A restoration scheme to bring a vacant property in the centre of Hexham back into use is due to start next week. 
 

Work is set to get underway on Monday 5 September to restore 1 Cattle Market and 2 Eastgate in Hexham as part of the Hexham HSHAZ Building Grants Scheme. Work will also include repairs and the restoration of the front façade and roof repairs of the adjacent property of 3 Cattle Market. 
 

As the work will include the western side of the building and due to the narrowness of the pavement in this area, and the need to erect scaffolding, it is necessary to close part of the B6306 along Eastgate to traffic. This is the road which leads to Slaley and Hexhamshire. 
 

The road will be closed for six weeks, and a diversion will be in operation during this time via Causey Hill Road and Yarridge Road, before re-joining the B6306.  
 

Highways officers have looked in detail to see if this work could be done safely using a means of traffic management other than a road closure.  

Scaffolding is required on the west elevation of the building to remove the render and carry out any stone repairs. The scaffold will have to stand on the road as there is no footway at this location.  
 

The use of traffic lights was considered but due the narrowness of Eastgate at this point and the danger of traffic striking the scaffold, there was no alternative other than to fully close the road. 
 

The work is being undertaken by the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, a small charity that restores buildings of heritage interest. It will include repairs to the shell of the two buildings including roofs, walls, windows and chimney repairs and restoration of the historic shop front. 
 

The buildings are shown on the first edition of the town map of 1861 and have stood vacant for a number of  years. It is intended to bring the ground floor back into commercial use with the upper floor being used for residential in a partnership scheme with Hexham Community Housing. 
 

Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Cabinet Member for Business, said: “While this scheme will inevitably cause some disruption, and we apologise for this, the work will result in the restoration of an historic and dilapidated building which was once integral to the town. 
 

“It will be fantastic to see it brought back to its former glory and that it will be used once again by the residents of the town.” 
 

The scheme is being part funded by Northumberland County Council and Historic England through the Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme (HSHAZ). 

 
1 Cattle Market and 2 Eastgate are fascinating buildings dating back to at least 1861. Before it was Boots the Chemist the building was Pattinson's chemist which was opened in 1898 and was a dispensing chemist and a veterinary chemist. 

The aim of the HSHAZ scheme is to revitalise the town’s historic centre making it a more attractive, engaging and vibrant place for people to live, work, invest and visit. The Coach and Horses and Vercellis on Priestpopple have recently had refurbishment work carried out through the scheme which has greatly enhanced the streetscape in this area. 

Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone is part of a £95 million government-funded programme led by Historic England. It’s designed to secure lasting improvements and rejuvenate historic high streets.