A district judge in England has ordered Donelan Trading Ltd. to rebuild an 18^th century pub building within 12 months and using the stones from the demolition rubble, according to The Washington Post. A trial last year at Burnley Magistrates’ Court found five people guilty of illegally demolishing the building in June 2021, according to The Guardian. The court ordered the defendants to pay a combined £70,000 ($85,000) in fines and court costs, according to Food & Wine. At trial, the defense argued that the pub building, which had been derelict since 2012, was at risk of collapsing onto the road and that the developers had sought guidance from authorities but “nobody was helping,” according to The Guardian. The Post reports that Donelan Trading Ltd., purchased the property in 2015.

The Punch Bowl Inn at Hurst Green, Lancashire was a Grade II-listed building. Listing means there may be controls and restrictions over what modifications can be made to a building’s interior and exterior. According to Bidwells, a “listed building” is one that is recognized as being of national importance and a Grade II listed building is defined as a UK building or structure that is of special interest, warranting every effort to preserve it. Listed buildings come in three categories of significance: Grade I for buildings of the highest significance, Grade II*, and Grade II. Ninety-two percent of all listed buildings are Grade II, according to Historic England which also states that the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is the only official, up to date, register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England.

Last Updated on March 19, 2023 by Ramin Seddiq