AN obelisk at Castle Howard, a gatehouse at Bolton Percy and a warehouse at Selby all joined a register of buildings at risk from decay and neglect today.

But other North Yorkshire buildings, including a church in York, came off the register after successful conservation projects.

The annual BAR register, published by English Heritage, lists 69 outstanding buildings in North Yorkshire at risk from neglect and decay.

"They represent the cream of the county's endangered heritage assets, designated either Grade I or II*," said a spokesman.

He said 18 buildings had been taken off the register for the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber, but another eight had come on. English Heritage estimated it would cost £32 million to rescue all the buildings at risk.

At Castle Howard, a huge obelisk constructed in 1714 to the design of Sir John Vanbrugh is suffering damage because of rusting iron cramps, says English Heritage.

"It has also been regularly damaged by passing lorries. A scheme of repair is in preparation."

English Heritage says the Gatehouse at Bolton Percy, near Tadcaster, a timber-framed gatehouse to the medieval rectory, was partially repaired in 1972 but the unrepaired southern end has collapsed.

At Selby, the organisation warns that Abbot's Staith Buildings in Water Lane, a 15th or 16th century warehouse built for the Abbey, is in poor condition and the roof is deteriorating.

In York, the Church of St Denys, in Walmgate, has been removed from the list after a successful conservation project, as has a fragment of Bedern Chapel, Jervaulx Abbey ruins, Ebberston Hall in Ryedale and the Stables and Coachhouse at Ripley Park, near Harrogate.

Updated: 10:39 Friday, July 18, 2003