Rising Sun Inn, Darfield
A former pub near Barnsley to be knocked down:
The name of this former South Yorkshire pub was difficult to ascertain. No mention of it on historic maps of the area, I eventually came across a match on closedpubs.co.uk. Darfield History Society also have some interesting pictures and information on their Facebook page.
Perhaps the most dilapidated building I’ve written about, but still worth a mention before it returns to the ether, The Rising Sun was a fine example of staggered terraced building, navigating a steep hill and punctuating a junction. Much of Darfield was cleared in this area in the not-so-golden era of town planning, but this pub remained well patronised even until 1988, as evidenced by this interesting video.
How I wish this little row had weathered the course of time. The optimist in me says a good portion of the building is repairable, but I know only a visionary would be willing to plough money into such a project. I’m sure they are out there. If only they would read my blog.
Millfold House, Rotherham
Demolition of Millfold House in Rotherham Town Centre:
https://rotherham.planportal.co.uk/?id=RB2020/0088
In all honesty, no one will rue the loss of this building apart from the hardcore conservationists. Of which I am one.
Built in 1936, I am fond of this building because it represents the last wave of industrial buildings that also attempted to integrate into townscape. These workshops have a better frontage that most modern commercial buildings, which is quite a feat for the town of Rotherham. The buildings demonstrate that the lost art of industrial architecture remained with us until relatively recently.
I’d like to see this building retained because it is meaningful; it encloses an important corridor into the town centre as industry transforms into civic architecture. The building shows that there is an answer to the desolate inner-city rim that plagues post-industrial urban centres.
Props to the developer who commissioned a heritage statement for the building. I’ve seen much more important buildings reduced to rubble without such consideration.
The Mayflower, Austerfield
Plans to demolish a pub near Bawtry in South Yorkshire:
The Mayflower is the only pub on Austerfield High Street. Yet somehow nearby Bawtry supports between 6 and 7 drinkeries. The owners have sunk £300,000 into diversifying the pub and offering a full restaurant service, and the business has yet to cease operating, which suggests the new model is working. Sadly it must not be as lucrative as 12 apartments.
Thankfully the proposal has generated some column inches locally:
Let’s hope the local Parish council can demonstrate the capacity elsewhere for local housing targets, and deny this unnecessary windfall development.
The Three Horseshoes, Killinghall
Pub to be demolished near Harrogate:
Villages with two pubs are cursed. It seems that one of them must be lost. On this occasion, The Greyhound Inn over the road won out. And again we will see a village lose a dichotomy of alehouses.
From a design perspective. the pub is a vital component of the geometry that makes up the village centre located at the junction of Otley Road and Ripon Road. The building adds vital flare to the street frontage, with bright pantiles, a jet black arched doorway, and exposed window quoins all adding to the landmark quality of this village centre building. If the developer could see the value of this, and then add another building onto the terrace, this would be an enhancement of the village form of Killghall. Undoubtedly the application should be refused on grounds of poor urban design. Please don’t ruin another English village.
Fountains Hall, Bradford
Plans to demolish what’s left of this grade II listed building:
Sad to see this former Friend’s Meeting House in such a state of ruin following a fire around 25 years ago. Listed as an example of bold civic-mindedness by Victorian Quakers, the building was clearly sited to make a statement in the centre of this mercantile city.
If some miraculous civic benefactor could summon £10 million, with no illusions of a return on investment, then yes it would be fantastic to salvage this building. But of all the buildings I’ve longed to see saved, this one is undoubtedly the most unlikely.
Nonetheless, it would have been great to see the new development integrate the Victorian facade into a new scheme. Such a postmodern visual gesture would convey a deep reverence to (and investment in) the heritage, whilst segueing into a renewed identity of the city as the ’20s come around for the second (…or twentieth?) time.
Phoenix Mills, Huddersfield
Conditions discharged to allow demolition of mil building in Huddersfield:
The last of the old buildings down Leeds Road in central Huddersfield, permission was granted to level this site way back in 2014, but it looks like it will finally be dropped over the next few weeks.
Although an unassuming building, the stark silhouette of the mill is vital to the townscape of the Town centre’s fridge. The utilitarian architecture of the mill a reminder of the golden age of this town’s industrial heritage.
Sad to see that more B2 corrugated tin shacks will take its place, which offers a much lower intensity of land usage, and provides inflexible space. Victorian mills can be used in so many more interesting ways, and when utilised properly create hubs of diverse commercial and industrial uses; not jus artists’ workshops and vegan cafes.
Working Man’s Club, Baliff Bridge, Halifax
Application to demolish former Working Man’s Club at Baliff Bridge, Halifax
Most recently this building has functioned as a nursery which closed in 2013, which folded due to unpaid fees. It must have been a stretch for Martin Walsh Architectural services to claim in their Design and Access statement that the removal of this building and replacement by 4 houses would improve the street frontage in this area. Can an architect’s license be revoked?
This is a very interesting building, as it does not appear on maps until 1922, so it was likely erected in the first two decades of the 20th century. Yet the building looks to be 18th century in age, with the narrow coursed stone, mullioned windows, and stone tiled roof suggesting an earlier vintage.
Perhaps this building was constructed from repurposed material? I have not been able to find much information on the history of this building, so if anyone out there knows anything please get in touch.
Queens Hotel, Sheffield
Pub to be demolished in the industrial fridge of Sheffield’s City Centre:
A pub has existed here since 1791 with the current building appearing in 1928. Open and closed through the years, the venue was an integral part of Sheffield’s second-to-none nightlife of the 90s.
As Sheffield’s (rightly much-lauded) urban renaissance continues, Scotland Street will become a key component of inner-city urban life. Not much heritage frontage exists along the street now, and this building would provide some relief from the cladding and brick slips that will predominate the townscape as developments are built out.
Plans to convert into residential accommodation were contemplated a few years ago, so the option is there to retain what is clearly a robust building. I would urge the council to resist demolition on the grounds that the building is vital to regeneration of the area as a townscape heritage asset.
Some interesting photos of the interior, which appears to have been fire damaged, were submitted to 28 Days Later
Cottage in Beverley, East Yorkshire
An application to demolish a cottage in The East Riding:
The Old Racing Stables in Beverley
A cottage steeped in history that modulates the roofscape of this back street in Beverly. The application looks to replace the building with a new larger dwelling on the footprint.
Densification is a great idea, and extending or modifying buildings on suburban housing estates can add to the bedroom count. But in this case, the history of the building outways the benefits of an increase in housing capacity in the town of Beverly.
Former Queen Hotel, Hull
Plans to demolish a series of buildings including the former Queen Hotel in Hull:
A terrace of three buildings that have variously been used as pubs and nightclubs throughout the years are set to be demolished after a prior notification application went into Hull Council. Plans to convert the buildings into 18 residential flats were approved when Club Valbon finally shut its doors in 2017, however, the owner appears to now have an appetite for destruction.
The beautiful gambrel roof, the balconets, and the well-ordered sash windows bring a rhythm to this street and form an elegant corner in an otherwise anti-urban corner of Hull
The last thing this already harried city needs is more of it’s heritage to be lost. I hope the inevitable new surface carpark that lands here will bring as much joy to Kingstonians as this row of pubs once did.
Article posted on theworldnews.net
