Executive Committee members were pleased to accept an invitation to make a site visit to the West Haven Maltings on a bright morning in September.
West Haven Maltings and Garth Buildings (with Haven Mill) are what remains of Grimsby’s earliest dock. Derelict and much-commented on for many, many years, the area is now subject to much needed development as part of Grimsby’s Government-funded New Deal. The whole project is being managed by ENGIE on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council with Topcon contracted for the initial stage of ‘repair and make safe’ the fire-damaged, derelict buildings which front the River Freshney and back onto Garth Lane.
GCdCSs Committee members were given a tour of the site by Project Leader Stephanie Ledgerwood and Topcon’s site Manager. It came as no surprise to learn that this first stage was taking much longer than initially contracted for – given the technical complications found along the way (not least by Grade 2 Listing) as well as restrictions imposed by Covic-19!
During our visit, it was clear that much more remedial work has yet to be carried out before either building is near completion. We thanked our guides for the opportunity to see what was happening – and the opportunity to see parts of Grimsby from a height not normally accessible!
- the works are manged by Engie, on behalf of North East Lincolnshire Council
- contractors Topcon Construction have the task of carrying out the safe guarding and repairs on the site, prior to being occupied by OnSide Youth Zone and university campus as part of Grimsby's £88m Town Deal
- 'safeguarding' involved the removal of tons of bird debris at teh very start!
- the disused footbridge will either be replaced or refurbished as a new entrance to Garth Buildings
- the already-derelict Maltings were further damaged by arson attacks in 2003, 2005 and 2009
- the Maltings have no footings and will have to be partially removed before under-pinning and rebuilding 'as is'
- builders have the specialist task of laying bricks without plumb lines and right angles in order to produce a safe building which was not originally built 'on the true'
- although the buildings wil be developed for 21st century use, they will have parts exposed and saved artifacts incorprated into designs to portray the buildings' 'story'
- the town centre part of the River Freshney will have 5 bridges over it: New Cartergate footbridge (as at present), Alexandra Road (as at present), Haven Mill footbridge (as at present), OnSide Youth Zone footbridge (new/refirbished), new 5-metre wide footbridge centrepiece into Garth Lane and Fisherman's Wharf area
Further info:
- https://www.onsideyouthzones.org/the-youth-zone-model/our-youth-zones/
- https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1379841
Garth Buildings from Garth Lane - most lately, Mitchell's Kitchen and Bathrrom Centre until its closure in the 1980s
over the footbridge in Garth Buildings - the open area easily seen from Frederick Ward Way
the wall in danger of collapse seen from inside the Maltings
evidence of the ferocious fire from over 10 years ago, and brought about the building's rapid decline
inside the Maltings looking towards Fishing Heritage Centre - and charred beams
internal scaffolding used to try to prevent the walls' collapse
open to the elements
socially distanced discussions!
view towards Minster from inside the Maltings and showing the footbridge from Frederick Ward Way through Haven Mill, and Alexandra Road bridge
looking down the Freshney and the 2 bridges: the disused footbridge which will become a new entrance to the Youth Zone and the current footbridge towards the Fishing Heritage Centre which is to be replaced with a wider bridge for better access
view from the top of the Maltings showing the area of development land between Garth Lane and the area occupied by Fishing Heritage Centre, Sainsbury's and Heritage House at Fisherman's Wharf