Demolition notices went up outside the canalside Boat Inn pub at Coseley last week, says the Express & Star. Oh dear, all my blog posts and photos last year didn't help. Or at least, weren't noticed.
This weekend waterways historian Laurence Hogg is trying to get the pub 'spot-listed'. See: The Boat Inn - update from English Heritage
If any person should know of any just cause or impediment as to why the Boat Inn and the wrecking ball should not be joined together in holy matrimony, ye are to email deborah.porter@english-heritage.co.uk. Or forever hold thy peace.
But the real issue for boaters isn't the building itself, but what will be put in its place?
Coseley is the only practical place for boats to stop between Tipton and Wolverhampton - and it's potentially a wonderful visitor mooring - but it needs facilities. Another pub - or perhaps a couple of useful shops would encourage boaters to tie up. Local residents, I'm sure, would also welcome such a facility, rather than seeing just another block of flats rise on the site.
Meanwhile, BW should commit to improving the visitor moorings, perhaps installing a sanitary station or water point too. And ensuring that the Boat's longstanding gate to the towpath (right) is retained.
I wonder if Laurence Hogg has mentioned this to English Heritage? Or have they only been told about the merits of the building itself?
For me, demolition of the building itself won't be a problem, but it must be replaced by another facility that boaters will appreciate. A good argument for retaining the existing building is that it is more likely to be used again as a shop or pub.
Anyway, I'm glad I was able to get a few photos of the derelict pub 15 months ago (including ones you've not yet seen, arf arf) before it was forcibly married to the demolition squad.
Unfortunately this got burnt down a while ago, something connected to drugs in the attic, and little has replaced it.
Posted by: CJ | Tuesday, 08 December 2009 at 10:11 PM