Some before pictures of the outside!

It has to be said that the Grand Junction does not look its best with all the windows covered in security shutters (thanks to Michael at Safe Estates for all his help, by the way). They are, however, absolutely vital to keep the place safe and secure. So these pictures are truly "before", in that it will be quite late on in the project that we have them taken down.

This picture shows how the pub straddles two of the main streets in Sedgley - High Holborn and Tipton Street. I love the old lantern above the front door - that's definitely staying (and I hope it still works!).



This shows the Tipton Street side. As you can see, four of the windows are blocked out, possibly due to the Window Tax, which wasn't repealed until 1851. The long window with the security shutter on it serves to light both ground and first floors. It's an old wooden sash window which is going to be repaired and reglazed as necessary.





Part of the car park with the exceptionally attractive toilet block in the front. Apparently in an earlier incarnation this was a butcher's shop! Boringly, we aren't planning to reinstate this as a butcher's shop (well, unless we can't make it work as a dental practice, of course).






Perhaps the most mysterious section of the pub! The area on the right is probably an old stable and no-one - not the architect, surveyor, vendor's agents, me and Edmund - has been inside yet! We confidently expect it to contain buried treasure or perhaps the remains of the previous landlord ...