A HISTORIC Silsden building has been removed from a national list of properties judged to be at risk.

Waterloo Mill and its attached engine house, in Howden Road, has this year been taken off Historic England's At Risk Register.

A Historic England spokesman said: "The main four-storey mill was built in the 1860s, and is in fair condition and in use.

"The Engine House was built in 1916 to contain a second-hand 1896 Scott & Hodgson inverted vertical cross compound steam engine, which last powered the looms in 1977.

"Most engines were sold for scrap when they became redundant, but here it survives, still in its apple green livery, the sole survivor of its type.

"The Grade II* Engine House has been repaired with grant support from Historic England."

Despite the good news for Silsden, a number of sites in Keighley are on the register. And none of these are new additions to the list.

These include the prominent Dalton Mills complex, Low Mill, in Low Mill Lane, Whinburn, in Utley, St James Church, in Cross Roads, and Devonshire Park, in Highfield.

Commenting on Dalton Mill, the register's assessment describes its condition as "poor" but notes that it is partly occupied and a solution to regenerate the 140-year-old property has been agreed.

It adds: "The site comprises three multi-storey mills – Tower Mill, Genappe Mill and New Mill.

"The site was acquired by a new owner early in 2014 who has begun to implement a programme of phased repair and refurbishment to create a mixed commercial development.

"Historic England grant aid has been awarded towards the cost of repairing Genappe Mill's water tower and carrying out structural repairs to the mill's central bay."

The register warns that the dilapidated late 18th century Low Mill, which is is all that is left of what was Yorkshire's first ever cotton mill, is disused and in a "very bad" condition.

It adds the property's priority status means it is at: "Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric," with "no solution agreed".

However, it also points out that discussions are in progress with the building's new owner regarding potential re-use and development.

Historic England says St James Church's condition is poor, adding: "Aisle roofs and clerestory windows have been repaired with Heritage Lottery Funding under the Grants for Places of Worship scheme.

"High-level roofs have subsequently deteriorated and require a further phase of repair."

The organisation describes Whinburn manor house and gardens as being in a generally satisfactory state, but with minor localised problems.

It says: "The gardens are overgrown and its buildings and structures are in need of repair. The house has fine Edwardian interiors. The property is currently for sale."