A multi-million pound grotto, and an early 20th century war memorial are two of five important buildings given protection in Bracknell.
There are 267 listed buildings in Bracknell – in the local authority area rather than the constituency area – but just one of them is Grade I listed.
Grade I buildings are considered to be “of exceptional interest”.
READ MORE: Bracknell pubs still on less than HALF normal takings as 'freedom day' delayed
Only around 2.5 per cent of listed buildings in the UK are Grade I.
Listing celebrates a building’s special architectural and historic interest and gives it protection under planning law.
These are the five of many buildings and sites in Bracknell given special protection by Historic England.
1. Old Bracknell House, Crowthorne Road
This building is listed as a Grade II site and was first listed in December 1972.
Now used as a nursery, this building was originally first built in the Early 18th century, but was then altered in the early 19th century before undergoing an extension in 1879 and in the mid-20th century.
The inside retains many of its older features, including open-string stair with moulded tread ends, turned balusters and large square newel with panelled insets and ball finial, chimneypieces, doors, cornices, window surrounds and shutters.
2. Bracknell War Memorial, Princess Square, Stanley Walk
This grade II statue in Princess Square, Bracknell's town centre, was first erected in 1924 at the junction betwen Binfield Road and Wokingham Road.
ALSO READ: Woman describes moment she pulled her sister's body from the water in terrifying crocodile attack
It was originally erected to commemorate the war dead following the First World War, but later on a message for those who died in the Second World War was also added.
The statue was moved from its original location to the town centre between 1967-1973 due to "historic and communal interest."
3. Church of All Saints, Church Hill, Binfield
This Grade II listed site in Binfield is beelieved to have been build in the 14th century, and restored and extended in the mid 18th century.
The restoration of which was undertaken by famous architect and Gothic Revivalist, Benjamin Ferrey.
The church was first listed in December 1966.
4. Church of St Michael, Lower Church Road
This Grade II listed church in Sandhurst, Bracknell Forest, was first listed in December 1972.
Historic England's database described the architecture of the building as having a "Nave, north and south aisles, north and south chapels, north-west porch and broached spire.
The chuch's interior has a braced collar from roof to nave, and a chancel.
Thre is also a large painting of the twelve apostles on the chancel arch on the inside of the 18th century building.
5. Ascot Grotto, Ascot Place
This structure, first listed in December 1972, is Bracknell Forest's only Grade I listed building.
The grotto, approximately first built in 1750, was built to the designs of Daniel Agace, owner of Ascot Place, with masons named Turnbull & Scott.
The embellishment of the interior may be the work of the specialist grotto-builders, Joseph & Josiah Lane of Tisbury, who also worked on the grottoes at nearby Oatlands and Painshill.
Architectural historians Headley and Meulenkamp stated that 'it is hard to think of a finer grotto in Britain'.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here