Devon church added to the Heritage at Risk Register

The Parish Church of St Mary in Silverton was built in the 15th century on the site of an older church.

The church has recently uncovered early oak ceilings in poor condition in the north and south aisles, previously hidden behind lath and plaster ceilings installed more than 200 years ago.

The ceilings are in poor condition, and the church needs urgent conservation work to preserve these remarkable medieval pieces of work.

Peter Smith, Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Silverton. (Image: The Historic England Archive, Historic England)

Peter Smith, of the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Silverton, said: "These remarkable ceilings, hidden behind lath and plaster for the past 200 years, are in desperate need of conservation.

"Not only beautiful in their own right, they demonstrate rare wood joinery techniques employed in rural buildings during the 16th century.

"These ceilings still retain their original honey colour which may offer valuable insights into how oak ages when exposed to the atmosphere."

Meanwhile, the Old School Coffee House in Barnstaple has been saved and removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.

SAVED: Old School Coffee House, Barnstaple, Devon. (Image: The Historic England Archive, Historic England)

The 17th-century building has been transformed into affordable and sustainable housing and won the 2025 Almshouse Association Award for its outstanding historic conversion.

Claudia Kenyatta CBE and Emma Squire CBE, co-CEOs of Historic England, said: "The heritage we see all around us impacts how we feel about our local places.

"The annual Heritage at Risk Register gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many benefits of bringing our historic buildings back into use.

"The best way to protect our buildings is to reuse them, turning them into places of local connection and joy.

"The sites that have been saved and have come off the Register this year really highlight the benefits of working together in partnership, and with communities, to create positive, sustainable change.

"Together we can safeguard our heritage for future generations."

Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: "We are determined to protect the heritage at the heart of our communities."