Office
Friday 05 April 2024
Important landmark Grade II* Listed building, with attractive business accommodation and ample parking
First floor offices within The Old Prison and a self-contained, double fronted period office building
To let on the kind instruction of Friends of the Cotswolds
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
HISTORY
Around 1790, a new House of Correction designed by architect William Blackburn, was built on land just west of Northleach next to the Fosse Way
Blackburn designed a building on principles advocated by prison reformer, Sir George Onesiphorus Paul, following the Penitentiary Act of 1779
The prison was a significant advance on penal buildings of the time and provided a great reforming model for future institutions. Petty Sessions were later held on site and part of the ground floor of the prison Keeper’s House was converted to a Courtroom. A women’s wing was added in 1844 and a detachment of the Gloucestershire Constabulary was stationed there in 1857
The original building comprised the Keeper’s House with connecting blocks to the side and rear. The individual prison cells inside were small, measuring only 1.8m wide by 2.4m (and can still be seen today)
The River Leach was diverted to run down the compound, with water pumps in the exercise yard for inmates’ use. Wooden fencing separated the inmates, and the entire yard was visible from the Keeper’s House
In 1857 the North Cotswolds Constabulary Police moved in as the Old Prison closed as a prison. After the 1930’s, with no rail link, the area diminished as a commercial centre and the Police Station became a Sergeant’s Station. The police finally moved out in 1973
In 1859, through to the 1920’s, the cell blocks were used as a Casual Ward house for tramps. The Keeper’s reception room was used as a Petty Sessions Court between 1859 and 1973. The rear cell blocks were demolished in 1936 leaving the Keeper’s House (with courtroom on the ground floor), the Old Police Station (formerly Mill House) and the 1844 female cell block
THE OLD PRISON TODAY
Today, the building is an important Grade II* Listed building of special historical and architectural interest and a prominent landmark on the Fosse Way
The property was successfully purchased by Friends of The Cotswolds in 2013, a charitable organisation dedicated to protecting and enhancing the environment, heritage and culture of the Cotswold region
Today, the Old Prison provides an important tourist destination
The courtroom and original cells can be explored, there is a well-known Old Prison café restaurant, and the building also houses an important and extensive collection of agricultural machinery, exhibiting the deep farming heritage of the area
The building is an important centre for the teaching and study of past Cotswold life
AIMS & AMBITION
Friends of the Cotswolds seek interest from organisations, charities, companies, individuals and concerns, interested in basing themselves in this important building, and able to demonstrate a like-minded ethos in promoting and enhancing life in the Cotswold region
There is no fixed remit and interest from users providing educational/teaching, training, study, leisure, retailing, hospitality and office uses will all be considered
Companies or public organisations providing farming, environmental, architectural, gardening, landscaping, interior design, legal, accountancy, surveying and other professional services will be welcomed
Organisations involved in the environment and historic life of the area will be particularly encouraged
Additional hospitality uses will be considered
ACCOMMODATION
Part of the Old Prison accommodation is presently surplus to the Friends’ needs
This accommodation comprises the Old Police Station and the upper floor of the Old Prison building
Both areas provide character-filled accommodation within this historic building and have access to all usual facilities
Part of the prison has modern glazed extensions to either side of the Old Prison, one occupied by the cafe restaurant with adjoining kitchens, the other used for meeting, conference, exhibition and learning purposes
There are therefore shared conference and hospitality areas available for use by prior arrangement:
Attractive self-contained and shared accommodation
Characterful period business space
Ample free parking (some allocated spaces possible)
Gardens
Full heating and lighting
Shared conference facilities
Wifi & broadband connection points
Access to adjoining restaurant
FLOOR AREAS
The Old Police Station – 95 sq m / 1,023 sq ft
A self-contained, double-fronted, period building located at the south end of the prison building with a pretty fore-garden, ample adjoining car park, WC and rear secure courtyard
The Old Prison (first floor) – 110 sq m / 1,184 sq ft
Comprising three rooms on the first floor, with shared main door entry to the Courtroom
Room 1 – 54 sq m / 584 sq ft
Room 2 – 17 sq m / 181 sq ft
Room 3 – 24 sq m / 260 sq ft
Note – A separate Cellar of 70 sq m / 754 sq ft is also potentially available if any parties are specifically interested, and separate terms can be quoted
TERMS
Tenants are sought on new, internal repairing leases with flexible terms
A lease of 9-10 years is preferred on the Old Police Station and shorter 5-year terms (and upward) will be considered on the offices in the Old Prison
Rent reviews will be incorporated at appropriate 3 or 5-year intervals
Where leases are agreed with newly founded companies, appropriate sureties/guarantors may be required
RENTS
The Old Prison (whole) - £23,950 + VAT per annum
The Old Police Station - £14,000 + VAT per annum
The Old Prison - £9,950 + VAT per annum
A short rent-free period may be considered to enable the incoming tenant to carry out any improvement works (subject to the Landlord’s approval)
SERVICE CHARGE
A reasonable annual service charge will be levied to cover shared internal repairing and maintenance costs, together with any general estate services and outgoings
BUSINESS RATES
Tenants will be responsible for any separately assessed business rates
SITUATION
The historic wool town of Northleach is situated in the valley of the River Leach, 10 miles northeast of Cirencester and 11 miles southeast of Cheltenham
The town is located close to the crossroads of the Roman A429 Fosse Way and the old A40 coaching route from Gloucester, to Oxford and London, for which it provided an important staging post
The town is centred around the large Church of St. Peter and St. Paul and has an attractive market square surrounded by impressive buildings in the local, mellow Cotswold stone
Larger centres within easy reach are London (85 miles), Oxford (30) and Stow-on-the-Wold (12)
Mainline rail services at Kemble, Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham, Oxford and Swindon
Hayman-Joyce
