Plans have been submitted to secure the future of one of Great Torrington’s best-known historic buildings, with urgent repairs designed to halt further deterioration while laying the foundations for its long-term restoration.
The application, submitted by The Globe Hotel Torrington Ltd, seeks listed building consent for repair and stabilisation works at the Grade II-listed Globe Hotel on Fore Street. The proposals include the demolition of modern rear structures and the installation of temporary WC facilities to allow limited community use while wider restoration plans are developed.
The Globe Hotel dates back to at least the late 17th century and has undergone significant alterations during the 18th and early 19th centuries. It operated for many years as a hotel and played an important role in the commercial and social life of Great Torrington before closing in recent years. Since then, the vacant building has deteriorated and now requires urgent conservation work.
The application forms the first stage of a wider regeneration programme intended to secure a long-term future for the building as a community asset. However, the current proposals relate only to essential repairs needed to safeguard the listed structure and prevent further decay.
The proposed works include repairs to the front façade, replacement and restoration of historic sash windows, re-rendering the front elevation using breathable lime render, roof repairs, chimney rebuilding, leadwork replacement and improvements to the building’s drainage system. Internal works include repairing timber affected by water damage, structural repairs, electrical improvements, and installing heating and fire alarm systems to support temporary use of the ground floor.
Plans also include removing a modern rear extension, clearing later structures from the courtyard, demolishing an existing modern WC block and replacing it with a temporary accessible containerised toilet unit connected to the existing drainage system. Investigative opening-up works are also proposed to assess concealed historic fabric and repair damage caused by water ingress.
According to the heritage statement, the proposals have been designed using a minimum intervention, conservation-led approach. The document concludes that repairs to the roof, chimneys, windows and front elevation would preserve and enhance the building’s historic significance while preventing further deterioration.
A historic building survey prepared in support of the application describes The Globe as occupying a prominent position on Fore Street, with a history stretching back more than 300 years. It records the building’s evolution from an early inn into a substantial 19th-century hotel before its closure in 2020.
If approved, the works would represent the first phase of a wider programme intended to conserve and ultimately return the landmark building to long-term use.
