A NEW approach to cataloguing the condition of historic buildings, statues and other structures is being tested in Worcester.
Volunteers recruited by Worcester City Council and Worcester Civic Society are using smart phones and tablet computers to record the condition of Grade II Listed buildings around the city, as part of a national scheme being tested by Historic England.
The data will feed into the Government body’s understanding of the country’s historic buildings and also help Worcester City Council revise its own Heritage at Risk register.
Paul O’Connor, the council’s Development Management Service Manager, said: “We’re committed to safeguarding Worcester’s heritage so we’re delighted to have been able to get involved in this exciting scheme.
“There are just over 900 Grade II Listed buildings and structures in Worcester, so keeping track of the condition of all of them is a major challenge.
“The information collected by volunteers will make it easier to keep our Heritage at Risk register up to date, enabling us to work with the owners of Grade II Listed properties to ensure those buildings are preserved for future generations to enjoy.”
The app allows the volunteers to quickly and easily record information about the state of the historic buildings and structures, including both descriptions and pictures.
The data is then sent to both Historic England and Worcester City Council.
Volunteers are given a list of Grade II Listed buildings to survey and then visit each site to assess its condition, looking for any potential problems, such as crumbling brickwork or water damage.
They do this from outside the site, without entering any private property.
Over the course of the scheme, between 300 and 400 buildings will be surveyed.
Phil Douce, Chairman of Worcester Civic Society, said: “The Civic Society encourages the preservation and protection of Worcester’s historical environment, so I am very pleased to support this innovative approach to recording the condition of our Grade II Listed buildings.
“Our members and volunteers have been out on the streets of our city armed with their smart phones and tablets to make an important contribution to this important project to catalogue the state of our heritage.”
The app is being developed by Historic England, previously known as English Heritage, the Government body which champions England’s heritage and gives expert, constructive advice on the built environment.
Worcester City Council’s most recent Heritage at Risk register, published in 2013, recorded 56 historic buildings and structures being at risk and classed another 102 as vulnerable.
In recent years, work has included providing guidance on materials and restoration work to buildings such as the Lock Keeper’s Cottage at Diglis and the Paul Pry pub in the city centre.
Anyone wanting to know more about the pilot scheme should contact Heritage and Design officer Steve McLeish at [email protected]
