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How can heritage buildings be brought back into use?

Edward RoweGloucestershire Political Reporter
News imageBBC A street view of the black and white, 15th Century-style front of the Fleece Hotel. Four shopfronts are underneath the historic part of the building on street level. There are two members of the public in the foreground.BBC
The Fleece Hotel, closed since 2002, has been given government funding for repairs and conservation work

A hotel which was used by pilgrims visiting the tomb of Edward II has been given government funding for renovation.

The Fleece Hotel, in Gloucester, was visited by a host of famous faces in its heyday, including former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, actress Gracie Fields and British intelligence officer and double agent Kim Philby.

The historic hotel, in Westgate Street, has been closed since 2002 despite various efforts to reopen it.

Gloucester City Council said the building was set to benefit from a £261,500 grant through the government's Heritage at Risk Capital Fund.

But how hard is it to bring historic buildings back into use and how many are at risk?

More from Gloucestershire
News imageA photo of what looks like an old stone cellar-type room. There are stone arches in the ceiling and the stone is clearly old, some stained yellow, white and grey. The floor itself is large stone slabs. There's some broken up material in the middle of the room.
The 12th Century under croft was an old haunt called the Monks Bar before it closed

The Fleece was closed in 2002 when its owners, the Rich family, sold up after three generations of owning the hotel.

It was bought by the South West Regional Development Agency which folded in 2011.

Gloucester City Council then picked up the tab, under former council leader Paul James.

"It has been a really difficult one to crack," he said.

"It is a really challenging site because of the condition of it now and the cost of all the works that are needed."

News imageA black and white photograph that is almost light yellow in colour. The photo features the frontage of the Victoria Hotel, although there are no signs to indicate it is a hotel. The hotel has four Roman-style columns supporting a balcony above the front door.
News imageFrancis Frith Collection 1955 This is the interior of a bar. This photo is also in black and white. There are wooden wheels set into the bar itself which has a Tudor look about it, with white and wooden beams. There is an open fire to the left of the image and wooden bar stools around the bar. Above the bar glasses are suspended in holders.Francis Frith Collection 1955
The Victoria Hotel, in Newnham-On-Severn in the Forest of Dean, started life as a private house
The building is first recorded as being used as a hotel in 1839, according to the Newnham Historical Collection

The Victoria Hotel, in Newnham on Severn, is another historic building which has left people frustrated.

Once a popular destination, it has been sitting empty on Newent High Street for nearly two decades.

Parish councillor Mike Penny wants to see it used for something but admits it is unlikely to be a hotel again.

"They have their time and then you need to find something new [for them]," he said.

"I can't bear buildings being empty - it makes me feel very sad."

Forest of Dean District Council has said it is in active discussions with the owner about its current condition and future use.

News imageCarmelo Garcia The former Borough Flour Mills building. It is a red-brick building with boarded-up windows.Carmelo Garcia
Healing's Mill in Tewkesbury, once a flour mill, sits empty on the banks of the River Avon

Healing's Mill, in Tewkesbury, also sits empty and has done for the past two decades.

The complex is now derelict but efforts have been made in the past to bring it into use.

Cameron Thomas, MP for Tewkesbury, is concerned the mill could "fall into the River Avon".

Thomas said the mill could potentially be a cultural hub, complimenting the high street.

Tewkesbury Borough Council leader Richard Stanley said councillors regularly meet the owners and want to see a long-term plan for the site.

News imageThe side of the Old Station building. There are cars parked in the car park. The building has yellow bricks and sits on what was clearly once a railway station platform. It has a large chimney on the left of the image.
News imageThe interior of the building can be seen. Jonathan Rixon is pictured standing in a blue jumper smiling at the camera. He has a salt and pepper beard and brown hair. Behind Rixon is the large bay window. There are shelves and desks with various items on them such as books, plants and a string instrument.
A railway ran through the car park where the old Cirencester Station building still sits
Jonathan Rixon (pictured) has kept the inside authentic, to keep as much of the original building as intact as possible

The Old Station House at Cirencester is another building that has fallen into disrepair.

Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the building now sits in a car park since the line to Cirencester closed in the 1960s.

The building was empty from the 1990s onwards with Cotswold District Council taking it on.

A few years ago they put it up for sale and Jonathan Rixon decided it would be a great place in which to base his architect firm.

He admitted, however, that it was a challenge to get it up and running because the building "was leaking everywhere".

He said: "There is a pattern of lovely old buildings being demolished so I was really keen for that not to happen."

News imageA large shop frontage which has been boarded up. Above the shop front is two storeys of building. The brick work is white.
Some want traditional buildings to revert to their orginal glory, like Cavendish House in Cheltenham

Not everyone wants to preserve buildings exactly the way they look today.

For instance, the future of Cavendish House in Cheltenham has been in doubt since House of Fraser pulled out in April 2024.

After a few years as a pop up market the building was closed at the start of the year, ahead of plans to demolish the bridge.

The building had been home to a department store for two centuries but its future remains uncertain.

Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson wants the frontage to be restored to a more ornate Victorian style which is what it was before getting a more brutalist 1960s' makeover.

Owners Canada Life have said they looking at the next stage for the site's redevelopment having just completed the pre-application planning process.

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