Gentlemen’s club to be transformed into flats
EXCLUSIVE DURHAM JOINT SHUT ITS DOORS LAST YEAR
A GEORGIAN building which became an exclusive gentlemen’s club is to be transformed into 12 apartments.
The listed 18th century 52 Old Elvet in Durham is being converted into one and two-bed apartments by the FiftyTwo Group, set up by North East entrepreneurs Fergus Bell and Daniel Gibson.
Originally a family home, the threestorey building was bought in 1890 by the Durham County Club for £4,000.
The club was formed by 18 leading businessmen, MPs and aristocrats, including the Earl of Durham and the Marquis of Londonderry.
The club, which closed last year, also had close links with the Durham Light Infantry and its successor The Rifles and regularly hosted crown court judges’ lunches and other society events.
The £1.5m conversion is due for completion by March next year.
Mr Bell, 26, who lives nearby, said: “I had walked past the building for years and I could see its clear potential so when the opportunity came to acquire and redevelop it we jumped at the chance.
“With all the investment currently taking place around Durham, there couldn’t be a better time for a high quality, luxury development like this to be taking place in a building with such incredible history.
“We have spent a great deal of time ensuring the apartments will be finished to the highest standards throughout, but at the same time we’ve also made sure that we’ve incorporated as many of the original features as possible.”
The club’s former dining room will become a kitchen/living room.
Durham-based Howarth Litchfield architectural and interior design practice will develop the scheme.
Jonathan Yates, managing director at Howarth Litchfield, said: “This is a wonderful listed building and contains some fine examples of door architraves, ceiling friezes, ceiling roses and a magnificent grand staircase, all of which will be retained.
“We have worked closely with Durham County Council’s conservation officers to ensure that the amount of alteration to the building and its fabric are kept to a minimum and those that are required, are sympathetic to its history.”