A lot of the Heritage Trust's work is connected with archaeology and buried things, and more often than not, that's what I am asked to talk about on radio ... but in fact a great deal of our work is concerned with historic buildings. These are often what are called listed buildings, and that term means that they have been singled out for inclusion in a list compiled by government ... a list of buildings identified as having special architectural or historic interest.

 

This process of listing began back in 1932 with the first Town and Country Planning Act but only really came into effect in the years following the Second World War, when the centres of many bomb-damaged towns were in need of re-development and there was an urgent need to identify buildings of historical or architectural importance. Recently the whole system has been updated.

 

 

 

The age of a building is one of the main criteria - all buildings that date before 1700 and that survive in anything like their original condition will be listed. Buildings like the Stonebow, Greyfriars and High Bridge, in Lincoln, immediately fall into that category. From 1700-1840, the majority of buildings are listed. After that there is considerably more selection - only the best buildings between 1840 and 1914 are listed. After 1914 buildings have to be very famous or of very high quality to be listed. Some are included because they demonstrate a new technique, and these can cause controversy, as recent listings of tower blocks proved! People are often surprised to learn that the garage building with the remarkable roof, on Brayford Wharf North in Lincoln, now the music and drama library, is a listed building even though it was built in 1956.

 

Buildings are listed if they are of great architectural interest, of historic interest or if they are part of a group which make up an important architectural feature. Once listed, naturally enough the name and a description of the building appears on the list. These lists, which used to be published by the Department of the Environment, had an awful green coloured cover which led to them being known as 'greenbacks'. In fact, in these days of computer databases, they can be produced at the touch of a button. If you want to find out about listed buildings in your area you should contact either your local planning office department, who will keep copies of the lists, or the National Monuments Record Centre in Swindon, who will send you copies in the post. Parish Councils also often have copies of their local listed buildings.

 

People are often surprised to see that it's not just 'buildings' that get listed. A glance through any of the lists shows village pumps, walls, railings, gateposts, telephone boxes, bollards, market crosses and milestones.

 

 

 

For the sake of administration, listed buildings have been split up into grades, and on a pretty bewildering system! The very best are called Grade One (I) listed buildings. The next best are called Grade Two Star (II*), and the ordinary ones are called Grade Two (II). It has to be said that it would be difficult to design a sillier system if we tried! In Lincolnshire about 5% are Grade I, 7% are Grade II* and the rest are Grade II. Generally Lincolnshire is above the national average for higher grade buildings.

 

 

 

Officially the grades are for administrative purposes. In reality it's all to do with eligibility for grants. Grades I and II* are eligible for cash from English Heritage. Grade II are not. Grants for Grade IIs are administered through local authorities and are small or non-existent.

 

 

 

This is really quite a heavy responsibility. Once a structure is included on a list, no integral part of it can be altered without first obtaining Listed Building Consent. To make alterations would be an offence and may lead to a large fine and having to 'undo' whatever it is that was done. This constraint applies to structural alterations, repairs or extensions both outside or inside the building. Repairs, where exactly the same materials and styles are used, are permitted and do not need consent. The troubles that so often arise are when repairs are carried out in modern materials - classically these days uPVC window and door frames which are not allowed on listed buildings.

 

The job of advising and monitoring listed building issues fall to someone known as the conservation officer, usually to be found in the Planning Department of your local authority. If you live in a listed building you must talk to him or her before making any structural alterations or repairs to your building.

 

If you do not look after a listed building properly, or you make unauthorised changes, the penalties can be very high. If a listed building is allowed to fall into disrepair the local authority can serve a legal notice on you requiring you to carry out repairs, and if you don't they can hire a builder to do the work at your expense. Ultimately, they have the power to take the building off you by compulsory purchase in order to arrange for its proper care and repair. Happily, however, most listed buildings are very well looked after and cared for by their owners. In a recent survey, less than 2% were in need of urgent care or attention.

 

If you want information on listed buildings in Lincolnshire you can ask at your local planning office, or contact the Heritage Trust - we can probably put you in touch with the right person.