHIRE � A strategy for its rescue, however, is holiday let for eight people. Most of the The Castle, originally a fortified manor now in place.The Landmark Trust have existing profile of the castle will remain house within a moated site, dates from acquired a long lease on the building intact, and the new structure within it the Thirteenth Century. Its significance is and have put forward a scheme which will be barely visible. Clever use is made reflected in the Grade II* listed status of involves consolidation of the remaining of glass to give impressive views out to the standing structure and the scheduled structure and the construction of a modern the surrounding parkland.This scheme status of the moated site.The building ‘landmark’ property within the restored has secured support from the Heritage was last used as a hotel until devasted shell. An architectural competition was held Lottery Fund and English Heritage. by a fire in 1978. Being roofless since to come up with a suitable design, and With this backing, the initial stabilisation then it has fallen into a ruinous state the winning scheme by Witherford Watson and repair work is expected to commence and has been one of the most seriously Mann Architects has received widespread in autumn 2008, the next major step at risk buildings in the West Midlands support.The remaining main walls of the in providing this important site with a over the last 30 years. castle will be tied together to create a sustainable future.

• The West Midlands has also seen a small • In addition to the offers made from PARTICIPATION drop in the number of Conservation the regional budget, over £550k has � Case 3 Area Consent decisions since 2006/07, been distributed through the Aggregates falling from 237 to 211 in 2007/08 Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) and • The Taking Part survey, which compared with a rise of 5.7% nationally. the Historic Environment Enabling measures engagement with the Programme (HEEP) to a wide range historic environment in its widest • There was little change in the number of West Midlands’ projects, including sense, showed that 67.1% of those of Scheduled Monument Consent Historic Landscape Characterisation living in the West Midlands had visited (SMC) decisions made in the West projects in Worcestershire, an historic site in the last 12 months, Midlands. Numbers rose from 99 in Warwickshire, the Black Country compared with a national average 2006/07 to 102 in 2007/08, compared and for the Birmingham and of 69.3% (2006/07). with a drop of 4.2% nationally.This figure Sandwell Pathfinder. has remained around the hundred mark • The analysis also showed that over since 2001, accounting for approximately • From 1995 to 2008, the Heritage the last two survey periods, 2005/06 10% of the national total. Lottery Fund has awarded just under to 2006/07, 91.2% of those living in £301m in grant aid to the West the West Midlands agreed that it was • There were 87 planning applications in Midlands through 2,981 individual important to save historic features the West Midlands affecting Registered awards.This represents 8.8% of the and 69.5% were interested in the Parks and Gardens, which were referred total awards within England. As of history of the place they lived. to the Garden History Society (GHS). 2007/08, there has been a high success The number, which represents an • The Historic Houses Association rate for applications with over 70% of increase of 16% on 2006/07, includes (HHA) represents 124 historic applications from the region receiving 42 applications relating to Grade I houses in the West Midlands region, awards.This is second only to the 74% and II* landscapes. with half of these regularly open to success rate seen in the North East. the public.They welcomed 506,000 • The 2008 Survey of Building Contractors’ visitors in 2007/08, accounting for FUNDING, CAPACITY Views on Traditional Building Craft Skills 4% of the total 12.7m who visit HHA AND RESOURCES and Training Needs in the West Midlands properties. Houses in the South East • In the financial year 2007/08, English showed a sharp decline in skills had the highest number through their Heritage offered a total of almost £5m shortages since 2004/05. Although doors receiving over 4.1m visitors. across the six main grant schemes a skills gap is still evident, with one • A survey carried out on behalf of the administered in the West Midlands firm in ten forced to turn down work HHA in 2007 estimated that there had region, including the Heritage Lottery on pre-1919 buildings because of skills been 4,700 educational visits to their Fund/English Heritage jointly-funded gaps in its workforce, only 5% of the West Midlands’ houses, equating to 77 Repair Grants for Places of Worship. contractors questioned reported educational visitors per open property. This compares to a total offer through long-term outstanding vacancies in the same schemes of £5.3m in the 2007/08 compared with 29% in • In 2008 in the West Midlands, 1,018 previous year. Although overall the 2004/05. Furthermore, only 15% people were employed either in full- amount of money available in the region of contractors reported recruiting time, part-time or seasonal capacity continues to decline, some schemes craftspeople as ‘difficult’, which is a through the HHA.This accounts for saw a slight upturn; over £1m was marked improvement compared 8.5% of the total number working offered through the Historic Buildings, to 60% rating this as ‘very difficult’ across England in HHA properties. Monuments and Designed Landscapes in the 2005 report. • National Trust membership for the scheme, as opposed to £900k last year, • Of the 38 authorities in the West region has seen a 5.9% increase since including major grants of £200k to Midlands, 24 (63%) have