Victoria Hotel, South Bank, Middlesbrough

Demolition of a pub in the suburb of South Bank, Middlesbrough:

https://planning.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/Planning/Display?applicationNumber=R%2F2020%2F0045%2FCD

Looks like I’ll be too late to object to the loss of this beautiful pub and stable building, as the original application went in back in 2019.

This is one of three ornate Victorian buildings that together constituted the high street of South Bank; an industrial suburb of Middlesbrough economically harried for the last century, but was once a paragon of northern civic pride.

It is always worth reiterating that such fine civic architecture is such an important reminder of the aspirant nature of our Victorian city builders. This architecture was a statement that was meant to last a thousand years.

Not only will the locals have lost their pub, but they will have another hole where once a reminder of their sense of place stood.