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Historical artefacts salvaged as Norfolk pub is demolished

Historical artefacts salvaged as Norfolk pub is demolished

BBC News25-05-2025
Historical artefacts are being salvaged from a pub that villagers tried to save, as demolition work begins to allow new houses to be built.The Decoy Tavern in Fritton near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk closed in 2022 after its owners said the business was unviable.Roof tiles, bricks and even the bar will be sold, which salvage business operator Andy Warnes said could be used to preserve other buildings and conservation projects.He said the demolition team were "very good at getting the most out of every building", calling it a very green activity.
Lifting up floorboards in the oldest part of the pub, he added: "These are nice, properly old boards, so we will save every one we can."
A planning inspector prevented the pub's demolition in 2022 but new plans for three houses were passed by Great Yarmouth Borough Council in January.Estate agent Mike Drewery said no offers were made to buy the pub in three years."It wasn't structurally sound as a building and it wasn't sound as a business, so you have to look at what's viable for the site and that's development," he said.
Kiel Barber from demolition firm E.E. Green said: "There's a lot of dry rot, damp where water has come through, you can see where the roof has sagged and it's had a few bodges just to keep the weather out."It would have cost a fortune to make it worthy again as a pub. "Sometimes there comes a time when the easiest and best thing to do is pull it down and start again."
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