Dickens' Writing Chalet Added to Historic England At-Risk Register

Charles Dickens' writing chalet, now at Eastgate House in Rochester, Kent, has been added to Historic England's heritage at risk register because of rotting wood and structural weaknesses. Dickens received the chalet as a Christmas gift in 1864. Medway Council has secured 240,000 pounds from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to plan its restoration.

The council has added 40,000 pounds of its own money and 5,000 pounds came from the Dickens Fellowship. Hall's Croft in Stratford-upon-Avon was also added, partly after a vehicle struck its front, and it received a one million pound donation from playwright Ken Ludwig. Hastings Castle in East Sussex joined over coastal erosion.

A moorland area at Fylingdales in North Yorkshire was added after last year's wildfire damaged 20 scheduled monuments and six listed buildings. Edward Jenner's hut in Berkeley was removed after restoration. The register holds close to 5,000 sites, and Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said every part of the UK is bursting with history.