Heritage Enterprise · Community
Heritage Enterprise · Community
The George Pub, a Grade II listed building with parts dating back to the late 15th or early 16th century, has long been a focal point of Wickham Market. Following significant damage from a fire in 2013, the building became a high-priority entry on Suffolk County's Historic Buildings at Risk Register. In response, the local community rallied to restore and reopen The George as a vibrant community hub, forming The George Community Pub (Wickham Market) Ltd to lead this ambitious project.
The project was submitted to The National Lottery Heritage Fund as a Heritage Enterprise project - a grant stream designed to support the reuse of historic buildings where restoration costs are not commercially viable. A Development Phase grant was awarded in September 2019 and the Delivery Phase application followed in August 2021, securing an award of £988,200 in November 2021 towards what was then a £1.45 million project. Works were scheduled to start in autumn 2022. In June 2023 the Heritage Fund awarded an uplift which, alongside a grant from the Community Ownership Fund, a Co-op loan and a community share sale, closed the funding gap; work began on 17 July 2023. The final agreed project costs stand at £2,555,593, of which the Heritage Fund contributed £1,733,324.
The project aims to do more than restore the pub's former glory. It seeks to establish The George as a welcoming and inclusive gathering spot for locals, social groups, and diners alike, with a dedicated room for community activities. During the Delivery Phase, the project has offered hard hat tours, training opportunities for young people studying at local colleges, and a series of pop-up events.
Alix Slater Consultancy & Training helped the volunteers with their original Round 1 application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a Heritage Enterprise grant. The consultancy then supported the team's Activity Statement and was appointed as Evaluation Consultant, mentoring the core volunteer team, designing research instruments and preparing interim and summative evaluation reports.
The consultancy also wrote the interpretation plan for the project, which Eger Studio went on to develop into the final interpretation scheme.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund's objectives concerning heritage, people and places have been at the forefront of this project. By consistently incorporating heritage engagement activities, the reopened pub is a community-owned resource that captures the collective identity and history of Wickham Market. The George is now a community asset, and its restoration shows how heritage initiatives can enhance local pride, promote sustainability and empower communities.
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