Conservation Team, supported by English Heritage, applied increasing pressure on both STW in respect of neglect, and British Coal for the havoc wreaked by coal mining subsidence.

A further setback was encountered in October 1990 when blue asbestos was discovered in the building and this was put forward by STW as a further obstacle to its conservation. However, the asbestos problem had to be addressed in any event, even if the building was to be demolished.

In December 1990 the District Council served an Urgent Works Notice, requiring repair to the slate roof, rainwater goods, securing of doors and windows, timber treatment, and ensuring ventilation. Since the District Council would have been ill equipped to carry out such an extensive repair scheme in the event of non-compliance with the Notice, this action was essentially a bluff, but did have the effect of helping to kick- start the situation. A further action by District Council conservation staff was to secure the designation of the pumping station complex and its immediate environs as a Conservation Area. This recognised the value of the site and facilitated subsequent grant aid.

Grassroots initiative

In frustration STW publicised the problem an open letter in a local magazine asking for sensible suggestions as to how the building could be re-used. A lead was taken by Ollerton and Boughton Parish Councils which in November 1992 called a special ‘brainstorming’ meeting, inviting anyone who they thought might be able to make a positive contribution. The well-at-

Evidence of major damage by coal mining subsidence and early ‘botched’ repairs.

tended meeting resulted in the formation of a Working Party comprising representatives from Parish, District, County, STW (owners) and Rural Community Council. District conservation staff were key players.

Throughout 1993 the Working Party worked intensively to broaden the involvement of local community interests and to secure ideas for re-use. This led to the commissioning of a feasibility study, financed jointly by the Working Party partners to identify a viable and sustainable new use for the building in accordance with the following criteria:

Emergency repairs underway in early 1994 with the benefit of a Buildings at Risk Grant from

English Heritage.’

(a) enjoy local support;

(b) be a mix of commercial/non-commercial;

(c) respect character and integrity of the building;

(d) be good neighbourly/accessible; (e) be energy efficient/environmentally friendly;

(f) be eligible for maximum grant aid; (g) be susceptible to a local, probably trust based, management regime.

Specialists in re-use of historic buildings were invited to tender for the feasibility study and Robert Bacon (architect and ACO member) was appointed to undertake the initial work in April 1993. He developed ideas in collaboration with the Working Party for an imaginative mixed-use scheme involving a combination of community and commercial floorspace. Fundamental to the emerging ideas was the concept of sustainability, and the association of the building and the local area with the energy industry. Ollerton/Boughton had already become the focus of national interest in ‘green architecture’ circles due to a District Council-led energy initiative which aimed to secure the regeneration of this coalfield community in an environmentally sustainable manner. It therefore seemed natural to develop this theme in the recycling of the Blackburn House, and this proved to be a decision of crucial influence in subsequent fund raising efforts.

Progress

In January 1994 STW let a programme for emergency repairs at a cost of £177,000 which was subject to a Buildings at Risk Grant of £43,406 from English Heritage, conditional on STW actively pursuing a new, trust-based, re-use of the building. Completed in July 1994, these works far exceeded the minimum standards required the Urgent Works Notice and secured the building against further rapid decay. STW also let a contract for the removal of the asbestos at a cost of £100,800. The investment of over £277,000 represented a sea-change in attitude and philosophy by STW and assured a change in fortunes for the Blackburn House.

A change in fortunes

The ideas set out in the feasibility study were well received by the local community and others concerned with the re-use of the Blackburn House but the next major problem was how to fund this ambitious and costly scheme, estimated at around £3 million.

An economic feasibility study was commissioned from Cobham Resource

Context 54 June 1997

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