PROPOSALS have been made for emergency works to protect Middlesbrough's oldest standing but "knackered" pub from collapsing.

The Grade II listed Captain Cook Pub located "over the border" near the Transporter Bridge was last year listed as one of the Top Ten Most Endangered Buildings by The Victorian Society.

Middlesbrough Council has prioritised the restoration of the Durham Street pub for a number of years but has lacked the resources to take the project forward.

The Jacobean style building was designed by Middlesbrough's Robert Moore and was erected in 1893.

Currently, resources are being sought from the Towns Fund that would enable some of the restoration work to take place on both the Old Town Hall and the Captain Cook Pub, if successful.

However, the council said its deterioration has accelerated and major stabilisation works are urgently needed. 

Middlesbrough Council said works were needed immediately if the pub was to "survive" impact from construction on the neighbouring Boho Village site on Cleveland Street.

The costs of repairs are estimated to be around £538,000 and would come from savings made in the revised proposals for the town's Boho X project.

Mayor Andy Preston said: "Losing the Captain Cook pub is not an option. It was a fantastic pub and a beautiful building - but it's knackered now and if we don't spend this money we'll lose it forever - that's not an option.

"Because of Covid I changed our plans for the big Boho X office building and that saved a fortune. We can now plough some of that money into preserving this landmark pub where so many of us, and our ancestors, enjoyed a pint with friends.

"We're transforming St Hilda's with new office buildings, homes and a school, bringing the oldest part of Middlesbrough back to life. This area will be spectacular."

The pub needs extensive work, with much of the building needing to be replaced and some demolished due to being structurally unsafe. 

The council's executive will consider the plans on Tuesday, February 23, as part of a bigger scheme looking at the future redevelopment of Middlehaven.

The repair works would include:

  • Replacing the roof covering in its entirety;
  • Replace rainwater drainage;
  • All structural issues to gables will need to be demolished and rebuilt;
  • Skin the main exposed gables to make then safe and watertight;
  • Remove all plaster ceilings to allow access to the damaged roof and floor timbers;
  • Remove plaster from external walls to allow repointing and brick repairs where necessary;
  • Remove all damaged internal walls, fixtures and fittings suspended ceilings etc., remove all finishes to leave a bare/stripped building;
  • Demolish and remove two single-storey extensions added as toilets as these are structurally unsafe.