Why you should look up

History is all around us. When I lead my walks, especially around the towns, I tell people to look up and notice the world above.

Above the modern shop fronts notice the old building and see the decorative chimney pots and ornate trappings including the ornate details around on cornices and balustrades. Detailed friezes running around window frames, moldings, beautiful porticos and pilasters.

The arrival of the railway not only opened up land for development, but also meant that items could be brought from further afield – slate began to replace tiles. New methods of construction saw plate glass, polished granite and iron framed construction appear.

Historic buildings

Though many towns lost their historic buildings during the clearances of the 60s, some managed to survive. In Grimsby a few of the Victorian buildings on the main street survived – the more ornate being the former banks and insurance company offices.

The elaborate town hall constructed in the Italian Renaissance style befits a town going places and symbolises its wealth, shouting ‘we’ve made it’ to the world. Its grandiose existence is a nod to the money coming into the town as the docks grew and the town grew. It was statement to outsiders.

Now with so much of our heritage lost, we need to embrace what we have. When our old buildings are reused and repurposed it’s a good move. Sadly many are not looked after by the private landlords who own them – broken windows, rotten wood, slipped tiles are all evident when you look up.

Our buildings are the character of the high street and add so much to its soul, we need these landlords to look after and care for them. Councils do have the power to force local landlords to carry out repairs, or sell neglected buildings to help revitalise the high street.

Hollowing out

In Cornwall the council considered using compulsory purchase orders to stop the rot, targeting significant buildings. Birmingham City Council is another which has used these powers and so could North East Lincolnshire Council.

A revised approach to planning could also be considered – change of use of some buildings to provide more housing on the high street to bring people back into the town centre and therefore throwing a lifeline to a mixed use of services and retail and stop the hollowing out of the town.