Nottinghamshire: Historic shopfront restored to 1940s design as part of £275,000 heritage scheme

An historic Nottinghamshire building’s façade has been sympathetically restored to what it would have looked like in the 1940s.

Travail Employment Group on the corner of Barnby Gate and Appleton Gate in Newark is a late-Georgian, Grade II listed property that has been refurbished as part of Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme.

Newark and Sherwood District Council secured £275,000 of funding from the scheme, which was established to protect and enhance town centre heritage buildings.

Lisa Abel, director at Travail Employment Group, said: “Our office is in a late-Georgian property, but over the years, there have been many changes which unfortunately have not enhanced the frontage in any way.

“We are excited to be part of this scheme which will once again allow the original character of the building to shine. We have really enjoyed watching the changes and just love the final results.”

’A wonderful addition’

The new frontage, which was designed by architects Smith & Roper, has seen a hand-painted sign installed, the modern, double glass door replaced with a traditional recessed entrance, detailed pilasters added and the floor-length glass windows shortened with stall risers.

The building’s new design references its appearance in the 1940s when it was part of Knight Dickens, a wine, spirit and grocers shop.

Plans for the work in Newark’s conservation area were approved in February, with funding provided by the building owners and contributions from the district council.

Cllr Matthew Spoors, the authority’s portfolio holder for sustainable economic development, said: “I am really pleased to see that work is complete and the front has been altered to reflect its 1940s appearance.

“The new shopfront looks brilliant and is a wonderful addition to the town.”