ENGLISH Heritage has warned that two buildings in Comet country are at risk of being lost unless urgent action is taken to prevent further deterioration. But the warning may have come too late to save the remains of the old Minsden Chapel out in the count

ENGLISH Heritage has warned that two buildings in Comet country are at risk of being lost unless urgent action is taken to prevent further deterioration.

But the warning may have come too late to save the remains of the old Minsden Chapel out in the countryside a few miles from Hitchin.

Richard Whitmore, a patron of the town's Queen Mother Theatre and local resident, revealed this week how he discovered part of the chapel had collapsed while out walking.

"I had been invited to meet a group of Explorer Scouts at the ruin to talk to them about the historian Reginald Hine and stories linked with the chapel," said Mr Whitmore.

"It was quite a shock when we came across this huge pile of rubble that had spread to within a few feet of Hine's gravestone.

"My guess is that the archway came down at night during the recent high winds. It is a great shame because one of the best features of the ruin has now gone."

Probably built in the 14th century the little church was used as a Chapel of Ease for the remote farming community in that area near Preston. Although no longer consecrated, the now roofless ruin became a popular venue for wedding ceremonies during the 18th Century - until an incident in 1738 when a stone fell from one of the walls and knocked the prayer book out of the clergyman's hands. After that all official church ceremonies were banned.

A statement from English Heritage said: "The ruined remains of the old church are at risk from further erosion. Our Buildings at Risk register is not a name and shame exercise but a tool to understand threats and prioritise action.

"When damaged or lost, such sites, often dating back thousands of years, cannot be replaced."

The second building pinpointed by English Heritage is the Old Malt Houses and Kiln at Thomas Alleyne School, in High Street, Stevenage.

The building is currently out of bounds to pupils, staff and the public and surrounded by scaffolding.

English Heritage says the school has "a range of timber framed buildings with brick infills and panels. Removal of the roof braces has led to severe structural problems and it is in danger of collapse."

But Jonathan Block, headteacher at the school, said the building was not in danger of collapse saying: "The building is now protected by scaffolding and is mothballed to keep it safe.

"We would love to have the building back in school use but the cost of restoring it is likely to be very prohibitive and its future is in the hands of the county council.