Council pledges to protect Burslem Indoor Market

Efforts are being stepped up to safeguard the long-term future of an historic grade II listed building in Stoke-on-Trent.

The city council is moving to protect the former Burslem Indoor Market building, in Queen Street, which is in an extremely poor condition.

The building is in desperate need of emergency safeguarding works to ensure that it is safe, watertight and will not deteriorate any further.

Now, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking grant funding from Historic England to enable it to carry out emergency repairs to the roof, to stop the building falling into further disrepair.

The council previously secured an emergency repair package made up of £318,000 from Historic England and £1.3 million from local Levelling Up Partnership funds to pay for safeguarding works at a number of historic buildings in Burslem. Now it is looking to apply for further support from Historic England in the form of a grant of up to £1 million.

If successful, the additional money will go towards emergency repair works to the roof of the Burslem Indoor Market building, along with refurbishment of the building’s exterior.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Cabinet is being asked to agree to procure contractors to undertake the works, subject to a successful grant application, at a meeting on Tuesday 27 May.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our heritage buildings aren't just the symbol of our proud past - they are part of our rich cultural heritage and can drive tourism and economic growth.

“We are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to protect them. That means working in partnership with local organisations and businesses, Historic England - and the government, too.

“The Burslem Indoor Market building is deteriorating quickly and investment now could potentially save far greater expenditure in the future – and more importantly, prevent it from falling into further disrepair.”

The Grade II-listed indoor market opened in 1879 as a symbol of the city's wealth and pride during the Victorian era. At its height it boasted 90 stalls - but that had dropped to 14 by the time the market closed in 2003 after the ceiling collapsed.

Cllr Ashworth added: “Stoke-on-Trent is currently facing a heritage crisis. Many of our historic buildings are in a poor state of repair but we are spearheading efforts to identify funding streams, and potential new uses, to bring these buildings back to life.

“We want to protect our heritage assets and safeguard them for the benefit of our residents now and for future generations.”

In addition to Burslem Indoor Market, Stoke-on-Trent City Council is continuing to explore a number of options for the grade II* listed Wedgwood Institute which has fallen into disuse, due partly to water leaking in and causing damage.

This includes using potential funds from the Schools Capital Programme for the extensive refurbishment of each of the rooms on the ground floor of the building so it can be used for education purposes in the future.