Boat-church on Heritage List

A church in Lancashire is one of the 16 quirky buildings that have been added to the National Heritage List for England in 2023.

This year, 227 historic places have been added to the national heritage list with 16 of them being picked out for their uniqueness.

The Church of St Nicholas in Fleetwood secured a spot on the list. It was named after St Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors.

The building is Grade II-listed and reflects the area’s maritime connections with its striking upturned boat design.

Built between 1960 and 1962, its bold sculptural design in the form of an upturned boat is dominated by sheer tower walls and copper-clad roofs, with unusual triangular windows representing sails.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “A range of remarkable historic buildings and sites are added to the list each year and 2023 is no exception.

“We’ve examined and protected some amazing sites this year, which together give us a window into our rich and varied historic environment. The festive period is a great time to find out more about the historic places all around us”.

(Picture Courtesy: Historic England))