A church in Lancashire is one of the 16 quirky buildings that have been added to the National Heritage List for England in 2023.

This year, 227 historic places have been added to the national heritage list with 16 of them being picked out for their uniqueness.

They include a 400-year-old structure which is England’s earliest known 'modern-day car wash', a railway pub that was a prototype for an early railway station, and an iron age cave.

The Church of St Nicholas in Fleetwood also secured a spot on the list. The building is Grade II-listed and reflects the area’s maritime connections with its striking upturned boat design.

Lancashire Telegraph: Inside Church of St NicholasInside Church of St Nicholas (Image: Historic England)

Built between 1960 and 1962, its bold sculptural design in the form of an upturned boat is dominated by sheer tower walls and tall copper-clad roofs with unusual triangular dormer windows representing sails.

Historic England has also launched the Missing Pieces project, to uncover hidden histories and highlight overlooked stories by seeking out anecdotes about protected and historic places.

Members of the public have been asked to submit memories and stories through photos, drawings, audio, film, or text to add to the picture of what makes these places special.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “A range of remarkable historic buildings and sites are added to the list each year and 2023 is no exception.

“We’ve examined and protected some amazing sites this year, which together give us a window into our rich and varied historic environment. The festive period is a great time to find out more about the historic places all around us.

“I encourage everyone to explore the heritage on our doorsteps and to add what they discover to our Missing Pieces Project for everyone to see and enjoy.”