THE number of historic buildings and monuments in Ryedale on English Heritage's "at risk" register remains unchanged for the second year running.
But the list published this week acknowledges repair and restoration is either under way or planned for some of them.
Of the 58 historic sites in North Yorkshire which feature on the register, 14 are in Ryedale.
Most have been listed as being "at risk" for a number of years and are said to be in a poor or very bad condition.
Maddy Jago, English Heritage regional director for planning and development, said: "Although we've done well in tackling the problems of our most vulnerable heritage, the pace of progress has slowed.
"We've now reached the most difficult cases, which are either scheduled monuments with no obvious use, or buildings which require a strategic re-think.
"The good news is that together with the Heritage Lottery Fund we are assisting with repairs to 18 sites on the register. But we need to work hard to find solutions elsewhere."
English Heritage has also welcomed a new BBC 2 series, Restoration Village, which aims to mobilise the country to save buildings at risk.
It will feature the restoration project now under way at the Grade II listed 18th century Howsham Mill, near Malton.

The plan is to restore the historic building, complete with a new waterwheel built to the original 250-year-old specification, for use as an environmental study centre.
English Heritage has also just published Restoration Village, a book covering the nominated buildings featured in the television series.
Meanwhile local sites listed on the buildings at risk register are:
- Ionic Temple, Duncombe Park Estate, Helmsley. The Grade I listed structure is said to be a in a "poor" state. The trial repair of one column is complete but an overall repair strategy has yet to be agreed.
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- The Lime Kilns, alongside the A170, Allerston. A scheduled ancient monument dating from 1800, its condition is "very bad" with some parts starting to collapse.

- Yedingham Priory, Yedingham.Little of the 12th century structure remains apart from a wall and part of a refectory which has been incorporated into a cottage and barn.
The condition is "poor" with masonry cracking and bulging in places.
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- The walls of two 18th century cascades at Ebberston Hall, Ebberston. The condition is poor and needs repair and restoration.

- The Stray, Castle Howard Estate. Castellated walls with square and round towers at intervals stretching for one mile on both sides of the main drive. The condition is "very bad" but two phases of repair have been done and more is planned.

- Ray Wood Walls, Castle Howard Estate. 18th century walls in a "fair" condition with repairs complete, although it remains on the register.
- The Mausoleum, bastion walls, gates and railings, Kirk Hill, Castle Howard Estate. In a poor condition with the entablature and bastions continuing to decay, mainly due to rusting cramps.

- The Pyramid, St Annes Hill, Castle Howard Estate. A commemorative monument built in 1728 by Hawksmoor and in a poor condition although five of the eight corner piers have been repaired.

- Walled garden walls, gates and corner piers, Castle Howard Estate. Grade I listed and in a "very bad" condition due to "lack of maintenance and repair."
- Screen wall north west of the Old Lodge Hotel, Old Maltongate, Malton.. Grade II* listed and said to be of "considerable national importance" but in a "very bad" condition and potentially unstable.
- York House, Yorkersgate, Malton. An empty 17th century property in a "fair" condition. The building is wind and watertight but there are some dampness problems on the ground floor.

- Sheriff Hutton Castle, Sheriff Hutton. Dating from 1382 and in a "poor" condition but the first phase of repairs funded by English Heritage is complete and more are planned.

- Slingsby Castle, Slingsby. A scheduled ancient monument dating from 16th century in a "very bad" condition. It needs "urgent" consolidation.