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'Iconic' city centre staircase deemed at risk

BBC The Rialto Bridge, made from stone with two sets of staircases that meet in the middle, in front of the white Corn Exchange building. The building has a clock tower in the middle. There is temporary metal fencing in front of the staircase.BBC
The staircase is known locally as the Rialto Bridge in reference to one of the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice

A grand staircase in Leicester city centre is "at risk" and parts of the structure are deteriorating, Historic England has warned.

Known locally as the Rialto Bridge, the staircase sits outside the Corn Exchange in Market Place and is one of 21 sites added to the organisation's At Risk Register 2024.

The Grade-II* listed site is at risk as rainwater run-off is causing the staircase's thin stone cladding to deteriorate, Historic England said.

Leicester City Council, which owns the building and leases the ground floor out as a pub, said it had already commissioned specialist surveyors to help establish what work will be needed to preserve it and bring it back into use.

Leicester City Council An overhead view of Market Place in Leicester with a fence around the perimeter of the square and the Corn Exchange and Rialto Staircase at the top of the image.Leicester City Council
A consultation has been launched by the city council on new plans for the Market Place

The register, revealed on Thursday, provides an annual snapshot of the health of historical buildings and sites in England to ensure they are preserved for the future.

There are a total of 470 entries on the register in the East Midlands this year, eight more than in 2023.

The city council's heritage champion, Su Barton, said: “The Corn Exchange is a much-loved and familiar landmark, an iconic image of the Market Place, that holds special memories for many local people.

"The arrangements for repair and restoration are already under way and we are committed to beginning work as soon as possible.”

The Corn Exchange dates back to 1851 and was designed by architect William Flint as a single-storey market trading hall.

It was extended in 1855 by Frederick Webster Ordish with the addition of an extra floor to accommodate magistrates' court hearings, Historic England said.

A city council spokesperson said: “We survey and monitor historic structures on a regular basis to ensure safety and preserve their heritage.

“We hope to ensure this site can come off the ‘at risk’ register as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, the steps are cordoned off to protect them, and we will be working closely with Historic England, and exploring funding options which could be open to us for ‘at risk’ buildings.”

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