University launches research project into England’s ‘vanishing pubs’

The study, funded by English Heritage, will focus on Leeds. A team from the university will focus on 19th and 20th century pubs in the city with an aim to identify and highlight significant and threatened buildings and increase understanding and appreciation of urban and suburban pubs.

The study will involve assessing the buildings themselves and also talking to pub users, owners and local residents about the buildings and their histories.

Emma Dwyer, Business Development Executive for Heritage at the University of Leicester, said: “This is a great opportunity to combine expertise from our School of Archaeology and Ancient History and our Department of History of Art and Film in a project that will have an impact on public understanding of how the pubs of Leeds have developed, and the risks they face from conversion and redevelopment.”

Threatened​

Emily Cole from the assessment team at English Heritage said: "Across the country, the number of pubs has been falling steadily for over a century and those dating from 1918-85 are, in particular, increasingly threatened with closure or demolition.

“They are therefore a high priority for English Heritage and this project in Leeds is one of a number we are carrying out to increase our knowledge of the architectural style and development of these pubs and their historical and social significance, and to gauge the level of protection that already exists or that it is felt that they deserve."

The results of the project will be presented at a public workshop in Leeds in autumn 2014 and the findings will be written up as a report, forming part of English Heritage’s work on historic towns and suburbs for the National Heritage Protection Plan.

A second study also funded by English Heritage will focus on Bristol.