Jools’ jewels (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Jools’ jewels

9:45am Friday 3rd July 2009

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ENGLISH Heritage says it is not being “vicious” in issuing its annual list of historic buildings and monuments considered at risk of their decay becoming terminal. The protestation seems at odds with what we see in TV programmes like Grand Designs, where EH’s zeal in demanding often-dubious authenticity can make worthy restoration schemes eye-wateringly expensive. But then, reality TV is invariably a put-up job and maybe English Heritage is merely playing along to make a clichéd drama out of a sham crisis.

That might not, however, encourage the owner of, say, Nappa Hall, Askrigg, or the gatehouse at Whorlton Castle, among many local places deemed at risk, to consider spending their way off the register – and “encouragement” to make improvements is claimed as the purpose of the exercise.

A more charitable view is taken by the engaging bandleader Jools Holland, who, to his surprise, finds his 14th-century Cooling Castle, in Kent, bought with conservation in mind, on the list. He sees no malicious intent and is happy to continue his £100,000 seven-year project to “safeguard” the castle by consolidating its ruined walls, as opposed to the impossibly expensive task of restoration – think the rebuilding of Richmond Castle – which he says even an oligarch could not afford.

That is realistic. Stabilised ruins like Rievaulx and Fountains are marvellous heritage successes. Many endangered sites could likewise be saved, helped by VAT concessions on jobcreating conservation ventures that would not otherwise be contemplated.

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