Showing posts with label The George Shopping Centre is a Grade II* listed building in Grantham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The George Shopping Centre is a Grade II* listed building in Grantham. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

The George Shopping Centre is a Grade II* listed building in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. It was originally the George Hotel, which was built in the late 1700s,

The George Shopping Centre is a Grade II* listed building in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. It was originally the George Hotel, which was built in the late 1700s. The hotel closed in 1989, and the building was converted into a shopping centre in 1991.


The shopping centre has a glazed roof that covers the central courtyard. The roof has been the subject of some controversy, with some people arguing that it is not in keeping with the historic nature of the building.


Plans have been submitted to remove the glazed roof and reinstate the courtyard to its former open-air state. The plans also include the removal of an existing escalator and a shopping unit, and changes to the steel columns.


The proposals have been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the plans, saying that they will improve the appearance of the building and make it more welcoming. Others have expressed concerns about the impact that the removal of the roof will have on the building's heritage.

The planning application is currently being considered by South Kesteven District Council. A decision is expected to be made in the coming months.


The George Hotel is a Grade II* listed building in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. It is believed to have been built in the late 1700s, and was regarded by Charles Dickens as the finest English inn – even featuring in one of his novels.

The hotel was originally called the Queen's Inn, and was granted to Cecily Neville, Duchess of York by her son, King Edward IV, in 1461. It was renamed the George in the 1600s.

The hotel was a popular stopover for travellers on the Great North Road, which was one of the most important highways in England. It was also a favourite of many famous people, including Charles Dickens, who stayed there in 1838 with his illustrator Hablot Knight Browne. Dickens is said to have been inspired by the hotel when writing his novel Nicholas Nickleby.

Other famous people who have stayed at the George Hotel include:

Winston Churchill

William Gladstone

Florence Nightingale

Charles Darwin

David Lloyd George

Agatha Christie

The hotel closed in 1989, when one wing was demolished and it was remodelled into a shopping arcade. However, the front of the hotel was retained