Mart move to be televised, Teesdale Mercury

A BOLD plan to move an historic bullring 30 miles and turn it into a community building is set to feature in a BBC documentary. 

Teesdale builder Peter Coverdale wants to transport the listed building from Tow Law and re-erect it at Cross Lanes, near Barnard Castle.

The mart, which is currently surrounded by housing, would be restored and adapted.

Drama groups would be able to use the bullring, which is said to resemble Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Under the plans, seating will be erected around the stage in the centre.

Other possible uses include a lecture theatre, training area, meeting space or exhibition space.

The scheme is part of Mr Coverdale’s plans for a farm shop, cafe and retail units in the form of old-fashioned dale village at Cross Lanes, off the A66. 

McInerney Homes wants to replace the bullring with a number of properties and has now applied for permission to remove it.

The Mercury first reported on 

proposal last year – and the BBC has since commissioned a programme about the project. Mr Coverdale said: “The BBC is making a series about buildings at risk which are to be relocated to secure their future.

“The BBC wants to follow the progress of the mart building right through to the end of project.

“The producers really want the plans to be approved so they can start filming this year. The mart is totally out of character where it is, but it’s going to look great in the new location.”

In a report for McInerney Homes, architect Paul Freeman said: “The relocation of the mart will undoubtedly secure its long-term future and ensure it continues to be accessible to the general public as a whole.”

The building was built in 1882 as the focus of Tow Law’s cattle market. 

Most of the mart was pulled down in 2005 to make way for housing and, since then, opinion in Tow Law has been divided about the bullring’s future.

It has been described as an eyesore, but historians say the structure should be noted for the “survival of a complete interior including animal ring, seating and auctioneers 

desk”.

Beamish Museum had declined to take on the building, but Mr Coverdale stepped in when he realised it could play an important role at Cross Lanes.

But demolishing and re-erecting the building may prove to be a tricky task.

The bullring will be split into sections, documented and transported by lorry, before being re-erected at Cross Lanes.

Planning agent Christopher Fish warned that the structure may become unstable as soon as large parts are taken apart.

“It will not always be possible to dissemble fixed joints that have remained in place for over 100 years,” he said.

Mr Fish said the project would give the bullring a new lease of life.

“The auction mart building is a listed building at risk of total loss. It is now in an inappropriate setting, surrounded by modern housing and does not contribute to the quality of its surroundings,” he added.

Mr Coverdale’s proposals for Cross Lanes have already been given the go-ahead.

However, work has been delayed after it was discovered that a covenant, restricting development, had been placed on the land.

Mr Coverdale said that he has been in talks with solicitors about lifting the covenant and was hopeful the work would begin soon.

Durham County Council will decide on the latest plans in the coming weeks.