City pub on at-risk register
OWNER IS OFFERED HELP TO RESTORE PROPERTY
ONE of Newcastle’s oldest and most prominent heritage buildings has been placed on the at-risk list.
The Cooperage on the Quayside, a medieval timber-framed building which is a rarity in the North East, is the most significant regional addition to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register 2017 which is published today.
The grade II-listed building’s last use was as a popular pub but it has been disused since its closure four years ago.
At the time former manager Neil Durkin said: “People are gutted. It’s the end of an institution. This pub has been in quite a lot of people’s lives for all of their lives. It’s been about music and a meeting place.”
Within hours of an online campaign being launched to save the pub, more than 6,000 people backed the move.
The Cooperage is the most complete late medieval timber-framed building in Newcastle and dates from the first half of the 16th century.
It is one of the former merchant’s houses, including Bessie Surtees House, which survived the Great Quayside Fire of 1854.
The deteriorating state of the Cooperage is in stark contrast to its neighbour, the early 17th-century 28-30 the Close, which was rescued from dereliction and is now the Michelinstarred House of Tides restaurant, opened by Kenny Atkinson in 2014.
Kate Wilson, Heritage at Risk Principal for Historic England in the North East, said: “The Cooperage building is one of the most prominent on the Quayside and was a popular bar.
“Neglect and lack of maintenance has left the Cooperage in a very poor state, with broken guttering and water pouring down. “There is no reason for it being in the state it is now, at a time when the Quayside is on the up. “It is a really important example from the merchant trading high point of the Quayside’s history. “We have written to the owner and offered help, as has the city council. It now needs a new use to ensure its survival.” A city council spokesman said: “We share the concerns of Historic England over the deteriorating state of the Cooperage. “We are in contact with the building’s owners in the hope we can work with them to ensure this most historic of properties is repaired and brought back into use.” Historic England is asking people to get in contact with their memories of the Cooperage. To share memories of local heritage sites included on the register, go to: @HE_NorthEast The Heritage at Risk Register 2017 reveals that in the North East, 59 Grade I and II-star buildings, 168 scheduled monuments, 34 places of worship, six registered parks and gardens, one battlefield and 31 conservation areas are at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate change. The total of 299 is one less than last year.
Across the region 20 sites have been removed from the register because their futures have been secured, while 21 have been added because of concerns about their condition, including eight places of worship.
Over the past year, Historic England has offered £336,000 in grants to help 16 sites.
“Once again we have made significant progress in removing some of our most precious historic buildings and places from the Heritage At Risk Register this year,” said Kate Wilson.
“Action taken by local community and volunteer groups is increasingly important in helping to save many of our most cherished monuments, but there is more to do.”
“We need to find new ways to breathe life into our neglected historic places. Investment in our heritage is an investment in the future of the North East.”
Among churches which have been added to the register is the 12th century St John the Baptist church in Westgate Road in Newcastle and the 1903 St Chad’s arts and crafts movement church in Bensham in Gateshead, known as the “People’s Cathedral.”
There is no reason for it being in the state it is now, at a time when the Quayside is on the up Kate Wilson