A GRADE II listed building has been awarded a heritage grant aimed at restoring and regenerating the town centre.

The property set to benefit is 1 and 1a Battle Hill in Hexham's Conservation Area. It was the location of the Grey Bull public house dating back to 1823.

Planned improvements to this property are part of more than a £2.4m investment which has boosted the town centre through the Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) delivered by Northumberland County Council in partnership with Historic England.

The Building Grants Scheme is a key component of the HSHAZ and aims to bring vacant historic premises back into use and restore traditional frontages along Priestpopple, Cattle Market and Battle Hill. 

Funding is awarded for eligible works following a detailed application and appraisal process and requires match funding investment by each building owner.

Works to the Battle Hill property include repairing and replacing the existing timber framed windows which are in poor condition and addressing damp issues caused by the current render.

This render will be removed to reveal the original stonework which will be repaired by a qualified stone mason. If the stone is found to be in poor condition, the building will be rendered using a breathable lime render.

The property is the ninth building to benefit from support through the Hexham HSHAZ Building Grants Scheme.

Northumberland County Councillor, Wojciech Ploszaj, cabinet member for Business, said: “Not only is this project helping to improve the look of a building in a busy area of the town, it is also preserving and restoring some of the Conservation Area’s important historical features and unique character for future generations to come. This building is significant to the long trading history of the town centre and will really benefit from the restoration work."

The building on Battle Hill was constructed as the Grey Bull Inn in 1823. The ground floor has historically been let out for retail use but has been vacant for several years and rooms on the first and second floor have been let for residential use.