The 20 places in city at serious risk of decline
TWENTY buildings or areas of historic importance in Nottingham are at risk, say conservationists.
Every year Historic England releases a list of places in danger of serious – potentially irreversible – decline.
This could be because they have already fallen into disrepair or are thought to be likely to do so imminently due to neglect.
Six historic city structures and 14 conservation areas appear on the most recent register.
Historic England assesses the condition of the sites with ratings reflecting the degree of concern, ranging from A – the most serious – to F.
The condition of the building or structure is rated as very bad, poor, fair or optimal.
CHURCH OF ST MARY, HIGH PAVEMENT
■The grand Church of St Mary in the Lace Market mostly dates from 15th century but was restored in the 19th century by George Gilbert Scott.
There are several areas requiring urgent masonry repair, according to Historic England. In addition, several roofs are said to require repair and the rainwater disposal system needs attention to prevent water ingress and decay.
A Grant for Places of Worship was awarded in 2014 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, enabling the nave roof to be repaired. The Parochial Church Council is keen to carry out repairs with grant support from Historic England’s Covid Emergency Heritage at Risk Response Fund.
Condition: Poor. Priority: C – Slow decay; no solution agreed. Previous Priority: C.
CAPITOL BINGO AND SOCIAL CLUB, CHURCHFIELD LANE
■The building in Radford was a cinema in 1936-37, designed by Reginald Cooper, and is now a Zionist Church. The structure is built of red brick and reconstituted stone, with the auditorium retaining most of its original features.
Historic England say the roof is in poor condition and needs recovering and that rainwater dispersal also needs to be addressed. Some emergency repairs were completed with an Historic England Repair Grant but water continues to penetrate the interior and is causing damage to the remarkable fibrous plasterwork.
The owners are keen to carry out
further urgent repairs and are in discussion with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Condition: Poor. Priority: A – Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; no solution agreed. Previous Priority: A.
CHURCH OF ST PETER, ST PETER’S GATE
■The Church of St Peter is at the heart of Nottingham. The church was started in the 12th century and completed in the 15th century. More additions were made in the 19th and 20th centuries.
A National Lottery Heritage Fund award enabled the nave and south aisle roofs to be recovered in 2020, but the north aisle slated roof leaks and requires urgent repair.
The chancel slate roof suffers from nail fatigue. The Parochial Church Council is said to be keen to explore potential funding avenues for repairs. Condition: Poor. Priority: C – Slow decay; no solution agreed. Previous Priority: D.
COUNTY HOUSE, HIGH PAVEMENT
■The townhouse is thought to have been built in the 15th or 16th century. It was rebuilt between 1728 and 1733, remodelled and extended in 1833 to form judges’ lodgings and then converted to offices in 1922, with further extensions in 1930 and 1949.
The building is in a very bad condition. The beam in the north west wing has failed and there is defective plasterwork throughout.
One of the staircases has failed.
Listed Building consent for a new use has been granted, but the building is currently unoccupied. The owner is working with Nottingham City Council on future plans.
Condition: Very bad. Occupancy/use: Vacant/not in use. Priority: B – Immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric; solution agreed but not yet implemented. Previous Priority: B.
CHURCH OF ST PETER, HARTLEY ROAD
■This Radford church was built in 1812 by Henry Moses Wood in the Early English and Decorated styles. The present building replaced an earlier structure, of which little survives. The roof coverings generally are in poor condition and water has caused damage to the interior decoration. Leaking rainwater has saturated the stonework.
According to Historic England, the church has been the site of antisocial behaviour. Grant funding is being sought to pay for the needed repairs.
Condition: Poor. Priority: C – Slow decay; no solution agreed. Previous Priority: C.
CHURCH OF ST AUGUSTINE, APOSTLE OF ENGLAND, WOODBOROUGH ROAD
■The St Ann’s church was built in 1921 by John Sidney Brocklesby, with accomplished architectural design and interior fixtures and “fittings of significant quality”, with Historic England highlighting the 1740 organ, stained glass and rood screen. However pitched roofs above the domes and the tower were never built.
Roof coverings have been problematic and internal plasterwork containing asbestos has fallen on several occasions. Asbestos was removed in 2016 and the asphaltcovered domes and flat roof were treated with a resin-based waterproofing system in 2021. The concrete domes remain unrepaired. Condition: Poor. Priority: C – Slow decay; no solution agreed. Previous Priority: C.
14 CONSERVATION AREAS ARE LISTED IN THE AT RISK CATEGORY BY HISTORIC ENGLAND.
■Alfreton Road/gamble Street – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Medium. Trend: Improving.
■Nottingham Canal – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Improving significantly.
■Old Market Square – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Medium. Trend: Improving significantly.
■Old Sneinton – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Improving.
■Sneinton Market – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Improving significantly.
■Star Buildings – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Deteriorating.
■The Arboretum – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: No significant change.
■The Lace Market – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Medium. Trend: Improving.
■The Station – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Improving significantly.
■Canning Circus – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Deteriorating.
■Hine Hall – Condition: Poor. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Deteriorating.
■Mapperley Hospital – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Improving.
■New Lenton – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Deteriorating.
■Bulwell – Condition: Very bad. Vulnerability: Low. Trend: Improving.