ONE of Carlisle’s most historic buildings looks set to become new homes.

Plans have been put forward to convert the old Carlisle Working Men’s Club and Institute – parts of which date back to 1790 – into nine flats and maisonettes.

The social club on Fisher Street in the city centre, which latterly traded as V Bar, closed in January 2015 after its owner, Derbyshire company Minotaur Group, pulled the plug.

Since then it has been used as an exhibiting space for artists and is currently vacant.

The plans to convert the building have come from Steve O’Sullivan of Wadhurst, East Sussex and have been handed in to be examined by members of Carlisle City Council.

The documents contain details on the current state of the property by architecture firm Johnston and Wright, which is based on Castle Street in Carlisle city centre.

It says: “Carlisle Working Men’s Club is located within the historic quarter of Carlisle; it is within close proximity to the city’s castle and cathedral and is within the historic city walls bounding the western edge of the city.

“Originally intended as a townhouse the building is understood to have been commissioned by Robert Ferguson and built in c. 1790.”

Mr Ferguson is believed to have lived there before moving to Morton Manor in the 19th century.

The building then became a school before the club opened in the 1920s.

As well as this original building the site also features a hall built in the early 20th century and infill, which was constructed in the 1970s.

The report also states: “The design has centred around retention of the late eighteenth century house to the front part of the site and early twentieth century hall to the rear part of the site, including the front elevation which is to remain generally unchanged.

“Removal of the 1970s infill between the two buildings is intended to introduce light and external space into the heart of the site and allow the distinction between the two core built element.”

“The spaces created, including the roof space are to be utilised as green areas; the spaces either side of the corridor link are to be garden spaces attached to some of the ground floor properties and the roof to the corridor, visible from the first and second floor flats has the potential to be a green roof,” it adds.