The historic gems at risk

They are some of London's architectural gems.

But a report today warns that almost 670 of the capital's finest buildings are at serious risk because of neglect by their owners.

The annual English Heritage buildings-at-risk survey highlights a string of crumbling monuments.

Seven are scheduled ancient monuments - including the 300-yearold brick Old Brewhouse in the heart of Bushy Park, Teddington, which is empty and has been badly damaged by vandals.

Another 23, including Sir Christopher Wren's St Mary Somerset Tower in the City, are Grade I listed. Nationwide, there are 1,500 buildings on the list.

English Heritage chief executive Simon Thurley said: "There is still a long way to go. The majority of

buildings saved so far tend to have been those with an obvious use or those that needed the least help from public funds. We will have to work even harder to save the really difficult cases in the years to come."

The at-risk list features two London landmarks, Severndroog Castle, Greenwich and Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, which will feature in the BBC's new series of Restoration, about the plight of historic buildings across the UK.

The series, which begins in July, will invite viewers to vote for the building in greatest need.

Today's report also reveals that over the past year more than 100 buildings previously on the list have been rescued. They include the Isokon Flats in Camden, the former home of Agatha Christie; Chandos House, Westminster, a Robert Adam townhouse of 1771 with splendid interiors; and 52 Newington Green, Islington, part of a row of four homes built in 1658 thought to be the earliest surviving terrace houses in England.

This year's list includes a Georgian terrace house in Soho Square, and, in Ilford, the chapel of the Hospital of St Mary and St Thomas of Canterbury, which dates back to 1145 and suffers badly from damp.

Mr Thurley said: "Despite the scale of the challenge, we should celebrate the fact that our message is beginning to bite: that the nation's most important historic buildings should not have to reach such decay before action."