The final resting place of Former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in Hughenden has  been saved from removal after being saved by a six figure grant.

The Church of St Michael and All Angels is one of 25 locations across the south east that has had its future secured, Historic England announced on Thursday, November 9.

This church was almost totally rebuilt in 1875 by architect Sir Arthur Blomfield in knapped flint with stone details.

It has a richly decorated chancel with Victorian wall paintings. The building is closely associated with the nearby Hughenden Manor – home of Benjamin Disraeli, twice UK Prime Minister (1868, 1874–80), who is buried in the churchyard.

A memorial to Disraeli was erected by Queen Victoria here following his death. Rainwater had caused decay to the timber roof structure of the tower.

A programme of repairs was completed thanks to funding from the Government’s Heritage Stimulus Fund.

Other sites saved across south east include the impressive Norman castle ruins at Wallingford, Oxfordshire, and Hursley, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight’s primary Anglican church, Newport Minster.

Thanks to a dedicated local community and the assistance from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England has been able to award over £1 million in grants for repairs on 19 historic sites in the South East on the Heritage at Risk Register in 2022/23.

Regional Director for London and the South East Tom Foxall said: “In the 25 years of the Heritage at Risk Register, huge progress has been made in saving irreplaceable historic sites, and this year is no different.

"Across the South East, we’re celebrating the successful restoration of a collection of large, complex buildings and structures, such as the Dockyard Church in Sheerness, along with numerous other special places that had been vulnerable for a long time.

"Thanks to strong partnership working and a strategic approach and vision, these places steeped in history now have a new and vital part to play for people today.

"Local communities are at the heart of finding solutions for heritage at risk and we are dedicated to supporting them so they can benefit from even more historic places being removed from the at risk Register.”

Historic England emphasises the continuity of this preservation work, citing the importance of communities, owners, and funders collaborating to secure the future of these precious sites.

The 2023 Heritage at Risk Register marks the 25th anniversary of the initiative.

Since its inception in 1998, around 6,800 entries have been painstakingly restored and removed.

Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund Eilish McGuinness, said: “It is so heartening to see a number of significant heritage sites removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in the South East, and given a new lease of life as part of their local communities and places.

"Saving heritage at risk so that it can be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future, is core to our purpose, and we’re incredibly proud that the Heritage Fund has been able to support this important work to make this fantastic news possible.”