Lead roof stolen from 1790 building in Hemel Hempstead

Sections of lead roofing were stolen from The Bury, a Grade II* listed building in Hemel Hempstead, last weekend. The 1790 structure, owned by Dacorum Borough Council, is currently empty but remains a local landmark. Police have classified the incident as criminal damage and theft rather than weather-related deterioration.

Emergency work to make the property watertight is scheduled to begin next week. The council stated that the vandalism left parts of the building exposed and caused damage to the interior slates. Officials noted that the incident places additional pressure on funding as they seek the most cost-effective method to repair the roof.

Dacorum Heritage Trust expressed sadness over the damage but welcomed the immediate action to secure the site. A spokesperson for the preservation charity called the building an important part of Dacorum’s heritage. In July, the trust said it hoped to transform the council-owned property into a heritage centre.

In a Facebook post, the council acknowledged that many residents are concerned about the damage inside and outside The Bury. The council confirmed it is committed to protecting the building but explained that permanent restoration work will require a separate specialist project due to its listed status.

Hertfordshire Police are asking for anyone with information about the vandalism to contact them. The council previously clarified in September that an advertisement listing The Bury for sale was published by mistake.

The Bury is a 236-year-old building located in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. The council owns the property, and the lead theft occurred over the weekend prior to this report.