Following the withdrawal of our annual funding agreement with Lincolnshire County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund supported us by helping us to find a new business model which would be sustainable in the future.
Thanks to National Lottery Players we could hire consultants who helped us to focus on our vision and potential impact as a charity. Our new business plan sets out a new strategy that will ensure that we deliver our charitable objectives, and that the charity will continue to thrive.
Investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund over the past 20 years has allowed us to:
- Restore historic buildings in Lincolnshire
- Develop education and volunteering opportunities
- Be a viable organisation and deliver our aims
- Support communities across the County undertaking heritage projects
- Bring National Lottery funding into Lincolnshire
Our projects have included:
The Conservation and Redevelopment of 116 High Street
116 High Street is a grade II* Georgian townhouse which housed Lincolnshire’s first private bank (c.1754). The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded the Boston Heritage Trust to repair and restore the building, however, unfortunately the trust went into liquidation. The Heritage Lottery Fund approached us to come on board and save the building, their support and flexibility allowed us to deliver the project successfully.
The Restoration of Mill Hill cottage
The Mud and Stud building tradition is one that is almost exclusively found in Lincolnshire -Mill Hill is a grade II* timber framed cottage that is a perfect example of this. With only 300 good examples of this tradition left in Lincolnshire, this building is rare, and was in need of protection from redevelopment. Without the help given by The Heritage Lottery Fund the preservation of such an important building would not have been achieved.
The Repair and Re-use of 7-13 Bridge Street, Horncastle
7-13 Bridge Street are a series of 18th century shops in the centre of Horncastle’s conservation area. The buildings were falling into a derelict state, the local council urged the owner to carry out urgent repairs. The situation escalated forcing the local council to compulsorily purchase the buildings. As a result the council approached us in the hope that we would take on the project. Thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund were able to successfully take on and complete the project.
But we are not stopping there! Read on to find out what we have planned for 2019 – all made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and those who play every week!
The Boston Townscape Heritage Project will be delivered by a partnership between Boston Borough Council and Heritage Lincolnshire. The scheme aims to celebrate and conserve Boston’s rich and unique historic environment through a 4 year scheme of capital works. The scheme will enhance the eastern area of the town’s historic market place, including Dolphin Lane and Pump Square. Individual buildings have been identified for grant funding. The scheme will benefit local businesses, the local community and visitors.
The first exciting stages of the Old King’s Head restoration will start taking place – keep an eye out for the scaffolding going up!
Also in Boston, we will be working with the Hanse group to explore medieval history. So keep an eye out to sign up to the Big Dig happening in April-June, or visit us on one of our site open days, 11-12 May and 8-9 June.
Plenty of volunteer opportunities are available with the Layers of History project, click here to find out more!
Because of the Cleethorpes Townscape Partnership, if you live near Cleethorpes, you will soon see us looking for volunteers to become Heritage Stewards. A fantastic opportunity if you love historic buildings, and want to learn more about them whilst playing your part to conserve them!
Lastly, we have also just announced more events happening in North Lincolnshire for the Isle of Axholme and Hatfield Chase Landscape Partnership. Click here to find out about test pits, free courses and more!
