Part of historic Northants arms depot taken off 'at risk' register

Part of a Napoleonic arms depot has been taken off Historic England's buildings at risk register following urgent repair work.

A £305,000 grant went towards repairs to the north-east bastion at Weedon Depot in Northamptonshire.

It is one of 20 sites that have been removed from the register this year, while 13 places have been added.

Historic England said the work would make sure visitors could "appreciate more of this astonishing place".

The organisation's Heritage at Risk Register gives "an annual snapshot of the health of England's valued historic buildings".

Last year's register included no less than six entries for Weedon Depot, near Daventry.

The owners received a grant to help pay for repairs to the north-east bastion and external wall and that section of the site is not in the 2023 register.

Weedon Depot was built at the beginning of the 19th Century to supply weapons and equipment to the British Army.

It was chosen as a refuge for George III to use if Napoleon invaded Britain.

Its military role continued for more than 150 years but it then suffered decades of neglect.

Some of the site has been restored to house various businesses and a visitor centre but areas like the north bastion have been left to deteriorate.

It consists of a brick enclosure with arches at ground level and steps leading to a path all the way round the upper floor.

John Johnstone, 79, who used to work at the depot but is now a volunteer guide, said: "It is one of the defensive points of the site, completed in 1814.

"It was basically for security - soldiers with their flintlock muskets and their uniforms. It would have been quite a colourful place, I think."

It is not known what, if anything, was stored in the arches. Their function was structural rather than for storage, although it is thought one might have housed a toilet.

Doreen Addicott, another volunteer guide, said the north bastion desperately needed work doing to it.

She said: "It had got into a pretty poor state, with trees and brambles growing in the middle.

"Me and my husband went in one day and he said 'something grabbed hold of my leg, is there a ghost?'. It was a bramble!"

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