Plans have been revealed to turn a former West Cumbrian pub into a base for a plant hire firm.
G&AM Lawson has applied for permission to transform The Park Head Inn, off the A595 near Thornhill, into offices.
If Cumberland Council approves the proposals, it would see the existing building redeveloped into office, training and meeting space for the firm.
The firm also plans to install a lift.
The pub closed its doors in May 2022 and has remained vacant ever since.
It was brought to market by Everard Cole for £350,000 and is on 1.092 acres of land.
It had space for 40 diners, lawned beer garden, separate games room, 20-space car park, and bar area and private living accommodation of three bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and toilet.
It also had a catering kitchen, beer store and customer toilets.
Built in the 18th century, the building was initially a row of miners’ or workers’ cottages before it was converted to an inn between 1861 and 1898.
It first appeared on a map as Parkhead Inn in 1898.
While the building was not listed, Cumberland Council’s conservation and design officer said it did have historic significance and was considered a non-designated heritage asset, despite its history of alterations and conversions while it operated as a modern pub.
The building was considered historically significant due to its association with Harry Christian, a Victoria Cross recipient who saved the lives of three men at the Battle of Loos in 1915, and was landlord of the The Park Head Inn for around 40 years.
It is believed he kept his Victoria Cross behind the bar and he is mentioned in a plaque on a wall at Low Mill on the other side of Thornhill.
A memorial paving stone was laid for him at the war memorial in Pennington near Ulverston, where he was born, in 2015. The story of Christian
winning the Victoria Cross was also adapted in comic book format in a May 1981 issue of Victor Comic.
The council’s conservation and design officer said as a result, the building had a ‘more interesting significance than might initially be assumed from its appearance.’
G&AM Lawson said its vision to convert the site would allow the firm to improve the overall appearance of the building while also providing long term sustainability and employment use and helping the business grow.
It added that it would also see additional investment into the building to create business opportunities on site as well as possibly new local employment.
The firm said the existing design of the building would also be kept and would have no wider impact on the surrounding area.
New windows, doors and a roof would be fitted and the existing car park would be kept.
While Cumberland Council’s conservation and design officer is supporting the application, they added that plans to insert a lift into the building would need to be considered as to whether or not it is the best idea for the building’s conservation.
It was suggested the firm considered adding a plaque to the outside of the building, to commemorate its history as an inn and its connection to Harry Christian.
The council’s highways and environmental health teams have raised no objections.
If the plans were to go ahead, construction work times would be restricted to limit noise impact and bat surveys would need to be undertaken.
