First look at new Ludlow pub design
An artist's impression of how a grade II listed, town-centre building will look as a Victorian-style pub has been released.
The town house at 13 High Street in Ludlow, previously Forest Dog Rescue charity shop, is planned to become The Blood Bay, a pub in the style that would once have dominated provincial market towns.
Now the idea, by local businessman Jon Saxon, has got the backing of Shropshire Council's conservation team, who say they "strongly support" his plans to make as much use of the remaining fabric of the 18th century building as possible.
A final decision has yet to be made on by council planners, however.
Mr Saxon, a Ludlow-based publisher, already has one traditional-style drinking establishment in the town, having opened up his town house at 14 Corve Street in a revival of the parlour pub tradition from days gone by, at the the end of 2015.
Now he hopes to create a second pub in the more prominent position of the High Street.
Artists impressions reveal hanging signs for the front and rear of the establishment, with the main one based on the work of 19th century animal painter John Frederick Herring Snr, to be painted by Ashford Carbonell artist Jonathan Adams.
The plan is for it to depict not just any old "blood bay" horse and rider, but specifically the 1932 Grand National winner Forbra, who was owned by then-Ludlow mayor, William Parsonage. It will depict horse and jockey Tim Hamey on Whitcliffe looking over Ludlow, wearing Parsonage’s colours of blue, white, grey and red.
Shropshire Council conservation officer Ben Williscroft said the sign would "enhance the existing external appearance of the listed building and would not detrimentally impact upon the overall character and appearance of the (Ludlow town centre) conservation area."
He said: "The building dates from the eighteenth century, though it may have much earlier origins given the existing medieval frame and stonework that lies within the cellar basement.
"The building has been heavily altered externally and internally in the twentieth century, but strongly contributes towards the historic core of Ludlow, along with the other buildings that lie along High Street.
"The overall rationale as set out in using as much of the remaining fabric as possible is strongly supported."
Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, added: "The designs look good to me. The plans for the Blood Bay are firmly rooted in local history. The project will return a neglected historic building back into use, at the same time restoring and respecting the historic fabric of the building."
If approved the pub will open from noon to 10pm, seven days a week creating one full time and two part time jobs.
