Express & Star

£200k project to revamp Dudley's Fountain Arcade

Work has begun on a major £200,000 restoration of a town centre shopping mall to recapture its 1920s heyday.

Published
Alan Caswell runs the Arcade Toyshop

Dudley's Fountain Arcade is the latest building to be restored to its former glory under a wider masterplan for the town.

Hidden architectural details have been uncovered already by the works on the arcade which is locally listed.

The Fountain Arcade, which stretches from Tower Street to the market place, dates back to 1925.

Many of it original art deco features will be restored.

Restoration plans have been made possible through Dudley Council's Townscape Heritage Initiative which has already revamped other prominent buildings in the town.

Cash has come through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Dudley Council, English Heritage and the Housing and Communities Agency.

Repairs to windows and stonework is already under way as part of the project to the delight of long-standing traders.

Lost features such as opening up blocked-up windows, reinstating stone detailing to the pediment on the gable and installing new shop fronts is also planned.

In recent days workers have uncovered some 1920s architectural gems which they are now repairing and revealing.

These include previously covered-up leaded fanlights and elegant cream-coloured tiles, which were found underneath the rendering off Tower Street.

Long-standing trader Alan Caswell, who owns the Arcade Toy Shop, today said he was delighted the works were under way.

"It has taken a bit of time to get the works started but the end result will look superb and and look good for Dudley," he said.

"Within around six years time this town will look great again. It has be a long wait because of the length of time it has taken to get started.

"But with everything that has been done so far in other parts of the town, the regeneration project is storming on.

"It is making Dudley look really nice and traditional and make it look different to other towns and Merry Hill."

The project is due to be completed in autumn 2014. The building currently has scaffolding outside but businesses are open as usual.

Dudley Council's regeneration boss, Councillor Judy Foster, said: "The Fountain Arcade is the latest in a string of schemes that we are bringing forward to ensure that our proud architectural heritage is revealed and secured for future generations.

"At the same time we hope that improving the Arcade will increase the number of customers who visit the shops and businesses within its walls."

This project follows other Townscape Heritage Initiative restoration work in Dudley town centre, including projects at Bogarts hair and beauty on Wolverhampton Street, Charlton House in New Street, Baylies Hall in Tower Street and the old Co-op building.

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