Monday, January 04, 2010

LISTED BUILDINGS IN BRIGG


North Lincolnshire Council's website has much to commend it - but I've been unable to find a list of Grade II listed buildings in Brigg.
The original part of the former Brigg Grammar School (circa 1672), now the library at Sir John Nelthorpe School, is Grade I, as expected. I know that from Glanford days.
But although the websites of many other councils list those afforded Grade Two status, North Lincolnshire's seemingly does not. Unless it's just me who's failed to find it.
The reason I'm wondering is the former courthouse and police station, on Wrawby Street (pictured), now up for sale. This is an original Victorian police station/court complex and has been well cared for down the decades. So is it listed? And if the answer is No, then shouldn't it be considered?
We all know what happened to Brigg Corn Exchange, which many people in the town were very disappointed and surprised to find had none of the protection afforded by law to listed buildings.
It was council-owned (not by Brigg) and council demolished (not by Brigg)!
Buildings/structures afforded listed building status can be many and varied. (Isn't the early 1960s Civic Centre in Scunthorpe among them?)
Researching a recent freelance article for the Hull Daily Mail, I discovered Grade II status had been given to a 1920s water chute ride at one of the municipally-owned parks. Well deserved, too. Full details available to all if you search online.
Returning to Brigg, is it safe to assume that fine Georgian building in the Market Place used for offices by Ian Cawsey MP is listed, together with others like the Exchange Coach House, Bigby Street? And, dare we say it, the nearby Dying Gladiator - now disused and with an uncertain future. All three are within the Brigg Conservation Area, which brings its own restrictions on what can, and cannot, be done to buildings. Down Bridge Street there are also many old buildings of note, including the now-closed Brocklesby Ox and the former Merchant's House.
Perhaps North Lincolnshire Council will add a complete list of listed buildings to its website, if one is not already provided. Public information from a public body for the public, after all!

1 comment:

Ken Harrison said...

Nige - some new legislation re Listed Buildings was passed last year and, I believe, it will be enacted this year 2010.

...and don't 4get so-called Listed Buildings can be other structures and site - ie battlefields and the Forth Road Bridge.

Shouldn't the Brigg's war memorial be listed?

..and why not list the whole of Brigg town centre - essentially it's very good example Victoriana...a bit of a rarity nowadays.