[30
NOV 00] SPON END BUILDING PRESERVATION TRUST NEWS
Moira's Wet Fish To Be Freshened Up
One
of Coventry’s oldest buildings is to get a new lease of life after
an agreement was signed to transform the medieval eyesore into a
community facility.
Moira's
Wet Fish Shop, the medieval terrace in Upper Spon Street, Spon End has
been a local eyesore for over 10 years and has been on the English
Heritage Buildings at Risk Register for most of that time.
BLACK SWAN TERRACE
AS IT IS NOW AND (BELOW) AS IT WAS
A
deal has been signed between Coventry City Council and the Spon End
Building Preservation Trust to lease the building to a local trust.
Control
of the building which dates back to 1450 and is now known as Black
Swan Terrace, was transferred today with the signing of a 99-year
lease which will now enable the trust to begin work on refurbishment.
 The
first phase of the project will begin shortly Black Swan Terrace will
be shrouded in scaffolding within the month.
Under
phase one of the project the trust will carry out emergency repairs to
stop further deterioration of the medieval timber frame, making it
safe and weatherproof.
This
will then enable the second and third phases, which will see the
restoration of Black Swan Terrace and its transformation into a
facility for the local community.
The
buildings were originally compulsorily purchased by the city council
for demolition over twenty years ago, as part of a clearance scheme in
the area.
But
behind the brick frontage was discovered one of the oldest timber
frame buildings in the city.
Plans
to move the buildings to the section of Spon Street within the
ringroad were blocked by the formation of the Building Preservation
Trust in 1994 and a campaign to have the buildings restored for the
people of Spon End.
The
scheme is to be funded by Coventry City Council, English Heritage and
the European Regional Development Fund.
Trustee
Kevin Noble said:
"We
are grateful to the city council for allowing us to have this
opportunity to restore these very important buildings for the local
community and we thank the community, particularly the Spon End
Forum, for their support and patience during the past six
years".
Trust
Administrator Colin Walker said:
"This
building was here before Christopher Columbus discovered America in
1492 - but this is the start of a new chapter in its history".
The
Trust has also launched a website for those interested in the project
at http://www.sponend.org.uk/history.htm
SEE [21 MAY 99] SPON
END BUILDING PRESERVATION TRUST AWARDED TWO GRANTS |
