The White Horse Hotel Wem

Background

The White Horse is a Grade II listed building which dates back to the 17th century and has been used as a coaching inn, a hotel, and a pub. However, the building has been vacant and neglected for several years, leading to its deterioration and vulnerability.

In August 2023, Shropshire Council announced it had purchased the building as it is a prominent feature of the town's conservation area and has significant historical and architectural value.

The Council is committed to preserving and restoring the building, as well as enhancing the town's heritage and economy and the purchase was made with the help of a grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund, a national charity that supports the regeneration of historic buildings.

Next steps

The first stage is to understand fully the state of the building through survey work, in order for the most urgent repairs and interventions to be prioritised,  a number of funding opportunities will be explored to complete these works and bring the building back into use.

The future use of the building has not yet been decided, but the local community and stakeholders will be consulted to explore the best options.