For decades Grimsby has seen some of its most iconic and historically important buildings fall into disrepair. 

 

While towns like York and Lincoln’s architectural history is preserved and celebrated, Grimsby’s rich array of Victorian and Edwardian sites are left to deteriorate. 

 

The Grade II listed Grimsby Ice Factory, the earliest and only surviving ice factory with intact machinery in the world is dangerously insecure and listed as ‘at risk’ by Historic England. At its peak during the 1950s, the factory would’ve loaded up to 1200 tonnes of ice everyday onto Grimsby’s waiting fleet of fishing boats. 

 

The Victorian era building is now one of Europe’s seven most endangered heritage sites, with plans for the site to be developed into a 1000 seat live events venue and research area for offshore renewables approved in January. 

 

The Haven Lock and Dock Wall, built by engineer John Rennie in 1789 was the first use of vaulted quayside walls and helped create the first dock in Grimsby but is now listed as ‘at risk’ by Heritage England with open joints and missing railings clearly visible.

 

Also listed as ‘at risk’ by Save Britain’s Heritage is The Kasbah, the now derelict web of dock warehouses, shops and the only surviving cluster of traditional smokehouses in England.

 

The Docks aren’t the only historic areas suffering from neglect, with Grimsby’s first luxury cinema, The Savoy Theatre, now abandoned above a McDonald’s, with no plans to preserve the rotting 1920s decorative features. 

 

Finally, the Grade II listed Corporation Bridge has been closed to motorists for over a year as essential work takes place following the discovery of severely corroded beams. The bridge which has been closed indefinitely since February 2023 hadn’t been raised since a failed test in 2016.