£64k plan to rebuild 16th century barn

Thousands of pounds will be spent on rebuilding a 16th century barn at the heart of Dudley's medieval quarter, under new plans submitted to council bosses.

Dudley Council has signalled its intention to remove the danger from the deteriorating former barn and hayloft in the town centre's historic Court Passage.

Spending £64,000, the council would rebuild three of the barn's three walls, reduce its height, but keep its footprint to provide a reminder of the site's history.

An adjourning former municipal mortuary and yard canopy would also be demolished to provide car parking for new offices being built in the Holloway Chambers and Elizabeth House Buildings. The mortuary was used at the beginning of the 20th century.

The court passage is in the town's conservation area and dates back to medieval times, once providing back lanes to nearby properties for deliveries and access to stables.

In a planning application for the work, the council said: "The building (barn) is presently in a very poor condition with multiple structural distress problems and is in danger of collapse."

It continued: "Although the building would be lost, the survey drawings already developed together with photographs used to record particular features of the building would provide an accurate historic record of the structure.

"The option will allow for the repair and reinstatement of the original boundary walls around the site to act as a visual reminder of the past and the footprint of the barn building will be retained."

Dudley Museum exhibition officer Adrian Durkin welcomed the plans.

He said: "Whenever I do tours of the town I go to this part of the town due to its historical significance.

"I am in favour of any attempt to protect the town's older buildings, Dudley has a rich history we should be proud of."