an Historic 2006/07 from 319,000 to 338,000 in Soho Foundry, Smethwick, and £140k Environment Champion.This proportion 2007/08, accounting for 9.8% of total for , Birmingham. Over is in line with most other regions. membership for the English regions. £500k was offered to Cathedrals in the year 2007/08, twice as much as last year. • In 2007/08, National Trust educational IN THE REGION Farmstead Characterisation visitors in the West Midlands reached Working with local authority partners, � over 43,000, almost 10% of the national Case 4 significant progress has been made on total.This is over 1,000 more than Heritage Protection Review taking forward a region-wide mapping 2006/07 and continues the steady Heritage Protection Reform continues programme of historic farmsteads across increase since 2002/03 when 30,000 apace. On 2 April 2008, the government the West Midlands.The aim of the project visits were recorded.The West Midlands published the draft Heritage Protection is to develop a thorough understanding also saw the highest year-on-year Bill which is undergoing pre-legislative of farmstead character, survival and percentage increase in National Trust scrutiny. The Bill aims to bring greater current use within their landscape and visitor numbers, from just over 1m accountability, effectiveness and efficiency settlement.This will help provide a better in 2006/07 to 1.15m in 2007/08, to procedures for the identification and understanding of how historic farmsteads an increase of 14%. subsequent management of historic sites. contribute to local distinctiveness and landscape character. It will also provide • The number of people volunteering Heritage Partnership Agreements (HPA) the evidence base to inform the for the National Trust at sites in the Two pilot HPA, for Wroxeter Roman development of policy and guidance on West Midlands has increased from Town, Shropshire, and Sutton Park, the sustainable management of historic 1,990, recorded in 2002, to over Birmingham, are currently being negotiated. farmsteads at a regional and local level. 3,300 volunteers in 2008. Wroxeter Roman Town was among the • Since 2001, there has been a Historic Environment Strategy largest cities in Roman Britain. Remarkably, steady decline in educational visits In Spring 2008 the West Midlands it survives with little later development to English Heritage sites in the West Historic Environment Forum appointed and is, understandably, a scheduled Midlands.Visitor numbers have fallen Atkins Consultants to develop a Historic monument, but also contains listed buildings from 37,700 in 2001/02 to just over Environment Strategy for the West and historic farm buildings. The majority of 30,000 in 2007/08 representing a drop Midlands.The input of a wide range of the monument was taken into guardianship of 20% regionally as opposed to a partners via workshops, interviews and and is now managed by English Heritage small fall nationally of 2%. Educational written comments has been invaluable to with the remainder of the site in multiple visits in the West Midlands account the development of the Strategy and its ownership including the National Trust. for approximately 7.5% of the regional ownership. Due to be launched The land uses include farmland, public national figure. early in 2009, the Strategy will offer a highways, a vineyard, gardens and a shared vision for the region’s historic • The West Midlands, with approximately churchyard. Scoping work will inform the environment and set out an action 57,000 English Heritage members, preparation of a conservation management plan for the sector to ‘put the historic accounts for 8.6% of the total English plan which will then form the basis for an environment to work’ for the benefit Heritage membership of 665,000. HPA to manage the complex issues of the environment, economy and presented by the site. • English Heritage received 285,000 communities in the West Midlands. visitors to its West Midlands staffed Sutton Park provides a similar challenge: properties in 2007/08, representing it is the largest park in Birmingham, Regional Economic Strategy 5.4% of English Heritage national registered Grade II on the Register of The Regional Economic Strategy (RES), visitors. Kenilworth Castle accounted Historic Parks and Gardens with much Connecting to Success, was launched at for a large proportion with just under of the area scheduled and containing a the end of 2007 by Advantage West 100,000 visitors. listed building. A large part of the park is Midlands, the Regional Development a National Nature Reserve and much of Agency.The heritage sector welcomes the land is designated a Site of Special the commitment in the overarching vision Scientific Interest. The HPA will ensure to valuing the region’s natural, historic heritage issues are dovetailed into the and cultural assets, and the emphasis development of the new Management the Strategy gives to the importance Plan being developed for the park by of a high quality environment to the . regional economy. Continues on back page � WITLEY COURT NATURAL 3 HERITAGE PROJECT � the abilities of the young people, showing Thirty-seven young people from Wyre what they can offer rather than just what Forest LAFS (Laugh,Achieve, Socialise, they need, and some of the participants Fun) and Worcester-based Lifelinks took have had job opportunities since the part in a natural heritage project at Witley project has ended. Court and Gardens during 2007.Working The project was supported by the Heritage together, alongside staff and local experts, Lottery Fund and English Heritage, in the young people were successful in partnership with Worcestershire County creating a stunning new sculpture and Council’s Adult Learning Disabilities Service wildlife garden that can now be enjoyed and Countryside Service. It has won a by all visitors to Witley Court. Positive Practice award from the Care The project began with the young people, Services Improvement Partnership for the who have learning difficulties, taking part ‘Innovative Partnerships’ that it created. in surveying, monitoring, photographing, documenting and learning about the natural heritage of Witley Court. The participants used this inspiration to design and make a 22 metre willow serpent, which gives the illusion of weaving through Witley Court’s Wilderness Garden. By taking part in the project the young people developed knowledge, skills and attitudes to equip them for work and adult life.The project also demonstrated

