The first physical sign of work taking place to restore Mrs Smith’s Cottage can now be seen as scaffolding has been put up around the tourist attraction.
This will allow a full examination of the roof and its timbers to take place and enable a plan to be formulated to ensure that all repairs are undertaken, making the cottage, which has been closed to the public since 2013, structurally safe once again.
Last year, North Kesteven District Council successfully secured money from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the largest heritage funder in the UK, to help bring Mrs Smith’s Cottage back into use.
It is anticipated that the restoration, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will continue for the next three years, with a re-opening in 2019.
Councillor Mrs Marion Brighton OBE, Leader of NKDC, said: “This is an important milestone for the restoration project as only when the full structural survey has happened will we know the extent of works needed.
“Mrs Smith’s Cottage is part of our heritage as it clearly shows what life was like in an early Victorian, Lincolnshire cottage.”
Jonathan Platt, Head of HLF East Midlands, said: “We’re delighted that money raised by National Lottery players can help restore this slice of early 20th century domestic life, and allow visitors and the local community a glimpse into how their predecessors lived.”
Anyone wanting to find out more about the restoration of Mrs Smith’s Cottage is invited to attend a drop-in session at NKDC’s Navenby office, in North Lane, from 10am to noon on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.
It is free for anyone to pop along and find out about the project, look at information on what is happening, get involved in future volunteering, give their opinions and share any memories of the cottage and Mrs Smith.
Tea and coffee will be available and those working on the project will be available to answer questions and gathering research as part of their consultations.
For more information, please call 01522 811469 or email [email protected]