Further restoration works is continuing in December to bring an historic and vacant property in the centre of Hexham back into use. 

Work will be carried out to the gable wall of 1 Cattle Market and 2 Eastgate which will include the installation of windows and utility connections. 

These work follows on from the repair and restoration of the front façade and roof of the building which was completed last year. 

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

As the work will include the western side of the building and due to the narrowness of the pavement in this area, 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 temporarily closed for three days from  Monday 4th December until Wednesday 6th  December, and a diversion will be in operation during this time via the A695 Corbridge Road and the B6307 at Dilston before re-joining the B6306.  

This temporary road closure has to happen when the one-way system is not in place and due to funding deadlines, the work must be completed prior to the overall project completion date in March 2024. 
 

The work is being undertaken by the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, a small charity that restores buildings of heritage interest. 

Northumbrian Water will also be completing a service connection at the same time as the restoration work is carried out, preventing a further road closure. 
 

And, to maximise the amount of work that can be undertaken and minimise the need for future closures the council will also be installing new paving and kerbs as part of the public realm scheme on either side of the Eastgate junction. 

Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Cabinet Member for Supporting Business and Opportunities, said: “While this scheme will inevitably cause some disruption, and we apologise for this, the work will result in the further 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.” 

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.  

Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone is part of a £95 million government-funded programme led by Historic England. It is designed to secure lasting improvements and rejuvenate historic high streets. The programme ends in March 2024.