Stoke-on-Trent City Council has today announced the formation of a new group to support its ongoing work to preserve and enhance the city’s rich heritage.
The Heritage Congress will bring together the public, private and community sector to promote enjoyment and understanding of historic buildings and work to ensure a future for the city’s past.
Launched in response to the devastating fire at the Grade-II listed privately owned Leopard Hotel, in Burslem, one of the first tasks of the Heritage Congress will be to discuss and examine the formation of a Stoke-on-Trent Conservation Trust. There are more than 200 building preservations trusts in the UK, which can draw on funding and support by being a registered independent charity.
Announcing the launch of the Heritage Congress at today’s Full Council meeting, council leader Cllr Abi Brown said it was the “first brick laid” in a successful partnership between the public, private and community sector.
She said: “As a city, I know we all mourn the loss of the historic Leopard Hotel in the Mother Town of Burslem. This late 18th century public house hosted many important events in our city’s history, such as the meeting between Wedgwood and Brindley that secured the construction of the Trent and Mersey Canal back in the late 1700s.
“The cause of the fire and final assessment of the damage has yet to be confirmed. It is hoped, at the very least, that its frontage can be saved. This tragic event has focused the city’s attention on our unique industrial heritage, and what can be done to continue to preserve and protect it for future generations; whilst ensuring that its use in today’s modern world can contribute to our growing local economy.
“The aim of the congress will be simple. It will bring together a number of key heritage stakeholders in the city, such as the Potteries Heritage Society, Reform at Middleport and the Heritage Network, to name a few, with national stakeholders such as Historic England, and private developers and heritage property owners.
“The Congress will be able to discuss and examine the formation of a Stoke-on-Trent Conservation Trust, and look at the successful Birmingham Conservation Trust that was founded by Birmingham City Council as a vehicle preserve and restore the city's built heritage. A charitable Trust will be able to access funds and support that we, as a local council, simply cannot do when it comes to heritage buildings in private ownership.
“We will not easily forget the tragedy of The Leopard Hotel, but let our Heritage Congress be the first brick laid in a successful partnership between the public, private and community sector, to continue our mission to preserve and enhance our city’s heritage.”
In recent years, the city council, working with its partners and the community, has continued to invest in the city’s heritage and historic assets. Schemes have included bringing Town Halls back to life in Longton and Tunstall and restoring Stoke Town Hall; securing Heritage Action Zones in Longton and Stoke by working alongside Historic England; restoring historic features at parks in Hanley and Tunstall; renovating Albert Square in Fenton, and restoring the city’s iconic Spitfire aircraft.
Last year, the city council also secured £40 million from the Levelling Up Fund to help bring back into use the Victorian Tunstall Library, regenerate more historic buildings on the Spode Works site in Stoke, protect and enhance the Goods Yards site and to restore the historic Crown Works factory in Longton.
Cllr Brown added: “However, where we have led as a city council – investing and re-purposing the historic buildings in our ownership – there is a problem with some of the private owners of our proud industrial heritage. The Leopard Hotel still has a chance to be rebuilt and restored, and whilst we will never replace what was there, we do have a chance to help the owners of this building and other such historic buildings in our city.”
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