KNUTTON VILLAGE, 4 NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE � The houses were built for workers at a English Heritage’s position statement nearby brickworks and were characterised in Low Demand Housing and the Historic by liberal use of decorative brick of two Environment (2005) affirmed that it foliate patterns. would favour repair and refurbishment Working closely with the residents and as an alternative to new build in areas home owners within the area, and with where the historic housing is distinctive, modest financial investment, the area retains its coherence and is valued by was enhanced through the appropriate the community.This was the starting point restoration of the historic architectural for a study undertaken on the Nineteenth character of the terraced street frontages. Century terraces of Knutton Village, Even though the level of replacement Staffordshire, to identify a typology of original details was high, this helped of the housing in the area. to retain a high degree of coherence. The Knutton study was initiated at As a consequence, the identity of the the request of Renew, the Housing area has been enhanced, demonstrating Market Pathfinder agency for North how townscape integrity can be restored Staffordshire, and funded by English and local distinctiveness built into the Heritage.The information collated on renewal process. the character of the area provided the basis for a programme of repair and reinstatement, funded by Renew in partnership with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and other stakeholders. A supporting Delivery Plan was Quality of Environment Policies, the final was undertaken.This survey of a published earlier this year with the phase of the review.Working with cultural representative sample of contractors Historic Environment Forum named and environmental partners, the priority established their views on traditional as a contributing organisation to the will be to develop a regionally distinct buildings skills and training needs and delivery of certain identified actions. and robust policy basis for the sustainable will help to target skills and training This offers a valuable platform for the management of the West Midlands’ development in the region. Hard copies heritage sector to demonstrate further historic environment. A future challenge of the full and summary reports are how the historic environment can for the sector will be taking this work available through www.construction support urban and rural regeneration forward as part of the Single Integrated skills.net/research and www.nhtg.org.uk. and sustainable economic growth. Regional Strategy (SIRS) (combining the In January 2009, a major stakeholder RES and RSS and other regional strategies) seminar will be held to disseminate announced by the Government’s Review the results of the survey and promote Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) of Sub-National Economic Development the regional skills action plan, the Further work on looking at options which and Regeneration. Heritage Lottery Fund supported could deliver higher housing numbers in Traditional Building Skills Bursary the region has delayed the timetable for Scheme and other initiatives. the Phase Two Review. Over the coming Traditional Skills months and into next year the heritage The lack of traditional building craft skills sector will continue to champion the was highlighted in last year’s Heritage role of the historic environment in Counts. Since then a West Midlands creating sustainable communities. Regional Heritage Skills Action Group Notwithstanding the delay in the has been established and, with funding Phase Two timetable, technical work from the Learning and Skills Council, has commenced on the review of the additional region-specific research

This document has been produced on behalf of the West Midlands Historic Environment Forum: • Advantage West Midlands • English Heritage • Ironbridge World Heritage Site • Association of Local Government • Government Office • Museums Libraries and Archives Archaeological Officers for the West Midlands West Midlands • Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery • Heritage Lottery Fund • National Trust • British Waterways • Historic Houses Association • Natural England • Campaign to Protect Rural England • Institute of Field Archaeologists • West Midlands Amenity • Council for British Archaeology • Institute of Historic Societies Association • Country Land and Business Association Building Conservation • West Midlands Regional Assembly

If you would like this document in a different format, Photographic credits All images © English Heritage, except Case 2 Astley please contact our Customer Services department: Castle images © The LandmarkTrust and Case 4 Telephone: 0870 333 1181 Knutton Village image © Christopher Taylor Design Ltd. Fax: 01793 414926 All text © English Heritage 2008. Edited by Emma Pardoe. Textphone: 01793 414878 Published by English Heritage. E-mail: [email protected] Designed by www.evolvedesign.co.uk Printed by the Colourhouse, London. O11/08)COL1000 51462(EV