Top 10 historic 'at risk' buildings revealed by Victorian Society

Clockwise from top left: Red Barns in Redcar, St Paul's Church in Chester, Mount Street Hospital in Preston and Clayton Hospital, Wakefield

The former home of explorer Gertrude Bell, a Grade II* listed church and two derelict hospitals are among 10 of the most endangered historic buildings.

The Victorian Society released its annual list, which it says names those in urgent need of help and protection.

It includes Red Barns in Redcar where Bell lived, St Paul's Church in Chester, Wakefield's Clayton Hospital and Mount Street Hospital in Preston.

A Grade II flour mill in Grimsby and a Cardiff railway station also feature.

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For the first time no properties in London and the South-East have been mentioned.

The charity's director, Christopher Costello, said it had "simply got far more nominations from other regions".

"Retaining historic buildings like those in the top 10 is vital to maintaining local identity and creating places in which people want to invest, live and work," he said.

The full list

Red Barns, Redcar

Red Barns was designed by architect Philip Webb and was the former home of Victorian archaeologist, writer and explorer Gertrude Bell

This Grade II* listed building by arts and crafts architect Philip Webb has been left in a "terrible state" with internal water damage, the society said.

It was the childhood home of explorer, writer and archaeologist Gertrude Bell, who travelled around the Middle East in the early 1890s.

Victoria Mill, Grimsby

More than 70 flats were evacuated in the Victoria Mill complex in February because of safety concerns after high winds

A Grade II former flour mill, warehouse and office complex which was partially converted to flats in the 1990s.

The tower, which was not converted, suffered structural problems earlier this year forcing some people to move out temporarily as their homes were declared unsafe.

Old Bute Road Railway Station, Cardiff

The station fell into disrepair after a museum it housed closed

Thought to have been designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the Grade II* station was home to the first steam-powered train service in Wales.

Old Library, Stafford

The building sold in 2012 and appeared on the market again, with its future uncertain

A Grade II building that was partially funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and once housed Clement Lindley Wragge's collection of ethnographic, zoological and geological material.

Mount Street Hospital, Preston

The society said urgent action was needed to save the building before it was lost

Built as an orphanage, this Grade II Victorian Gothic building later became a convalescent home but has been empty for more than a decade.

Clayton Hospital, Wakefield

The very high quality carved stone Tudor revival building dominates the surrounding conservation area

The stone Tudor-style hospital is threatened under a planning application by a foundation to demolish it for expansion purposes, the charity said.

St Paul's Church, Boughton, Chester

This Grade II* church has a "stunning interior" which retains wall paintings and stained glass windows by leading artists

The society said the Grade II* church was "going through a closure process after the congregation merged with another church".

St Joseph's Seminary, Upholland

The Gothic complex has been decaying since it closed in the early 1990s

A Grade II complex of Gothic sandstone buildings which was first a seminary and then a boarding school whose alumni are said to include comedians Tom O'Connor and Johnny Vegas.

Rylands Mill, Wigan

The building poses a risk to trespassing children, the charity warns

A Grade II listed former cotton mill, with boiler, engine house, chimney and weaving sheds which has been left derelict since the early 2000s and is currently for sale at £2.5m.

Oliver Buildings, Barnstaple

The developer who owned the site tried to get the recent Grade II listing overturned, the charity said

This Grade II Shapland and Petter brick factory, showroom and office complex on the riverside was designed by William Clement Oliver.