The usual red/pink flowering currant, (ribes sanguinem) does have blue-black glaucus fruit if the birds leave them alone so it may well be that.
Whatever it is it's a ribes so I'd take out a third of the oldest looking stems right down to the base, clear the ground around it a bit and mulch. In the early spring I'd give it some Fish, Blood and Bone meal or even some rose fertiliser and see what happens.
Then after it's flowered next year I'd take out another third of the stems and mulch etc, and repeat the third year. By then you'll have a totally rejuvenated shrub
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
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If it flowers in spring remember not to bring it into the house as it smells of cat piss!
The usual red/pink flowering currant, (ribes sanguinem) does have blue-black glaucus fruit if the birds leave them alone so it may well be that.
Whatever it is it's a ribes so I'd take out a third of the oldest looking stems right down to the base, clear the ground around it a bit and mulch. In the early spring I'd give it some Fish, Blood and Bone meal or even some rose fertiliser and see what happens.
Then after it's flowered next year I'd take out another third of the stems and mulch etc, and repeat the third year. By then you'll have a totally rejuvenated shrub
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.