St Ann’s Well Site to be developed

Saturday, April 16, 2011

By Caroline Lowbridge

HOUSES could be built on the historic site of a derelict pub in St Ann's. Plans to build nine houses on the site of the Gardeners pub, at the junction of The Wells Road and Kildare Road, have been submitted to Nottingham City Council.

The pub is on the site of Robin Hood's Well, later known as St Ann's Well. In medieval times, city leaders would walk there every Easter Monday as a pilgrimage.

Mike Edwards, councillor for the Mapperley ward, is disappointed that the proposed development does not reflect the importance of the site. "If it is going to be housing, then it has to celebrate the history of that site, rather than turn its back on it," he said.

In 2007, a plaque and a mosaic were mounted on a wall at the side of the pub

to reflect the site's historic significance.

Mr Edward said he was surprised that a supermarket chain had not applied to

turn the pub into a store, as there was demand in the area.

People living in Kildare Road have mixed views about the houses plan Joan Taylor, 80, who has lived there for 40 years, said: "I can't see that they are going to get nine houses on there, I really can't. It can't be any worse than it is now, looking at things boarded up."

A 67-year-old woman, who has lived in the street for 36 years, said: "its better

than a boarded-up building. You get the kids going in it and standing on top throwing bricks off the top at night. I think they've broken in at the back. I'm surprised it's still standing. I thought the kids would set fire to it."

Andy Calladine, 32, who has lived in the area for seven years, said: "I think it would be nice to have a local pub rather than more houses. There's nothing around here. We seem to be in the middle of nowhere really. There are no shops. More houses probably aren't needed, but then again people have got to live somewhere.

"Apparently, a long time ago it was a nice pub. Then it got a bad reputation. A 37-year-old man living nearby said: "Knock it down, we don't like it. You get kids, it's just not good. They make noise and they smoke drugs, things like that. They hang around in the car park. "There's no way you can get nine houses."

The plaque and mosaic include a picture of train tracks to represent the old railway line built after the well was demolished.

The plaque says "St Ann's Well" and the mosaic depicts three scenes, including a labyrinth inspired by a maze – sometimes referred to as Shepherd's Maze, Robin Hood's Maze or Sneinton Maze. This was destroyed

when the Lord of Sneinton ploughed the land to enclose his estate in 1797. The mosaic was created as part of a youth project by Sam Taylor and James Gant.