LONDON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- An old church linked to the famous English writer Charles Dickens and the world's oldest gasholder are two of the structures added to the latest official "at risk" register by Historic England.
The gardens surrounding a seaside retreat created in the 1780s for a royal playboy prince, are also at risk.
The list, says Historic England, provides an annual snapshot of the state of the country's most valued vulnerable historic places.
The aim of the register is to bring attention to sites across England that are at risk of being lost as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development, the cultural watchdog said.
Newly added to the register is St. George the Martyr in London, known as "Little Dorrit's Church" for its intriguing connection with Charles Dickens. The churchyard was used for many years as a burial place for prisoners who died in the adjoining debtors' prison where Dickens' father, mother, and some siblings were incarcerated in 1824 for debt. The church has a depiction of the character Little Dorrit in one of its stained glass windows.
A second London church, St. Anne's in Stepney, built in 1730 with money raised by Queen Anne, has been added to the list. For many years, the golden ball on top of its mast, and its chiming clock, was used to help ships navigating the nearby River Thames.
Also in London, Gasholder No. 2 at Fulham Gasworks has been added to the list. Built in 1830, the gasholder dates back to the pioneering days of the gas industry and is by far the oldest surviving gasholder in the world. The gasholder's condition is now deteriorating due largely to vegetation growth.
The gardens surrounding the Royal Pavilion in Brighton, built as a retreat for King George IV when he was the so-called playboy Prince of Wales in the 1780s. Historic England says the increasing popularity of the gardens is now eroding the special character of the site.
A new use is needed, says Historic England, to ensure the survival of The Cooperage, a timber-framed building from the late medieval period in the quayside of the northern city of Newcastle.
Duncan Wilson, CEO of Historic England, said: "The register is an annual health check of the country's most special and vulnerable historic places. Across England, thousands of fascinating buildings and places full of history are still at risk and in need of rescue. There is much work to do to secure their future. The historic environment has a profound impact on our culture and identity as well as our economy, both locally and nationally, and it's irreplaceable."
