The hangman's noose is tightening around a 16th century listed building because Kingston Council has failed to look after it, it was claimed this week.

Tony Arbour, London Assembly Member for Kingston and Richmond, is shocked by the state of the Grade II* listed Gallows Tamkin in George Road, which was built in 1540 as part of Henry VIII's water supply to Hampton Court.

Structural movement has left the building in a "poor" condition and in need of further repairs. Mr Arbour said: "This is a Grade II* listed ancient monument.

"There are just 148 listed buildings in the Royal Borough of Kingston and the council should look after the one it owns".

Only 4 per cent of listed buildings in the UK are Grade II*. They are categorised as particularly important buildings of more than special interest.

English Heritage offered Kingston Council a £20,000 grant last year to underpin the building, but eventually decided to monitor the property for vertical and horizontal movement over the next two years, before commencing such major work. In the meantime, the council undertook some work, such as repairing the roof.

A spokesman for Kingston Council said a decision will be taken in early 2006 as to whether underpinning will be needed after all.

He said: "There's been lots of investigation work to find out what's been happening but we have not had a definite answer yet.

"It's really just about monitoring the situation to see what's going on. But it is a listed monument and the objective is to make sure it is looked after."

There are five buildings in the Royal borough included on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk list 2005, all of which were included on the 2004 register. Gallows Tamkin is the only one owned by the council.

The Ivy Conduit in George Road and the office buildings of RJ Turk and Co on Thameside, included in 2004, have since been removed.

In the borough of Richmond where there are 11 properties on the at risk register, none are owned by the local authority.

Shirley Blanc from the Kingston Society said: "It's important to save things like that and there's hardly any of it left as it stands.

"But people don't think of saving things and buildings anymore, even though we have a lot of conservationists in the council."

sgreenwood@london.newsquest.co.uk