The Birkin Building in Nottingham’s Lace Market has undergone a major restoration.
The distinctive stone and brickwork has been cleaned, restoring one of , designed by Thomas Chamber Hine for the Birkin family in 1855.
From here, lace was exported around the world. The lace barons, together with the Adams family, built huge warehouses in an area which became known as the Lace Market.
Where once lace was stored and finished for customers from around the world, smart offices for the 21st century have been created within the original distinctive architecture.
Nearly 165 years old, the Birkin Building was bought by Mich Stevenson in the early 1980s and is now managed by his daughters Becky Valentine and Victoria Green through the family business, Spenbeck.
Above the impressive entrance where the Birkins would alight from horse-drawn vehicles - a step for the purpose remains - is the Bee symbol of the family, their initials carved into the stone alongside those of T.C Wine and the builder.
Like their father, Beck and Victoria love the building, 8/12 Broadway, an early example of town planning. Their property ownership extends west along Broadway to St Mary’s Gate where they own further buildings.
The Birkin Building’s 30,000 square feet are fully let, every floor refurbished at a total cost of more than £500,000. The company received a £50,000 grant from Historic England’s Heritage Action Zone fund, the first award of the maximum figure in the country, said Becky who is chief operating officer.
Most Read
Becky and Victoria, chief executive, are proud of the careful cleaning and restoration of the stone and brickwork which has included sensitive re-pointing.
Some tenants have moved offices within the Spenbeck ownership. The first floor heart of Birkin, more recently a nightclub, has been taken by Learning Pool, which retains the DJ booth and bar as features.
“There is a strong demand for offices in the Lace Market and Creative Quarter,” added Victoria.
The restoration was carried out by specialists supervised by Urban Fabric Architects and executed by McNeil Construction. B&M Installations was lead contractor for the internal refurbishment.
Said Becky: “From an architectural point of view, Broadway is a magical street with its curve designed by T C Hine. The Birkin & Co. headquarters enabled the family to contribute so much to the Nottingham industrial and cultural heritage.
“We were very lucky to have the building and to be able to bring it back. The contribution the Birkin building makes architecturally and culturally to Nottingham is vast. It wasn’t getting the recognition it deserved.”
Added Victoria: “People passing by appreciate it but we want to shine a light on it.”
Don’t miss
The architecture reflected the prosperity of Birkin and the company’s international importance around the world. The warehouse was built by Richard Birkin, at various times Mayor of Nottingham, whose younger son, Thomas, became the first baronet.
“Enquiries, sales room and distribution worldwide went from the Birkin Building. The lace was made at the Birkin’s business in Gladstone Street, Basford and sent to the Hicking building for dyeing, coming back to Birkin for cutting, finishing and dispatching. Buyers arrived from around the world at Broadway. The company was massively important to the country’s economy and prestige.”
Designers of haute couture such as Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell, who designed for the Royal family, beat a path to the Birkin Building in search of fashionable lace.
Beneath the lace warehouse are the remains of a medieval brewery in the caves currently accessible only by two sets of ladders.
Becky and Victoria would like to find a way of bringing them back into a use.
So what next? “Nos 2/6 Broadway need love and attention and the buildings on St Mary’s Gate,” said Victoria. “But Birkin feels as though it is happy again. When the lights are on in the evening, it looks stunning.”