Image: Adams Heritage Centre, Littleport, Cambridgeshire (Historic England Archive)
Adams Heritage Centre, a rare surviving Victorian commercial building with original features, has been granted Grade II listed status by Historic England.
Adams Heritage Centre in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, has been listed at Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
The former ironmongers at represents a rare surviving example of a Victorian commercial building that served customers for over a century, Historic England said.
Built in 1893 to the designs of Cambridgeshire-born architect Josiah Gunton, the building initially served as premises for local ironmongers H and J Cutlack before being purchased by John Henry Adams in 1901. The business continued trading as J H Adams and Sons until 2010, when it was conserved as a heritage centre.
The building retains significant original features including folding wrought-iron gates dated 1892, a recessed entrance with tiled floor, etched and painted glass with original business lettering, and impressive full-height wooden shelving relocated from Lincolne’s chemist in Ely, which was established in 1847. The steel-framed structure was technologically advanced for its time.
Historic England said the listing recognises both the building’s architectural interest and its social significance.
Adams specialised in fitting and maintaining Hagan Norwegian ice skates, lightweight metal-bladed speed skates popular with fen skaters. The shop became a hub for this local sport, importing skates from Oslo and developing a UK distribution network.
The building forms a historically important group with other listed buildings on Main Street, including a house at 15 High Street dating from around 1800 and its associated barn and outbuildings, all listed at Grade II.
Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross called Adams Heritage Centre a “fascinating building that preserves over a century of local trading history”.
Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, added: “It is extremely rare to find commercial buildings from the late 19th century that retain such a high proportion of their original features.
“From the ornate shopfront to the historic shelving units, Adams Heritage Centre provides us with a vivid glimpse into shopping experiences of the past. This listing celebrates the importance of our everyday heritage and the value of preserving buildings that tell local stories.”
