Shoppers are excited following the news that an historic Nottingham building - labelled a gateway into the city - is set to be refurbished. The Canning Terrace Clock Tower, Canning Circus, is said to be the highest point to the west side of Nottingham.
In recent weeks plans have been put forward for a "facade restoration" with parts of the historic building currently in disrepair. The proposed refurbishment will include a return to its original colour scheme, repairing the render using the original lime mortar mix - a makeover that was already carried out on other parts of the building back in 2019.
The wider Canning Circus area has had its critics recently, with shoppers telling Nottinghamshire Live last year that the area had become "run down". Various small shops are currently bordered up and vacant.
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However, those who live nearby have said that the Clock Tower is the "saving grace" of the area. Retired 81-year-old Dave Bland, who lives nearby, said: "I think it's absolutely wonderful. It has a great history to it.
"I believe it was named after Prime Minister George Canning. He didn't serve for very long because he died in office but they decided to name the area after him I think.
"There was a war going on at the time and I think he played his part. The area now is a bit horrible these days. There are so many shops bordered up - you just wish something would be done with them. I rush past them.
"They're not nice to look at. Good news about the building, though. It's the nicest thing about this place."
Dan Harling, 35, works in sales. He also lives nearby but says the area is run-down. Dan said: "Honestly that building is this area's saving grace. It's really really nice. It's strange because everything else is pretty run-down. It's a little depressing but then you have that to look at.
"It looks like it belongs somewhere else. I'm glad that it's getting refurbished because it needs to be kept in good condition."
Hilary Silvester, executive chairwoman of Nottingham Civic Society, called Canning Circus an important gateway into the city. She said: "Canning Circus is the highest point on the west side of Nottingham.
"It is an important gateway to the city, where the major routes from Derby, Ilkeston and Alfreton intersect. In the middle of this intersection two pubs, the Falcon and the Sir John Borlase Warren, and a group of Victorian shops, make a characterful group while at the start of the road to Derby stands the former Alton's Cigar Factory.
"Nearby grand stuccoed houses and the adjacent Clinton Terrace form a grand entrance to The Park. The General Cemetery was created in 1836-40 to the design of S S Rawlinson.
"It is an early example of a garden cemetery - the 'wooded valley with weeping trees' as Clare Hartwell puts it in the latest edition of the Nottinghamshire Pevsner. The entrance to the cemetery, called Canning Terrace, is itself a landmark very grand with its rows of alms houses on either side of a central carriage arch with clock tower.
"The details of this eye-catching and highly important building come from the Encyclopaedia published in 1833 by J C Loudon, the pioneering early Victorian Garden designer."
The plans for the restoration have been submitted to the city council on behalf of Adam Nicholson. The landmark clock tower was built in 1839.
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