City conservation area taken off 'at risk' list

The canal was once part of the industrial heart of Victorian Nottingham

A conservation area in Nottingham has been removed from the latest heritage at risk register.

Historic England's register is designed to give a snapshot of the health of the country's historical buildings and places.

In Nottingham, the canal area, its wharves and surrounding Carrington Street zone, have benefited from "major improvements", the organisation said.

But The Old Ship Inn, Worksop, a Grade-II* listed late 16th Century building, has been added to the list after standing empty for several years.

Shops and businesses in Carrington Street, which crosses the canal, have been restored

The Canal Conservation Area, just south of the city centre and containing the city's railway station, includes a number of 19th and 20th Century industrial, commercial and residential buildings.

Historic England said it had been removed from the list due to repairs and improvements to historical buildings, including shopfronts, and works to make public spaces more enjoyable.

Hilary Silvester, executive vice president of the Nottingham Civic Society, said: "I'm delighted to hear this.

"It's an important area, a gateway to the city, but it has suffered from being slightly away from the centre itself.

"A lot of hard work has gone into improving the streets and pathways, so it is good to see it has paid off."

Currently, there is not a plan in place to protect the empty Old Ship Inn in Worksop

The Old Ship Inn has been added to the list due to needing urgent structural timber frame repairs.

Historic England said it was looking at ways of securing the building but there was "uncertainty about the time frame for the repairs".

Historic England regional director for the Midlands, Louise Brennan, said: “Heritage is so important to the East Midlands.

"From our historic cities and towns, to treasured parish churches, windmills, and archaeological monuments, the heritage and character of these places plays a vital role in our society and boosts the regional economy."