The Golden Lion Restoration Project

Originally built as a town house in Deritend in Birmingham city centre in the 17th Century, the timber-framed Golden Lion Inn was saved from demolition in 1911 by the Birmingham Archaeological society and relocated to its current home in Canon Hill Park. It is not only an extremely rare survival of a late-medieval building from the city centre, but also a pioneering example of architectural conservation practice.

Following its reconstruction in Cannon Hill Park the Golden Lion was for many years used as a sports pavilion. Sadly the building has been left empty and unused for the last thirty years and so for the second time in its history was at risk of destruction. In 2024 Birmingham Conservation Trust undertook a comprehensive feasibility study of the building. This involved extensive historic research, detailed architectural and structural surveys, a programme of community consultation and an options appraisal for its future use.

Following on from the feasibility study the Trust was successful in raising more than £450,000 of funding from Historic England and others to undertake essential repairs to the historic fabric so that it is wind- and watertight, and safe for people to visit.

In August 2025 BCT appointed Reynolds Conservation Ltd as the main contractor for the works. Works on site commenced in October 2026 and since then Reynolds have made huge progress in repairing and refurbishing the building.

The main works have been as follows:

• Erecting a substantial roofed scaffold to enable repair works to be undertaken over the winter months

• Repairing and replacing significant elements of the structural timberwork

• Installing a new roof from locally sourced clay tiles

• Repairs to the historic windows and decorative timberwork

• Installing new oak windows to the rear first floor and French windows to the rear ground floor to enable the building to be fully watertight and usable

• Installing a new electricity supply and (some) internal lighting

• Installing new insulation to the internal walls

• Installing new lime plaster panels on lathes between the structural timbers

Once all of the works have been completed at the end of June the building will be able to be used as a base for the Friends of Cannon Hill Park volunteers and to support regular events like the weekly Park Run. BCT will also continue to deliver public guided tours as we have done during the works.