Project involved reinstating a shopfront
Nos. 10-32 The Strand
This stunning parade of Grade II-listed shops was constructed in 1881 by Sir Abraham Woodiwiss, as part of the redevelopment of this area of Derby, following the culverting of Markeaton Brook. When originally constructed, each shop had followed a consistent typology of matching frontages. Over time this had gradually degraded through alterations and been lost. The upper floors of the property and some of the stonework detailing had also fallen into disrepair, with some features also being lost.
Some works had been undertaken through a prior THI scheme. The PSiCA sought to extend the regeneration work to more of the units in order to realise the lost consistency of the parade and create a vibrant and attractive shopping precinct. In order to achieve this, a number of shop fronts were reinstated, based upon their historic designs, featuring awnings and blind boxes. Stonework repair and reinstatement was also undertaken to remedy the damage which had occurred to a number of decorative features in the lower and upper floors of the building. Following works conducted through the PSiCA scheme, vacancy in the Strand and Strand Arcade dropped from 9 units to 0.
No. 9 Iron Gate
No. 9 is a four-storey, Grade II-listed property located in Iron Gate, constructed in yellow brick with polychrome details. The property dates to the late-nineteenth century, and connects to a 1960’s extension, forming a department store. An inappropriate modern shop front had previously been installed and the decision was made to reinstate the shop front based upon photographic evidence from the 1930s. While this was not contemporaneous with the age of the property, it did reflect the Art Deco interior of the store and other similar shop fronts in the surrounding area of the same period.
The modern shop front was removed and a new black granite surround was installed, along with a hardwood frame with bronze finish. Separate works were also undertaken to improve the frontage of the neighbouring 1960s property.
Nos. 19 & 19a Sadler Gate
This Grade II listed property is located on Sadler Gate, with a front elevation which dates to the early-nineteenth century and potentially older fabric internally. It forms a distinct group with the surrounding properties, which make a very positive contribution to the historic character of the conservation area. Prior to the grant the building was in a poor state of repair, with a leaking roof, damaged render on the front elevation, boarded windows at first floor level and an inappropriate modern shop front at ground floor level.
The PSiCA enabled works to repair the fabric of the building and ensure its water-tightness. This included the roof, render on the upper floors and the reinstatement of the first floor windows. A traditional shop front was reinstated at ground floor level, incorporating the surround of the side passageway. Following the completion of the works, this once vacant property found a new use as a bar/restaurant.
No. 45-46 Sadler Gate
This unlisted property is located in Sadler Gate. Its exact age is unclear, however there are suggestions that it may have been refronted during the early nineteenth century. There were few sources which revealed the property’s historic appearance, with many showing the inappropriate shopfront which had been installed during the 1970s. A traditional Victorian-era design was created based on the proportions and layout of the property, the historic research which had been undertaken and using historic examples from the surrounding area as a reference. The resultant shop front makes an excellent contribution to the wider setting of Sadler Gate at the heart of the commercial centre of the conservation area.
No. 31 Sadler Gate
31 Sadler Gate is an unlisted property located at the corner or Sadler Gate and The Strand, giving it a ‘flatiron’ appearance. The property may date to as early as 1798, and has seen significant alterations throughout its history, including the removal of its third storey. The shop front retained some features, including much of the historic layout and proportions. Only minor alterations had been made, and it was proposed that the inappropriate elements be removed and reinstated. The condition of the surviving historic fabric also required repair in a number of places.
The PSiCA enabled the lost elements of the frontages to be reinstated and the surviving elements to be conserved, including the fascia, stall riser and pilasters.
No. 10 Friar Gate
This unlisted property is located to the east of Friar Gate. The building appears to have previously functioned as part of a fairly large printworks, featuring a domestic frontage. The ground floor features were removed and replaced with an inappropriate shop front during the second half of the twentieth century, leaving little material evidence of the property’s original features. With little evidence of the historic design, a new frontage was designed based upon properties of a similar age within the nearby vicinity. The resultant shop front is of Victorian style and proportions, and now makes a positive contribution to the property and its immediate setting within the Friar Gate conservation area. The works included the installation of a cast iron hanging sign, as well as a security gate.
No. 24 Iron Gate
This Grade II-listed property on Iron Gate dates to the late eighteenth/early nineteenth century, with subsequent alterations into the twentieth century. It originally formed part of the same tenement as the seventeenth-century No22 and formed part of the workshops for John Whitehurst’s clockmaking business, even after his death. The frontage appears to have been rebuilt during the early nineteenth century. An inappropriate shop front was installed during the twentieth century, and a suitable reinstatement was proposed to instil the building with its lost historic character.
The reinstated frontage was based upon historic evidence and repairs were also undertaken to the surviving fabric.
Albert House, Nos. 1-2 Albert St & 24 Corn Market
Located on the junction of Albert Street and Corn Market, Albert House forms a significant landmark within this area of the city. The property is Grade II-listed and dates to 1848.
The building had been subject to the installation of an inappropriate shop front during the twentieth century. The scope of work involved the installation of the historic frontage.
The Old Bell Hotel, No. 51 Sadler Gate
Located on the historic Sadler Gate, The Old Bell Hotel had been neglected for years; the roof was leaking and the rainwater goods were either damaged or plastic. The mock Tudor facade was crumbling with missing timber and render parts. The upper floor windows were in a state of disrepair and the majority of the ground floor windows were boarded up, including the curved corner windows. The lanterns had been blocked from the inside and covered from the outside. The main structure was missing along with the leaded glass and an inappropriate modern shop front had been fitted.
The scope of works included repairs to the roof, windows, doors, building frontage and fabric repairs. The historic shop front was reinstated and the associated lanterns repaired.
No. 28/28a Sadler Gate
Located on Sadler Gate, No 28 had previously been fitted with an inappropriate modern shop front, with separate upper floor offices featuring modern windows. The scope of works included the removal of the modern frontage and the reinstatement of a traditional shop front and side door. The reinstatement of the upper floor windows was undertaken as a separate application.
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