A WELL house near Barton has been put on English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register.

Wick Farm Well House dates from the 17th century but is described by the preservation body as being in a “poor” condition.

The well house, pictured, is just outside Oxford at the bottom of Barton Village Road.

It has been Grade II* listed since 1956 – one of only about 20,000 such structures in the country.

This means it has been judged to be of “more than special interest”.

English Heritage puts together the Heritage At Risk report to provide advice on how best to save the 5,800 sites on the register.

Nick Hextall has been dealing with the refurbishment of the well house on behalf of the owners of the farm.

He said: “It’s a lovely building and we do wish to preserve it. We think it is an old Roman bath, possibly open when the climate was warmer, then in Georgian times they put a cover over it.”