Lottery funding will have 'ripple effect on town'

Bourne's Old Town Hall was awarded £3.3m from The National Lottery

A 200-year-old town hall in Lincolnshire has been awarded more than £3m for restoration work.

Volunteers at Bourne's Old Town Hall said the grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund would allow the venue to become a "heritage and culture hub".

Work will include the recommissioning of the hall's clock, restoration of the clock tower and the installation of lifts to improve accessibility.

"I screamed when I found out the news. I jumped for joy," volunteer trustee Jane Gabbutt said.

Jane Gabbutt is from The Bourne Town Hall Trust which formed in 2017 to restore the building

The Georgian Grade II listed building has been used as a sessions house, fire station, market and council offices.

The land for Bourne Town Hall was a gift to the community in 1821 by the Marquis of Exeter.

Ms Gabbutt said the funding would protect the hall.

"It was gifted to the people of Bourne 200 years ago. Our vision is to maintain it and restore it," she said.

Robyn Llewellyn from The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: "This historic part of Bourne's town centre will become a thriving community space for culture and heritage.

"We're pleased to see the care being taken to improve the building's accessibility and environmental sustainability."

'Ripple effect'

Ms Gabutt said she believed the £3.3m grant was the most money ever invested in Bourne's town centre.

"We really hope a ripple effect from such a large investment will benefit the town," she said.

"Thanks to the heritage fund we'll be able to restore the building which needs some TLC."

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