A question for district council

FOURTEEN months ago, on the night of June 8, 2020, an extraordinary event occurred in Ashbourne.

A large group of individuals enjoying a summer evening in the centre of town suddenly decided to seize control of an iconic carving that had for nearly 200 years adorned the Green Man hotel in St John Street.

Rumour had it that the Derbyshire Dales District Council were intent on removing the carving the very next morning, with a plan to prevent its return for ever.

During the ensuing 14 months nothing much has happened.

The District Council conducted a review and has openly declared its objection to the head’s return.

There has been some suggestion of transferring the ownership of the gallows sign (less the head) to Ashbourne Town Council, but before that can happen the District Council must first have submitted a planning application to change an aspect of a Grade Ii*-listed structure.

At the risk of boring readers, I would like to share the details of the original listing in 1951:

Under Listed Building Reference 79909 on the Derbyshire Dales District Council’s descriptions of listed properties in Ashbourne is

“The Green Man and Blacks Head Royal Hotel, 10 St Johns Street, Ashbourne DE6 1GH”

It provides details not just of the “Painted, rare iron and wood ‘gallows’ inn sign bridging the road” but also of the Hotel itself (to which the Inn sign is attached) where it claims Dr Johnson stayed on several occasions. The listing made in 1951 is Grade II*.

Unless the 1951 listing has been superseded by a planning consent for a new listing that separates the sign from the hotel, anyone wishing to change all or part of that listing must at some stage have become the owner of the complete listing.

And I should be very surprised to learn that the District Council own the freehold of the Green Man hotel.

Only the District Council can tell us whether there was a subsequent listing, or whether they have lawfully acquired the gallows sign, without also acquiring 10, St John Street.

Charles Swabey Osmaston