HISTORICAL buildings across the city are currently under serious threat of being lost due to decay, neglect, or inappropriate development.

In its most recent review, Historic England, a public body that looks after the country’s historical developments, highlighted three sites in Oxford that are at risk. 

These included Rewley Road Swing Bridge, a disused railway bridge, the Church of the Holy Family, in Blackbird Leys and Church of St Thomas the Martyr, off St Thomas’ Street in the city centre. See the full list here>>>

Each year Historic England compiles a nationwide picture of sites currently most at risk and in need of safeguarding for the future.

At present, the old swing bridge and the grade II listed church in Blackbird Leys are undergoing plans for redevelopment and reconstruction.

It is hoped following that once the sites are reconstructed or rebuilt, they will no longer be considered as a development under threat.

Debbie Dancer of the Oxford Preservation Society said: “We are delighted to have been working with the Railway Heritage Trust, Network Rail and Historic England to remove the swing bridge from the register.

“We were partway through the project this year when they put the register together and we fully expect it to be removed next year.”

In 2020 the society almost £1 million which will help restore the bridge to its former glory.

The Church of the Holy Family, in Blackbird Leys, is renowned for its innovative timber hyperbolic paraboloid roof designed by the engineer Hugh Tottenham.

The church, despite only being completed in 1965, however, was in terrible condition, with water leaks occurring regularly.

Historic England previously opposed plans to demolish and rebuild the church, however, in April revoked their opposition.

This led to Oxford City Council giving permission for the church to finally be knocked down, after four years of public consultation.

Commenting on the updated list of ‘buildings at risk’ in the city, Marion Brinton from Historic England said: “Oxford boasts a wealth of beautiful and historically important heritage sites.

“Unfortunately, some of these are in a poor state and in desperate need of repair and restoration.

“By putting these sites on the Heritage at Risk Register, we can help draw attention to their condition, hopefully attracting financial and community support to save them.

“For example, we’ve been working in partnership with the Oxford Preservation Trust and others to repair the historically important Rewley Road Swing bridge, which is a Scheduled Monument and dates from 1850. The repairs are now well advanced and nearing completion.”

The church of St Thomas the Martyr, which is also a grade two listed building, was placed on the register as despite being ‘structurally sound overall’ the roof covering is said to be in a poor condition.

The church applied for a Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund grant but was not successful.

Historic England said the site is currently in a state of slow decay and at present no solution has been found.