Historic buildings

Bestwood Winding Engine

This scheduled ancient monument and grade II* listed building, categorised as being 'at risk', is the subject of a project involving restoration and repair and the development of an interpretation/education facility.

The scheme is a collaboration with The Friends of Bestwood (volunteers), The Joint Management Committee of the Country Park and our Environment and Community Services departments.

Worksop Priory and Gatehouse

The grade I listed 12th century priory precinct and 14th century gatehouse are the subject of a study and proposed application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The proposal is for a restoration and interpretation scheme to house an exhibition to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the settlement of the Priory and thereafter be the host to a Community Enterprise scheme serving the local Manton community.

St Helens, South Wheatley

This is a scheduled ancient monument and grade II* listed remnant of a Norman Church, which is to be stabilised and the subject of interpretation with funding from, among other sources, English Heritage.

Sibthorpe Dovecote

A 14th century listed stone dovecote, in our ownership, has been the subject of interpretation work, including dendrochronology of the timbers and archaeological assessment of the surrounding fields through geophysical survey.

St Mary's, Colston Bassett

We've undertaken the progressive stabilisation and repair of this listed and scheduled church, which dates from the 12th century.  Funding has come from English Heritage, the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme and ourselves.

Littlewood Farm Project

A feasibility study of a redundant stone built rural building group in the Pleasley Vale Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme area for a retreat and permaculture establishment has been completed and will lead to the first implementation project following on from our redundant buildings initiative.

Building conservaton initiatives

Nottinghamshire Buildings Preservation Trust

Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust was set up in 1967 as a charity aimed at encouraging the preservation and maintenance of historic properties. This is done through an active campaign of purchase and renovation of buildings in neglect and by acting as a catalyst to spur others into constructive decisions regarding the future of threatened historic buildings.

We have a close relationship with the Trust, with input on its Council of Management.

Student survey

One of the original members of the Nottinghamshire Buildings Preservation Trust was Dr Summers. When legislation came in that, for the first time, gave local authorities powers to make grants towards the conservation of what one might call ordinary houses, Norman Summers saw the need to discover the precise historic and enviornmental quality of houses for which applications were made.

There was not at the time any comprehensive information - in the way of photographs and descriptions - about Nottinghamshire houses and so Norman Summers organised for his students in the University School of Architecture to undertake a photographic survey. This provided a basis upon which to assess, in terms of age, materials, visual appearance, location, etc. the character of any house.

The Student Survey is now a valuable archive held at our offices. For more information, please contact us.

Redundant buildings in the rural coalfield

This is a study (part funded by Single Regeneration Budget 5) of redundant and reusable buildings across the rural coalfield, resulting in a strategy and programme to create employment facilities and secure a range of important elements of the historic landscape. Of 11 targeted properties three are now in development and one is under way.

Conservation teaching pack

This is an initiative in collaboration with the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (East Midlands Branch) to create and promote a teaching pack in Conservation and Heritage studies to provide direct input to the National Curriculum at Key Stages 2 and 3.

Heritage Economic Regeneration Schemes (HER)/Townscape Heritage Initiatives (THI)

Partnership schemes with English Heritage and District Authorities are enthusiastically supported and funded by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Currently HERS schemes exist in the Meden Valley, Ruddington, Laxton area villages, Tuxford (this scheme has come to an end though some work is still in progress) and Worksop (the bid has been agreed but not yet launched). A THI bid for Retford has been agreed and is soon to be launched and a bid for Mansfield town centre is underway.

Consultancy to other organisations

Advice on all heritage and urban design matters is made available to district and other authorities, students and members of the public. A limited consultancy in specialist matters, including feasibility work, is undertaken and contributions are made to Local Plan reviews in all the district authority areas.

Community outreach project

This is an outreach project targeting disaffected young people and encouraging their involvement in the design and implementation of conservation area enhancement projects and citizenship training. A bid has been put in for this to the Learning Skills Council and European Social Fund.

Technical manual

We maintain a comprehensive list and collection of technical material for buildings conservation. If you need help finding relevant information and literature, please contact us.

Archaeology

Nottinghamshire historic landscape characterisation project

In partnership with English Heritage, we carried out the Nottinghamshire historic landscape characterisation Project between February 1998 and September 1999.

The landscape of Nottinghamshire as it stands now has been mapped according to its known or likely historical character.

The results of this project show just how much of today's landscape can still be read in terms of its historic character, and how much has been altered through the rapid pace of change. The project has shown that it is the character of many localities is to be maintained, means of conserving them must be found urgently.

The Historic Landscape Character Map provides a basis for this and a benchmark against which further change can be monitored. It will be very influential in guiding future decisions concerning the management of the countryside and heritage of Nottinghamshire.

Extensive urban surveys

Currently, English Heritage is funding a project in Nottinghamshire as part of its programme of Extensive Urban Surveys.

18 small towns have been selected for survey.  The aim is to provide assessments of their archaeological potential, which can then be used to design planning and conservation policies, make planning decisions and formulate archaeological research questions.

It had been recognised that the information contained in the county Sites and Monuments Records for urban areas, both large and small, was not comprehensive enough to allow the proper protection and management of archaeological remains.

The towns being assessed in this way are as follows: Beeston, Bingham, Blyth, Collingham, East Bridgford, Hucknall, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Mansfield, Mansfield Woodhouse, Retford, Southwell, Stapleford, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Tuxford, Warsop, Wellow, West Stockwith and Worksop.

Joint archaeology and historic buildings initiatives

Database development - Historic Buildings and Sites and Monuments Record (HB/SMR)

We are continuously improving the county's historic environment data set. Recently we have integrated the Historic Buildings Record and Sites and Monuments Record to enable enhanced searching of both. Other projects we are presently working on to improve our HB/SMR including:

• Geographical Information System (GIS) - these computerised maps are being developed to show all the listed and local interest buildings as well as archaeological sites.
• Local Interest Buildings Enhancement - by reviewing historic maps and industrial heritag surveys and comparing them to modern maps we are highlighting buildings and sites of local historic importance and adding the results to our GIS and HB/SMR.

Sustainability - a best practice guide for developers

We have commissioned Latham Architects to write a good practice guide for sustainability in the historic built environment. This document will form the basis for developing further advice and policies.