Listed Buildings
A listed building is one which has been identified as being of special architectural or historic interest and is included in a national register of such buildings which is compiled by English Heritage.
The term ‘building’ can include any structure built by man – for example bridges, walls, milestones, village crosses, pumps, even telephone boxes! Listing also protects buildings within the curtilage of the main building described on the list even if they are not separately recorded.
There are around 3000 Listed buildings and structures in the North York Moors National Park. To find out whether a building within the National Park is listed please click here, please note this link will take you to the joint National Park Portal where listed buildings are shown on a Geographic Information System (GIS) basis.
How do I know if my building is listed?
If you have recently purchased your property your solicitor should have carried out a ‘search’ to determine whether your building is listed. You are welcome to consult the full register of listed buildings in the National Park which is held at the National Park Office in Helmsley.
Why are buildings listed?
Buildings are listed so that they can be cared for and protected, and to ensure that their special features are not unwittingly altered or destroyed. Listed buildings are a valuable record of of the best examples of design, building methods and features and an important part of our heritage.
How are they chosen?
Most buildings on the list were selected during a national survey which began in 1970 and was completed in the North York Moors in 1990. The survey was supervised by English Heritage, the government’s advisers on conservation matters. Buildings were selected according to a set of criteria.
The buildings are chosen for four main reasons; their architectural design, their age, their historic interest and association with famous people or events. They can be large, impressive buildings such as stately homes or castles, or small, modest cottages or churches, or even buildings with a story attached. Generally, the older a building is and the less it has been altered, the more likely it is to be listed.
- Buildings built before 1700, which survive in anything like their original condition, are almost always listed.
- Buildings built between 1700 and 1840 are generally listed, depending on their quality and character
- Since 1840 considerably more buildings have been erected and much larger numbers survive. Here only the best examples of particular building types, which have definite quality and character, are listed
- Buildings built after 1914 have to be of particularly high quality and those less than 30 years old need to be outstanding, to be listed. No buildings less than 10 years old are listed
Can buildings be added to the list?
Yes. Buildings can be both added to and removed from the list. This responsibility lies with English Heritage.
In cases where a building believed to be worthy of listing is under threat, the local planning authority can issue a Building Preservation Notice. This gives the building the same protection as a listed building for up to six months. During this time English Heritage will decide whether or not to list the building.
If you would like specialist advice regarding a listed building, contact the Authority's Building Conservation Officer.
